Injuries can strike at any time. A fall onto SEPTA tracks. A car accident. A slip and fall at Suburban Square. Any of these can cause serious enough injuries to take you out of your normal day-to-day life and cost you thousands or even millions in damages.
If you were hurt in an accident, you should always work with a lawyer. Never talk to the defense or accept anything from their insurance company before speaking with us and finding out more about what your case is worth.
Call The Reiff Law Firm’s personal injury attorneys at (215) 709-6940 today.
Can I Take Money from the Insurance Company?
Never accept any money or sign any papers from the insurance company before you talk with a lawyer.
Insurance companies representing defendants may try to present you with documents or checks. Their goal with these – especially with checks – is to give you something immediately, potentially with an implication that they can pay more later. However, cashing that check or signing any of the papers they give you may function as a settlement.
If you settle your case with the insurance company, it is over. There is no way to go back and undo the settlement unless you can prove fraud or duress, which is often difficult.
The better option is to call a lawyer as soon as you have been injured and let us handle any conversations and negotiations with the insurance company for you. Our personal injury attorneys can tell you how much your case should be worth and fight to get that amount for you.
Should I Settle My Case?
Often, a settlement will leave you with less than you deserve. Especially when it comes to early settlement offers, insurance companies might not even calculate amounts based on the bills and pay stubs you have shown them to prove your damages.
It often takes a court case to get the defense to pay your full compensation. Only when the case is decided by a judge will many insurance companies actually cut you a check that covers the full amounts and not some other value based on their risk assessments.
Why Do I Need a Personal Injury Lawyer for a Case in Ardmore?
As mentioned, many insurance companies will work to take advantage of unrepresented victims and settle cases for low-dollar values.
When you work with an attorney, we can do the following:
- Get police reports
- Find additional evidence (e.g., security camera footage) and send letters to preserve records
- Field calls and communications from insurance representatives
- Stand up for you in court
- Calculate the true value of your damages
- Find additional damages you or the insurance company might not have considered (e.g., future medical care costs and lost earning capacity).
We also have decades of experience, with our chief attorney having over 45 years of experience as a seasoned litigator.
What Damages Can I Get for an Injury Case?
The specific damages you get for your case will depend on…
- What specific injuries you suffered
- How much they cost you
- What impact they had on your life
- How strong your evidence is to prove these damages
However, you are entitled to three major areas of economic and non-economic damages that you can begin calculating:
Medical Expenses
The cost of treating your injuries is a major part of your damages. These are economic damages in that they pay you back for a known financial value.
Not only can you get paid back for the money you already spent, but you can also claim damages for your ongoing medical care costs. You do not need to wait to heal up before you sue.
Lost Earnings
Any lost wages you have faced or will face are also economic damages. These account for things like weeks away from work to heal, even if your injury had nothing to do with your job.
You can also claim earnings you will miss in the future for an injury that leaves you partially or totally disabled.
Pain and Suffering
Along with other non-economic damages, pain and suffering damages account for the intangible harms you face in an accident. This can be something as simple as the pain of a broken bone or something as complex as the shame or embarrassment of an injury that leaves you physically disfigured.
Because these damages are so individualized, we cannot calculate them without talking with you about some of the details.
How Long Does a Personal Injury Trial Take?
Most personal injury cases will only be in trial for a day or two after all things are said and done. Getting to this point can take months, with most cases not being scheduled for trial until at least 6 months after the case is filed.
However, more complex cases involving multiple defendants, multiple witnesses, complex scientific or technical evidence, and more complications can take a week or two at trial.
You can always speed up your case by talking to a lawyer and filing it promptly. Most cases must be filed within 2 years of the accident, but filing sooner cuts down delays.
Do I Need a Specific Kind of Personal Injury Lawyer?
Our attorneys broadly handle all kinds of personal injury litigation. Whether you were hurt in a car accident, a slip and fall, or some complex accident, we can help you.
If you have any doubts about whether you have a case or whether we are the right fit, then we can discuss that in a free case review.
Do I Need Medical Exams for an Injury Lawsuit?
Your medical records will provide proof that you were indeed injured, and they will have a lot to say about…
- How serious your injury is
- What the prognosis is like, and
- What future care needs you will face.
In many cases, these records are enough to show your injury.
However, many doctors are not willing to testify in court. In some cases, it might be best to get another doctor to examine you with the goal of being able to explain your medical conditions and care needs to the court.
These exams and similar psychiatric evaluations can provide excellent evidence of your medical care needs as well as your pain and suffering.
Call Our Ardmore Personal Injury Lawyers for Help Right Away
For a free case evaluation, call up The Reiff Law Firm’s experienced personal injury attorneys at (215) 709-6940.
