Frequently Asked Questions about Severe Injuries
Q. How do I know if I have a good case?
A: Talking to an experienced personal injury and auto accident attorney is the best way to evaluate the merits of your claim. The Pearce Law Firm of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania offers a free, no obligation evaluation of your personal injury claim and will tell you whether your case has merit. There is no obligation to you whatsoever for this free consultation.
Q. What if I have a good case but can’t afford legal fees?
A: We take most auto accident and other injury cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t owe us any fees up front and only pay if and when we obtain compensation for you. Our fee is then a percentage of what we collect on your behalf.
Q. How much do you think my claim is worth?
A: It is, of course, impossible to answer this question before investigating your claim; however, we may be able to give you a likely range based on the facts and merits of the circumstances surrounding your accident.
In Pennsylvania and New Jersey, some factors that determine the value of a personal injury or auto accident claim include how serious the accident was, how severe the injuries, whether the injuries are permanent or temporary, whether the injured party was an income earner or supporting others, the cost of medical treatments, whether there was or is pain and suffering, whether negligence was involved, whether lifelong care will be involved, etc. Please feel free to call or e-mail us and we would be happy to give you the benefit of our experience and offer you a free, no obligation consultation and provide a realistic estimate of what your case might be worth.
Q. The insurance company representative says I don’t need a lawyer. Is this true?
A: Insurance company representatives are paid to represent the insurance company’s best interest and to minimize their payouts. We highly recommend that you have a personal injury lawyer looking out for your best interests. In fact, we usually suggest that our clients not even talk to insurance companies until they have an experienced lawyer representing them.
Q. What if the person who caused the accident doesn’t have insurance?
A: Because Edith Pearce has a wealth of experience working as an attorney for insurance companies, she has knowledge of potential policies that may cover your claim, including your own insurance.
Q. What if I don’t have any health insurance? How will my medical bills get paid?
A: If you are involved in an auto accident in Pennsylvania, one of the auto policies will pay for your medical expenses. If this is not an auto accident, many times medical bills can still be paid, which may become part of your claim.
Q. My medical bills and loss of income are way more than the insurance coverage of the party who was at fault. Also, the person has no other money. What’s the point of hiring an auto accident attorney? Why wouldn’t I just settle for whatever I can get?
A: It is almost always a mistake to accept a settlement without consulting an injury attorney. In the event that the at-fault driver’s insurance coverage is less than the value of your claim, you may be able to recover additional monies from your own insurance company or other sources. However, once you settle, you may lose your right to pursue. Talk to an experienced injury and auto accident attorney first.
Q. Will I have to go to trial to collect what is due to me or can we settle out of court?
A: The Pearce Law Firm believes very strongly in our motto “Working Toward Settlement While Aggressively Preparing For Trial.” While the majority of accident claims we handle do settle without having to go to court, the more prepared we are for trial, the better your settlement, and the more likely are the chances the other side will want to settle.
Q. How soon can we begin settlement negotiations? I need money NOW.
A: Usually it is not a good idea to begin any negotiations until you have completely recovered from the accident and have a clear idea of the extent of any permanent injuries and/or disability and/or ongoing needs. Unanticipated medical bills, additional income loss, ongoing pain and suffering can make an early settlement into a big mistake. In order to maximize your recovery, the full extent of your injury, losses and suffering must be known. However, we will do everything possible to expedite matters and prepare your case for settlement as soon as practical.
Q: How soon after the accident do I have to file a claim?
A: In Pennsylvania and New Jersey, the time limit to report or file your injury claim may be as short as six months, as long as two years or possibly longer for someone who was injured before they turned 18 years old or someone who did not know that they had been injured until a later date. Also, the denial by your insurance company of coverage for your accident or injury may change the length of time you have to file a claim. It is important to consult us as soon as possible to ensure that you do not lose your rights to bring a claim.
Q: Why should I choose Edith Pearce and The Pearce Law Firm to represent me?
Edith Pearce is a successful, sought-after New Jersey and Pennsylvania accident lawyer with a great track record and many years of trial experience. Edith Pearce is intelligent (a member of MENSA) and has been recognized as the best of the best by her peers, being named a 2005 “Super Lawyer,” reserved for the top 5% of Pennsylvania lawyers and receiving the highest rating, “AV”, from Martindale-Hubble. In addition, before representing the rights of injured people, Ms. Pearce worked for both a large insurance company and also a law firm that defended (rather than filed) claims. As a result, she has a decided advantage in working with insurance companies and defense lawyers in getting her clients the maximum compensation and delivers superior results. Unlike the huge firms with dozens of attorneys where many different attorneys may be handling different aspects of your case, Edith Pearce is involved in your entire case from start to finish. She genuinely cares about her clients and you will not be treated like just another case or file. Put her inside knowledge, intelligence, compassion and experience to work for you.
If you or a loved one has a personal injury or auto accident claim in Philadelphia or Pennsylvania, call us today for a FREE CONSULTATION, or send us an instant e-mail.
We are dedicated to protecting your rights and obtaining full and fair compensation for you.
(215) 557-8686 :: Contact Us
No Recovery/No Fee/ Contingent Fee Cases Accepted
If you or a loved one has a personal injury or auto accident claim in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania or New Jersey call us today for a FREE CONSULTATION, or send us an instant e-mail.