Personal Injury FAQ

The legal world is a complicated environment with countless nuances to take into account. As a result, there is a wide range of specialized attorneys dedicated to specific legal areas, such as criminal lawyers who handle criminal defense. With so many fields, it can be difficult to determine which kind of lawyer is best suited for your circumstances. If you call Liever, Hyman & Potter, P.C. and offer an overview of your situation, then they can help narrow down what kind of personal injury lawyer is best suited to handle your case. Our law firm was founded in 1959 and is knowledgeable in numerous areas of personal injury law.

After sustaining a severe injury, you will need to pay medical bills for treatment, potentially miss time at work, and experience pain and suffering. With a qualified and skilled lawyer’s assistance, it is possible for you to receive fair and full compensation for these damages. A knowledgeable attorney will increase your chances of reaching an acceptable settlement agreement and receiving more compensation than you would on your own. Additionally, personal injury lawyers can help settle a liability dispute to determine who is responsible for an accident.

No one has to make this important decision by themselves. Contact Liever, Hyman & Potter, P.C., and set up a free consultation to go over your situation in detail. Our attorneys will be able to identify who you can sue and what you can expect to gain based on the facts of the accident and the laws in Pennsylvania. In most scenarios, you’ll have a case if it can be proven that someone acted carelessly and caused injuries. Applying this standard is more complex than it may initially appear, which is why it is important to consult us.

If you’ve sustained severe injuries in a car accident, you should reach out to a lawyer shortly after the crash takes place. Not only will a professional car accident attorney help you gather vital evidence before it is lost to help your case, but they can also handle communications with your insurance company and deal with the careless driver’s insurance company.

You should never speak with insurance adjusters for someone else involved in the accident. While they may sound friendly and sympathetic to your case, they are almost certainly trying to get statements from you that would reduce or eliminate the liability of their insured. This is also true when an attorney for another person contacts you.

As previously mentioned, filing a medical malpractice lawsuit starts with contacting a lawyer. However, it is crucial that we have sufficient information before filing the claim because malpractice claims can be significantly more complicated than other lawsuits. Our dedicated attorneys will collect all of your medical records and thoroughly review them.

Your medical malpractice attorney must determine whether the case warrants a lawsuit before they file with the court. If we do go forward, we will rely on highly qualified doctors who will be able to explain why you or your loved one were wrongfully harmed by medical treatment.

The personal injury lawsuit process is often complicated but can be broken down into several steps, which are as follows:

1. You are injured due to another’s negligence and are owed compensation and money damages.
2. You contact our firm to handle your case. We will meet with you for free.
3. We will investigate the accident to learn everything about the incident and establish a case.
4. We will file a demand for compensation and monetary damages from the defendant’s insurance company
5. If the case does not settle at that time, we will file a lawsuit with the court.
6. Each side in the lawsuit will exchange facts with each other to establish the facts of the case in a process known as the discovery phase.
7. A trial before the judge and jury takes place to determine who is at fault for the injury. However, the case may settle so that no trial is necessary.
8. A decision is reached. If your claim is successful, then you will receive an award for monetary damages for your injuries. If anyone does not agree with the ruling, an appeal can be made.

Liever, Hyman & Potter, P.C. takes cases at no charge, and we collect our fees as a percentage of the settlement or judgment that we obtain for you. Therefore, if you do not receive any money from the case, your attorney will not either. This agreement is known as a contingency fee.

If you were injured while at work, you might have multiple options for compensation. You will be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits via your employer, which will cover medical bills and a portion of your lost wages. These workers’ compensation benefits may be provided as lump-sum payouts, which the workers’ compensation attorneys at Liever, Hyman & Potter, P.C. can negotiate for you. If an individual other than your employer or a coworker caused your accident, you might have an additional personal injury claim against that third party. For instance, if the equipment that injured you was defective, you may be able to sue the equipment manufacturer.

There are not many personal injury cases that go to trial, as the majority end in a settlement with the defendant’s insurance company. However, the amount of time it takes to reach a settlement is difficult to predict and can differ greatly by case. Claims involving substantial injuries valued at a large sum of money damages will usually take longer because the insurer will fight harder over the result. Settlements may also take longer to reach if the case is complex or if the fault is unclear. Hiring the right attorney can motivate an insurer to make a fair offer earlier in the process since they know that the skilled lawyers at Liever, Hyman & Potter, P.C. are behind you 100%.

The defendant’s insurance company will not pay bills until liability is established. Instead, you will have to cover these expenses first. Following a motor accident, you will be able to use Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage under your auto insurance to pay your medical bills. Your own health insurance coverage can also be used after any kind of accident occurs. If you were injured while at work, you can use your workers’ compensation benefits from your employer to pay your bills.

In the unsettling moments following a motor vehicle accident, your actions can make or break your safety and future personal injury claims. The first thing you want to do is make sure that you and any passengers are unharmed. Seek immediate medical attention even if your injuries seem minor, as some may not be immediately apparent. Report the accident to the police; having a police report can be invaluable.

Also, contact and insurance information should be exchanged with the other parties involved. Document the scene by taking photos of the vehicles, road conditions, and any visible injuries. Refrain from admitting fault or making statements that could be interpreted against you. Contacting your insurance company is necessary, but consider consulting with personal injury attorneys before providing detailed statements, especially if you suspect the accident may lead to a personal injury claim.

Victims of truck accidents in Pennsylvania may pursue several types of compensation to address the harm they’ve suffered. These types of compensation cover medical expenses, including future medical care related to the accident, lost wages for time off work, and diminished earning capacity if the victim cannot return to their previous job. Compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life is also available. In cases where the truck driver’s or company’s negligence was egregious, punitive damages might also be pursued. Each case is unique, so consulting with experienced personal injury attorneys familiar with Pennsylvania laws is the best way to truly understand the full scope of compensation available.

Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare professional deviates from the standard of care expected in the medical community, resulting in harm to a patient. It can include errors in diagnosis, treatment, aftercare, or health management.

Not every adverse outcome is classified as malpractice; it must be proven that the professional’s action or lack thereof directly caused harm. Examples include surgical errors, incorrect or delayed diagnoses, and improper medication prescriptions.

Product liability refers to the legal responsibility of manufacturers, wholesalers, or retailers for injuries resulting from defective or unsafe products. A strong product liability case typically requires demonstrating that the product was defective, the defect caused injury while being used as intended, and the product hadn’t been substantially altered from its original condition. Common defects include design flaws, manufacturing errors, and failures to provide adequate warnings or instructions. Personal injury victims should gather evidence of the defect, including the product itself, medical records of injuries, and any communication with the manufacturer or seller.

Nursing home neglect is tragically common and can manifest in various ways that jeopardize the well-being of residents. Physical signs include unexplained injuries, poor hygiene, malnutrition, or dehydration. Emotional withdrawal, sudden changes in behavior, or unexplained fearfulness may indicate emotional neglect. Environmental neglect is also noticeable through unsafe or unclean living conditions. If you notice these signs, document them and consult with personal injury attorneys who can guide you through the process of protecting your loved one and pursuing a personal injury claim if necessary.

The statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Pennsylvania is generally two years from the date of the injury. However, there are exceptions to this rule that might extend or limit the timeframe to bring forth a claim, such as injuries to minors, discovery of the injury at a later date, or claims against government entities. Early consultation with personal injury attorneys ensures that personal injury victims understand their rights and the relevant deadlines to preserve their ability to seek compensation