How do I know whether I have a claim?
If you have suffered costly injuries because of someone else’s negligence, then you should consider your legal options. The existence of serious injuries combined with the fault of another party are two key elements of a successful lawsuit. If you believe those two elements apply to your case, consider reaching out to an attorney to further explore the viability of your case.
Statute of limitations
There is a time limit on how long someone has to file a claim. This is called the statute of limitations. In Pennsylvania, you have two years after your injury to file a personal injury, product liability or medical malpractice claim.
How much is my case worth?
The value of your case depends on several factors. Is it a medical malpractice or an auto accident case? How large were your medical expenses? Has your injury impaired your ability to work? The value of a personal injury claim in Pennsylvania can range from thousands to millions of dollars depending the answers to these questions. To get a better idea of how much your case is worth, contact us today to schedule a free, no-obligation case evaluation.
What makes a good attorney?
A good attorney has the knowledge, experience and skill to get results for a client. When you are conducting your search for a lawyer to represent you, take the time to find out about an attorney’s track record and credentials. Ask yourself...
• Has this attorney achieved results for clients with cases like mine?
• Is this attorney knowledgeable and well-versed in this area of the law?
• Is the attorney straightforward in their assessment of my case?
• Would I feel comfortable trusting the attorney to handle my case?
Take advantage of free consultations to help you answer these questions. Hiring an attorney can be a big decision, so make sure you feel comfortable with a lawyer before moving forward.
what does an attorney cost?
Attorneys can choose to bill clients in several ways. Some may charge a rate or work on a retainer fee. Many injury attorneys, however, choose to work on what is called a contingency fee.
What is a contingency fee?
At Rieders, Travis, Humphrey, Waters & Dohrmann, we get paid only if we win your case. This type of payment is known as a contingency fee, and we believe that clients are best served by knowing that if we don’t get them results, they don’t have to pay us a dime.
How does a settlement work?
A settlement is reached when the parties involved in an injury claim come to an agreement over the amount the plaintiff (the injured person) should be paid. Settlements are the result of negotiations between the legal representatives of the two sides involved in a lawsuit.
How does a trial work?
If a settlement can’t be reached, the dispute will go to trial. In a trial, the attorneys of the plaintiff and the defendant will make their clients’ cases before a judge and a jury. After the cases are presented, the jury will deliberate and determine whether the defendant was negligent. If the answer is yes, then the jury will decide how much money the plaintiff should be given.
What leads to a successful lawsuit?
A successful lawsuit is built on a great deal of preparation, research, strategy and planning. An attorney must invest time and effort into determining who was at fault for their client’s injuries, how much should be sought in a claim and how to build the most convincing argument possible. A legal team consults expert witnesses, researches prior cases, conducts interviews, handles depositions and prepares presentations to achieve this goal.
There is no substitute for hard work and preparation in the legal field. At Rieders, Travis, Humphrey, Waters & Dohrmann, we know that the more effort we invest in the cases we handle, the better the results we’ll achieve for our clients.
Contact Rieders, Travis, Humphrey, Waters & Dohrmann today to learn how we can help you.
What expenses are covered in a personal injury claim?
A claim seeks payment for medical bills, lost earnings (past and future), property damage, pain, suffering and the loss of life’s pleasures. Some of these expenses are more easily calculated than others, which is why it’s helpful to have an experienced attorney handle your case to determine an amount that truly reflects the challenges you’ve faced.
Who can be sued?
It’s vital to name the right party in a lawsuit. This might seem like a simple, basic decision, but a skilled attorney knows that it is in their client’s best interest if a deep investigation is conducted into the causes and contributing factors of an injury. These investigations sometimes yield surprising results, and it’s possible that multiple parties might be responsible for an injury, in which case more than one person will be named in a lawsuit.
Should I feel bad about suing someone?
When someone files a lawsuit against another person, they are not alleging that the person is bad. They are simply saying that they were responsible for their injuries and should pay the costs that stem from their negligence. In many cases, the person’s insurance company will be the one paying for the costs associated with your injuries. Don’t feel bad for naming someone in a lawsuit. You are seeking justice.
What is negligence?
Negligence means carelessness. It’s an important concept in personal injury and medical malpractice cases because it implies that a reasonable level of care wasn’t taken in a given situation. The negligent party is liable for the costs of someone’s injuries.
In medical malpractice cases, for example, a doctor is negligent when they fail to act in accordance with the standards of care accepted by the medical community. It might be difficult for a patient to determine whether a healthcare provider was negligent, which is why it is important to consult a Pennsylvania medical malpractice attorney to learn more about your options.
How is fault determined?
Fault is determined through investigation, evidence gathering and interviews of witnesses, among other processes. While you might have an instinct regarding who is responsible for your injuries, you will be able to trust your attorney to do the research to determine who was at fault.
Attorney Corey J. Mowrey
Partnership Announcement
We are pleased to announce that Attorney Corey J. Mowrey has been named a partner at Rieders, Travis, Humphrey, Waters & Dohrmann. Corey is an experienced attorney who has served at the firm as an intern, associate, and senior associate. His practice areas include personal injury litigation, motor vehicle accidents, medical/hospital malpractice, slip and fall, commercial law, unemployment compensation and civil litigation. We are excited to welcome Corey as the firm’s newest partner, and we look forward to his continued commitment to providing our clients with quality legal representation.
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