Questions to ask when hiring a personal injury lawyer near Collegeville PA

If you have been injured in a car accident or as a result of someone else's carelessness, you may be searching
for a personal injury lawyer. There are many accident attorneys listed online near Phoenixville, Collegeville and Pottstown.
But, you want to make sure you get the right lawyer for you and your case. How do you do that?

A good way is to look at the lawyer's biography on their website. Then, contact them and really ask them questions.


These questions should include:

1. Does the lawyer focus or concentrate in Personal Injury Cases? (as opposing to just saying he or she handles them
but meanwhile they are really focused on other areas of law). The insurance company's lawyers concentrate in personal
injury. You want to choose a lawyer who is ready to handle the insurance company's tactics and is current on this specialized
area of law. An attorney who just dabbles in this area, may not be a match for the insurance lawyers.

2. How experienced is the lawyer pursuing cases against this insurance company that you are dealing with? Ask the lawyer if he or
she knows how this insurance company defends claims like yours.

3. Ask the personal injury lawyer you've contacted whether they're experienced litigating cases similar to yours and if so, how many against this insurance company you are dealing with? The correct lawyer you choose should have already dealt with this insurance company's lawyers before, have a track record with them and know what tactics they employ. For example, experienced injury lawyers will have gone up against the doctors hired by this company and will have experience in court against them.

4. Does the lawyer have experience actually handling personal injury cases similar to yours all the way through jury trials? That is important experience which the lawyer should put to work for you in your case. The goal is to resolve your case without trial but be fully ready to go all the way when necessary. This includes all aspects of court litigation including the use of expert witnesses, trial motions and experience with the Court where your case would need to be filed.

5. Does the lawyer have any career experience defending claims? A lawyer has previously worked on the defense side will have unique insight and knowledge into the way the company opposing your claim thinks and defends cases.

David Schreiber has over 24 years of experience, where he has focused his practice on personal injury cases. Every week, he deals with the insurance companies and adjusters that try to limit or deny claims like yours. He has handled personal injury litigation over the years in the courts in our area. David has experience litigating against the lawyers the companies hire to oppose cases like yours. He has also uniquely handled cases both in house for the defense and also on behalf of injured people. That experience defending cases has given our firm unique knowledge and insight into how the insurance company may try to oppose your case. We have developed successful methods and strategies to successfully overcome the insurance company's tactics in your case and to maximize recovery for our clients, with proven results.

We are ready to answer your questions and honor your trust. You can reach David Schreiber at (610) 792-3304.

Who is responsible for a fall on ice injury in Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, if you fall on ice on someone else's propertyand are injured, you may have a right to bring a personal injury claim. This depends on certain factors.

There are two main types of cases. First, when there has been a general snowfall or accumulation of ice. In this type of case, you must be able to prove that the property owner and/or company responsible for
cleaning the snow/ice failed to clear the snow/ice within a reasonable amount of time. You would also need to prove that there was a sufficient amount of snow/ice build up (called the "hills and ridges" doctrine).

A second type of case is when there is an isolated patch of ice (as opposed to generalized snow/ice conditions blanketing the area). Two possible scenarios exist here. The patch of ice could have formed due to a melt/refreeze condition. Or, there could be a condition to the property that caused the ice to form there. (Such as a leaking gutter or downspout, or a hole or depression on the walkway or driveway in which ice formed).
The property owner and company responsible to clean the property is responsible for searching out patches of ices and properly treating or removing them by applying salt, cinders or, for example, by scraping.

When you are researching or investigating a fall on ice injury or a slip and fall injury, it's important to determine the: property owner, property manager and whether there was a snow/ice contractor hired.

It is also important to contact an experienced slip and fall injury lawyer. We have decades of experience handling these cases in Montgomery County, Chester County, Berks County and the Philadelphia area. If you've been injured due to a fall on ice and need help, call us today at (610) 792-3304. We can give you an evaluation of your case and explain your rights. It is important that you not speak to the insurance company for the responsible party or give any statements before consulting with a lawyer. The insurance company will attempt to get a statement from you to use against you later.

Our firm has been dedicated to successfully helping clients in the Royersford, Limerick, Collegeville, Pottstown, Douglassville and Phoenixville areas for many years. We have over 65+ years of combined experience.

What is my car accident injury case worth in Montgomery County Pennsylvania?

If you were injured in a car accident in Montgomery County Pennsylvania, chances are you have questions.

The insurance company for the at-fault driver that hit you may try to low-ball an offer to you. The insurance company bases their settlement offers upon many factors.
The adjuster may tell you he or she is considering your injuries, the treatment you had, the extent of damage to your car, and the results of any diagnostic tests like Xrays or MRIs.
But, the adjuster also is typically looking at what their company's risk of exposure is. This means that they consider what risk they have for being exposed to a verdict or judgment in Court.
Not all Counties are the same. You can bet that the Insurance Company keeps their own statistics on jury verdicts, arbitration decisions and settlements in each of the Pennsylvania Counties.
It is generally believed that Philadelphia County is the most "plaintiff-friendly" County. Meaning, that they believe their highest risk of exposure is if the case is brought in Philadelphia.

Our firm's experience is that, as you go westward from Philadelphia, the Counties often become more conservative. So, Montgomery County is more conservative on damages verdicts/settlements than Philadelphia in the eyes of the insurance company. But, a more western county, such as Lancaster or Lebanon, is seen as more conservative than Montgomery.

Under Pennsylvania Law, your personal injury case, or car accident case, can be filed either in the county where the crash happened or the county where the at-fault driver lives. The insurance company won't tell you that they have a "reserve" set on your personal injury claim. They are required to set such a reserve under the Pennsylvania Insurance Regulations. A reserve is basically the "ultimate probable value" of a claim in the estimation of the insurer. The purpose of the reserve is that it is a way for the insurance commissioner to determine and confirm that the companies are sufficiently funded to pay claims. The insurance company internally sets a reserve on your case. They won't tell you what that amount is. But, factors include what county the case can be brought. You should understand that your case in Montgomery County is worth more or less than the same case in another county.

Also, keep in mind that if you are injured, and you need medical treatment, you should make sure that you promptly see your doctor. The insurance company will criticize your claim, or try to offer a lower value, if they feel that the are "gaps" in your medical treatment. When you see your doctor make sure you explain all of your symptoms and how the symptoms have been affecting your daily life.

Remember that when it comes to assessing their risk exposure, the insurance company will consider you as less of a risk if you do not have a lawyer.

It is important to consult with a Personal Injury Lawyer who is experienced in Montgomery County. At Wolpert Schreiber, we are experienced in handling personal injury cases and car accidents, including jury trials in Montgomery County, PA. We provide free consults. If you need help, call us today at (610) 792-3304. We are ready to answer your questions.

Car Accident Case in Pennsylvania: Can the Insurance Company Deny My Injury Claim due to a Pre-Existing Condition?

Often, after you've been in a car accident in Pennsylvania, the insurance company will look for ways to oppose your claim. A common approach the insurance company will take is to argue that your injury was "pre-existing" and not caused by the car crash. First, you should know that under Pennsylvania Law, if the car crash caused an aggravation to a pre-existing condition, then you can recover damages. Meaning, if the car crash made a condition worse, that is, aggravated or exacerbated that condition, then you are entitled to a recovery. This would apply to getting reimbursed for medical bills as well as for bodily injury (sometimes also called pain and suffering). Often, the Insurance Company and their lawyers will try cite to "degenerative" conditions on an MRI or Xray. They will say those were pre-existing. Remember, most people have some level of degeneration to their spine due to age. It's normal wear and tear. The key thing is whether you actually had any recent medical treatment or symptoms before the car crash. If there are degenerative changes on film studies, but you had no symptoms or treatment before, then the pre-existing argument is weak and you have a good argument to overcome it. But, sometimes it's not as clear. If you did have medical treatment or symptoms before the crash, even recently before, then you should look to a comparison of before and after. If your symptoms were worse after the crash, and/or the required medical treatment after the crash was more involved (such as specialists, injections, or surgery), then there would be a valid argument that the crash caused at least an aggravation injury to you. Before and after witnesses are also important. If there are eyewitnesses that have witnessed a change in you after the car accident compared to before, then that is strong evidence. So, there are many ways to demonstrate that the insurance company's position is wrong. I have seen the insurance company arguments many times over the years in my experience as a personal injury lawyer. You really need to make a detailed comparison of your life before and after the crash. "Degenerative" changes are not a decisive factor as the insurance company would try to make you believe. David Schreiber (610) 792-3304 Royersford Limerick PA Personal Injury Lawyer