One of the biggest mistakes personal injury victims make is taking on the insurance company on their own without help from an experienced attorney. There are many reasons why injury victims decide not to call a lawyer for help.
Generally, victims may make this decision with incomplete information because they have a lot of unanswered questions. They may not realize an attorney can provide answers to their questions in a free legal consultation, which we provide at Schmidt Kramer.
We have compiled a list of questions injury victims often have for lawyers. If you have these or any other questions about the legal process and your potential claim, give us a call today to learn how we may be able to help you.
Our firm represents injury victims at no upfront cost, as we only get paid if we recover compensation. Our firm has secured millions on behalf of our clients.
Will You Need to File a Lawsuit to Recover Compensation?
The thought of having to file a lawsuit can scare injury victims into not even calling a lawyer. Unfortunately, many injury victims do not realize most claims are settled outside of the courtroom. Often, there is no need to even file a lawsuit, as an attorney can negotiate a settlement with the insurance company.
Insurance companies often do not want to go to court because of the added time and expense. They would rather settle than leave the case in the hands of a jury that might decide to award more compensation than the insurance company could have paid out in a settlement.
Even if a lawsuit is filed, your case might not make it to trial. The filing of a lawsuit shows the insurance company your attorney is serious about recovering compensation. Sometimes this is enough to make the insurance company offer more compensation or agree to the victim’s demands for compensation.
It is important to find a Harrisburg personal injury attorney with courtroom experience who is prepared to file a lawsuit because sometimes this is the only way to recover full compensation. Schmidt Kramer regularly takes cases to court to seek compensation and we have a track record of success.
How Long Will It Take to Receive Compensation?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Each case is different, and the duration of a case often depends on how willing the insurance company is to offer fair compensation.
Many cases take anywhere from three to six months to reach a resolution. Sometimes claims are resolved more quickly and other times it takes longer. Often, the more severe the injuries the longer a claim takes because insurance companies are reluctant to agree to the victim’s demand for compensation. If a lawsuit is filed, the case could take a year or longer to reach a resolution.
In a free consultation, our attorneys can review your situation to help give you an idea of how long it may take to obtain compensation for your damages. Our goal is to recover full compensation as quickly as possible, so you can start to move forward with your life.
Does Fault Matter in a No-Fault State Like Pennsylvania?
Yes, because you may need to pursue a claim against the liability insurance of the at-fault driver. Your personal injury protection insurance may not cover all your damages. For example, this may happen if you suffer a catastrophic injury that requires lifelong medical care and significant changes to your daily life.
You need a law firm with the resources and experience to investigate an accident and gather evidence to prove fault. Schmidt Kramer has been helping injury victims for decades and we have vast experience investigating and gathering evidence.
Will the Insurance Company Make a Fair Offer?
Often, the insurance company starts with a lowball offer. For example, they may call the victim soon after the accident and offer compensation, claiming they just want to resolve the situation quickly. They may also make a lowball offer after receiving the demand letter from the victim’s attorney.
However, this is typically how insurance companies respond to accident claims. It is important to understand recovering compensation is a process. Your lawyer can make a counteroffer and often the insurance company and the victim’s attorney go back and forth multiple times before reaching an agreement.
The insurance company may lead you to believe you need to accept the first offer because they will not offer more. However, this is often untrue. The insurance company’s first offer is usually not the only offer they are going to make.
It is important to hire an attorney to help you, as those who hire attorneys are often more likely to recover fair compensation. Hiring an attorney helps to show the insurance company you are serious about seeking compensation. If you hire an attorney who has taken cases to court, it is more likely the insurance company will want to reach a settlement to avoid the courtroom.
Can You Still Help Me at This Point in the Process?
Sometimes injury victims try to manage the legal process on their own without the help of an attorney. They may get frustrated with the insurance company’s lowball offers or attempts to delay the process. They may fear it is too late to get help from an attorney.
However, this may not be true. If you are struggling with the insurance company and could use help, give us a call to learn if we may be able to assist you. You should not assume an attorney will be unable to help you without contacting them to ask. At Schmidt Kramer, an initial consultation is free of charge and there is no obligation to hire our firm after meeting with us.
Call Schmidt Kramer to Learn More About Our Services
You do not need to go through the legal process without help. The insurance company is working against you and is looking for any way to deny or undervalue your claim.
The experienced attorneys at Schmidt Kramer understand this and are prepared to help you with every step of the legal process, and there are no upfront fees.
Give us a call to learn more. You can also visit our testimonials page to see what our clients have said about our services.
Schmidt Kramer. We are here to help injury victims. Call (717) 510-1770.