If you or someone you love has suffered a personal injury, you need help from skilled attorneys who know how to fight for your rights. We will immediately set the legal process in motion, and fight to get you the maximum financial compensation, as soon as possible. Starting now and throughout your entire recovery, we will work tenaciously to get you the money you need to cover your medical bills, lost current and future income, medication, therapy, pain and suffering, and any other losses you may have suffered.

Our Philadelphia Lawyers Are Here to Help with Your Personal Injury Lawsuit

After you are injured an attorney can help by hearing all the facts for your case and listening to concerns about your case. Then attorneys will be able to explain the legal processes involved and provide sound advice as we work to build the strongest possible personal injury claim for you. With all our clients our team will work hard and consistently to get you the best possible compensation, with as little stress on you as possible.

During your case, you can expect our attorneys to bring in medical and technical experts who are able to provide expert testimony as needed to strengthen our clients’ cases. Our staff returns calls as soon as possible, keeping you informed throughout the process. We come highly recommended and have a first-rate record of winning excellent settlements and verdicts for our clients. Our Philadelphia attorneys are adept at facing down defense attorney arguments and the tactics insurance companies use to avoid paying you the compensation you deserve. We will build a strong and successful a claim for you as possible, and be diligent in protecting your rights and interests at all times.

We handle all types of personal injury cases, including:

We handle injury cases, such as:

We also handle workplace injury cases, including:

  • Construction accidents
  • Ladder and scaffolding accidents
  • Worker’s compensation

What you need to know if you are hurt in an accident

Accidents occur in many ways, whether you were injured on the job, hit by a car while riding your bike or crossing the street, were hit by a drunk driver or even suffered injuries due to a public transit accident such as the recent tragic train incident in New Jersey.

In an ideal world, a person who is injured would be able to recover their medical costs and/or compensation for pain and suffering quickly and easily. All too often, however, insurance companies drag out the process or the person who caused the injury has inadequate coverage. And, unfortunately, many who have sustained an injury believe they should wait until the police report is filed or that they will automatically recover their damages. This is simply not the case.

Here are 7 things you need to know in the event you have suffered a personal injury.

  1. Don’t wait for a police report, contact an attorney.
  2. Don’t talk to the insurance company without speaking to an attorney. Only a lawyer can protect you from the insurance company.
  3. Most attorneys won’t charge you a consultation fee and will answer your questions at no cost or obligation to you.
  4. Statutes of limitations vary by state, but in Pennsylvania, you have two years from the date of injury to bring a lawsuit. 42 Pa. Con. Stat. Sec. 5524.
  5. In some instances, depending upon the type of accident or injury, an insurance company may deem you to be a certain percentage at fault. Pennsylvania is a comparative fault state which means that the amount of any possible settlement may be reduced in proportion to the percentage of negligence attributed to you.
  6. If you have a friend or relative who has been through the personal injury process, it is key to remember that their experience will be different than yours-their settlement or case outcome will be different than yours. It will be different because your case has different facts and situations. No one type of injury or accident has the same outcome.
  7. Most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you will not have to pay a dime until they obtain an outcome in your case that results in a settlement or other monetary recovery.

When you work with an experienced lawyer throughout the course of your personal injury case, you will be able to take care of yourself while your attorney takes care of the rest.

Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Injury Law

Below are answers to some common questions we hear about personal injury claims.

How soon after I am injured should I speak with a lawyer?

It is important to contact Gay & Chacker as soon as possible after an accident, medical error, infringement of your civil rights, or any other important legal matter. It is essential to call us right away. There may be time limits that apply to your claim or lawsuit, and we will need to submit all necessary documents and evidence before that deadline. If you have been injured, you will be receiving medical bills while also missing work time, making timely action on our part all the more crucial. We will zealously protect your rights and interests and work to get you the best possible compensation as quickly as possible, right from the start.

Do I need to file a claim or personal injury lawsuit immediately after I’m injured?

Every state has its time limit, called a statute of limitations, by which you must file a personal injury lawsuit or workers’ compensation claim. It is vital that you do not miss the deadline for filing your case! You can lose your legal right to recover losses and claim compensation for your injuries if you wait too long to file. It is vital that you or a loved one contact us as soon as possible after you suffer or discover an injury.

How do I know if I have a personal injury case?

In a personal injury case, you and/or your property will have suffered an injury due to someone else’s negligence or intent to harm. An actual physical injury is not necessary for a personal injury lawsuit, but you must have sustained some form of harm or loss. That might include a physical injury, mental/emotional trauma due to threats or harassment, a loss of your or your business’s reputation, or an invasion of privacy, for example.

If you or someone you love has been injured as a direct result of someone else’s negligence or intention to harm you, you have the right to file a claim for compensation. As long as you played no part in causing your injuries and other damages, you can recover compensation by establishing that the other person was at fault. Our firm has handled hundreds of personal injury cases over the past five decades. We have the experience and legal know-how to successfully gather all necessary evidence, argue on your behalf, and hold those responsible accountable for your damages and losses.

How will my problem be resolved—by settlement or in court?

Many cases are resolved by settlement. In those cases, both sides agree that the person or company at fault or their insurance company must compensate you for your injuries and/or losses. If no settlement agreement can be reached out of court, our skilled trial attorneys will go to court to fight hard for your right to fair and just compensation. As our client testimonials state, our attorneys are very reliable in returning all calls and being in regular contact with you, while we gather and assess the evidence needed to build your claim or lawsuit. We will keep in touch regularly to keep you informed of all progress.

What if my friend or family member dies before they are able to file a personal injury claim or suit?

If the injured person dies because of their injuries, their family may recover money through a wrongful death action. If they die from unrelated causes, a personal injury claim can still be made on their behalf. The claim would be filed by the executor or representative of the deceased person’s estate.

What does it mean in personal injury cases if someone has been negligent?

A person is negligent when they fail to act like an “ordinary reasonable person” would have acted. Negligence is a failure to act with the level of care that any person of ordinary carefulness would have used under the same circumstances. Negligence usually refers to actions, but can also refer to lack of action when there was a duty to act. This might include a person failing to stop someone from becoming injured because of some action or situation the negligent person created. That refusal to take responsibility, warn or help another person can apply to individuals, businesses, employees, and consumers.

What if I can’t prove someone’s negligence caused my injury? What else might cause personal injury?

Some companies or individuals may be held “strictly liable” for certain actions even if they have not acted negligently or with wrongful intent. This applies if you were injured by a defective or dangerous product, for example. You may recover compensation from the manufacturer or seller of the product without having to show that one of them was acting in a negligent way. For example, individuals or businesses that use explosives or store dangerous substances on their property can be strictly liable for harm caused to others, because of these actions.

I know how to fill out forms. Can’t I just try to settle my personal injury case or claim myself?

You can try to do this on your own, but you will be facing insurance companies who are experts at finding ways to pay you as little as possible, or nothing. It will not matter how strong your claim is. Because you are not a lawyer who can sue them, they will not take your letters or emails very seriously. They will prolong the process and find the right loopholes to get out of paying you the money you have a right to receive. Also, there are usually several different insurance policies to collect from—insurance companies will not tell you this.

Our Philadelphia personal injury attorneys are experienced in dealing with insurance companies. We know all of their tactics, tricks, and arguments. We will deal with those arguments by using our proven skills and experience, and get you the highest possible compensation we can, from all eligible policies. In the case of a workers’ compensation claim, there are many legal twists and turns that require an attorney’s training and experience.  In the case of a workers’ compensation claim, you could end up with a too-small amount of compensation or none, if you miss deadlines or do not submit all necessary information. Put our experience to work for you, and avoid making costly mistakes.

What if I don’t win any compensation? Won’t you still charge me a fee?

We will charge you absolutely no fee unless we recover financial compensation for you.

Is my settlement tax-free?

Wherever possible, our knowledgeable personal injury lawyers will structure the settlement so that it is completely tax-free.

How long will it take until I receive financial compensation?

We will work hard to get you your compensation as quickly as possible. If you were injured in an accident, we can sometimes get you a settlement check in a number of weeks. Cases such as medical malpractice and product liability and more complex, and can take several months or longer. But we always work to get compensation to clients as soon as possible.

Will I have to go to court?

We are able to settle the vast majority of our clients’ claims without having to go to trial, but should your case come to trial, we will use our strong trial skills to powerfully represent your interests in court. Our personal injury attorneys will work daily to push your state’s Workers Compensation Board and any insurance companies involved until they pay you as large a settlement as possible.

If I have a personal injury claim, what damages can I try to recover?

Personal injury cases can involve financial, physical, mental/emotional, and damages to property and business reputation. Compensation can be paid to cover many areas, including:

  • Medical expenses, including medication, therapy, doctor’s office visits, hospitalization, assistive devices, and rehabilitation
  • Lost wages and benefits (current and future)
  • Gas mileage to and from the hospital or doctors’ appointments
  • Property loss or damage
  • Lost business income
  • Pain and suffering
  • Mental anguish
  • Loss of the injured person’s participation in family life, including loss of parental care
  • End-of-life expenses
  • Temporary or permanent disability

Why should I use the attorneys at Gay Chacker & Ginsburg instead of those at another firm?

Our Philadelphia-based lawyers are known for reaching excellent settlements as quickly as possible, treating clients with the respect they deserve, and working as conscientiously and as hard as we can. We have an excellent track record of serving clients in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and surrounding areas for the past five decades. We are here to help you and your family.

The lawyers at Gay & Chacker are happy to speak with you and answer any questions you might have about your specific situation, and what we can do to help. Call us today, or fill out our contact form to start things rolling. We have built a solid reputation based on caring, concerned service for our clients, and winning results. There is no risk or obligation. We charge you no legal fees unless we recover financial compensation for you. Call us today at 800-529-4030 for a free initial consultation. We are happy to answer any legal questions you may have and to let you know that we are a law firm you can trust.

Why should I hire a lawyer for my personal injury case?

You have a far greater chance of receiving full and fair compensation for your losses if you are represented by an attorney. Those who turn to a law firm for guidance through the claim or lawsuit process recover far more compensation on average, than those who file a claim on their own. A skilled attorney’s knowledge and ability will help immeasurably. You do not want to stand alone when dealing with insurance companies in a settlement or in the courtroom.

Defense attorneys and insurance companies know that the average person does not know the law sufficiently, or the loopholes they are skilled in finding. They will take advantage of that lack of legal knowledge at every turn—and you and your family will lose thousands of dollars you might have received if you had had a professional attorney guiding the process for you.

Contact Your Philly Personal Injury Lawyers Today

We are native Philadelphians who have loyally served clients in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and surrounding areas since 1965. If you or someone you care about has suffered a personal injury, you need the help and support of skilled and dedicated Philadelphia personal injury attorneys who know how to fight for your rights and get you the compensation you are entitled to. There is no risk to you. We offer a free consultation to hear about your situation, and we only get paid if your claim is settled successfully. We are here to fight for you, so contact us today.