Commonly Asked Personal Injury Questions
• What should I do in the event of an automobile accident? CALL an ambulance if needed. Call the Police RECORD the name, address, phone number, and the name and policy number of the company insuring the parties for all individuals involved in the accident, and any witnesses. When vehicles are towed, make a note of where they are being towed. PHOTOGRAPH damage to the vehicles involved REPORT the accident to your insurance company.
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What should I do in the event of an accident that does not involve vehicles? RECORD who is at fault for the dangerous condition or instrumentality that caused the injury. Procure the name, address, and phone number, etc. to determine who owns the premises and who controls the conditions that caused the injury. In the case of a dangerous product, record the details of who manufactured and sold the product, and the individuals responsible for its use. Save the product, all receipts, instructions, literature and packaging. DOCUMENT the unsafe or dangerous condition with photographs and an observation by an independent witness before it is repaired.
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Why should I call the police in the event of a vehicular accident? The police give official verification of what happened and between whom it occurred. The summons the police issues to the party who is at fault facilitates a speedy handling of the case.
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Should I contact the Defendant’s (the person who is at fault) insurance company? This depends on your specific circumstances. If you are not injured: Yes. Arrange to have your car repaired under the Defendant’s liability policy instead of your own to avoid having to pay a deductible. You might be advised to contact a lawyer since other parties may contend the accident or injury is your fault. If you are injured: (even if you are feeling some symptoms but have not seen a doctor) you should not contact the Defendant’s insurance company without first
contacting a lawyer. Giving a statement without legal advice could seriously jeopardize your case. *If you have already contacted the insurance company and have given a statement, advise your attorney, so that he or she may counsel you on the effect that it may have. • Should I contact a lawyer? Absolutely, but make sure you contact a lawyer who is an expert in personal injury law and litigation. Mr. Halloran accepts personal injury cases on a contingent fee basis. That is, there is no charge unless there is a recovery, and the charge would then be a percent of the recovery. If Mr. Halloran does not take the case, there will be no charge. • Do I have a case? If you were injured and someone else caused the injury, probably. To make that determination, you should seek legal advice. Contact someone whose experience allows him to look into an analysis of fault in conjunction with the injury and value your case - Attorney Halloran. • What is my case worth? The value of the case is a sum of many different ingredients; the same injury under different circumstances may have completely different values. The following, among hundreds of other components, can effect the value of a case: - the experience and reputation of lawyer representing a Plaintiff - where the accident happened - what type of appearance the Plaintiff and Defendant make - the insurance companies involved You need to talk to Mr. Halloran to get an assessment of the expected value of the case based on these types of things. • Should I seek medical attention? If you have any symptoms that relate to the accident, yes. If you didn’t go to the emergency room, you should followup with a family doctor or the appropriate specialist (to whom your family doctor typically refers you). Make medical care arrangements even before seeing a lawyer. • What if I don’t have health insurance and can’t afford to see a doctor? The law provides that medical care providers are entitled to a lien upon any recovery in a personal injury case up to certain amounts. To find out what doctors or health
care providers will work with you is as easy as asking. You can ask friends, or you can simply look in the yellow pages, call the doctor, and ask. • Why should I choose Mr. Halloran as my attorney as opposed to any other? When you contact Mr. Halloran, you get an analysis of the liability issues and value of your case at no cost, irrespective of whether or not he will accept your case. Mr. Halloran has over 25 years of experience. The insurance industry and defense lawyers are familiar with his track record of success and usually place a higher value on your case. Attorney Halloran’s goal is to maximize the net recovery of his clients through a thorough and proper investigation, maintaining repoire with the client and his/her medical providers, successfully litigating cases if settlement cannot be accomplished, and minimizing costs to achieve a successful result. You will receive the benefit of his other life experiences, including: training in engineering at Pennsylvania State University, teaching high school science in the public school systems, experience in the US Navy, and job experiences throughout his seven years of college. The latter includes experience with respect to automotive and heavy equipment repair, heavy equipment operation, aviation, and all phases of construction. His insight into the technical aspects of a case make it easier and less costly to prove the facts required to win it.