How do I file a personal injury lawsuit?

To file a personal injury lawsuit successfully, it's imperative that you find an experienced lawyer to get you through the process.

A personal injury lawsuit is a legal action, brought in court, by someone who has been injured (either physically or emotionally) by another person, usually by way of an accident, slip and fall, or a defective product. Personal injury can occur anywhere: at work, in your car, in the hospital, at a restaurant, on the sports field or simply walking down the street.

If you have suffered a personal injury, a personal injury lawyer can help determine whether you have grounds for a personal injury lawsuit. Obtaining damages in a personal injury lawsuit can involve complex litigation and the law varies by state.

Most people are not legally prepared to handle a serious injury. For legal advice from an established law firm, call The Pisanchyn Law Firm at 1-800-444-5309. We approach each case with thorough preparation, extensive legal knowledge and a high level of client contact. Furthermore, our clients pay no fees until we win their case and even then it is never out of their own pocket; we will only be paying you the money you deserve.

What constitutes pain and suffering in a personal injury lawsuit?

In a bodily injury settlement, pain and suffering or “general damages” is a negotiated amount of money to cover the person’s inconvenience, pain, suffering, permanent disability, disfigurement, loss of earning capacity, and future medical expenses. This amount is over and above the claimant’s incurred medical expenses and wage loss, which are called “special damages”.

The settlement is a combination of general damages and special damages and is intended to compensate the claimant to “make him whole”. One cannot literally return a person to how he or she was prior to the accident, so a monetary settlement is awarded to compensate for the loss of quality of life endured.

While pain and suffering has a lot to do with dollars and cents, it’s not just about dollars and cents at the Pisanchyn Law Firm, we care for you the person while also representing you the client.  Our staff, lawyers, paralegals, and other professionals, are specially trained to guide you and help you through each step of your injury case.

If you or a loved one has suffered an injury due to the negligence of another please, call our personal injury lawyers for a free consultation and no win no fee representation.

We do not want to be your attorney only for this case; we want to be your attorney for the rest of your life. Should you honor us by trusting our team of personal injury lawyers to represent you or a loved one’s interest, we will do our very best to never let you down.

Motorcyclist Invisibility is Not an Excuse for Other Drivers

While there are numerous scenarios that can cause a motorcycle accident, the most common cause is the "invisibility" of motorcycles to drivers of normal passenger vehicles.

Motorcyclists are somewhat undetected by other drivers, especially distracted drivers. Due to how small motorcycles are it is often common that bikes and the riders on them end up in many drivers' blind spots. This is a common cause of accidents, and a common excuse used by other drivers after an accident happens. All drivers should be aware of their surroundings and should drive with extra caution, especially in nice weather, in the event a motorcyclist is on the road.

Cut-offs, violation of the motorcyclist's right-of-way, and contact between the two vehicles are the most common accidents that occur due to motorcycle invisibility. Most motorcycle accidents are caused by a car, truck, or SUV making a left turn in front of a motorcyclist's right of way at an intersection.

In almost half of all motorcycle accidents, the driver's view of the motorcycle is limited by glare or obstructed by other vehicles. In these cases, the motorcyclist has less than two seconds to successfully react and maneuver to avoid an accident. Motorcyclists can not always be expected to make up for driver error.

 

If you or a loved one were injured in a motorcycle accident, you should be focusing on one thing – getting better. Aside from our free consultations, no win no fee representation, and 24/7 on-call assistance, our Pennsylvania motorcycle accident attorneys will be on your side every step of the way and will take the worries and stress off your hands. From the moment you hire us to get your compensation we will:

• send investigators to the scene of the accident.
• have experts reconstruct the accident when needed.
• gather evidence to support your motorcycle case.
• most importantly, fight the insurance companies that don’t have your best interest in mind.

Call us now at 1-800-444-5309 or visit our website for more information.

Why Hire an Accident Lawyer?

Our attorneys hear, on an almost daily basis, "I have insurance, I don't need an attorney," but the truth is, you may not WANT an accident attorney, but you are certainly going to NEED an accident attorney if you want to get the full amount of compensation you deserve after being injured in an accident.

Here are few reasons why you should at least consult with our experienced accident lawyers after being injured an a car crash:

1. It has been proven that personal injury victims obtain far more money once they hire an attorney
2. Our accident injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis which means our representation to you is completely free until we win your case, and even then you won't be paying us out of your own pocket, we'll actually be paying you the money you deserve. 
3. Insurance companies job's are to pay you the least amount possible to settle your claim so even though they may offer a quick settlement, it more often than not is not a fair amount.
4. Insurance companies offer the least amount of money to settle a claim and if that offer is not accepted, they purposely drag out the claim to delay paying their clients the money they deserve.
5. Sixteen percent of adults have experienced financial hardship while waiting for a claim to be settled. Don't let this happen to you!

Another reason to consult with our accident lawyers? Aside from our contingency fee representation, we also offer free consultations and our attorneys are on-call 24/7. We're available when you need us, so why not give us a call?

The sooner you contact our accident attorneys, the sooner we can help you get the compensation you deserve after being injured as a result of someone else's careless driving and mistake. You can reach our attorneys at 1-800-444-5309, or you can email us directly from our website.

Fall in Love With Pisanchyn Law Firm

Don't have a Valentine this year? Don't worry about it! You can be ours!
 
At The Pisanchyn Law Firm our Pennsylvania personal injury attorneys, Attorney Michael J. Pisanchyn Jr., Attorney Douglas Yazinski, Attorney Keith J. Figured, Attorney M. Lee Albright, Attorney Andrew Ferguson, and our paralegals and staff pledge, without any equivocation, that should you retain us as your Pennsylvania injury law firm, we will represent you skillfully, compassionately, and most of all, aggressively.
 
Choosing a law firm to help you after suffering an injury is extremely difficult. Commitment is hard, we understand. That's why we offer free consultations! Furthermore, our clients pay no fees until we win their case and even then it is never out of their own pocket; we will only be paying you the money you deserve. We will help you through your difficult time. If we cannot do the job we will refer to you the best person who can. Our attorneys are available to you 24/7 including nights, holidays, and weekends, which is more than any Valentine we've ever had!
 
If you've been injured by the negligence of another, be it an automobile accidents, tractor trailer accidents, motorcycle accidents, medical malpractice, workers' compensation, social security, or catastrophic injuries, we can help.

Still not sold? Get to know us better!

• Attorney Michael Pisanchyn
• Attorney Douglas Yazinski

Attorney Keith Figured

• 
• Attorney M. Lee Albright

• Attorney Andrew Ferguson

You can also follow us on twitter, facebook, and google+, or give us a call at 1-800-444-5309 with any questions or concerns about your case you may have.

Happy Valentine's Day, from all of us at The Pisanchyn Law Firm

Our Pennsylvania Injury Lawyers Honored for Giving Back

Congratulations to the Pisanchyn Law Firm's attorneys who were honored by the Pennsylvania Bar Association for giving back to the community. The attorneys were featured on the front page of the Pennsylvania Bar Newspaper earlier this month. Pictured from Left are Pisanchyn Law Firm attorneys Lee Albright, Douglas Yazinski, and Andrew Ferguson holding the law firm's award for pro bono service.

For more information on our attorneys be sure to visit our website!

What is a Catastrophic Injury?

If you’ve been following The Pisanchyn Law Firm lately you’ve probably noticed a large focus on “catastrophic injuries” in many different areas of our outreach. Many people have questioned us on this, the main question being, what is a catastrophic injury?

There are many different definitions and types of catastrophic injuries. In short, a catastrophic injury is an injury that has an immediate and/or long-term impact on a victim’s quality of life. These injuries are extremely painful and affect at least one bodily system, often resulting in permanent disability, life-long medical conditions, and shortened life expectancy.

While all injuries are serious, especially those caused by the negligence of another, catastrophic injuries are classified as the most severe type of injury. They affect not only the victim, but those close to the victim, as the victim will typically need constant care and attention from others for the rest of his or her life.

Catastrophic injuries are caused many different ways, including auto collisions, medical malpractice, work injuries, and even dangerous products or properties. We have made it a priority in our practice to help victims and their families after any injury but we felt it important to reach out to catastrophically injured victims and give them a place to find hope after such a difficult time.

For more information please visit pisanchyn.com. You can also call us anytime for a free consultation at 1-800-444-5309.

Do You Know the Difference?

1. It’s common for us to ask if you have full tort on your insurance policy and many times people will respond with, “I have full coverage.” Full coverage and full tort are not one in the same.

Normally, full coverage means you have all the state required liability options, as well as collision and comprehensive on your policy. While you do have to pick a tort coverage, full or limited, full tort is not required in Pennsylvania. This means if you have all the required liability options, collision, and comprehensive, but selected limited tort, you can not get compensation for pain and suffering.

What does compensation for pain and suffering mean exactly? Sometimes an injury is severe and will last for many months or even years causing you medical treatment for months or years to come. By choosing full tort you can protect yourself in the event of a long lasting injury that is caused by the negligence of another.

As we've mentioned before it's smart to think of 'what if' scenarios when setting up your insurance policy.

The accident attorneys at The Pisanchyn Law Firm want to be there for you through every step of your claim to help you get the compensation you deserve. Please call us as soon as you are the victim of another driver's negligence. For more information on Auto Insurance and to ensure you and your family truly are, "fully covered," visit our website.

Do You Know When Your Insurance Premium Can be Increased?

5. If you're worried your insurance premium will be increased after you report a claim, don't be. The insurance company can only increase your premium for one reason.

An insurance company can only increase your insurance premium based on "risk." If an accident is more than 50% your fault then you are more at "risk" and only then can the insurance company raise your premium. If you are the victim of another driver's negligence your premium can not be increased.

The accident attorneys at The Pisanchyn Law Firm want to be there for you through every step of your claim to help you get the compensation you deserve. Please call us as soon as you are the victim of another driver's negligence. For more information on Auto Insurance and to ensure you and your family truly are, "fully covered," visit our website.

Is Your Monthly Income Protected?

4. If an accident puts you out of work you could lose your monthly income unless you have this optional coverage on your policy.

Wage loss coverage is an option you can put on your insurance policy that will protect you in the event an accident injury prevents you from working. If added onto your policy then your insurance company is required, by law, to pay 80% of your gross income when you cannot return to your job from injuries sustained in the accident.

As we mentioned yesterday, the state minimum coverage doesn't save you anything in the long run and the same is true with wage loss coverage. The least amount of wage loss you can select is 1,000/5,000. This means, for instance, if you are out of work for 5 months, your insurance company will pay up to $1,000 per month for those 5 months. If you are out work for longer than 5 months but only have the minimum selected, you could lose your monthly income until you return to work.

Another way to protect you and your family after an accident is by calling The Pisanchyn Law Firm as soon as you are injured so our experienced injury attorneys can help you receive the full compensation you deserve.

State Minimum Coverage Doesn't Save You in the Long Run

3. Everyone with an insurance policy in Pennsylvania has to have Medical Expense Coverage but having this as is on your policy may not be enough.

What we mean by this is simple; if you have the minimum amount required by law, which is $5,000, but your medical expenses after an accident accumulate to $10,000, your insurance will only pay for $5,000 of it. It's important to think of 'what if' scenarios such as these when selecting your insurance coverage to be sure you and your family are fully protected incase you are ever the victim of a car accident. Click here for more information on Medical Expense Coverage.

Another way to protect you and your family after an accident is by calling The Pisanchyn Law Firm as soon as you are injured so our experienced injury attorneys can help you receive the full compensation you deserve.

Don't Let This Happen to You

2. Insurance companies take advantage of the fact that most people don't know their initial offers after an accident or injury are low, and get away with it.

Insurance companies will offer you the lowest amount possible to settle your claim. They do this because the less money they pay you the more money they make. This fact is one of the standing points in their business models. Read more about this model here.

Don't let the insurance companies trick you into an insufficient settlement. Call The Pisanchyn Law Firm as soon as you are injured so our experienced injury attorneys can help you receive the full compensation you deserve.

Most People Don't Know...

Here at The Pisanchyn Law Firm we think it's important to educate people on our different areas of practice. Each week we compile a list of important facts that most people don't know, and as a result, could harm them or their claim. As the week goes on we share more information on each fact.

1. 16% of adults are forced by insurance companies into financial difficulty after an injury.

2. Insurance companies take advantage of the fact that most people don't know their initial offers after an accident or injury are low, and get away with it.

3. Everyone with an insurance policy in Pennsylvania has to have Medical Expense Coverage having this as is on your policy may not be enough.

4. If an accident puts you out of work you could lose your monthly income unless you have this optional coverage on your policy.

5. If you're worried your insurance premium will be increased after you report a claim, don't be. The insurance company can only increase your rates for one reason.


Is there a particular practice area you'd like to know more about? Let us know! We are always looking for ways to help our clients, friends, families, and acquaintances and with your feedback we can get you the information you need. Comment on this post, send us a message on Facebook or Twitter, or email us at newsletter@pisanchyn.com with any suggestions or topics you'd like to know more about.

Has Your Insurance Company Done This to You?

1. 16% of adults are forced by insurance companies into financial difficulty after an injury.

When injured people don't accept the initial low offer made by insurance companies they intentionally prolong the claim process leaving injured people victim to financial difficulty, according to an article by Mollie Riley of The Huffington Post.

Don't become part of that 16%. Call The Pisanchyn Law Firm as soon as you are injured so our experienced injury attorneys can help you receive the full compensation you deserve.

Week in Review 5/11/2012

This week we explained what uninsured motorist coverage on an insurance policy is, and what the benefits of choosing this coverage are. We also explained what a Phantom Driver Accident is and what steps you should take to make an uninsured motorist claim if you are ever the victim of a phantom driver.

There are a number of things you can do after being involved in a phantom driver caused accident in an attempt to make a viable uninsured motorist claim.

• At the scene of the accident be sure to ask everyone who shows up if they saw the phantom driver.
• When the paramedics, hospital staff and/or doctors ask what happened let them know the phantom driver caused you to lose control.
• Tell the police at the scene of the accident, and at any interviews following the accident, about the phantom driver and how it caused the accident.
• Examine your vehicle for ANY proof of contact.
• Contact an attorney so they can begin an investigation to prove your statement that a phantom driver caused your accident.

There are many exceptions and technicalities to this area of law, especially with these types of accidents, that if you are not aware of could cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars. Our car accident lawyers are experts when it comes to dealing with insurance companies and will fight aggressively on your behalf to get you or your loved one the compensation you deserve.

When Just in Case Turns Into Now What

We explained yesterday what a phantom driver accident is, and what kind of coverage you should have on your insurance policy to protect yourself just in case you are ever the victim of a phantom driver. In this post we are going to go a little more in depth on what you should do when a phantom driver accident occurs.

In order to file a claim with your insurance company about a phantom driver you must report that another vehicle caused you to wreck, then fled the scene, to the police as well as your insurance company within 24 hours, or soon thereafter if 24 hours is not possible due to injury or other extenuating circumstances.

After reporting the accident, as well as the cause of the accident, to the police and your insurance company you should immediately call our experienced accident attorneys at The Pisanchyn Law Firm to help you with your claim.

There are many exceptions and technicalities in this area of law, especially with phantom driver accidents, and if you are not aware of them it could cost you thousands of dollars. Our accident attorneys are experts when it comes to dealing with insurance companies and will fight aggressively on your behalf to get you or your loved one the compensation you deserve.

Hit and Run...Minus the Hit?

Did you know in Pennsylvania another vehicle does not have to physically touch your vehicle to be treated the same as a hit and run?

Are you wondering how that's possible? Doesn't hit and run mean, someone hit you causing you to crash, then fled the scene? Yes, however if someone, for example, cuts you off in traffic, causing you to lose control and wreck, then flees after the fact, this is handled in the same manner as a hit and run. This type of accident is called a phantom driver accident.

We'll post more about phantom driver accidents as the week continues, but first we want to cover the insurance aspect of these accidents. If you don't have the right coverage on your insurance policy you could be left with all the bills resulting from a hit and run or phantom driver accident. Uninsured Motorist Coverage doesn't only protect you if an uninsured driver causes your crash, it also protects you in the event of a hit and run or phantom driver accident. Hit and run drivers and phantom drivers are  considered to be uninsured.

By having uninsured motorist coverage if you are ever the victim of a hit and run, phantom driver, or uninsured motorist, your insurance company then steps in to take the place of the uninsured/unknown driver. While this sounds cut and dry, there is a lot more to it. You should never handle any type of accident claim without the help of an experienced attorney. There are many things about this area of law that if you don't know, could cost you thousands which is why it is of the utmost importance to contact an attorney as soon as possible after an accident.

Call our accident attorneys at The Pisanchyn Law Firm as soon as you or a loved one are injured in an accident so we can help you obtain the compensation you deserve. For more information about accidents, insurance, and all other injury matters please be sure to visit our website.

Are You Covered?

Too often people come to us thinking they have "full coverage" on their insurance policies only to find out too late that they have the basic coverage required by law, or not enough coverage to pay for the hospital bills and damages.

Insurance policies can be tricky to configure, and when you see the monthly payments add up with the more you add to your policy it's easy to be discouraged into lowering your coverage. This month we're going to inform you on the different types of coverage and why it's important to have them all on your insurance policy.
Already we've posted a link on our twitter (@pisanchynlaw) explaining why you should always contact an attorney when you're involved in an accident whether you have insurance or not. As mentioned in the link, we were able to obtain $850,000 more than the insurance company offered one of our clients; that's just one of the many reasons contacting an attorney after an accident can be beneficial to you.

Remember, if you or a loved are unfortunately the victim of an accident, please call The Pisanchyn Law Firm. A car accident in traumatizing enough, fighting with your insurance company or stressing over how you're going to pay your bills shouldn't be your focus; your focus should be on recovering and putting your life back together.

Biker Safety- Week 3

Our motorcycle safety tip this week (see our motorcycle safety post for more information) is to know your surroundings as well as the obstacles and risks motorcyclists face.

When riding, be sure to watch out for and keep in mind these common causes for motorcycle accidents.

Remember, if you or a loved are unfortunately the victim of a motorcycle accident, please call the The Pisanchyn Law Firm. Having an experienced motorcycle accident attorney on your side will protect you from the bias assumptions made against motorcyclists. We will work around the clock to ensure that you are not only compensated for your injuries but that you are treated without bias throughout your claim.