FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
DO I HAVE A CASE?
The initial contact with our office is usually by telephone. We will ask you questions to determine if you might have a case. Based on this assessment, we may ask you to come to our office for a more in-depth discussion. If you can't come to our office, we will come to you. Your meeting, which will last about an hour, will be with Alan Schnoll. He will discuss how your accident happened and ask you about your injuries. If you were in an automobile accident, he will also explain how the Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Law may affect your case. THERE IS NEVER A CHARGE FOR THIS MEETING. ALL PERSONAL INJURY CASES ARE HANDLED ON A CONTINGENT FEE BASIS. THIS MEANS THAT YOU WILL ONLY PAY A FEE IF WE MAKE A RECOVERY IN YOUR CASE.
HOW LONG WILL MY CASE TAKE?
Each case is unique which makes it difficult to predict how long it will take to resolve your case. As a general rule, it takes about one year before we know the extent of your injuries and the outcome of your treatment. More complicated cases will take longer. Once you have been discharged by your doctors, we assemble all of your records, analyze them and send a settlement demand to the defendant's insurance company. The insurance company may take weeks, or even months, to respond. Usually settlement negotiations will then take place and you will be consulted at each stage of these negotiations. Occasionally, a case cannot be settled because liability is disputed, or there is a disagreement over the value of your injuries and losses. These cases have to be placed in suit. Cases filed in Philadelphia County will take from 9 to 18 months to be heard, occasionally longer. Cases filed in the surrounding counties often take longer, sometimes as long as 5 years to come to trial. Cases filed in Federal Court are usually heard in less than a year from the date the complaint is filed. Where a case can be filed ("venue") and in which court it can be filed ("jurisdiction") are governed by the Rules of Civil Procedure which are strictly enforced.
WHAT IS MY CASE WORTH?
The value of your case depends on many factors: who was at fault, your injuries, your medical treatment, the outcome of your treatment, whether you will need medical treatment in the future, whether you have medical bills that must be paid or reimbursed, whether you lost time from work for which you were not paid, where the case would be tried, and other factors. Generally, we have to wait until your doctors discharge you, or tell you that you have reached a plateau in your recovery, before we can gather all of your records and make a judgement about the value of your case. We then compare your case to similar cases we have handled or which our colleagues have had. We also look at the trial outcomes for cases like yours in the court where it would be tried. Valuing a case is more of an art than a science. It takes an experienced trial attorney to do this.
WILL I HAVE TO GO TO TRIAL?
The simple answer is: maybe. The vast majority of cases are resolved by a settlement. Settlements sometimes happen before a lawsuit is filed. In other cases, a complaint is filed, the parties exchange documents, answer written questions and give and take depositions before the case is settled. Some cases go to Arbitration which is like a trial, but before three lawyers who act as judge and jury. And, yes, some cases must be tried before a judge and jury. Because we can't predict which cases will settle and which will be tried, we prepare every case as if it will go to trial. If your opponent knows you are well prepared to try your case, you are more likely to get a reasonable settlement offer.
(c) 2013 Alan Schnoll
DO I HAVE A CASE?
The initial contact with our office is usually by telephone. We will ask you questions to determine if you might have a case. Based on this assessment, we may ask you to come to our office for a more in-depth discussion. If you can't come to our office, we will come to you. Your meeting, which will last about an hour, will be with Alan Schnoll. He will discuss how your accident happened and ask you about your injuries. If you were in an automobile accident, he will also explain how the Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Law may affect your case. THERE IS NEVER A CHARGE FOR THIS MEETING. ALL PERSONAL INJURY CASES ARE HANDLED ON A CONTINGENT FEE BASIS. THIS MEANS THAT YOU WILL ONLY PAY A FEE IF WE MAKE A RECOVERY IN YOUR CASE.
HOW LONG WILL MY CASE TAKE?
Each case is unique which makes it difficult to predict how long it will take to resolve your case. As a general rule, it takes about one year before we know the extent of your injuries and the outcome of your treatment. More complicated cases will take longer. Once you have been discharged by your doctors, we assemble all of your records, analyze them and send a settlement demand to the defendant's insurance company. The insurance company may take weeks, or even months, to respond. Usually settlement negotiations will then take place and you will be consulted at each stage of these negotiations. Occasionally, a case cannot be settled because liability is disputed, or there is a disagreement over the value of your injuries and losses. These cases have to be placed in suit. Cases filed in Philadelphia County will take from 9 to 18 months to be heard, occasionally longer. Cases filed in the surrounding counties often take longer, sometimes as long as 5 years to come to trial. Cases filed in Federal Court are usually heard in less than a year from the date the complaint is filed. Where a case can be filed ("venue") and in which court it can be filed ("jurisdiction") are governed by the Rules of Civil Procedure which are strictly enforced.
WHAT IS MY CASE WORTH?
The value of your case depends on many factors: who was at fault, your injuries, your medical treatment, the outcome of your treatment, whether you will need medical treatment in the future, whether you have medical bills that must be paid or reimbursed, whether you lost time from work for which you were not paid, where the case would be tried, and other factors. Generally, we have to wait until your doctors discharge you, or tell you that you have reached a plateau in your recovery, before we can gather all of your records and make a judgement about the value of your case. We then compare your case to similar cases we have handled or which our colleagues have had. We also look at the trial outcomes for cases like yours in the court where it would be tried. Valuing a case is more of an art than a science. It takes an experienced trial attorney to do this.
WILL I HAVE TO GO TO TRIAL?
The simple answer is: maybe. The vast majority of cases are resolved by a settlement. Settlements sometimes happen before a lawsuit is filed. In other cases, a complaint is filed, the parties exchange documents, answer written questions and give and take depositions before the case is settled. Some cases go to Arbitration which is like a trial, but before three lawyers who act as judge and jury. And, yes, some cases must be tried before a judge and jury. Because we can't predict which cases will settle and which will be tried, we prepare every case as if it will go to trial. If your opponent knows you are well prepared to try your case, you are more likely to get a reasonable settlement offer.
(c) 2013 Alan Schnoll