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Accident FAQ

How To Move Forward: Frequently Asked Questions About Car Accidents

If you or a loved one have been hurt in an accident through no fault of your own, please contact attorney Andrew Rehmeyer of Rehmeyer & Allatt. We will fight to get you the compensation you deserve.

Auto accidents are unfortunately common on Pennsylvania roads. You may be a cautious and attentive driver, but other motorists may not share your same sense of focus. When a collision happens, the damage can be severe, and you may suffer injuries that leave a lasting impact on your life.

At Rehmeyer & Allatt, we help clients take legal action so they can get back on track. What follows are frequently asked questions we receive from our State College clients:

Do I have a case?

A car accident case is no different from any other personal injury case. To recover damages from the responsible party, you will need to prove that (1) you were injured; (2) someone was at fault for those injuries, and; (3) you can recover from the person or company that was responsible for those injuries.

Because every car accident is unique, the best way to determine if you have a case is to speak with the State College accident attorneys at Rehmeyer & Allatt who will provide you with a free consultation and assess the strengths and weaknesses of your case.

What is my case worth?

A case is never worth a dime until the responsible party or its insurance company makes an offer to settle or a judge or jury enters a verdict in your favor. Any lawyer or law firm that makes promises or places a dollar value on your case is either telling you what you want to hear or has never tried a car accident case.

To point out the absurdity inherent in a lawyer who tells you that your case is worth a specific dollar value, let’s look at two examples of someone who suffered serious injuries to her back in a rear-end car crash:

  • In the first example, the person who rear-ended the injured victim and caused the accident has the Pennsylvania required minimum auto insurance liability of $15,000. If the injured victim does not have underinsured motorist coverage on her own auto insurance policy, her case may only be worth $15,000, simply because that is all the money available from the at-fault motorist.
  • Take the same injured victim with the same injuries to her back, but instead of the driver who rear-ended her having the minimum auto insurance liability coverage, the driver now has $100,000 of liability auto insurance coverage. In this example, the case may now be worth $100,000. Same case, same injuries, two very different values to the case.

Do I need a lawyer?

You don’t always need a lawyer because you were injured in a car accident and we understand that. This is why our accident attorneys offer a free consultation and case evaluation. If you do not need a lawyer and you can resolve your case on your own, we will tell you that upfront in the initial free consultation, and you will owe us nothing.

While you may be able to resolve your claim on your own, it is important to understand that insurance companies are not in the business of paying claims — they are in the business of making money.

Having experienced, trial-ready attorneys on your side is your only means of ensuring that you receive the full compensation for your injuries and property damage to which you are entitled. Similarly, it is always a good idea to speak with an attorney before signing any release or agreement with the responsible party, its insurance company or your own insurance company, as these releases and agreements may have a serious impact on your case.

What will it cost to hire a lawyer?

At Rehmeyer & Allatt, we handle all personal injury cases, including car accidents, truck accidents and motorcycle accidents, on a contingency fee basis. Simply put, you do not pay us a dime unless we recover compensation for you by way of settlement or judgment. This means that you do not owe us any upfront costs associated with pursuing your claim until we are able to favorably resolve your case.

While other law firms tout slogans that they do not collect a fee unless they get money for you, we simply believe that it is the right thing to do and that all injured victims, regardless of their financial condition, are entitled to experienced, dedicated legal representation.

We Can Answer Your Questions Today

For further information on what you should do if you are involved in a car accident, truck accident or motorcycle accident, please contact Rehmeyer & Allatt for a free consultation at 814-343-9860. You can also contact us via email.

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