Frequently Asked Questions

 

Question No. 1:  Do I need a Lawyer?

 

Answer:  If you have been injured by the actions of another, you probably need a lawyer.  The insurance companies immediately dispatch investigators, photographers and engineers upon learning of an accident, and in order to be successful in your case, you must have an attorney do the same. Evidence is quickly lost, the site of the accident sometimes changes, and witnesses can disappear. Without an experienced attorney, it is very difficult to deal with an insurance company on your own.  It certainly doesn't hurt to contact a lawyer and ask questions. We offer no obligation free consultations. That means that you can call our office and speak with a lawyer about your situation.  If necessary, we can come to you or you can come to our office to discuss your situation in more detail.  We will not charge you anything for this service.  If we decide that your case has merit, and you decide that you want us to help you, we will enter into a written fee agreement and you may retain our services.

 

 

Question No. 2:  Why should I hire you?

 

Answer:  Experience pays--we have decades of experience successfully representing people injured in a variety of accidents. Our firm has received the highest ("AV") rating from Martindale-Hubbell , and Attorney Mike Colarusso is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and The Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County. Attorney Herb Cohen has years of litigation experience representing both Plaintiffs and Defendants in a variety of cases, with a focus on Work-Related injuries. Regardless of the type of accident, there is a very good chance that we have handled a similar case in the past. Our attorneys know what questions to ask, what to look for, and how best to bring your case to a successful conclusion. Perhaps most importantly, the insurance companies on the other side of your case know that we are experienced, tough litigators. As a result, they are more likely to take your case seriously and enter into realistic settlement negotiations.

 

Question No. 3:  What does it cost to hire you?

 

ANSWER:  We offer a free consultation, and if we accept your case, we will handle the case on a contingent fee--there will be no retainer, hourly charge, or billing. If we win the case, either by settlement or verdict, we recover our fees and costs. IF WE DO NOT WIN, YOU OWE NO FEES OR COSTS.

 

 

Question 4: Who will work on my case?

 

ANSWER: Our attorneys work on your case, and we are often assisted by independent experts, paralegals, investigators, and any other resource we feel is necessary to bring about a prompt and fair resolution of your case.

 

 

Question 5: How do I know if I have a valid case?

 

 

ANSWER:  Simply call our office to speak with one of our attorneys. We can set up a free appointment in our office, or, if necessary, we can come to you. We often have a pretty good idea whether you have a valid case at the end of our first meeting. Occasionally, we must investigate further, sometimes retaining engineers, medical experts, etc. to advise us on technical issues before forming an opinion as to the validity of your case. We will work together to determine whether you have a case which can be pursued successfully.

 

 

 

Question 6: The insurance company wants to talk to me. Should I give them a statement? Won't they be fair with me?

 

ANSWER:  Like it or not, the job of the insurance company is to gather evidence against you so that they can defend against your claim. Their goal is to pay you as little money as possible. It is common that the insurance company will want to take your statement to help them achieve this goal. Our suggestion is to contact and retain an experienced attorney before attempting to deal with an insurance company on your own.

 

 

Question 7: I've been hurt at work. Won't I automatically receive Workers' Compensation benefits even without a lawyer?
 

ANSWER:  Often, yes. However, Workers' Compensation benefits are limited to partial lost wages and medical expenses. You may have the right to receive money for pain, suffering, inconvenience, scarring, or even a "specific loss." Call for a free, risk-free consultation. If we cannot help you receive more benefits than you will automatically receive, we will tell you so at no charge.