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Pennsylvania Bicycle Accident Attorney
• Free consultation
• No legal fee
unless I recover money for you
• Admitted to the state Bars in Pennsylvania and New York
Hire a Pennsylvania bicycle attorney with demonstrated results.
 Selected for membership in the prestigious Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum whose member are all trial lawyers who have proven results in advocacy by achieving a trial verdict, award or settlement of Two Million Dollars or more.
 Selected as a New York 'Super Lawyer' in the area of personal injury plaintiff attorneys.
In addition to being the Pennsylvania bicycle attorney on Bicycleattorney.com, Jim is also the "upstate New York bicycle attorney" on this site. Rather then repeat information about Jim here, please follow this link if you would like to read more about Jim on the beginning of his New York bicycle attorney page.
Frequently
Asked Questions
Pennsylvania Bicycle Accident Attorney
Q: How soon after my bicycle accident should I call you?
A: Call me (800-943-3529) or E-mail me (jreed@zifflaw.com) IMMEDIATELY. Do NOT talk to the other person's insurance companies until AFTER you have consulted a lawyer. Remember: insurance company adjusters are trained to pay you as little as possible so it is critically important that you get solid legal advice so you don’t make the mistake of saying something to the insurance adjuster that might be fatal to your case. I make a point of returning all calls and e-mails promptly. If you have been injured in a bicycle accident you need to know right away what insurance coverage is in place to cover your medical expenses and lost wages.
Q: How do I pay your legal fees?
A: I handle bike accidents and all other personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. This means YOU DO NOT OWE ME A LEGAL FEE UNLESS I RECOVER MONEY FOR YOU. I do not ask for any attorney fees upfront. If there is no recovery there is no fee.
Q:
Lawsuits can be expensive, will it cost me any money up front for filing fees, court costs, expert witness fees, and any other costs?
A: Filing a lawsuit, paying court costs and expert witness fees can be very expensive. Every year I spend thousand of dollars in litigation costs. I know that most people cannot afford these costs up front, so Iforward these costs up front in every case I take. Spending a few thousand dollars on a good expert witness can make the difference between getting thousands of dollars and getting nothing for your personal injury claim. Before you hire a lawyer, make sure that they are willing to forward the money to adequately pursue your personal injury case. Otherwise, you may be forced into taking a minimal settlement if you cannot afford to spend thousands of dollars to pursue your personal injury claim.
Q: Are there any hidden fees?
A: No. I do not charge you fees for consultations, opening your file, copies, long distance, etc. Before you hire a lawyer, make sure you find out what they will be charging you, as these hidden fees can add up.
Q: Will I get to talk to a lawyer if I call?
A: Yes. Everyone who calls for a free consultation gets to talk to me personally. If I am not immediately available because I am in court or meeting with another client, you will be able to speak with my paralegal Karen Wheadon who is both brilliant and very friendly. Karen will make sure that you will get to talk to me right away or later the same day. I tend to be most accessible via E-mail and my clients always compliment me on how quickly I respond to emails.
Q:
Should I call you even if I want to handle my claim myself?
A: Yes. As a fellow cyclist, I am happy to help other cyclists even if they ultimately choose not to hire me. If I can give you some good advice that helps you handle your claim on your own, I am happy to do so. In fact, I have done that many times for many of my cycling friends in New York and Pennsylvania. New York is a No Fault State and there are many traps waiting to ensnare those who are not used to dealing with the insurance companies on a regular basis, including very short time periods to submit certain vital information. The failure to abide by these time frames could wind up making you personally responsible for hundreds or even thousands of dollars in medical bills, even if you think you are covered by private health insurance. I will also be happy to advise you, at no charge, on how to evaluate your claim for personal injuries.
Q:
Can I recover even if the motorist never hit me?
A: Yes. Many people are under the misconception that there has to be physical contact between a cyclist and a motor vehicle for the motorist to be liable. This is not true. There are many situations where cyclists are injured when they take evasive action to avoid being hit, and crash as a result. The motorist can still be held liable if their negligence required the cyclist to take the evasive action.
Q:
Can I recover if the other driver had no insurance?
A: Yes. If you have Uninsured Motorist coverage on your own auto policy, you can recover money for your medical bills and pain and suffering even if the other driver had no insurance. You can read more about this coverage here. I am happy to review your insurance policy for free to determine your coverage. If you wish me to do so, just email me a copy of your policy at jreed@zifflaw.com or fax it to me at (607)398-7947.
Even if you don’t have your own auto insurance coverage, you may be able to recover if the other driver had no insurance. New York State has set up a fund called MVAIC, to which all carriers contribute, to provide coverage to victims of hit and run drivers and other uninsured vehicles. There are strict rules and time limits which must be followed to collect from the fund but once you qualify you can recover for medical expenses and for personal injuries.
Q:
Does my auto insurance cover accidents when I am on my bike?
A: Many auto policies will cover you if you are injured in a bicycle accident or while on foot.
Q:
How do I know if I have a good bicycle accident claim?
A: You need to contact me and we can discuss your case. My consultation on a personal injury case is always free.
Q: Should I accept the offer that the car insurance company has given me?
A: Often times I can get insurance companies to substantially increase the amount of their settlement offer. If you have already received an offer for your injuries, contact me and I will let you know if I think it is a fair offer.
Q: How long does it take to settle most bicycle accident and personal injury cases?
A: It depends on many factors. Some carriers beleieve that they can discourage claims by waiting until the last minute to settle. Others make a business decision to settle quickly to avoid defense costs. It will also depend on how quickly you recover from your injuries. It may be unfair to you to settle prematurely if you are still in active treatrment. Once you accept a settlement, your case is over forever.
Q: Will pursuing my case take up a lot of my time?
A: No. Oftentimes I only meet with clients for the initial interview and then we can just talk over the phone. I have even handled many cases where I never met with my client face-to-face and we corresponded via phone and E-mail. If we do have to go to court, it will take more time. I realize your time is important, so I don't waste it.
Q: Will I have to travel to your office to meet with you?
A: As I said above, not always. Some clients I have met with in my office MANY times while others I have never met face-to-face. Although I truly enjoy meeting my clients in person, I have previously represented clients who were in California, Colorado, China, etc. who were not required to travel to meet with me. My practice is 100% digital (every piece of paper is scanned) so it is easy for me to handle cases from afar.
Q: Will I have to go to trial?
A: The vast majority (approximately 95% for me) of my bicycle collision and personal injury cases don't go to trial. However, I treat each case as if it is going to be a trial, as you have to be willing to go to trial to maximize your settlement.
Q: Why is it so important to hire an experienced Pennsylvania trial attorney?
A: Most bicycle injury accidents and personal injury cases settle before trial, but you want to maximize your settlement. My team and I have had many years of trial experience with much success in the courtroom. I will not advise you to settle for one penny less than your case is worth.
Q: Do I need a Pennsylvania lawyer?
A: In order to settle your bike accident case you will have to deal with insurance companies. Their goal is to pay you as little as you will take. It is tough for someone who is not familiar with bicycle accident cases to know what a fair settlement amount is. An experienced Pennsylvania bicycle accident attorney can help you to determine that amount and reach a fair settlement.
Q: What types of Pennsylvania accident cases do you handle?
A: I handle all types of Pennsylvvania personal injury, wrongful death and products liability cases, including: crashes and collisions involving bikes, automobiles, trucks, etc.
Q: What parts of Pennsylvania do you handle cases in?
A: I am admitted in both New York and Pennsylvania and routinely handle cases throughout both states.
I will handle take cases throughout
the state of Pennsylvania including the following counties:
Counties: Philadelphia, Montgomery, Delaware, Bucks,
Chester, Carbon, Berks, Dauphin, Lebanon, Lehigh, Centre.
I will get you an experienced bicycle attorney in all other
counties.
Cities: Bristol,
Willingboro,
Trenton,
Audubon,
Stratford,
Reading,
Blue Hill,
Broomall,
Brookhaven,
Gibbstown,
Lindenwold,
Somerdale,
Bellmawr,
Havertown,
Bala, Cymwyd,
Moorestown,
Cinnaminson,
Marlton,
Bellmawr,
Linwood,
Riddlewood,
Media,
Florida Park,
Norristown,
Oreland,
Stratford,
Paulsboro,
King of Prussia,
Volunteertown,
Palmyra,
Cherry Hill,
Lenola,
Gloucester City,
Philadelphia
,Pittsburg,
Camden,
Wyndmoor,
Drexel Hill,
Swarthmore,
Woodbury,
Upsal,
Crescentville,
Rockledge,
Chester,
Cheltenham,
Collingswood,
Burlington,
Jamesburg.
Q: I was hurt in a state other than New York or Pennsylvania, can you help me?
A: As I said above, I am ALWAYS willing to assist a fellow cyclist in finding an experienced bike accident attorney in their area so if you need help, just give me a call (800-943-3529) or E-mail me (jreed@zifflaw.com) and I will be happy to help you. |
