General Personal Injury FAQ
How can I pay an attorney when I am unable to work because of my injury? Experienced and ethical personal injury attorneys will always charge a client a contingent fee. I only represent injured people on a contingent fee basis. A contingent fee is a fee based upon a percentage of the amount of money collected for the client. Additionally, I help my clients by advancing many extra costs, such as fees charged to get copies of hospital and doctor's records or the cost for expert witnesses to testify.  I am not permitted, however, by Pennsylvania law to advance money for medical bills. When the case settles, the costs that I have advanced are paid back to me from the settlement funds. If I don't win you a settlement, my client is never responsible to reimburse me the money I've advanced.

How long does it take to settle a case? That depends on many factors, the most important of which is the length of time it takes the client to completely recover from his or her injuries -- or until I know for certain that my client will not be getting any better. At that point, I evaluate the case and discuss my evaluation with my client..Once the client and I agree on a negotiation strategy, I will start my negotiations with the insurance company. When the insurance company offers to settle the case for the amount we previously agreed was the fair settlement figure, the case settles, and the client has tax-free money in his or her hands in a few weeks.

I was just injured. Who should I call? Who should I report the injury to? First, get the necessary medical treatment. Second, call me now. Do not call your insurance company. Remember, the insurance company's job is to pay out as little as they can. As your personal injury lawyer, it is my job to represent your best interests. Let my staff and I do what we do best and earn our money by dealing with your insurance company.

Can you lend me money now and get reimbursed when you settle my case? The answer is simple -- no. It's against the law. A personal injury attorney, or any lawyer who lends money to a client puts himself in a conflict-of-interest situation. If that lawyer gets caught, he will lose his license.

Will I have to pay income tax on the money I get from you? No. Proceeds from personal injury cases are not income taxable.

What are your office hours? When can I call you? My office hours are from 8:30 am until 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. However, my telephone is answered either by my staff or by my answering service on a 24 hour basis -- never voice mail or an answering machine. When you call and I’m out of the office, my staff or my answering service tracks me down, gives me the message, and I return the phone call promptly.

Why don't you handle wills, divorces, bankruptcies or criminal cases?  For the same reasons that a brain surgeon doesn't do nose jobs. Specialization is good!  I can provide my clients with better, more effective representation by concentrating on one specialty -- personal injury law. If you have a legal matter other than a personal injury matter, I will refer you to another attorney in whom I have confidence.

Why do insurance companies settle? Insurance companies settle cases because they think it will cost them less to settle the case now than it will if the case goes to trial. The settlement value of the case is directly related to what the insurance company and I predict the verdict would be if the case went to trial. There are many subjective factors that help determine what a particular case is worth. My extensive personal injury experience has helped me get my clients all the money they deserve.

If you represent me, will I have to go to court? That depends upon the client, the case, and the insurance company. My philosophy is to try to settle every case. Sometimes, however, the insurance company does not offer as much to settle as my client and I would like -- and we choose to file suit. Statistically, about two-thirds of all of my cases settle without filing suit. Of those cases where I do file suit, approximately 90 percent settle before we ever get to trial. Remember, filing suit is not the same as going to court; it means that you're going toward court; but most cases settle before going to trial.

Aside from automobile accidents, what kind of cases do you handle? My office is a personal injury office -- for any kind of personal injury. If you have been hurt, and your injury resulted from someone else's negligence or from a defective or dangerous product, call me.  I also handle workers’ compensation claims.

How much time do I have to make a personal injury claim? Pennsylvania imposes a two year statute of limitations on most injury claims. Sometimes, there may also be a six-month reporting requirement. However, from a practical point of view, the longer you wait to hire a personal injury attorney and make a claim, the more difficult it is to investigate, prove and win the case. Do not delay -- call me now!

Why do I need a lawyer? What can you do that I can't do? Very simply, you’ll get more money with me as your personal injury attorney than you’ll get if you don’t hire me!  You need an experienced personal injury lawyer because you are trying to get money from a big insurance company (who will fight to avoid paying you what you deserve). I have more than 29 years of personal injury experience representing injury victims against insurance companies.. I understand how the insurance industry works. I understand what it takes to get insurance companies to pay. In addition, I have professional relationships with many qualified doctors and specialists in the Delaware Valley, and I can usually recommend doctors who will work hard to help you get better. Virtually all of my cases come from referrals from former clients and from attorneys who don't specialize in personal injury cases.

I am out of work because of my injury. The insurance company won't pay me. How will I make ends meet? In many personal injury situations, the defendant's insurance company has leverage because they have the money and you need it. Unfortunately, clients are occasionally forced to accept benefits from Medical Assistance or the Department of Public Welfare. As a personal injury lawyer with more than 29 years of experience representing injury victims in Pennsylvania, I do everything possible to minimize the need to accept public funds -- but sometimes it is unavoidable.

I wasn't at fault in causing my injury. Will I still have to pay the legal fee? The law in Pennsylvania states that the person who hires a lawyer pays his or her own attorney fee. Consider it a cost of doing business. But please remember that my fee is always contingent on winning the case. If I don't get you money, you don't have to pay a fee.

I don't live near your office, and my car is being repaired. Will you represent me? Yes. My first meeting with every new client lasts at least an hour. If you can't come to my office, I will make arrangements to meet you at your house or at another convenient location.

Car Accident FAQ
Product Liability FAQ
Slip & Fall FAQ
General Personal Injury FAQ

The Law Office of Richard C. Senker handles the following types of cases: Personal Injury including Automobile Accidents, Spinal Cord Injuries, Traumatic Brain Injuries, Medical Malpractice, Wrongful Death, Insurance Bad Faith, Nursing Home Abuse, Workers' Compensation, Airplane Accidents, Dog Bites, Drunk Driving Injuries, Large Truck Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, School Bus Accidents, Slip and Fall Accidents.