For more than sixty years, our firm has represented accident victims in NY and Pennsylvania. Our practice has developed an effective strategy, which has permitted us to achieve good results on behalf of our clients. Of course, we are constantly refining our process and responding to changes in the law. However, the description below will give you an overview of how we generally approach accident cases.

The time limit to bring an accident case in New York is three years from the date of the accident. In Pennsylvania, it’s two years from the date of the accident. We do not believe in letting your case get anywhere near these time limits before bringing a lawsuit. We generally will not accept a case when someone comes to us, and there are only six months or less on the time limit to pursue the case. 

We also do not feel that taking every case to court is advisable. Usually, we gather as much information as possible about your case. Then we monitor your medical condition until it stabilizes to the point where we have a good picture of any permanent impairments. We then attempt to negotiate with the insurance company before placing your case in a suit. We can settle some cases before going to court, others we cannot.  

We prepare every case for trial

Some lawyers assume they will settle every case with the insurance company. However, we feel that that is a hazardous approach. We think that if you prepare every case for trial, you are negotiating from a position of strength. If the insurance company is unwilling to make a fair settlement offer, we are ready to proceed to trial.  

We take the “Speak softly and carry a big stick” approach to injury cases

If you prepare all your cases for trial, you are negotiating from a position of strength. Trust me; insurance adjusters know those attorneys who have done their homework and have prepared their cases for trial and those who have not. Likewise, insurance companies keep a scorecard on every lawyer and law firm; they know those attorneys who will go to trial and those who will not.  

Because their favorable record precedes them, attorneys with a good reputation for results often get earlier and larger settlement offers 

That is why there is no more important commodity to an accident attorney than their reputation.

As we bring this series of articles to an end, we want to remind you that from the initial interview until the close of the trial, the most important thing for you is to tell the truth.

You have hired us to speak for you, explain how your injuries occurred, and demand justice on your behalf. Unless you level with us at every stage, we cannot do our jobs properly. Therefore, we will be as accessible to you as possible, provide you with our best judgment about the strengths and weaknesses of your case, and advise you about the applicable law. In return, we expect your complete cooperation and your complete honesty. Together we can work toward a fair and equitable result.

I hope you have found this series of articles informative.  If you have any questions, you may email me at JReed@Zifflaw.com , call me at 1-800-ZiffLaw or visit my website at www.zifflaw.com.