Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyer Blog

There is an old phrase that says “he or she who represents themself has a fool for a client.” Even as an experienced Pennsylvania medical malpractice, car accident, and catastrophic injury lawyer, I would not dare to represent myself if I were involved in an accident. When one attempts to represent themselves, one becomes emotional and lose objectivity. In this difficult economy many people are attempting to represent themselves against insurance carriers trying to squeeze a few more dollars out. What these people fail to realize is that many of the best personal injury lawyers will not charge a fee unless they have a successful outcome and the best injury lawyers will normally advance all costs and expenses necessary for the successful prosecution of the case.

Recently, a client came to my office after she notified the carrier that she would accept a minimal dollar amount in a case that was worth (in the hands of a skilled and experienced catastrophic injury lawyer) at least 20 to 30 times her demand. Additionally, there was spoliation of evidence and a proper investigation was not conducted by the individual, really screwing up the foundation of the case. By the time she contacted our office, there was a minimal amount of time prior to the statute of limitations expiring and I had to make a calculated decision whether or not to get involved in representing this client and prosecuting her claim. Frankly, I decided it was not worth the effort and that if there was a problem, the client would probably not hesitate to blame me for the mistakes that she had made on her own in an attempt to save money. Not only did she cost herself a lot of money by representing herself, she is now having a difficult time convincing any other injury lawyer to take her case. One should easily understand the advantage of hiring an experienced lawyer who has handled thousands upon thousands of cases versus one attempting to go at it alone as a novice. Experience matters when it comes to a successful recovery.

The Pennsylvania serious injury law firm of Reiff & Bily has been representing thousands of victims of catastrophic injuries, medical malpractice and car accidents since 1979 with a successful track record. We are reviewed online by other attorneys as well as by clients with honest testimonials. We always offer a free, no obligation consultation, and of course, if we decide to take your case, we will represent you for free if we do not make a recovery on your behalf. We call this our no recovery, zero fee guarantee. Of course, we will not take a case if we do not think we can win it and henceforth, we are selective in the cases that we decide to accept.

Wreck chasing is an epidemic in Philadelphia and other major cities in the United States. Wreck chasers are bad for everyone because they really only care about one thing – themselves. Here is the deal. Tow truck drivers or wreck chasers monitor police radios, gather the information, and speed to the scene in an effort to solicit business for a body shop or lawyer. To many lawyers and body shops this is the only way they are able to get clients. Obviously this is such a profitable business that a wreck chaser was killed a few weeks ago in Philadelphia. In a fight with another wreck chaser over a potential client, the wreck chasing business has become riddled with arson, gun shots, and murders.

Tow trucks are generally the first people to get to car accidents, even before the police get there, and their sole aim is to solicit a case for a body shop or lawyer where they will receive a percentage of the take. Obviously they will promise just about anything to get you to go with them in a well polished speech when the victim is at their emotional worst. In fact, there is even a reality show on TLC that premiered Oct. 28. The show Wreck Chasers is a reality show revealing the notorious, aggressive behavior of tow truck drivers. When a wreck chaser tries to select a lawyer for you, think to yourself if I needed heart surgery would I let this man recommend the best doctor. Use common sense and do your own homework when selecting a Philadelphia car accident lawyer. Look for someone with years of experience and a track record of success.

If you have been involved in a serious automobile accident, do your research carefully and select an experienced lawyer with a successful track record, not who the wreck chaser recommends. Some times many victims make the wrong decision and pay a permanent price. The Philadelphia car accident lawyers at Reiff & Bily offer a free, no obligation consultation with a zero fee guarantee. Contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

In the case of McMillen v. Hummingbird Speedway, Inc., the Court of Common Pleas of Jefferson County, Pennsylvania held that information posted on Facebook, MySpace, and other social network sites are not considered confidential. In fact, the Facebook policy in Section 3 regarding “Sharing Information on Facebook” notes “some of the content you share and the actions you take can show up on your friends’ homepages and other pages they visit.”

Even after you remove information from your profile or delete your account, copies of that information may remain viewable elsewhere to the extent that it has been shared by others, it was otherwise distributed pursuant to your privacy settings, or it was copied or stored by other users. You should understand that information may be reshared or copied to other users.

When you post information on another person’s profile or comment on another user’s post, that information will be subject to the other user’s privacy settings. It is further stated that “Facebook’s operators may disclose information pursuant to subpoenas, court orders, or other civil or criminal requests if they have a good faith belief that the law requires them to respond. They likewise reserve the right to share information with companies, lawyers, courts, or other government entities “when we have a good faith belief that it is necessary to prevent fraud or other illegal activity, to prevent imminent harm or protect ourselves or you from violating our Statement of Rights and responsibilities. The Court concluded that no person choosing MySpace or Facebook as a communications forum could reasonably expect that communications would remain confidential as both sides clearly expressed the possibility of disclosure.

The Court further held that where there is an indication that a person’s social network sites contain information relevant to their prosecution or defense of a lawsuit, therefore, and given the Koken case, admonition of the Court should allow litigants to utilize all rational means for ascertaining the truth and the law’s general dispreference for allowance of privilege access to those sites should be freely granted.

In short, in Pennsylvania you may be required to provide your username and password to defendant and opposing counsel in litigation and the Court will most likely order you to provide the information and take steps not to delete or alter existing information. This experienced Pennsylvania serious injury and Philadelphia car accident lawyer advises his clients to be careful about what they post online.

Since 1788, “Philadelphia lawyer” has been a term often used to describe a lawyer who knows the most detailed and minute points of law or is an exceptionally competent lawyer. Philadelphia-based colonial American lawyer, Andrew Hamilton, a lawyer best known for his legal victory on behalf of printer and newspaper publisher John Peter Zenger is believed to have been the inspiration behind the term “Philadelphia lawyer.”

As an experienced Pennsylvania serious injury and Pennsylvania car accident lawyer who has traveled around the world on professional business for the last 31 years, people are always impressed when I tell them with pride that I am a Philadelphia lawyer. I am repeatedly told that in many people’s opinions the best lawyers come from Philadelphia. While this may be a generalization, I can honestly state that I am very proud to be a Philadelphia trial lawyer committed to achieving justice since 1979. Many people may say that trial lawyers such as myself are greedy and I freely admit that yes I am greedy, “greedy for justice.” Justice is a virtue that assigns to every person who sustains a catastrophic injury or death their due and protection of their rights which is in the greatest interest of every man and woman on earth.

I know that from practicing personal injury law for over three decades that lives can change completely in a tragic instant. A severe and catastrophic personal injury brings life altering financial, emotional, and personal pressures upon one that seems insurmountable. The catastrophic injury or loss of a loved one forever changes one’s family dynamic and outlook and therefore, it is important that the client be guided by a committed Philadelphia lawyer with genuine compassion and skilled legal guidance and experience to navigate the sudden obstacles of an already complicated life.

At the Philadelphia serious injury law firm of Reiff & Bily our track record of success in complex high stakes injury and wrongful death cases speaks for itself. And yes, we are proud to be Philadelphia trial lawyers offering clients in Pennsylvania what we consider to be the best legal services when they need it most.

When it comes time to representing clients in Pennsylvania personal injury and Pennsylvania car accident cases, the communication between the lawyer and his client should be seamless. If it is not, clients suffer. Ineffective communication by and between a client and their lawyer is one of the most frequently cited causes of client dissatisfaction and poor results. The more complex the client’s case, the more likely it is that there will be an error in communication. All Pennsylvania lawyers are bound by the Rules of Professional Conduct and lawyers as representatives of clients are officers of the court and have a special responsibility for the quality of justice. A Pennsylvania lawyer must provide you with an informed understanding of your legal rights and obligations, as well as their practical implications.

The laws require the lawyer to maintain communication with a client concerning representation in a competent, prompt, and diligent manner. Unfortunately difficult ethical problems arise from a conflict between a lawyer’s responsibility to his clients and the system. Rule 1.4 of the Pennsylvania Rules for Disciplinary Enforcement state that with regard to attorney/client communications:

(a) a Pennsylvania lawyer shall:

(1) promptly inform the client of any decision or circumstance with respect to which the client’s informed consent is required;

(2) reasonably consult with the client about the means by which the client’s objectives are to be accomplished;

(3) keep the client reasonably informed about the status of the matter;

(4) promptly comply with reasonable requests for information;

(5) consult with the client about any relevant limitation on the lawyer’s conduct when the lawyer knows that the client expects assistance not permitted by the Rules of Professional Conduct or law.

(b) A Pennsylvania lawyer shall explain the matter to the extent reasonably necessary to permit the client to make informed decisions regarding representation.

Reasonable communication between the Pennsylvania lawyer and his or her client is necessary for the client to effectively participate in representation. At the Pennsylvania car accident and catastrophic personal injury law firm of Reiff & Bily, we believe that the client comes first and all phone calls must be returned within 24 hours and we regularly meet with our clients to keep them informed of the status of their case. If this is not being done, there is a serious chance that an error can occur and the client will not be protected to maximum of our legal abilities. If you are involved in a significant Pennsylvania injury case or Pennsylvania car accident case, you should insist on regular conversations and meetings with your lawyer as “you get one bite at the apple” in the litigation process and chance favors the prepared man.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a catastrophic injury or Pennsylvania car accident, please contact one of our lawyers for a free, no obligation consultation at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Many times when I am in social gatherings in Philadelphia many people will come up to me and ask my advice as to who is the best attorney to handle an injury case, car accident case, or criminal case. Of course, there is no definitive or objective way for me to state who is the best and the same calls for a subjective viewpoint. But finding a good lawyer is like finding any good profession. It is always best to ask around. Ask a number of people you respect for their advice, as well as review the Internet and legal directories. If you have any friends who are recognized lawyers in their fields, ask them. I believe that a client should interview at least two or three lawyers prior to making a final determination of who is the best attorney to handle their claim.

Remember in a catastrophic injury case, many life changing events have occurred that will impact the person greatly and one of the most important decisions to be made is selecting a competent and experienced personal injury or car accident attorney. There are many valid Internet directories which review a lawyer’s skills and abilities, as well as their ethical standings. Some of these directories include but are not limited to www.martindalehubbel.com, avvo.com, and hg.org. As the Internet has become more interactive, lawyers and law firms can provide detailed information to potential clients including non-biased reviews and ratings, as well as references. One should also check the Disciplinary Board of the state to make sure that the lawyer who they are interviewing is in good standing and has had no prior or current disciplinary issues.

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