How does Matzus Law measure client success in a personal injury case?

How much is my claim worth?

Every claim is different. Without evaluating your claim, it is impossible to provide a clear answer. However, the value of your claim will depend on many factors, such as the severity of your injuries, the duration of recovery, past and future medical expenses, past and future wage loss, the general impact that the injury has had on your life, how much pain you are in, and many other factors. At Matzus Law, LLC, we can review the details of your claim and provide you with a more accurate value.

How will being partially at fault for the accident affect my legal claim?

Pennsylvania personal injury law follows the rule known as the modified comparative negligence rule, which states that an injured party is not barred from pursuing a claim for compensation so long as they are equally or less at fault for causing their injuries than the party or parties they seek compensation from. However, under the rule, your financial recovery in your case may be reduced in proportio

n to the percentage of fault you bear for the accident and your injuries. As an example, if you are found to have been 25 percent responsible for the accident, you may only recover 75 percent of the losses you incurred due to your injuries.

How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit?

Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations typically gives you only two years from the date that you were injured because of someone else’s fault to file a lawsuit against the liable party or parties. In certain circumstances, the statute of limitations may be paused, or “tolled,” so you may have a different deadline to file suit. But if you file your lawsuit after the limitations period has passed on your personal injury claim, the at-fault parties can file a motion to permanently dismiss your case, which may cause you to lose your right to seek financial recovery for your injuries. This makes it important to speak to our accident attorneys in Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh, PA to learn when you need to file a lawsuit to continue pursuing your claim for compensation.

When should I hire a lawyer?

You should hire a lawyer as soon as possible after you have been seriously injured by someone’s negligence. A lawyer can investigate what occurred, gather evidence to prove who is at fault, complete relevant insurance claims forms to make sure you get all the medical and wage loss benefits you are entitled to and make sure that your rights are fully protected. At Matzus Law, LLC, we pride ourselves on taking care of these issues for our clients so that you can focus on your recovery. Remember, the responsible party has experienced insurance company professionals and lawyers working to protect their rights, you need someone on your side to protect your rights.

What is your fee?

At Matzus Law, LLC, we only get paid if we get a recovery for you. Our fee is “contingent” on obtaining a settlement or verdict in your case, hence it’s commonly referred to as a “contingency fee”. In other words, we work for free throughout the duration of your case and only get paid if we are successful in getting a financial recovery for you.

Unlike many other professionals who get paid regardless of the results they produce, firm founder Attorney Jason Matzus is willing to “put his money where his mouth is” and take the risk of not getting paid unless Matzus Law, LLC is successful in winning your case. Many of our clients have just had their lives turned upside down physically, emotionally and financially and may never work again. Even if they could, many simply don’t have the financial resources to pay for top quality legal representation. We understand that and are sensitive to our clients’ circumstances.

By handling cases on a contingency fee basis, we eliminate the financial barrier and hardship injured people would otherwise face if they had to pay an hourly rate for the substantial time involved in pursuing their case. The specific percentage fee depends on the type of case but, if we do not get a verdict or settlement for you, you don’t pay us anything.

What are some useful tips for getting the treatment I need for my recovery during my accident claim?

We’ve all had to make drastic life adjustments in our collective effort to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. We know this impacts our injured clients as much as anyone else. For instance, the measures taken may include medical providers’ postponing your important appointments or temporarily suspending your therapy regimen. But of course, there’s no pause button for your injuries or your pain.

Whether you’re currently in physical therapy or pain management, here are tips for getting the treatment you need in the near future to stay on track in your recovery.

1. Contact your medical providers in advance to confirm your existing appointments are still going forward.

2. If your medical provider postpones your appointment and/or therapy regimen for the near future, be sure to request alternative home-based therapy programs from your medical provider. Please try to obtain written instructions from your doctor and save them for your case.

3. Document your at-home treatment by taking photographs and videos. Also, be sure to log your treatments in a journal (for example, your symptoms, limitations, and emotions; what you did for treatment; for how long; and how your injured area responded to treatment). Your medical provider typically records all of this in your medical records. For the time being, your journal will be the documentation supporting what you’re going through. Your journal entries should be weekly at a minimum.

4. There are even apps for home therapy treatments, such as MeHab. MeHab is available for download on Apple’s App Store and Google Play. This can help you keep up with your treatment and to document it. Click here for more information on MeHab. If you decide not to use an app like MeHab, most cell phones have a Notes app. You can keep track of your progress in that app and e-mail your notes to us periodically.

5. You might need to purchase medical equipment to help with your at-home treatment. You should do this as soon as possible to avoid delays and shortages.

6. If your canceled appointment was for diagnostic testing (for example, CT scans, MRIs, etc.), be sure to reschedule with your provider for a date as soon as possible. Document your symptoms in a journal, and ask your treating medical professional what, if anything, you can do for your treatment while you wait for your rescheduled test.

7. Lastly, if you are able to attend regularly scheduled appointments, please follow the well-publicized protective measures. Here is a link to one of the many helpful resources out there, as published by the World Health Organization: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public.

Our firm’s legal practice remains open as we closely monitor this rapidly developing situation. Our firm continues to work without interruption. We have safeguards in place that allow our firm to continue working in a virtual space for all of our clients. For our clients and others outside our offices, there should be no noticeable difference in access to our staff and the services we routinely provide. We are available by e-mail, online contact form, telephone, and video conferencing. Please note that our phone calls may be from a phone number you do not recognize (or an unknown or blocked number), as our attorneys and staff may be calling you from our cell phones.

Please stay safe.