If you were injured due to someone else’s negligence, a personal injury settlement could compensate you for your losses, reimbursing everything from medical bills to lost wages.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the pursuit of compensation, you’ve come to the right place. At TopDog Law, we’re committed to our clients. We relish taking the fight to those responsible and believe in backing the underdog. Suffering an unexpected injury is stressful, but securing a settlement offer doesn’t need to be. Continue reading to learn more about how a Pennsylvania personal injury lawyer from our team can support you.
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James Helm is the founder of TopDog Law. James grew up playing sports 24/7. Whether it was football, wrestling, or baseball – James has always loved to compete. He’s taken that same competitive nature and applied it to the courtroom fighting for his clients and building TopDog Law from the ground up into the powerhouse law firm it is today.
One thing many people admire about James is that he is a straight shooter. He keeps it real with his clients and isn’t afraid to share his own story of struggle.
Personal injury law is at the heart of our legal practice. We have worked with clients who have suffered damages in a range of accident types.
Common types of personal injury cases our firm works on include:
These are only a few examples of the personal injury cases our team works on. If you don’t see your case type, don’t fret. We can still discuss your injuries during a free case evaluation.
Personal injury law is vast and complex – if you don’t have legal experience, it can feel impossible to decipher legal statutes and insurance proceedings.
That’s where TopDog Law comes in. We can cut through the stressful aftermath of a personal injury accident, providing you with focus and clarity.
We provide our clients with the following services:
James Helm, who earned an MBA and a JD from Rutgers University, leads our firm. He empathizes with his clients, and he understands how difficult it can be to feel stuck after a personal injury accident. He approaches every case with compassion, giving your case the attention to detail it deserves.
To win a case, you need someone who’s prepared to fight. Attorney Helm has years of experience providing aggressive legal representation. Backing down isn’t part of the program at TopDog Law. We stand up for the underdogs, so they receive the legal advocacy they deserve.
We’re proud of every five-star review we’ve earned. Read these client testimonials to learn more about working with TopDog Law:
Personal injury cases are settled via damages. In a legal context, damages are different types of financial compensation. Each type of damage is connected to a specific loss. For example, your medical expenses could be a type of damage, depending on the circumstances of your case.
Personal injury damages are broken into two primary categories: economic and non-economic. These categories aim to address the financial and emotional fallout of an injury caused by a negligent party.
Economic damages are purely financial – think car repairs, doctor’s visits, and other expenses directly connected to your case. This is a list of some common types of economic damages typically available during a personal injury case:
This category of damages is relatively easy to calculate, as you or your lawyer can rely on receipts and other proof of loss.
Serious injuries don’t just hurt your wallet. Survivors may experience life-long pain, emotional distress, and other challenges that can’t be calculated by looking at an invoice.
For this reason, non-economic damages exist. According to Pennsylvania state law, they include the following:
If you’ve already researched personal injury law, you may have encountered the term punitive damages. This category of damages is designed to punish the negligent party for participating in “willful or wanton conduct or reckless indifference to the rights of others.”
While a punitive damages award could increase your compensation, it’s unlikely that you’ll receive this category of damages. Punitive damages are rare and only apply in particular situations. Our team can discuss the applicability of punitive damages to your case during a free case evaluation.
Personal injury and wrongful death are technically two different categories of law. However, they share several similarities, including the involvement of another party’s negligence.
At TopDog Law, we’re proud to represent those who’ve lost a loved one unfairly. We’re here to provide much-needed compassion, empathy, and patience. We can move at your pace and pursue these unique wrongful death damages on your behalf:
While these damages can’t bring your loved one back, they could ease the financial burden of losing them. Similarly, they could hold the party responsible for your loved one’s passing financially accountable without relying on the criminal justice system.
As noted before, personal injury law is vast, including everything from car accidents to slip and fall cases. This means that the injuries, negligent parties, and available damages differ considerably across personal injury cases.
However, there are a few consistent factors that could impact how much you receive in damages:
Our team can help you better understand the potential valuation of your case. This way, you won’t be surprised or blindsided by settlement offers during the settlement negotiations process.
Unfortunately, you only have a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit after a personal injury accident. Per the Pennsylvania personal injury statute of limitations, you must file a lawsuit within two years of your accident.
While most personal injury cases are settled without civil trial, you don’t want to lose your chance to file a lawsuit if you cannot settle with the insurance company. The more legal tools you have available, the better.
Determining fault is essential in personal injury cases. If you were injured but can’t prove that another party was responsible, you may not be able to recover compensation. Examples of responsible parties in a personal injury case include:
These are just a few examples. An at-fault party not noted here may have been involved with your injuries.
We’re here to work towards establishing fault on your behalf. To do so, we can review and utilize various types of evidence, including:
This information can be used to demonstrate elements of negligence, which include:
This framework is flexible, meaning it can apply to various personal injury cases.
Every personal injury case is different, as are state laws. This means there’s no “one size fits all” approach to pursuing compensation. However, personal injury cases are typically decided in one of two ways:
These examples are general. Specific state laws and complex cases can alter the trajectory of a personal injury case. For instance, in some states, you can only file a lawsuit after a car accident once you meet a specific injury threshold. Our team can determine which method for pursuing compensation makes the most sense for your individual case.
The aftermath of a personal injury accident is often stressful, confusing, and scary. Luckily, there are a few steps you can take that could simplify your case. They include:
Keep in mind that you don’t need to manage the aftermath of a personal injury accident alone. A personal injury lawyer from our team can guide you through the steps that apply to your case.
The statue of limitations for personal injuries vary depending on your state’s laws. In many cases, the statute of limitations begins to run once the injury is discovered.
Personal injury accidents can quickly become costly. Maybe your health insurance doesn’t cover all your medical bills, or your car got totaled. At TopDog Law, we know how being in a difficult position feels. Therefore, we’re committed to keeping our services financially accessible.
Hiring our team costs nothing upfront because we work on a contingency-fee basis. This payment plan means our services are risk-free – we don’t get paid until you receive compensation. We also offer free consultations, so you can discuss your case without worrying about owing us any money.
The amount of time you have to file a personal injury lawsuit depends on the state you live in. That said, you don’t want to lose your chance to file a lawsuit. Certain states may give you up to six years to file, while in others, you may only have two years.
Not every case requires a personal injury lawsuit. Oftentimes, we’re able to pursue the compensation you need through an insurance claim. You should still get started on your case right away, though. Once the statute of limitations expires, you’ll most likely be barred from pursuing compensation via a lawsuit.
By getting a head start on your case, you can preserve every tool in your legal toolbox. Other benefits of getting a head start include:
If you choose our team, we can ensure that you stay on top of relevant deadlines, so you don’t miss your chance to file a lawsuit.
Damages are the types of losses you can receive compensation for. Your recoverable damages may be economic and non-economic in nature.
Economic damages cover direct financial losses, including:
Non-economic damages account for the non-tangible losses you sustained. In this category of damages, you can receive compensation for the following:
The damages you qualify for depend on the context of your case and applicable state laws. At TogDog Law, we can evaluate your unique situation to determine which damages you’re eligible for.
Your accident doesn’t need to end in mountains of medical bills and frustrating encounters with the responsible party. With TopDog Law by your side, you can pursue accountability, justice, and fair compensation. Contact our offices today at (844) 456-9275 for a free case evaluation. We support English and Spanish-speaking clients.
403 Olde House Lane Media, PA 19063
TopDog Law works with a select group of law firms around the country via licensing arrangements. This arrangement allows local law firms to license TopDog’s name and technology. Helm Law Group LLC has an exclusive licensing arrangement to use the TopDog Law name and technology for the state of Pennsylvania. Helm Law Group LLC is a law firm with its headquarters located at 403 Olde House Lane Media, PA 19063. Complete list of licensees available upon request. See more on our disclaimers page
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