Car Accident Lawyers in Delaware

Fighting for the Compensation You Deserve

Over 9 billion miles are driven on Delaware roadways every year. This is quite impressive considering there are typically fewer than 1 million vehicles registered in the state at any given time. Most of us go about our daily commutes with no significant incidents to mention, but unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Due to accidents caused by distracted driving, intoxication, speeding, and other reckless actions, thousands of people are injured every year on our roads and highways. If you or a loved one falls into this category, you should reach out to a Delaware car accident lawyer immediately.

At Schwartz & Schwartz, Attorneys at Law, our Dover, and Kent and Sussex counties car accident attorneys have a passion for winning and settling personal injury cases for people in Kent County and Sussex County, Delaware. From our main offices located on South State Street in Dover, we provide representation in the Superior Courts of Dover and Georgetown in cases involving car accidents, tractor-trailer accidents, DART bus accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle vs. car and pedestrian vs. car accidents, hit-and-run accidents (yes, you may have a case even if the driver fled and was never identified), and other types of roadway incidents. Contact us today for a free initial case evaluation.

Can You Really Afford a Car Accident Attorney?

One of the biggest reasons people don’t reach out to car accident lawyers is a fear of cost. After all, great legal representation doesn’t come free — right? Fortunately, you don’t need to use up your rainy-day fund to connect with a Delaware car accident attorney. In many other types of cases besides car accident personal injury claims, lawyers will charge an initial consultation fee. For example, if you call a law firm for help with an employment dispute or if you need an attorney for a divorce case, you may be told there is a consultation fee for the hour the lawyer will spend talking to you and reviewing your documents.

At Schwartz and Schwarz, Attorneys at Law, we do not charge a consultation fee for our personal injury cases. That means you can meet with us and learn whether you have a case we can handle with no risk whatsoever. Furthermore, if we take your case, we will offer to handle your claim on a contingency fee basis. A contingency fee is an arrangement between you and a lawyer or law firm where the attorney’s fee is conditional on winning or settling the case. This means that — if your auto accident lawyer isn’t successful at securing a settlement or court award — you won’t pay a dime. If they do secure a victory, they take a percentage of the settlement or winnings.

At Schwartz & Schwartz, we don’t believe auto accident law firms should be paid for losing cases. You’ve got too much on your plate as it is, and it’s not fair for you to go even deeper in debt if a lawyer cannot pull through for you. Our contingency fee structure means everyone can afford to hire a great attorney to represent them in their personal injury cases. The attorney you can afford to hire in your case is the same legal representative that CEOs, doctors, and lawyers hire when they need an attorney. If you’re involved in an auto accident, time is not on your side. Don’t sit around wondering whether you can afford representation. Contact us today.

Who is Liable After a Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, or Surrounding-States Car Accident?

Most people don’t realize it, but personal injury liability is a complex matter. This is why many people opt to have a car accident lawyer seek compensation on their behalf. For instance, liability is typically clear when someone rear-ends your vehicle. However, what if the other party was a rideshare driver who didn’t stop because a traffic light had been out for over a week and their passenger was distracting them with belligerent behavior? In such a case, you may be entitled to receive fair compensation from the driver, the city that didn’t repair the light, and even the rideshare passenger.

Due to unique Delaware laws, however, it’s not always these individuals’ insurance companies that will initially pay. If you were driving or occupying a Delaware-registered and insured motor vehicle at the time of your accident, you should be covered by a policy of Personal Injury Protection (“PIP”) insurance. This is a type of no-fault insurance. It pays your medical bills, lost wages, funeral expenses, and a few other items. This is without regard to who was at fault in the accident, so it’s often a hard concept for a lot of people to grasp. The at-fault driver’s insurance company may not pay your medical bills and lost wages — and your own insurance company handles this after a Delaware car accident.

Don’t struggle too much with the concept. We agree that it’s strange, but it’s also the law. Just make sure you give your claim number to all medical treatment providers you see as a result of injuries from your car accident. This will come in handy in instances where you may have contributed to your own serious injuries. That’s because Delaware is a modified comparative negligence state, so your eventual court award could be reduced by the percentage amount of your own fault. This and other complex personal injury law issues are exactly why you should reach out to an experienced car accident lawyer in Delaware.

How Should You Complete Personal Injury Protection Forms?

When you’re involved in an auto accident, it’s important that your Personal Injury Protection forms get submitted in a timely manner. You can try to handle this yourself, but most people benefit from having an experienced Delaware personal injury attorney complete their application for PIP benefits. In addition to having a better understanding of relevant law, a legal professional can also avoid errors that may have long-lasting ramifications. For example, if you forget to list a specific injury resulting from your car accident, you may not be able to get the insurance company to pay for treatment of that injury.

Similarly, you could face issues if you inaccurately describe how the accident happened. This can be used against you to defeat your claim against the at-fault driver. When you have suffered a serious physical injury, you’ll typically be heavily medicated in order to deal with your pain. This is absolutely NOT the time to be completing insurance company forms that claim departments will try to use against you later on. For these reasons and many others, you may find it beneficial to simply ask for help from an experienced Delaware car accident lawyer. Don’t risk your financial compensation and legal rights!

One thing that you can do to help in the PIP process is to make sure you get the Driver Information Exchange Form from the police officer. The DIEF is a standard form used by all police agencies in Delaware. It is not a police report, but it usually has the other motorist’s information on it. It will also feature a reference number that can be used to order a copy of the actual police report. This is an important document, but when victims are unable to secure a copy due to serious injuries, our Delaware auto accident attorneys can access the appropriate documentation.

What Types of Damages Are You Entitled To?

Car accidents can lead to serious physical injuries, but these aren’t the only damages that a person may suffer. Even seemingly minor collisions can result in a variety of personal losses, and when it comes to wrongful death claims, the losses are deepened even further. If you are one of the tens of thousands of people involved in Delaware car accidents yearly, you may be entitled to the following types of compensation:

• Pain and suffering
• Medical bills
• Future medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Emotional distress
• Punitive damages

To put it simply, you may be entitled to recover damages for any losses suffered due to auto accidents. The last entry on this list — punitive damages — deserves special mention due to its rarity. Such damages are applied in order to punish a negligent party for extreme recklessness or wanton behavior that leads to auto accidents. Car accident lawyers sometimes argue that these damages are appropriate in drunk driving cases. Regardless of your situation’s specific circumstances, though, having a personal injury attorney on your side is ideal.

How Can You Choose a Car Accident Injury Law Firm?

You won’t have any problem tracking down a car accident attorney in Delaware. A simple Google search returns over 6 million results from more than 100 different law firms in the city. They’ll all promise to handle cases involving distracted driving, pedestrian accidents, drunk driving, and more. Unfortunately, not all of these attorneys are as effective as others. Stay away from the dabblers. If you have a serious injury case or a wrongful death claim, please consider connecting with an attorney who focuses on these types of issues.

The last thing you want in your catastrophic road accident case is an attorney who’s juggling writing a will and arguing an alimony case when not dealing with your personal injury law claim. Get someone who deals with car accident injury or death cases primarily or exclusively. Always remember this: the attorneys the insurance company hires don’t just dabble in this area of law. Neither should your attorney. If you have been involved in a car accident in Dover, DE, or in surrounding Kent County, or anywhere in Sussex County, DE, please consider contacting our law office for a free consultation and case review.

We are currently accepting serious injury and wrongful death cases involving car wrecks in Smyrna, Clayton, Cheswold, Dover, Leipsic, Hartley, Marydel, Camden, Felton, Magnolia, Little Creek, Bowers Beach, Frederica, Felton, Harrington, Greenwood, Bridgeville, Seaford, Laurel, Delmar, Milford, Lincoln, Georgetown, Millsboro, Dagsboro, Frankford, Selbyville, and the Delaware beaches: Slaughter Beach, Lewes, Cape Henlopen area, Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach, Long Neck, Ocean View, Bethany Beach, and Fenwick Island.

Contact Car Accident Lawyers in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and surrounding areas, DE Today

In a perfect world, we wouldn’t need car accident lawyers. Unfortunately, unsafe drivers and conditions create hazards that can turn a normal day into a life-altering event. If you’ve suffered injuries in an auto accident in Delaware, you have a two-year statute of limitations on the case against the at-fault driver and other liable parties. That means that — if you are going to file a lawsuit or otherwise seek compensation — doing so within two years of the accident is vital. However, don’t make the mistake of waiting until the last minute. Securing fair financial compensation becomes more difficult every day that passes following your accident.

At Schwartz & Schwartz, Attorneys at Law, we’ve spent years serving the state of Delaware and providing clients with the legal representation they need. From our Dover offices, we are able to provide legal services to those who have suffered personal injuries or lost a family member due to negligent auto collisions in Denton, Centerville, Kent Narrows, Church Hill, Rock Hall, Chestertown, Crumpton, Galena, Millington, Sudlersville, Barclay, Goldsboro, etc. You deserve compensation after experiencing accidents caused by the negligence or recklessness of others. Contact us today by calling (302) 678-8700 to obtain a free case review. Our car accident lawyers in Delaware are ready to advocate for your rights.