FAQs
Learn how personal injury claims work, what your rights are, and how Kalikhman & Rayz can help protect your recovery and compensation.
General FAQs
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Lawyer?
Many people hesitate to contact a lawyer because they are worried about the cost. At Kalikhman & Rayz we believe financial concerns should not prevent you from learning about your legal rights or exploring your options.
That’s why we handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. You do not pay any upfront attorney’s fees, and we only receive a fee if we recover compensation on your behalf.
After an accident, you may already be dealing with medical expenses, missed time at work, and uncertainty about what comes next. Our contingency fee arrangement allows you to focus on your recovery while we protect your interests and pursue the compensation on your behalf.
What Should I Bring to My Consultation?
You do not need to have every detail or document before meeting with our team. If you have them, however, it can be helpful to bring items such as:
- Accident reports
- Photographs of the scene or your injuries
- Medical records or bills
- Insurance information
- Correspondence from insurance companies
- Any information about witnesses
Most importantly, come prepared to tell us what happened and how your injuries have affected your life. We will listen carefully, review the information you have available, and help you understand your legal options. If additional evidence is needed, our team can work to obtain it as we build your case.
Will My Case Go to Trial?
Many personal injury cases are resolved without a trial, but every case is different. Whether your case requires litigation may depend on the evidence, the seriousness of your injuries, whether fault is disputed, and whether the insurance company is willing to treat your claim fairly.
At Kalikhman & Rayz, we prepare every case with care from the beginning. That preparation matters. It helps us negotiate from a position of strength and shows the insurance company that we are ready to go to court when necessary. If your case requires litigation, you will not have to face the process alone. We will prepare you for what to expect, answer your questions honestly, and stand beside you from start to finish.
Do I Need a Lawyer After an Accident?
While you can often file a lawsuit without a personal injury lawyer, a single misstep or overlooked deadline could prevent you from recovering compensation. A personal injury lawyer familiar with your state and local laws can review your case, help you gather evidence to prove negligence, and manage all the legal filings. They can also take care of all correspondence and document requests related to your case, so you can take the time you need to recover from your injuries.
Insurance companies are notorious for offering low settlements to exhausted injury victims. If you hire an attorney, you show them you are willing to fight for your legal right to a fair settlement, which can lead to more reasonable terms of agreement. If the insurance adjuster does not offer a settlement to cover your injuries, your personal injury lawyer can file a lawsuit and represent you in court proceedings.
How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit?
Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim is typically two years. However, the deadline can vary depending on the unique circumstances of each case, and certain exceptions may apply.
Although it may seem like there is plenty of time, delaying action can make it more difficult to pursue a claim. Beginning an investigation sooner rather than later often makes it easier to preserve the evidence needed to build a strong case.
At Kalikhman & Rayz we encourage anyone who has been injured due to another party’s negligence to seek legal guidance as soon as possible. Our team can evaluate the circumstances of the accident, explain any applicable deadlines and take steps to preserve evidence while pursuing the strongest possible case.
Personal Injury FAQs
What Types of Personal Injury Cases Does Kalikhman & Rayz Handle?
Our firm represents individuals and families whose lives have been affected by another party’s negligence. Our practice focuses on motor vehicle accidents, slip and fall accidents and other premises liability claims, and wrongful death cases. While every case is different, these matters all have one thing in common: someone else’s careless or reckless conduct caused preventable harm.
What Compensation May Be Available in a Personal Injury Case?
A serious injury can affect much more than a person’s physical health. It can mean mounting medical bills, time away from work, ongoing pain, and changes to everyday life that no one anticipated.
Personal injury compensation is intended to account for those losses. That often includes financial losses such as medical expenses, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and property damage. It may also include the less visible effects of an injury, such as physical pain, emotional suffering, and changes in a person’s ability to enjoy daily life.
No two injuries have the same impact. Our lawyers take the time to understand what our clients have been through so we can pursue compensation that reflects the real effect the injury has had on their lives.
How Is Fault Determined in a Personal Injury Case?
After an accident, it is not always clear why it happened or who should be held responsible. Determining fault often means looking beyond the accident itself to understand what went wrong, whether it could have been prevented, and who had a legal responsibility to prevent it.
At Kalikhman & Rayz, we carefully examine the available evidence to piece together what happened and identify the factors that led to the accident. We also work with experts who can help explain how an accident occurred or the full extent of our client’s injuries and losses.
Every case is different, but our goal is always the same: to build a strong, fact-based case that holds the responsible parties accountable and supports the compensation our clients are seeking.
Should I Take the Insurance Company’s First Offer After?
After an accident, medical bills, missed work, and uncertainty about the future can make an early offer seem appealing. However, accepting the first offer may not always be in your best interest.
Insurance companies are businesses, and one of their goals is to limit the amount they pay on claims. An initial offer may not account for the full extent of your losses. In some cases, insurers may also dispute who was at fault or argue that an injured person shares responsibility for the accident.
At Kalikhman & Rayz, we know how insurance companies evaluate claims, and we are prepared to challenge offers that do not fairly reflect our clients’ injuries, losses, and future needs. If negotiations do not result in a fair resolution, we are prepared to take the next step and advocate for our clients in court.
How Long Do Personal Injury Cases Take?
After a serious injury, it is natural to want answers and to want the legal process behind you as soon as possible. There is no set timeline for a personal injury case, and moving too quickly is not always in an injured person’s best interests.
We believe important decisions should be made with a clear understanding of how an injury has affected our client’s life. That takes time, care, and thoughtful preparation. Rather than rushing the process, we focus on building each case the right way from the beginning.
Careful preparation often provides the strongest foundation for a successful outcome, whether that means negotiating with the insurance company or taking the case to court.
Car Accident FAQs
What Should I Do After a Car Accident in Pennsylvania?
The steps you take after a car crash can help your claim greatly. If possible, move to a safe location, call 911, and seek medical attention for anyone who is injured. Even if an injury seems minor, it is important to be evaluated by a medical professional, as some injuries may not become apparent until hours or days later.
If it is safe to do so, gather information at the scene, including the other driver’s contact and insurance information, photographs of the vehicles and surrounding area, and contact information for any witnesses. Avoid discussing fault or making statements about the cause of the accident before all of the facts are known.
After addressing your immediate medical needs, consider speaking with our team before giving recorded statements or accepting an offer from an insurance company.
What Happens If the Other Driver Doesn't Have Insurance?
Learning that the other driver does not have insurance can add even more stress after an accident. Fortunately, it does not always mean financial recovery is out of reach.
Depending on the insurance coverage available, compensation may still be available through your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. Other sources of recovery may also exist, depending on the circumstances of the accident.
Understanding your options can be complicated, especially when insurance companies dispute coverage or responsibility. Our team can review the available policies, explain what coverage may apply, and help pursue every available avenue for compensation.
Can I Recover Compensation If I Was Partially At Fault?
Possibly. Pennsylvania follows a modified comparative negligence rule, meaning an injured person’s ability to recover compensation may depend on the extent of responsibility they share for the accident.
Insurance companies often try to shift as much blame as possible onto the injured person because doing so can reduce the amount they may have to pay. That is one reason it is important to have someone advocating for your interests from the beginning.
At Kalikhman & Rayz, we carefully investigate each accident and work to ensure fault is assigned fairly based on the evidence, not assumptions or insurance company arguments.
How Does Pennsylvania's Auto Insurance System Work?
Pennsylvania follows a choice no-fault insurance system, which means drivers choose either limited tort or full tort coverage when purchasing their auto insurance policy. That choice can affect the legal options available after a car accident.
Regardless of who caused the crash, a driver’s own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage generally pays for certain medical expenses and other covered losses. In some situations, an injured person may also have the right to pursue compensation from the at-fault driver, depending on the insurance coverage involved and the circumstances of the accident.
Insurance issues often become more complicated after an accident than most people expect. While insurance companies understand these rules well, injured individuals are often left trying to navigate unfamiliar policies and legal terminology while focusing on their recovery. At Kalikhman & Rayz, we believe our clients deserve clear answers and honest advice from someone whose only focus is protecting their interests.
Wrongful Death FAQs
What Is a Wrongful Death Claim?
Losing a family member unexpectedly is one of the most difficult experiences anyone can face. When a death is caused by another person’s negligence or wrongful conduct, surviving family members may have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim under Pennsylvania law.
Wrongful death cases often arise from serious car accidents, dangerous property conditions, or other preventable incidents. While no legal action can undo such a profound loss, it can provide a measure of financial stability and hold the responsible party accountable.
At Kalikhman & Rayz, we understand that families come to us during one of the hardest times in their lives. We are committed to handling every case with compassion, respect, and the careful attention it deserves.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in Pennsylvania?
In Pennsylvania, a wrongful death claim is brought by the personal representative of the deceased person’s estate on behalf of eligible family members. Those beneficiaries may include a surviving spouse, children, or parents.
Determining who may recover compensation can become more complicated when families have unique circumstances or questions about estate administration. Our team can explain how Pennsylvania law applies and help families understand the legal process during an already difficult time.
What Compensation May Be Available in a Wrongful Death Case?
Pennsylvania law allows certain surviving family members to seek compensation for losses resulting from the death, including:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Loss of financial support
- Loss of companionship, comfort, and guidance
A wrongful death claim is about more than financial losses alone. It is an opportunity to hold the responsible party accountable while helping a family regain a measure of financial stability during an incredibly difficult time. We are committed to handling these cases with the compassion, respect, and careful preparation every family deserves.
What Is the Difference Between a Wrongful Death Claim and a Survival Action?
Although they are often filed together, a wrongful death claim and a survival action serve different purposes under Pennsylvania law.
A wrongful death claim seeks compensation for the losses suffered by surviving family members as a result of the death. A survival action, on the other hand, allows the deceased person’s estate to pursue the claim the individual could have brought had they survived. This may include compensation for losses experienced between the time of the injury and the person’s death.
Determining whether one or both claims apply is an important part of building a case that fully reflects the family’s loss.
How Long Do I Have to File a Wrongful Death Claim?
In Pennsylvania, the statute of limitations for filing a wrongful death claim is generally two years from the date of the person’s death. However, certain circumstances may affect the filing deadline, making it important to have the matter reviewed as early as possible.
Although families understandably need time to grieve, delaying the legal process can create additional challenges. Beginning the investigation sooner allows more opportunity to understand what happened and identify the evidence needed to support a wrongful death claim.
Do All Wrongful Death Cases Go to Trial?
Many wrongful death cases are resolved without going to trial, but every case follows its own path. Whether litigation becomes necessary depends on a variety of factors, including whether liability is disputed and whether the parties can reach a fair resolution.
At Kalikhman & Rayz, we prepare every wrongful death case thoroughly from the beginning. Careful preparation places our clients in the strongest possible position, whether a case is resolved through negotiation or ultimately decided in court.
Slip and Fall FAQs
What Should I Do After a Slip and Fall Accident?
After a slip and fall accident, your health should come first. Seek medical attention as soon as possible, even if your injuries seem minor. Some injuries take time to appear, and prompt medical treatment also creates a record of your injuries.
If you are able, report the fall to the property owner or manager before leaving the premises, and make sure they create an incident report. It is also helpful to photograph the hazard, the surrounding area, and any visible injuries before conditions change. If anyone witnessed the fall, try to obtain their contact information.
Many of these types of claims come down to what can be shown after the accident. Taking a few simple steps early can help prevent important questions from becoming difficult to answer later.
When Is a Property Owner Responsible for a Slip and Fall?
Many people assume that if they are injured on someone else’s property, the owner is automatically responsible. In reality, these cases are often more complicated.
Property owners have a responsibility to maintain reasonably safe premises, but they are not liable for every accident that occurs on their property. In many cases, it must be shown that a dangerous condition existed and that the owner knew (or reasonably should have known) about it but failed to correct the problem or provide an adequate warning.
For example, a spill that occurred moments before a fall may present a very different legal question from a hazard left unaddressed for hours or days. Determining the difference often requires a careful review of what happened before the accident.
How Do I Prove a Property Owner Was Responsible for My Slip and Fall?
A slip and fall claim is built on more than the fact that an accident occurred. It requires showing what caused the fall, how long the hazard existed, and whether the property owner had a reasonable opportunity to address it before someone was injured.
Unlike many car accidents, there may be no police investigation or obvious record of what happened. Much of our job is to reconstruct the events leading up to the fall and to show that this incident is the direct cause of your losses.
The sooner that process begins, the greater the opportunity to preserve the information needed to build a strong case.
Can I Recover Compensation If I Was Partially At Fault?
Possibly. Pennsylvania follows a modified comparative negligence rule, which means fault can be shared after a slip and fall accident. If an injured person is found partially responsible, the compensation available may be reduced. If they are found more responsible than the property owner, they may be unable to recover compensation.
Property owners and insurance companies often try to use this rule against injured people. They may argue that the hazard was obvious, that the person should have been watching more closely, or that the fall was simply their own fault.
Our attorneys do not accept those arguments at face value. We look closely at what actually happened, how visible the hazard was, whether the property owner had time to fix it, and whether the fall could have been prevented. Our job is to push back when blame is unfairly shifted onto our clients.
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Let's Build Your Case the Right Way From the Start
The decisions made early in your case can have a lasting impact on the outcome. Start with a team that takes a more thoughtful, strategic approach from day one.
