But you know me:  Neil R. Gelb. I am your attorney who’s successfully represented you or your loved ones in the past.

If you, or a family member, have been injured by a dangerous prescription drug or medical device or have been in any type of personal injury matter please do not contact a law firm that you don’t know anything about just because they are advertising.  I work with the best attorneys who have the experience and resources to successfully represent you or a family member in all types of injuries.  I handle even the most complex type of cases in partnership with only top-notch attorneys.  This means having two sets of eyes looking out for your best interest with my focus consistently and diligently fighting for your rights.

In the past, I have had your best interests at heart and will continue to do so for the future.  Please contact the Law Offices of Neil R. Gelb, P.C. with any questions that you may have concerning any type of personal injury case.

At the beginning of a case, no lawyer can accurately tell you how much your case is worth. If he tries, it only means he’s telling you what he thinks you want to hear in order to get your case. You’re better off with a lawyer who’s honest with you.

Generally, the dollar value depends on the type and severity of your injuries. You are entitled to compensation for property damage, medical bills, lost wages, and emotional pain and suffering.

Call the Law Offices of Neil R. Gelb, P.C. to find out about additional compensation the insurance company won’t tell you that you’re entitled to. For example:

• Even if your vehicle was repairable after an accident, it now has a reduced value because it’s been in an accident. You are entitled to compensation for the “diminished value” of your vehicle.

• Incidental expenses resulting from the accident. You are entitled to reimbursement if, because of your injuries, you had to hire a babysitter, a home health care assistant, a housekeeper, an errand-runner, a driver, a gardener, etc.

• Replacement child car seat if you had a car seat in your vehicle at the time of the accident.

Q: How much does it cost to hire a personal injury lawyer?

Nothing up front. We work on a contingency fee basis. This means that the legal fees are paid for out of the settlement or jury award in your case. If you recover nothing – you pay us nothing.

Q: Can I change attorneys? Will it cost me more?

You can change attorneys at any time. You pay no additional attorney fee. We pay your former attorney from our fee; your recovery remains the same, as if there was no former attorney. Call the Law Offices of Neil R. Gelb, P.C. for a free second opinion if:

• You don’t know what’s going on with your case

• Your attorney doesn’t return your calls

• You only speak with the secretary, not the attorney

Q: Will I save money by not hiring an attorney?

No. The Insurance Research Council found that on average, attorney-represented claimants get 3-1/2 times more money than unrepresented claimants.

Q: Will my case go to trial? How long will it take to resolve?

Approximately 98% of our cases settle before trial, so it’s unlikely that your case will go to trial. However, it’s difficult to predict which cases will have to be tried. Assuming you’re one of the 98% of our cases that settle before trial, approximately half will settle in the first year of our retention, and the remaining half will settle within two years.

Q: Should I trust the insurance adjuster?

Absolutely not. The insurance adjuster will try to lull you into believing that you don’t need an attorney because he’ll take care of you. Don’t be suckered. The adjuster’s hidden goal is to save the insurance company money by delaying payment and giving you as little as possible. Without the help of an experienced personal injury attorney, you may have no idea of the real value of your case.

Q: The insurance adjuster wants me to give a recorded statement. Should I?

No. It will likely hurt your claim. The insurance adjuster’s goal is to lock in your story, and then use it against you later, at deposition or trial, in order to reduce the amount of money they have to pay you.

Q: The insurance adjuster has asked me to sign a medical release. Should I sign it?

No. It will give the insurance company unfettered access to your entire medical history, which would be an invasion of your right of privacy. The insurance company will then try to use your medical history against you.

Q: Who will pay my medical bills and repair my vehicle if the other driver has no insurance?

Even if the other driver doesn’t have insurance, you may still be covered. Check with our office. We can look at your policy and tell you if you have uninsured motorist coverage – coverage which can compensate you if you are in an accident with someone who has no insurance.

Q: Should I go to my own doctor or will the lawyer send me to a doctor?

We advise our clients that if you have you own doctor, or if your family or friends can recommend one, go to that doctor. If you don’t have one to go to, we will assist you in finding the right type of medical provider in your area.

Q: I don’t have health insurance and can’t afford to pay a doctor. What do I do?

The Law Offices of Neil R. Gelb, P.C. can assist you in finding a medical provider who will treat you on a lien basis, which means that the medical provider agrees to wait to be paid until the case is resolved.

On the other hand, if you select the “limited tort option”, you and members of your family are giving up certain constitutional rights to pursue recovery, even though the other driver was fully responsible for causing the accident. Under this form of insurance, you and other household members covered under the policy may seek recovery for all medical and other out-of-pocket expenses, but not for pain and suffering or other non-monetary damages unless the injuries sustained fall into on of the following categories:

1. Serious Injury – Personal injury resulting in death, serious impairment or body function or permanent serious disfigurement.
2. If the other driver is convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance or accepts an ARD program.
3. If the other driver committed an intentional act which caused your injuries
4. If the other driver was operating a vehicle registered in another state
5. If the other driver has no insurance

Although the “limited tort option” provides for cheaper insurance premiums, the minimal cost difference must be weighed against the significant legal rights you will be losing. In addition, the person purchasing the insurance must realize that by selecting “limited tort”, it not only applies to the person purchasing the insurance, but also to all members of the household. As a result, a minor child riding in a neighbor’s vehicle is deemed to have limitedtort if that vehicle is involved in an accident.

For full and complete coverage, the “full tort option” is the best choice for your family.

If you are the victim of a Philadelphia slip and fall accident on snow and ice, The Law Offices of Neil R. Gelb recommends the following:

1. Report the accident immediately or as soon as possible.

2. Seek medical attention if you are injured. Injuries from slip and fall accidents can be serious. A hard fall can break bones. If the person hits his head on the pavement, curb or parked car, the force of the fall can bruise or injure his brain. If the body twists during a fall, the spinal cord can be injured. In many cases, the severity and consequences of an injury cannot be immediately known. Even if you show no immediate signs of injury after a slip and fall accident, pay attention to your body. If muscle aches or headaches develop, seek medical attention.

3. Record ground conditions both where you fell and in the immediate area. Write down a detailed description of the pavement conditions and the location of any obstacles. Note whether the pavement was partially cleared or uncleared, snowy or icy, and any debris in the area.

4. Gather evidence documenting where the accident occurred, name of the landowner or store owner, names and phone numbers of any witnesses, and photos of the accident site and your injuries.

5. Consult the Law Offices of Neil R. Gelb who has experience handling slip and fall accidents.

When it comes to curbs, experts find that height makes a significant difference when it comes to public safety. The Pennsylvania Superior Court has recently held that “even a one inch high walkway defect may create liability when it spans multiple feet.” Philadelphia personal injury lawyers report that they have seen many injuries that have come as the result of falls on surface areas like sidewalks and curbs. Injuries can range from minor personal injuries to catastrophic, resulting in paralysis and even death.

These slip and fall injuries can occur on private or public property, and it’s important to find out who is liable. In the recent case of Melchiorre v. Lord’s Valley Xtra Mart, the Pennsylvania Superior Court decided that “although many property owners may not be responsible for extremely small irregularities on pedestrian surface and although no mathematical guideline for triviality exists, the Court will consider the length and general condition of the wider surface area. In this case, the victim’s injuries resulted from a concrete pad surrounding the pumps at a gas station. The Plaintiff, Melchiorre tripped over the pad sustaining permanent injuries. He then filed a suit for negligence. The Court of Common Pleas in Pike County awarded summary judgment to the owners of the property based on the “trivial defect” doctrine.

If you have been involved in a slip and fall accident, contact the Law Offices of Neil R. Gelb to find out about your rights. The new law that requires courts to look closer at several feet of surface area could help your case. Knowing whether or not a property owner is liable for your injuries is important.

1. Talk to No One:

Do not talk to anyone about your incident except one of the lawyers or investigators in our office. You should always require identification so that you are sure who you are talking to. Don’t even talk to your own insurance company without notifying us so that we may discuss the claim with you before making any recorded statement.

2. Your Doctor:

You should return to each of your doctors as often as necessary and should always tell them about all of your complaints. Should your doctor recommend an MRI scan, please contact our office immediately before attending a MRI scan.  If you see any additional doctors, be sure we are advised immediately of their names and addresses.

3. Hospital and Doctor Bills:

If you have applicable medical or health insurance, then you should make sure that all health care providers are submitting to both your auto insurance carrier and your medical health insurance, as your medical health insurance may be secondarily liable after your automobile insurance.

4. Medical Bills:

Obtain and keep duplicate copies of all medical, hospital, and prescription medication bills. You should periodically send these bills to us for our files. Also keep records of any other expenses you may have in connection with your accident, such as hiring extra help. All your bills should be paid by check or you should obtain and keep receipts. You should keep a list of all your medical bills and the costs incurred in going to your doctor.  We will also request copies of your medical bills from all healthcare providers related to your claim.

5. Witnesses:

Furnish to us immediately the correct names, addressees, and telephone numbers of any or all witnesses you may learn of.

6. Your Car – Storage Fees:

If your car is in a tow yard or storage facility, the law requires that you mitigate your damages by removing the vehicle from storage as soon as possible to prevent incurring high storage fees.  Send us a copy of the receipt for payment to the tow yard, and we will file the necessary documentation for you to get a refund from the at fault party’s insurance.

7. Rental Car:

If you have rental car coverage under your insurance policy you are entitled to rent a car under the terms of your policy.  If you do not have rental car insurance on your policy, the at-fault party’s insurance company will either pay for your rental in advance or reimburse you for the cost of the rental car after the insurance company completes its investigation.  An investigation can often take 5-10 days.

8. Photographs:

Send us the negatives and reprints of any photographs pertaining to your case which you or any of your friends have taken.

9. Records of Complaints:

Please keep a daily or weekly record of your complaints of pain and progress. This can be very helpful when, a year later, you will be called upon to relate your pain and difficulties.

10. Your Address:

Be sure to keep us advised of any change in your address or telephone number.

Our job is to recover compensation for the pain and suffering that you have endured. Not going to the doctor is a good way to prove, instead, that you are not hurting. If you are in pain and you do not see a doctor, the insurance company and the jury will not believe that you are having pain. It is very important for you to work hard to get well and to go to all of your appointments.

Dogs bite to protect themselves, their pups and sometimes their owners. Dogs bite to protect their territory (your home and yard) from invaders, exhibiting particular vigilance when mailmen or deliverymen come to your door. Dogs bite when they are removed from the safety and familiarity of their home environment. Dogs that have no experience with young children may consider them to be pack competitors and attack to protect their place in the pack hierarchy. In most dog bite cases that involve serious personal injury, dog owners are surprised and horrified by their pet’s behavior.

Philadelphia dog attacks can cause catastrophic injuries that can permanently scar victims physically and emotionally and even kill them. Earlier this year an Ohio man was mauled and killed by his family pets. Police reports said the man was bitten hundreds of times and died in his driveway from blood loss. Last September there were more than 40 dog bite incidents in Pennsylvania that resulted in serious personal injuries.

Every 40 seconds someone enters a U.S. emergency room for treatment of a dog-related injury. According to the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association), approximately 800,000 dog bite victims receive medical attention each year and at least a dozen dog attack victims die. More than half of dog bite victims are children bitten in the face. If someone in your family is bitten by a dog, seek help from the Law Offices of Neil R. Gelb immediately.

Before you hire a Philadelphia personal injury attorney ask the following critical questions:

Do you have experience trying cases like mine? What is your success rate?
It is essential that the Philadelphia personal injury attorney you select has considerable experience trying cases that are very similar to your own case. Look for an attorney who has successfully taken cases to trial as opposed to one who has only obtained settlements. Should your case go to trial, you want an attorney with proven courtroom success. Naturally, you also want an attorney who has an excellent track record winning cases like yours to ensure that you receive the settlement you deserve.

What types of law does your firm handle? Many attorneys will say they can handle a personal injury claim, but make sure you should choose an attorney that specializes in personal injury law and whose primary business is personal injury law. Personal injury law is a highly specialized field. Just as you would ask your family doctor to perform heart surgery; you shouldn’t ask your family lawyer to handle a wrongful death claim.

How long have you been practicing personal injury law in Philadelphia?
Experience is life’s greatest teacher. Many law firms tout their combined years of legal experience; however, the experience of an individual lawyer may range from one to 30 years. Ask how long the attorney who will be representing you has been practicing personal injury law.

How much experience have you had negotiating with insurance companies? In Philadelphia personal injury lawsuits an insurance company will generally be responsible for paying the settlement or award. An attorney who has insider knowledge of how insurance companies process and litigate claims will know all the tricks and ploys insurance companies use to minimize the settlement amount paid to the victim and can use that knowledge to your benefit.

It is firstly important to note that to get a definitive answer to that question, one needs to contact an expert Philadelphia injury lawyer immediately to advise you on your own individual and unique case.

Compensation settlements for personal injuries can take a number of things into account depending on the case, most importantly, how much your injury costs you in past, present, and future medical bills. Lost wages, lost ability to earn a living, and sometimes, pain and suffering and punitive damages may be taken into account when determining your personal injury settlement as well. Personal injury settlement averages and the factors that determine them vary from state to state and even county to county.

Also, things like inconvenience, physical and emotional pain, stress, loss of enjoyment of life, inability to complete responsibilities, loss of consortium, and inability to do things you enjoy must be considered by the judge. Your age at the time at which you were injured will be taken into consideration as longer amounts of time left to live will presumably incur greater expenses. When coming up with a settlement figure, liable parties’ actual responsibilities will be determined.

Calculating the exact total of your damages is never easy and there is no on exact calculator that is used. An expert Philadelphia injury lawyer at the Law Offices of Neil R. Gelb, P.C. can help you on an individual basis to determine what amount you very well may deserve as well ensuring that your case is heard. In cases involving serious injury and long term disability, contact my Law Office right away.