Car Accident Lawyers in Reading
Accidents can upend lives in an instant. Our attorneys see the consequences every day. Whether you live in Reading, Berks County, Pottsville, Schuylkill County, Bucks County, Philadelphia, or anywhere else in Pennsylvania, the cost of medical treatment, pain and suffering, complications, and lost income can be overwhelming.
Liever, Hyman & Potter has represented wrongful injury victims since 1959, making us the longest-established local motor vehicle injury law firm. Our four attorneys handle only wrongful injury and death claims. No real estate closings, no business contracts, and no other case types. Together, our attorneys have devoted virtually their entire careers to this single practice area, totaling more than 115 combined years focused on one purpose: recovering for people who were hurt through no fault of their own.
If you or a family member were seriously injured while driving, as a passenger, or by a vehicle while walking or bicycling, it’s vital to contact our firm as soon as possible. Many rights of accident victims in Pennsylvania are time-sensitive and can be lost if you wait too long to act.
If you've been injured in a crash, call our car accident attorneys in Reading at (610) 885-1991.
How We Build Your Car Accident Claim
If your injuries resulted from another driver’s negligence, our job is to prove it and pursue available compensation. Proving negligence means establishing that the at-fault driver owed you a duty of care, breached it, and caused your injuries and losses. That sounds straightforward, but the liable parties in a car accident case often extend well beyond the driver who caused the crash.
Our attorneys have decades of experience investigating injury claims throughout Pennsylvania, from Reading north to Pottsville and east to the Philadelphia area. Depending on the facts, a claim may reach PennDOT or a municipality responsible for highway maintenance or design defects. In drunk driving cases, Pennsylvania’s dram shop law can extend liability to the bar or restaurant that served the at-fault driver. Early evidence preservation, including skid marks, vehicle damage, surveillance footage, and witness accounts, is critical. That is one reason contacting us promptly after a crash matters.
When needed, we add professional investigators, photographers, and engineers to the legal team to perform accident reconstructions. Each case is carefully reviewed and assigned to a civil trial attorney qualified to handle it.
Pennsylvania Car Accident Law: What Victims Need to Know
A few key rules shape every Pennsylvania car accident claim, and understanding them helps you act at the right time.
- Limited Tort vs. Full Tort: Pennsylvania drivers choose between limited tort and full tort coverage. Limited tort restricts your right to claim pain-and-suffering damages to specific serious-injury situations. Full tort places no such restrictions. The option you selected on your auto policy directly affects what you can recover.
- Modified Comparative Negligence: Pennsylvania follows a modified comparative negligence rule. You can recover damages only if you’re found less than 51% at fault for the crash. Any award is reduced by your percentage of fault, so documenting the other driver’s responsibility matters from day one.
- Statute of Limitations: Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims is generally two years from the date of the accident. Missing that deadline typically bars the claim entirely, regardless of how serious your injuries are.
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP): Pennsylvania’s no-fault system requires auto policies to carry Personal Injury Protection coverage, which pays initial medical expenses regardless of fault. For serious injuries, you may step outside the no-fault system and pursue a direct claim against the at-fault driver.
Our Track Record for Victims
Our automobile accident attorneys have recovered thousands of awards and settlements for victims since 1959, more than any other firm located in the Berks and Schuylkill County area. In a recent three-year period alone, our attorneys recovered more than 500 awards and settlements, including numerous million-dollar and multi-million-dollar results.
Named results from our published awards and settlements include a $3.5 million trucking crash settlement, a $3.265 million drunk driving wrongful death settlement, and a $6.5 million settlement for a teenage client who suffered a brain bleed resulting in hemiplegia. These are past results and don’t guarantee a similar outcome in any future case, but they reflect the level of preparation and advocacy we bring to every client we represent.
Other law firms routinely refer clients to Liever, Hyman & Potter. That referral reputation reflects how the broader legal community views our record and is a key reason the firm has earned the recognition of being called “The Lawyers’ Lawyers.”
Lead Attorney John R. Badal
John R. Badal has devoted his entire legal career to representing wrongful injury victims. Admitted to the Pennsylvania bar in 1978 and to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1991, Badal is a member of both the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. These are national recognitions tied to documented case results at those dollar thresholds. He has served as Chairman of multiple sections of the Berks County Bar Association, including the Civil Litigation Section and the Workers’ Compensation Section. Clients who come to us for car accident representation in Reading benefit from that depth of career-long focus on exactly this kind of work.
No Fees Until We Recover for You
You’ll pay us nothing, not a cent in fees and not a cent in case expenses we advance on your behalf, until we recover money for you. Our contingent fee is based on a percentage of the award or settlement, clearly defined in the initial agreement. Our agreement states that you won’t have to repay any expenses we may have advanced unless we recover money for you. If we don’t recover, you owe nothing. We also offer a free consultation to review your potential case and advise you on your options before you commit to anything.
What Our Clients Say
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Working with Liever, Hyman & Potter Law Firm was an excellent experience from start to finish.Christie
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Andrew Fick and his team helped me with everything I needed in pursuing a personal injury case.Carlos A.
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I would highly recommend Liever, Hyman & Potter.Vanessa S.
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Andy Fick and his Liever, Hyman & Potter team fought hard for me.David D.
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He is a well-spoken and passionate attorney who actually cares about his clients.jeffrey r.
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He has always been responsive and professional, taking the time to review my issues.Howard J.
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Not only are the attorneys at this firm dedicated in obtaining successful results, more importantly, they also care about the personal well-being and health of their clients.Kevin B.
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Attorney John Badal represented me and did an outstanding job. The firm is very honest and upfront and does not blow smoke.Roxanne M.
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John went above and beyond to help me.Sean B.
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Between Stacey (paralegal) and Mike, they kept me up to date with emails, phone calls, and in-person meetings; making the entire process seamless.Blayne H.
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Andy gets the job done; he went above and beyond, exceeding my expectations.Nancy K.
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Everyone was thorough, professional, and supportive.Wendy B.
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My friend was impressed by the firm's compassion and genuine concern for his son's well-being.SARA P.
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The professionals of Liever, Hyman & Potter have a robust team of professionals who vigorously and diligently advocate.Adam N.
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Contacted me back very quickly, very professional.P N.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What Kind of Lawyer Do I Need?
The legal world is a complicated environment with countless nuances to take into account. As a result, there is a wide range of specialized attorneys dedicated to specific legal areas, such as criminal lawyers who handle criminal defense. With so many fields, it can be difficult to determine which kind of lawyer is best suited for your circumstances. If you call Liever, Hyman & Potter, P.C. and offer an overview of your situation, then they can help narrow down what kind of personal injury lawyer is best suited to handle your case. Our law firm was founded in 1959 and is knowledgeable in numerous areas of personal injury law.
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Do I Need a Personal Injury Lawyer?
After sustaining a severe injury, you will need to pay medical bills for treatment, potentially miss time at work, and experience pain and suffering. With a qualified and skilled lawyer’s assistance, it is possible for you to receive fair and full compensation for these damages. A knowledgeable attorney will increase your chances of reaching an acceptable settlement agreement and receiving more compensation than you would on your own. Additionally, personal injury lawyers can help settle a liability dispute to determine who is responsible for an accident.
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How Will I Know I Have a Case?
No one has to make this important decision by themselves. Contact Liever, Hyman & Potter, P.C., and set up a free consultation to go over your situation in detail. Our attorneys will be able to identify who you can sue and what you can expect to gain based on the facts of the accident and the laws in Pennsylvania. In most scenarios, you’ll have a case if it can be proven that someone acted carelessly and caused injuries. Applying this standard is more complex than it may initially appear, which is why it is important to consult us.
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When to Call a Lawyer After a Car Accident?
If you’ve sustained severe injuries in a car accident, you should reach out to a lawyer shortly after the crash takes place. Not only will a professional car accident attorney help you gather vital evidence before it is lost to help your case, but they can also handle communications with your insurance company and deal with the careless driver’s insurance company.
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What Should I Do if an Attorney or Insurance Adjuster Calls Me?
You should never speak with insurance adjusters for someone else involved in the accident. While they may sound friendly and sympathetic to your case, they are almost certainly trying to get statements from you that would reduce or eliminate the liability of their insured. This is also true when an attorney for another person contacts you.
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How to File a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit?
As previously mentioned, filing a medical malpractice lawsuit starts with contacting a lawyer. However, it is crucial that we have sufficient information before filing the claim because malpractice claims can be significantly more complicated than other lawsuits. Our dedicated attorneys will collect all of your medical records and thoroughly review them.
Your medical malpractice attorney must determine whether the case warrants a lawsuit before they file with the court. If we do go forward, we will rely on highly qualified doctors who will be able to explain why you or your loved one were wrongfully harmed by medical treatment.