Personal Injury

A serious accident can leave you dealing with pain, ongoing hospital visits, medical bills, and lost income. When someone else is to blame for those injuries, they, or their insurance company, should pay for what happened. At SMGG, we fight negligent parties and insurers to get you the compensation you deserve.

We take your case on a contingency basis, so we only charge attorneys’ fees if we win or settle your claim, and your initial consultation is always free. That means there's no cost and no risk to finding out where you stand.

Our personal injury attorneys have gone up against well-funded insurance companies in car accidents, construction accidents, slip and fall claims, and more, recovering results such as:

• $450,000 — Car Accident, Pittsburgh, PA

• $1,500,000 — Construction Site Injury, Harrisburg, PA

• $260,000 — Slip and Fall, Morgantown, PA

                       Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

SMGG is a full-service Pennsylvania law firm, not a personal injury advertising machine. You probably won’t see us on a billboard or a late-night commercial. Instead, we are the firm that other lawyers call when their clients and family members need a personal injury claim handled well. Our attorneys handle multi-million dollar business disputes, and we bring that same skill and experience to your personal injury case.

• Car Accidents
• Motorcycle Accidents
• Trucking Accidents
• Construction Accidents
• Medical Malpractice
• Premises Liability
• Dog Bites
• Catastrophic Accidents

If you were seriously hurt and are not sure your situation fits neatly into one of the categories above, reach out. We can tell you quickly whether it is something we can help with.

We prepare every case as if it is going to trial. Insurance companies negotiate differently with attorneys who are known and respected litigators. That reputation works in your favor from the first phone call.

You deal with an attorney, not a call center. Erica Laughlin and Lydia Gorba, who lead our Personal Injury Group, are directly involved in your case from intake through resolution.

We coordinate across the firm. When your case touches other areas of law, such as a dispute over property conditions or a business’s insurance coverage, we can bring in attorneys who practice in these areas daily.

You pay nothing unless we recover for you. Personal injury cases are handled on a contingency fee basis, and your initial consultation is always free.

What is my case worth? It depends on factors like the severity and permanence of your injuries, your medical expenses, lost income, and the available insurance coverage. No attorney can guarantee a compensation amount, but we can walk you through how these cases are typically valued during your initial consultation.

How soon do I have to file a personal injury claim in Pennsylvania? In most cases, Pennsylvania law allows two years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit. Some claims, particularly those against a government entity or involving a minor, have different or shorter deadlines, so it is worth talking to an attorney as soon as possible rather than waiting.

How much does it cost to hire a personal injury attorney? Nothing upfront. We handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, which means our fee comes out of your settlement or verdict. If we do not recover money for you, you do not owe us any attorneys’ fees. Your initial consultation is also free.

The insurance company already offered me a settlement. Do I still need a lawyer? An early offer is often lower than your claim is actually worth, particularly before the full extent of your injuries and treatment is known. Once you accept a settlement, you generally cannot go back and ask for more later, even if your condition worsens. It is worth having an attorney review any offer before you sign anything.

What should I do after an accident? Get medical attention, even if you feel fine at first, since some injuries do not show symptoms right away. Document what happened with photos if you can, get the names and contact information of any witnesses, and avoid giving a recorded statement to an insurance company before speaking with an attorney.

Most people who reach out to us after an accident have never needed a personal injury attorney before, and they are not sure where to start. Our team is here to help. 

Contact Jordan Lee Strassburger or Erica L. Laughlin for more information.