Personal Injury

Being the victim of a personal injury can be devastating. The stress of physical injuries, recovery, lost work, and emotional distress can be overwhelming. When someone else is at fault, it’s essential to work with a law firm that can guide you through the process of successfully pursuing a claim against the person or entity that caused your injuries.

Compassion and Expertise

McCarty & Heffernan strives to provide our personal injury clients with exceptional representation backed by compassion, legal expertise, and understanding. Our attorneys work directly with our clients throughout their cases, getting to know them and explaining the process. We work around our clients' schedules and physical limitations to minimize their anxiety and make the process less stressful. If nights or weekends are more convenient, we make ourselves available, and we can always be reached by phone and email. We will even come to your residence if transportation is unavailable.

A Winning Record

McCarty & Heffernan has settled over a million dollars of personal injury settlements for clients, with our largest non-commercial policy settlement to date being $300,000.

No Cost Unless You Win

You don’t have to worry about paying us up front, as we charge a percentage of the amount awarded to our clients. The typical fee is 25% to 30%, lower than many other law firms in the area. And you never pay unless you collect a settlement!

We offer a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your personal injury compensation rights. If you are interested in talking to one of our legal specialists, we will be happy to schedule an appointment in our office in Grove City, at your home, or in a location convenient for you. 

Don’t Let a Minor Accident Turn into a Major Problem

At McCarty & Heffernan, we hope that you or your loved ones will never be injured in an accident. However, even a minor traffic accident can cause severe injuries. If you are injured and choose to retain our firm’s services, our first priority will be to ensure that your medical expenses are paid and you are compensated for any lost wages as well as pain and suffering.

Understanding Your Rights for Personal Injury

If you have been in an accident, or a family member has been injured or killed in a crash or some other incident, you have many important decisions to make. It is important for you to consider the following:

1. Make and keep records: If your situation involves a motor vehicle crash, regardless of who may be at fault, it is helpful to obtain a copy of the police report, learn the identity of any witnesses, and obtain photographs of the scene, vehicles, and any visible injuries. Keep copies of receipts of all your expenses and medical care related to the incident.

2. You do not have to sign anything: You may not want to give an interview or recorded statement without first consulting with an attorney, because the statement can be used against you. If you may be at fault or have been charged with a traffic or other offense, it may be advisable to consult an attorney right away. However, if you have insurance, your insurance policy probably requires you to cooperate with your insurance company and to provide a statement to the company. If you fail to cooperate with your insurance company, it may void

your coverage.

3. Your interests versus interests of insurance company: Your interests and those of the other person’s insurance company are in conflict. Your interests may also be in conflict with your own insurance company. Even if you are not sure who is at fault, you should contact your own

insurance company and advise the company of the incident to protect your insurance coverage.

4. There is a time limit to file an insurance claim: Legal rights, including filing a lawsuit, are subject to time limits. You should ask what time limits apply to your claim. You may need to act immediately to protect your rights.

5. Get it in writing: You may want to request that any offer of settlement from anyone be put in writing, including a written explanation of the type of damages which they are willing to cover.

6. Legal assistance may be appropriate: You may consult with an attorney before you sign any document or release of claims. A release may cut off all future rights against others, obligate you to repay past medical bills or disability benefits, or jeopardize future benefits. If your interests conflict with your own insurance company, you always have the right to discuss the matter with

an attorney of your choice, which may be at your own expense.

7. How to find an attorney: If you need professional advice about a legal problem but do not know an attorney, you may wish to check with relatives, friends, neighbors, your employer, or co-workers who may be able to recommend an attorney. Your local bar association may have a lawyer referral service that can be found in the Yellow Pages or on the Internet.

8. Check a lawyer’s qualifications: Before hiring any lawyer, you have the right to know the lawyer’s background, training, and experience in dealing with cases similar to yours.

9. How much will it cost? In deciding whether to hire a particular lawyer, you should discuss, and the lawyer’s written fee agreement should reflect:

a. How is the lawyer to be paid? If you already have a settlement offer, how will that affect a contingent fee arrangement?

b. How are the expenses involved in your case, such as telephone calls, deposition costs, and fees for expert witnesses, to be paid? Will these costs be advanced by the lawyer or charged to you as they are incurred? Since you are obligated to pay all expenses even if you lose your case, how will payment be arranged?

c. Who will handle your case? If the case goes to trial, who will be the trial attorney?