Legal Question in Personal Injury in Pennsylvania

Hopeless

In 2000 I was involved in a car accident and also struck by another car while giving my insurance information. Of Course I was young at the time and did not realize what could happen down the line. I settled up with an attorney becasue I thought everything was okay. I am now 25 years old with chronic back problems. At least once amonth my back has gone out on me for the past couple years. Finally after years of this happenning I went to the doctor's last week and had an MRI done. I received a phone call from the doctor who said I have herniated disks. I know that this ahs something to do with that accident. I can not think of anything else that would have casued trauma to my back. I was wondering is it to late to open this case back up.


Asked on 5/06/05, 8:51 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Charles A. Pascal, Jr. Law Office of Charles A. Pascal, Jr.

Re: Hopeless

Since you said you "settled up" with an attorney, I guess that means you signed a paper which waived any future claims in exchange for a small settlement. You no doubt had no lawyer of your own to protect your interests in the whole thing, and just relied on the insurance company's lawyer to tell you what was going on. Yes, it's too late to open it up. First, you have two years from the time of the accident to sue. Second, even if you could make an argument that you did not discover your injuries until after the two years was up, you have no doubt waived any claims in the papers you signed. Read what you signed back then and see if it leaves any opening for you to reopen the claim, but most likely it does not. See a lawyer to go over the papers with you. In the future, hire a lawyer immediately in these situations.

Read more
Answered on 5/07/05, 7:31 am


Related Questions & Answers

More Personal Injury Law and Tort Law questions and answers in Pennsylvania