Personal Injury Lawyers in Portland, ME

Put A Former Allstate Insurance Representative In Your Corner

If you have been injured or have lost a loved one due to the negligence, recklessness, or intentional wrongdoing of another party or parties, you likely have grounds to file a personal injury claim. Accepting the first settlement that an insurance company offers you could lead to being significantly underpaid. Remember that insurance companies are not looking out for your best interests but their own profitability.

At Zerillo Law Firm, we are well-acquainted with the tactics of insurance companies and how they work. We offer a unique value proposition for those who need an injury lawyer. Our founder, Tim Zerillo, is a former Allstate Insurance Claims Representative. Tim Zerillo worked settling claims for Allstate Insurance Company before he was ever a lawyer. He decided he could not do the work of taking money away from people when they had legitimate claims, so he quit and went to law school. After graduating from law school with honors and passing the bar, he immediately began practicing personal injury law. As an attorney, he has worked against the insurance companies and on behalf of injury victims for over 20 years.

6 Reasons to Choose Us

• Over 20 Years of Experience
• High Quality Legal Service Focused on Results
• Respected by the Legal Community
• Trusted & Recommended by Hundreds of Clients
• #1 Ranked Law Firm in Maine*
• Same Day Consultations Available

As a result, he has an insider's view of how a claims office works, how insurance coverages work, and how to value cases. At Zerillo Law Firm, we will thoroughly investigate your case to determine who is at fault, consider your current and long-term medical expenses, and assess what would be a fair settlement. If negotiation fails, we have extensive litigation experience that can be used to fight for your best interests in court.

How Our Portland Personal Injury Lawyers Handle Your Case

When you come to us after an accident, we want you to understand what to expect from the process. We begin by listening carefully to your story, reviewing any documents you already have, and answering your initial questions about Maine law and the court system in Cumberland County. From there, we gather additional information, such as police reports, medical records, and any photos or videos of the incident, so we can start building a clear picture of how your injury happened and how it has affected your life.

Once we understand the basic facts, we analyze all available insurance coverage and identify every potentially responsible party. In a typical case, this may mean looking at your own policy as well as those of other drivers, property owners, or businesses involved in the events leading up to your injury. We may consult with appropriate professionals—such as medical providers in the Portland area or professionals familiar with road design and safety—to help explain what occurred and why it should have been prevented. Throughout this stage, we stay in communication with you, explaining what we are doing and what information we still need.

After we have collected and evaluated the evidence, we prepare a demand that explains your claim to the insurance company, including the full scope of your damages under Maine law. If the insurer is unwilling to make a fair offer, we are prepared to file a lawsuit in the appropriate Maine court and move your case forward through litigation. That process can include written discovery, depositions, and motions practice, all aimed at uncovering the truth and putting your claim in the strongest possible position for resolution. At every step, our goal as a personal injury attorney Portland residents can turn to is to guide you through the decisions you face, from settlement discussions to whether a trial is in your best interest.

Contact a Portland personal injury attorney at (207) 618-6555 for a free, confidential consultation. We work on a contingency fee basis.

How Long You Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in Maine

According to Maine Revised Statutes Title 14 Section 752, injury victims have six years from the date of their injury to file a personal injury claim before the statute of limitations ends. The statute of limitations is a law imposed on a state level that dictates how long injury victims have to file a claim and pursue compensation before they lose their legal right to do so. Some exceptions can change these six years. For example, if your claim is against a city, county, or state government agency, you have only 180 days to file a formal claim. Do not hesitate to reach out to our Portland personal injury attorney to discuss your case as soon as possible.

In practical terms, this means that waiting to speak with an injury attorney Portland residents trust can have serious consequences. Evidence from an accident on I-295, local side streets, or a Portland business can disappear quickly as vehicles are repaired, hazardous conditions are fixed, and witnesses move or forget important details. Medical records, employment information, and insurance communications are also easier to collect and organize when we become involved early. When we have time to investigate, consult with appropriate professionals, and evaluate the full scope of your injuries under Maine law, we are in a stronger position to seek the compensation you need.

There are also timing considerations that are unique to certain types of claims in Maine. Claims involving minors, for example, can have different rules that affect when the statute begins to run, and claims involving medical malpractice or wrongful death have their own specific deadlines that must be reviewed carefully. If your injury occurred on property owned by a municipality or state agency in the Portland area, notice requirements can be short and highly technical. During an initial consultation, we can review when and where your injury happened, identify which statute of limitations applies, and develop a plan to make sure all necessary paperwork is filed with the correct court before any deadline expires.

What Damages Can Be Recovered in a Portland Personal Injury Claim?

A common question when it comes to personal injury law is “how much is my claim worth?” The truth is that the specific amount an injury victim can recover in a personal injury claim depends widely on the specifics of each case. From the severity of negligence to the types of injuries inflicted, the details of each case matter. However, the types of damages an individual can pursue remain the same across personal injury cases. 

These types of damage are:

• Economic damages
• Non-economic damages
• Punitive damages

These categories of damages can cover many specific losses, such as:

• Medical treatment costs such as emergency care, hospital stays, surgery, follow-up visits, medication, and rehabilitation.
• Income-related losses, including missed work while you recover, reduced hours, or long-term loss of earning capacity if you cannot return to the same job.
• Out-of-pocket expenses like travel to medical appointments, help with childcare, or services you can no longer perform yourself because of your injuries.
• Pain and suffering stemming from ongoing physical pain, limitations on your activities, or the need for continuing medical care.
• Emotional harm such as anxiety, depression, sleep problems, or loss of enjoyment of important parts of your life.
• In rare cases, punitive damages when Maine law allows additional money to be awarded as a way to punish especially egregious conduct.

Economic damages were created to compensate for the financial losses associated with the claimant’s injuries. These losses could range from medical expenses to obligatory missed days at work due to your injuries. Non-economic damages compensate the injured party for non-financial suffering associated with their injury. By nature, these losses are more abstract and usually include well-known damages such as pain and suffering and mental anguish. Punitive damages are the last type of damages, and they differ from the first two in that their main purpose is to punish the negligent party instead of compensating for an injury; as such, they are not awarded often.

When we evaluate damages with a personal injury lawyer Portland residents can turn to, we look not only at what you have already lost, but also at what you are likely to face in the future. Economic damages may include past and future medical bills from providers in the Portland area, rehabilitation and in-home care, reduced earning capacity if you cannot return to your prior job, and the cost of modifying your home or vehicle after a serious injury. Non-economic damages can reflect how your injuries affect daily life—your sleep, your ability to enjoy outdoor activities in Maine's seasons, and your relationships with family members. By gathering detailed documentation and listening carefully to how the accident has changed your life, we can present a fuller picture of your losses within the framework of Maine law.