Law Offices of John P Dibartolo Jr

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The Law Offices of John P. DiBartolo, Jr.

At the Law Offices of John P. DiBartolo, Jr., we are dedicated to providing legal representation to people who have been injured. We handle personal injury cases and only personal injury cases.
By focusing on one area, we devote ourselves to closely following: recent jury trends, new developments in the law, and changes in insurance company practices. We are committed to the singular pursuit of the best available compensation for people who have suffered injuries through the fault of another.
At the Law Offices of John P. DiBartolo, Jr., all of our clients are treated with dignity and respect. We do not use file numbers. Each file carries the name of a person whom we represent.
Whether our clients are fortunate enough to recover quickly from their injuries or whether their lives are forever altered, there is no substitute for our very best effort. Even though most personal injury matters are resolved through negotiation, we prepare each and every case as though it will proceed all the way to trial.

Attorney Profile

Born in Queens, New York and raised on New York's Long Island, John attended St. John the Baptist High School. He attended the University of Rhode Island on a football scholarship and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1989.
After college, John worked for a major national insurance company as an insurance adjuster. Given his past experience as an insurance adjuster, John knows the claims process inside and out.
In 1995, John received his Juris Doctorate from Albany Law School and was thereafter admitted to practice law in both New York and Massachusetts. Later that same year, John joined a small law firm in Northampton, Massachusetts that limited its practice to personal injury law.
In 2001, John went into solo practice and opened the Law Office of John P. DiBartolo, Jr. in Easthampton, Massachusetts. The second location in Greenfield, Massachusetts was opened in 2004 and the third office in Northampton, Massachusetts was opened in 2006.
John is a member of the Hampshire County Bar Association and the Massachusetts Bar Association. He has been a lecturer for Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education and a radio commentator for WFCR, a local NPR affiliate station (listen here). John currently sits on the Board of Governors for the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys.
Active in the community, John has been involved with a number of local charities and presently serves on the Board of Directors for the Northampton Survival Center. In 2008, John received the Massachusetts Bar Association Community Service Award.

Practice Areas

We secure compensation for people who have been injured. We stand up to insurance companies and large corporations. The law provides for monetary compensation for a number of different situations including, but not limited to, the following claims:

Every personal injury case is different. Every client is different. The impact that each client's injuries have upon his or her life is different. We do more than explain the law. We listen to our clients. We learn about and address their concerns. Our clients can then focus on recovering from their injuries while we focus on the legal aspects of their claims.
Anyone can afford to be represented by the Law Offices of John P. DiBartolo, Jr. Initial consultations are free. We charge no hourly fees. We require no retainers. Every single case that we accept is on a contingent fee basis - which means that we only earn a fee when we successfully obtain a settlement or award for a client. Any client can call and ask questions or come into one of our offices for meetings without worrying about incurring a fee for our time. Our fees are based upon the results we achieve. If you want to learn more about what we might be able to do for you, contact us.

Common Questions

Being injured through the fault of another often gives rise to many questions. Most questions have complex answers depending on the facts of your particular situation. However, the general answers to the following common questions may provide you with some direction. Simply click on any question to view the answers.
For specific answers to your particular circumstances, you may contact us to speak by telephone or to set up a free consultation in one of our offices.

Do I need a lawyer?
If you have been injured, you probably need to retain counsel. The first step is to seek a consultation with an attorney who can explain the law as well as the rights and benefits that you may have available to you. You need to make an informed decision. You need to get information from someone who represents your interests and not those of an insurance company. Simply put, if you will be dealing with an insurance company you will be at a disadvantage with regard to knowledge and experience. Without a competent and qualified attorney, you risk being victimized all over again. Once you have hired the Law Offices of John P. DiBartolo, Jr., you can focus on recovering from your injuries while we focus on the legal aspects of your claim.
Do I need to speak with a lawyer right away?
There is no reason to delay. It is never too early to know your rights. It is not prudent to assume that an insurance company, even your own, will put your best interests first. There is a phrase used in the insurance industry to describe dealings with a person who has no legal counsel - "controlling the claimant." As the phrase suggests, the goal is to control you and the information you receive. This is best accomplished with a friendly demeanor and the suggestion that you do not need an attorney. Do not be controlled; be informed.
Should I give a statement to or sign a Release for any insurance company?
No. You should only give statements to an insurance adjuster or sign Releases at the request of an insurance company after you have spoken with a qualified personal injury attorney. Unfortunately, your choice of language in a recorded or written statement to an insurance company may, and likely will, be used against you in the future.
How much will it cost to speak with Attorney DiBartolo?
That question is easy. Initial consultations are free. In fact, we work on a contingent fee basis - which means that we only earn a fee when we successfully obtain a settlement or award for a client.
Would my consultation be confidential?
Yes. Everything you say to Attorney DiBartolo or his staff is completely confidential regardless of whether we ultimately handle your case.
How much does Attorney DiBartolo charge for his services?
Our fee for services is pretty standard. The contingent fee charged, in cases other than those involving medical malpractice, is not to exceed one-third (33.33%) of the gross amount of your settlement or award. A number of other firms increase their fees if they file lawsuits or proceed to trial. Although lawsuits and trials require substantial time of any attorney, Attorney DiBartolo believes that increasing his fee might inappropriately discourage his clients from pursuing their cases as far as may be necessary. Consequently, our fees are never a factor in our clients' decisions regarding whether to pursue litigation.
What is my case worth?
A case value is an assessment of your damages. There are two main types of damages suffered by someone who has been seriously injured: economic damages and non-economic damages. Economic damages are comprised of money lost-wages not earned, medical bills, and other expenses incurred. Non-economic damages involve pain and suffering, inconvenience to a person's life, permanent disfigurement, loss of use of a body part or function... among other things. Estimating the value of your non-economic damages includes considerations such as: the type of injury that you sustained, the time period during which your injury impacted your life, the way in which your life was impacted by your injury, and whether you make a full recovery.
How long will it take to resolve my case?
That depends upon a number of things. First, no negotiation begins until you have concluded your course of treatment and you have recovered completely from your injuries. If you have sustained permanent injuries, negotiation will not begin until your physicians feel that you have reached a point of maximum medical improvement (when further treatment will no longer improve your condition). Until that time, we have no means of knowing how long your life will be affected. The time period during which your life was altered is a significant factor in the determination of the value of your claim. Beginning the negotiation process without knowing the full nature and extent of your injury would be inappropriate.
Once you have recovered to the extent that you will, we begin the negotiation process. How long a negotiation may last is often dictated by how far apart the two sides may be. Some insurance companies are slower to increase their settlement offers than are others. Seeking a negotiated resolution involves a balance between persistence and patience. We work diligently to secure compensation but avoid the appearance of being too eager. We will never rush a settlement nor delay a negotiation.
Will I have to go to court?
Although there is no way to know for certain whether your particular case will require litigation, the overwhelming majority of cases are resolved without the need for a lawsuit. Additionally, only a small percentage of cases that become the subject of lawsuits actually proceed all the way to trial. That said, every case we handle is prepared as if it will go to trial.
I am not sure that I am comfortable bringing a claim, is it the right thing to do?
Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do to truly give you back what you have lost. However, the law permits people who have been injured through the fault of another to bring claims for monetary damages. Our system of civil justice holds responsible parties accountable for their actions and promotes public safety by forcing corporations to make safer products, improve workplace safety, clean the environment and improve the quality of health care. Our system encourages people to drive safely and to maintain their property properly.
To retain an attorney and exercise your legal rights does not mean that you are litigious. Simply put, having the ability to bring a claim is the reason why we have insurance. We all pay premiums for various types of insurance so that if we suffer harm, we will be covered or if we cause harm to another, they will be covered. Our tort system is a hallmark of our civility and an enduring testament to fairness and the rule of law.