Schuster Jachetti LLP is a Delaware personal injury law firm. We represent people who have been injured because of someone else’s negligence — in car accidents, on someone else’s property, by an aggressive dog, or in any of the other circumstances that bring an ordinary day to a halt. Our practice is grounded in Delaware. Our attorneys are licensed in Delaware. Our clients live in Delaware. And we operate from four offices across the state — in Wilmington, Smyrna, Georgetown, and Lewes — so that clients in every county can sit down with a lawyer close to home.
The firm is led by attorney Joseph M. Jachetti, who has been a member of the Delaware Bar since 1998 (Bar #003744). Joe was born and raised in Delaware, attended Widener University School of Law, and has spent more than 25 years representing injured Delawareans. Before he became a personal injury attorney, he spent a decade working as an insurance claims adjuster — a perspective that informs how he prepares cases today.
Our Approach to Personal Injury Cases
Personal injury matters are personal. The collision, the fall, the dog bite — whatever the event was, it happened to a real person, and the consequences are felt by that person and their family for weeks, months, or sometimes years afterward. We approach each case with that understanding. We do not treat clients as case numbers, and we do not push every matter toward a quick low-dollar settlement just to close a file.
Practically, that means three things. First, we listen — to what happened, to the medical care you’ve received, to how the injury has affected your work and your life, and to your concerns about how a case might unfold. Second, we investigate — by reviewing police reports, gathering medical records, identifying witnesses, and securing photographs and surveillance footage where it exists. Third, we prepare — by documenting your damages thoroughly, valuing your case carefully, and presenting it to the insurance company or the jury in a way that makes the full picture clear.
We do not file every case in court. Many matters resolve in pre-suit negotiation when the documentation is strong and the demand package is presented carefully. But we prepare every case as though it may need to be tried, because that posture tends to produce a stronger result regardless of how a case eventually resolves. Insurance carriers can tell the difference between a file that is being assembled with trial in mind and a file that is being shopped for the fastest possible settlement.
Our Delaware Roots
Schuster Jachetti LLP is a Delaware firm — not a national chain with a Delaware office, and not a marketing operation that funnels cases to local counsel. Joe Jachetti was born here, grew up here, went to law school here, and has practiced here his entire career.
That matters because Delaware is a small state with a distinctive legal community. The judges of the Superior Court and the Court of Common Pleas, the staff at each county courthouse, the insurance defense bar, the medical providers who treat injured people — these are people Joe has worked alongside for a quarter-century. Local relationships do not change the law, but they do shape practice. Knowing the people in the room is part of how a Delaware case gets handled.
Practice Areas
The firm has experience handling a range of Delaware personal injury matters, including:
- Car accidents
- Truck and commercial vehicle accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Slip and fall and premises liability
- Dog bite injuries
- Wrongful death
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist claims
- Delaware PIP (Personal Injury Protection) claims
If your situation does not fit neatly into one of those categories, call and ask. We will tell you whether we can help and, if not, point you in the right direction.
Four Delaware Offices
We operate from four offices across Delaware:
- Wilmington — 3407 Lancaster Pike, Wilmington, DE 19805 — (302) 966-8684 — New Castle County
- Smyrna — (302) 775-0728 — Kent County
- Georgetown — (302) 877-9524 — Sussex County
- Lewes — (302) 527-9513 — Delaware coast
The sitewide number is (302) 984-1000. If you cannot travel to one of the offices because of your injuries, ask about a phone consultation or a home or hospital visit.
How We Get Paid — Contingency Fee
Schuster Jachetti LLP represents personal injury clients on a contingency fee basis. That means:
- You pay nothing up front to retain the firm.
- You pay no hourly bills while the case is being handled.
- The firm’s fee is a percentage of the recovery — only if there is a recovery.
- If we do not recover compensation on your behalf, you do not owe a fee.
The specific percentage and the handling of case costs are spelled out in the written fee agreement, which is provided in plain English at the time of retainer. There are no surprises and no hidden charges. If you have questions about how the fee structure works at the consultation, ask — we will walk through it line by line.
Languages Spoken
Hablamos Español. The firm is able to communicate with Spanish-speaking clients in Spanish — from the initial consultation through the resolution of the case. If Spanish is your preferred language, simply tell us when you call. Delaware has a substantial Spanish-speaking community, and the firm is set up to serve that community without language barriers.
What to Expect from Your Case
Personal injury cases vary widely, and no website can tell you what your specific case is worth or how long it will take. But there are some general patterns worth knowing about:
- Investigation phase — police reports are obtained, witnesses are identified, photographs and surveillance footage are secured, and the at-fault party’s insurance is notified.
- Treatment phase — most cases are not settled while the client is still in active medical treatment. Settling early often leaves money on the table because the full scope of the injury is not yet known.
- Demand phase — once treatment plateaus, a written demand package is assembled and sent to the insurance carrier, with full medical records, wage-loss documentation, and a settlement demand.
- Negotiation phase — the carrier responds, and the parties negotiate. Many cases resolve here.
- Litigation phase — when negotiation does not produce a fair number, suit is filed in the appropriate Delaware court. Discovery, depositions, and (where appropriate) trial follow.
Joe will walk you through where your case is at every stage and explain what is happening and why.
Schedule a Free Consultation
If you were injured in Delaware and want to understand whether you may be able to pursue compensation on your behalf, the first step is a free, confidential conversation about what happened. There is no cost, no obligation, and no pressure.
Call the sitewide number at (302) 984-1000, contact the office closest to you, or email joe@jachettilaw.com. You can also visit the contact page for more details on how to reach us.
This page provides general legal information only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
