An event can take place in a moment but can have lasting effects. Healing an injury can take several months or even years, and some people might not completely recover. This can lead to a loss of income and lifelong enormous medical costs. Nonetheless, with the aid of a lawyer, accident victims can recover their losses. Legal assistance can be provided to those who claim physical or mental harm caused by the negligent actions of another person, entity, corporation, or similar. Lawyers who focus on this field are commonly referred to as Personal Injury Attorneys.

Personal Injury
A personal injury is a physical or psychological injury sustained through some form of trauma such as car accidents or a slip and fall. If you or a family member is injured in an accident or through someone else’s negligence, you shouldn’t be liable for the losses and expenses you incur while healing from those injuries. Medical bills can quickly add up, sometimes to millions of dollars. A lifelong disability sustained by an incident like a construction accident can limit your ability to work. A personal injury attorney can fight for you so those responsible for your injuries can be held liable for medical bills and lost wages.

Automobile Accidents
On any given year, there are over six million car accidents in the US. The trauma from these accidents can cause severe physical and psychological injuries and even lifelong disabilities. These can result in millions of dollars in medical bills and lost wages, as well as a vastly reduced quality of life for the victims. Lawyers are here to help hold responsible parties liable so you can recover for your pain and suffering, lost income and cover medical expenses. A personal injury attorney can help you navigate through the complicated court system and to ensure you have professional and proper representation throughout the process. 

Trip And Fall
Trip and fall injuries are among the most common in the US, resulting in over two thousand emergency room visits every day. Falls are the most frequent source of injuries in all age groups and cause severe trauma in 20 to 30 percent of victims. The medical costs for these can average $30,000 to $40,000 and cause sufferers to lose an average of 11 days of work, leading to loss of income. If you sustain these types of injuries due to another person’s negligence, a personal injury attorney can ensure that these parties are held responsible to help you recuperate any losses.

Wrongful Death
Taking legal action may the last thing on the minds of those who have lost a loved one. The loss of a family member can also result in substantial financial burdens for those left behind. In cases when these deaths are caused by the negligence of another party, it is vital to retain the services of a wrongful death lawyer. There may be a time limit when dealing with a wrongful death lawsuit. Claims must be submitted quickly before the statute of limitations expires. After the time limit, courts lose the ability to provide families with compensation and to punish those responsible for the wrongful death.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What Types of Accidents Does Your Office Handle

Our team handles all types of accidents involving serious personal injury. To illustrate, here are some types of cases we can assist with:

• Automobile Accidents
• Truck Accidents
• Pedestrian Accidents
• Sidewalk Accidents
• Parking Lot Accidents
• Slip and Fall Accidents
  
• Trip and Fall Accidents
• Construction Accidents
• Defective Product Accidents
• Wrongful Death Accidents

How Much Time Do I Have To Sue?

Personal injury claims are governed by the New York Statute of Limitations. Under New York law, claims for pain and suffering must be brought within 3 years from the date of the accident or occurrence.  Wrongful death claims are subject to a 2 year deadline and must be brought within this time frame to avoid dismissal. Medical Malpractice claims must be commenced within 2 years and 6 months from the date of any malpractice or, in the alternative, 2 years and 6 months from the end of continuous treatment rendered by the medical professional.  Other statute of limitations may be applicable and it is important to consult with an attorney to ensure you file a timely claim.  Untimely claims are routinely dismissed by the court without further recourse. 

How Do I Know What My Personal Injury Case Is Worth?

Experienced lawyers understand that each case presents distinct facts which impact the strength and value of a case. Generally speaking, there are two important parts to a case.  The first part is “liability” and the second is “damages”.  Liability refers to “who is responsible” for the accident.  Damages refers to the severity of the physical, mental or economic repercussions sustained. Let’s discuss this further.  

A case with facts showing “liability” in favor of a plaintiff presents a stronger and more valuable case, than one where legal responsibility is unclear and disputed. However, that is not where the analysis ends, the next step is to determine the extent of the physical, mental and economic injuries.  To do this, an attorney considers several factors including: (1) his or her prior experience resolving similar cases, (2) the venue/county where the case would be brought to trial, (3) the judge assigned to try the case, (4) the amounts available to collect from the defendant or any underlying insurance, and (5) what other similar cases have settled for as shown by research of “jury verdict searches.  

The attorney evaluates the above, along with whatever facts are available, when he or she agrees to accept a case. It is important to note, however, that many times during the life of a case, the facts and information changes – for example, stories may change; memories may fade; physical evidence is unavailable or lost, etc. Given all these considerations, it is extremely difficult for an attorney to advise a client as to what a particular personal injury case could be worth.  An experienced attorney understands this and is very guarded in making any “guesses” just to placate a client. 

What Should I Do If I Have Been Hurt In An Accident?

First and foremost is to take care of your physical and mental well being. Receiving proper medical care is of utmost importance. The legal aspect of your claim should be secondary to your immediate health. Second, you or a loved one should begin to gather any evidence that could assist your attorney. For example, if the matter was an automobile accident, you should obtain a copy of any police reports, EMS reports and hospital and medical records. If a police report was not taken, one should be filed immediately. If you were involved in a slip and fall, then you would want to obtain an accident report or report the accident (if it hasn’t been done already) to the property owners. Taking photographs of the injuries you sustained is important too. Pictures should be taken in the hospital right after your accident or, if that’s not possible, immediately after you are discharged or return to your home. Next you or a loved one should reach out to an attorney to represent you. This should be done as soon as possible. You should direct any questions and refer any insurance investigators or personnel to your attorney.  Any statements that you provide can be used against you.  

Will You Represent Me If I Live in Westchester or Outside of Westchester?

Yes!  We are available to assist personal injury clients in all of Yonkers. We also serve clients throughout Westchester and all of New York, including Ardsley, Bronxville, City of Yonkers, Dobbs Ferry, Eastchester, Greenburgh, Hastings on Hudson, Irvington, Mount Vernon, Scarsdale, Tuckahoe, White Plains, etc.  You can always call us and speak to one of our team members if you have any further questions about representation.