Frequently Asked Questions

Personal Injury

If you, a family member or loved one has been injured, the first thing to do is seek immediate medical attention. Obtain the names, addresses and telephone numbers of all witnesses and people involved. If your injury happened from a slip/trip and fall, take photos of the condition that caused it and write down the specific location. Report your accident to the police or property owner. Do not give any statements to investigators or insurance representatives before you have consulted with a qualified attorney.
Many people suffer severe and disabling injuries through no fault of their own and may be entitled to be compensated for their medical expenses, time missed from work and pain and suffering. Contact us for a free consultation to discuss your legal rights.

Whether or not you have a strong case depends on a variety of factors, including the nature and extent of your injuries or property damage, who is at fault, whether the defendant has sizable assets or adequate insurance coverage, and how long ago the accident or injury occurred. We can evaluate your case in light of these and other factors and give you a realistic assessment of what you can expect.

Absolutely. Even if you have fully recovered from your injuries, you are still entitled to compensation for injuries caused by another’s negligence.

Most personal injury attorneys work on “contingency,” which means that if they agree to take your case, the legal fee will be a percentage of the recovery, whether by settlement or a trial verdict. In New York, with the exception of medical malpractice cases, the legal fee is usually one-third or 33.3% of the recovery. The legal fee in medical malpractice cases are based on a sliding scale of the recovery.

This, too, depends on many factors. Often cases settle prior to trial or at trial, but if a settlement is not reached, your case will progress through discovery and trial which can take a year or longer. Additionally, you may not want to resolve your case too quickly if you are still seeking medical treatment and all of the related expenses have not yet been calculated.

Your attorney will take care of all of the legal aspects of your case. You may be asked to participate in discovery by answering written questions or giving oral testimony in a deposition. If your case goes to trial, you will likely be expected to appear in court. Throughout the duration of your case, you must obtain appropriate medical care and schedule your doctor, physical therapy or other appointments.

Slip/Trip and Fall

Your neighbor and all property owners have the responsibility to take reasonable steps to provide for the safety of visitors. However, the injured party must also show that he or she was exercising reasonable caution. To fully evaluate the situation and determine who is responsible and to what extent, you should contact a knowledgeable attorney.
If you are injured on someone else’s property, take note of the surroundings and the hazard which caused you to fall. If you have a camera or mobile phone with photo capturing ability, try to take photos of the hazard as this may serve as evidence of the condition of the property at the time of injury. If there are any witnesses, ask for their contact information or a written statement of the accident from their perspective. If you are in a business setting, the business will probably require that you submit an accident report at the time of the incident. Be sure to retain a copy of this report for your records. In the upcoming days and weeks, keep clear records of any medical treatment needed and document any missed work which occurred as a result of your injury. Most importantly, contact a personal injury attorney who can review your case and inform you of the best course of action to receive compensation for your suffering and lost wages.
As a property owner, it is your responsibility to maintain a safe environment for all visitors to your property. If there is a defective condition, you must warn individuals of the hazard and correct it in a timely manner. Regular maintenance will ensure that you are aware of any unsafe condition and are able to fix it to avoid injury to others. The extent of liability, if any, can vary depending on each situation, so it is best to consult a qualified personal injury lawyer who is familiar with the specific laws of your local jurisdiction.
If you are involved in a car accident, you should seek necessary medical treatment immediately. Even if you are not injured, it is important that you call the police and file a formal police report which can later assist with insurance claims and any lawsuits which may follow.

During this time, you will be required to show your driver’s license and documentation of your insurance coverage. It is important that you obtain this information from the other driver as well. If you have a camera, you should take a photo of the scene, your injuries and any damage to your vehicle and the other vehicles involved. You should also contact your insurance carrier as soon as possible so they can instruct you on the necessary steps to file your claim.

To ensure that you receive the greatest settlement possible, contact a personal injury attorney who can initiate an investigation before witnesses forget their testimonials and evidence is lost.
It is always a good idea to call the police at the time of an automobile accident. Although all insurance carriers have different policies regarding the necessity of a police report when filing a claim, many will accept an auto insurance claim without one. Nonetheless, police reports are helpful in determining the involved parties and documenting who was at fault. This information will assist your insurance company in their investigation and may expedite the resolution of the claim.
No! More often than not, the other driver’s insurance company is calling to obtain information which may be used against you as you seek to recover losses. Respectfully decline their request and inform them that if they would like a copy of your statement, they may contact your attorney or insurance carrier directly.
In most cases, the party at-fault (or his respective insurance company) is responsible for paying for medical treatment and other related expenses such as lost work and compensation for vehicle damage. In New York, when you are involved in a car accident or you are a pedestrian or bicyclist struck by a car, you are entitled to New York State No Fault Insurance benefits usually pays most of your hospital and doctor bills and lost wages if you can not return to work.

Product Liability

In most cases, the manufacturing company is held liable for injuries caused by defective products. However, depending on the nature of the case, other parties may be held fully or partially liable. For example, if your product was repaired by an individual independent of the manufacturer, the repair technician may be held responsible. In other cases, the retailer of the product may be liable. To determine who is liable, you should contact an attorney who specializes in product liability matters.
In many cases, manufacturers will argue that the user misused the product and, as a result of this incorrect use, injury ensued. This defense may be valid in many cases, however, it is the manufacturer’s duty to provide notification of intended use and warn of dangers of misuse. If these warnings were not expressed on the product prior to use, the defense may not hold as much weight in court.
When a product causes widespread injury to its users, class action suits are often initiated by a group of plaintiffs. When contemplating whether or not to join this class of harmed users, be sure to consult a personal injury attorney because not doing so may compromise some of your rights. Our law firm can help evaluate your case and advise on the best course of action.

Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare professional such as a doctor, nurse or technician treats a patient in a manner which departs from a standard of care provided by those with similar training and experience, resulting in injury, ailment or death.

A medical malpractice suit can be initiated against any professional or facility that provides health care. This includes doctors, nurses, technicians, hospitals and nursing homes.

Yes! In fact, misdiagnosis is one of the primary reasons why medical malpractice cases are filed. A patient can suffer significant injuries or even death when a doctor fails to properly diagnose an injury or ailment, delays diagnosis or fails to provide any diagnosis at all.

Informed consent refers to the consent a patient gives to the doctor to proceed with a medical procedure based upon a clear appreciation and understanding of the facts, implications and future consequences of such procedure.
A statute of limitations refers to the period of time during which a potential medical malpractice victim can initiate a lawsuit. Depending on the state and the procedure in question, this period can start from the time at which the malpractice occurs or alternatively, from the time which the victim discovers that malpractice was the cause of his or her injury. Determining the exact period of statute of limitations can be complex depending on your particular circumstance so it is important to consult a qualified medical malpractice lawyer as soon as possible to protect and maximize your interests.

Bicycle Accidents

We advise that you call an attorney to find out what your rights and options are, as there are time deadlines with insurance companies and litigation. There is no charge for a consultation with us.
Many people suffer severe and disabling injuries through no fault of their own and may be entitled to be compensated for their medical expenses, time missed from work and pain and suffering. Contact us for a free consultation to discuss your legal rights.

Your rights will be best protected if you are represented by an attorney. Attorneys are aware of the relevant deadlines and requirements for bringing a claim against the responsible parties. Representation by an attorney can also prevent you from being taken advantage of by insurance companies.

If your bicycle is damaged as a result of a crash with a vehicle at fault, that vehicle’s insurance company should pay the cost of repair or replacement. Gather any receipts for purchase and repair.

The amount that can be recovered for someone’s personal injuries as a result of a bicycle crash depends on numerous factors, including the nature and extent of the injury, the amount of available insurance coverage, and determining the relative fault of those involved.

If your bicycle crash involves a car, truck, bus, cab, or other vehicle, that vehicle’s No-Fault insurance should cover your hospital and medical bills, lost wages, and reasonable expenses related to the crash. If you own your own vehicle, your insurance company might provide additional insurance coverage.

According to crashmapper.org, in 2019, 4156 out of 4,679 bicycle crashes involved motor vehicles (approximately 89%).

  Cars, trucks, buses and cab drivers not paying attention;

  •  Being doored by exiting passengers or drivers;
  • Vehicle turning in front of or into riders;
  •  Vehicles improperly changing lanes;
  •  Street defects, including potholes, unmarked speed bumps, construction plates, manhole covers, unfinished street repairs.
According to crashmapper.org, in 2019, 1728 in Brooklyn, 1352 in Manhattan, 859 in Queens, 437 in Bronx, and 69 in Staten Island.

Don’t get injured twice! Never settle a claim with an insurance company before seeking legal Advice!

Locations

BRONX, NYC

T: 718-590-5616

MANHATTAN, NYC

T: 212-966-1928