Personal Injury Lawyer in New York City
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Content reviewed by: Alex Shulman
- Last updated: Jul. 23, 2024
If you have been involved in an accident, you should strongly consider reviewing your case with a Shulman & Hill NYC personal injury lawyer.
Accidents take many forms and have many potential causes. However, it is not uncommon for various types of accidents to occur as a result of someone’s carelessness. Even if you are vigilant and strive to avoid dangerous situations, there is still a chance you could be injured in an accident. Such an experience could leave you with costly medical bills, lost wages, and lifelong injuries.
Our team of New York City personal injury attorneys can provide legal counsel to help you learn more about your options. Call (866) 932-5558 today for a free consultation.
New York City Personal Injury Cases: Essential Information
There is no singular type of New York City personal injury case. Common types include (but are not limited to):
Premises Liability
Under New York law, property owners and managers are required to take reasonable steps to limit the odds of hazards on their properties. This involves performing routine maintenance and monitoring the premises for dangerous conditions. If a property owner neglects this duty and you are injured as a result, you may be entitled to compensation. A premises liability lawyer from Shulman & Hill can help you understand your options.
Car Accidents
New York’s no-fault law requires drivers to have personal injury protection (PIP) insurance. Regardless of who caused the accident, the injured party’s own insurance typically provides payments for medical bills and some out-of-pocket losses. In addition, you may be able to file a lawsuit against an at-fault driver for pain and suffering.
Since the law can be difficult to navigate, consulting with an experienced NYC car accident attorney may help improve your chances of receiving the compensation you are entitled to. Injured pedestrians may also be eligible for compensation.
A few other examples of New York City personal injury cases include construction accidents, train accidents, and plane accidents, but even if we haven’t mentioned the type of accident you were involved in, it doesn’t mean we can’t help.
Contact us today for a free case review.
Pursuing Compensation in a New York City Personal Injury Case
When an injury occurs due to someone else’s carelessness, you may be entitled to compensation for your financial losses associated with the accident. Compensation may include medical bills and lost wages if your injuries prevent you from working. You can seek compensation for past and future bills and lost wages due to your injuries. You may also be eligible to file a claim for non-economic losses such as physical and emotional pain and suffering. Since these types of losses are more subjective, it is beneficial to have an attorney guide you through the process.
Pursuing compensation after an accident can be challenging if you do not have the necessary experience and training. You may be more likely to reach a fair settlement or be awarded damages in court if you hire a qualified personal injury lawyer in New York City.
Every accident is different, so determining how to proceed may be easier if you consult with a New York City personal injury attorney. Our team has successfully handled numerous cases in the past and can help you file a lawsuit. If needed, we can also provide the aggressive representation needed within the courtroom.
How Our Personal Injury Law Firm in New York City Helps
A New York City personal injury attorney can help you pursue compensation in various ways. They include:
Shulman & Hill obtained a $2,500,000 settlement for a non-union laborer
Shulman & Hill obtained a $2,000,000 settlement for an immigrant laborer
Shulman & Hill obtained a $1,600,000 settlement for a 53-year-old union bus driver
Shulman & Hill obtained a $1,500,000 settlement for an undocumented day laborer
Shulman & Hill obtained a $1,500,000 settlement for a bus driver
Investigating the Accident
Our New York City personal injury attorneys have access to the resources needed to conduct a thorough investigation of your accident. Investigations help identify who is responsible for compensating you for your losses. The negligent party is not always as easy to identify as you might assume.
Perhaps you were injured in an elevator accident. The negligent party may be the property owner or manager if the accident occurred because they did not stay on top of necessary maintenance. However, it is also possible that the accident actually happened because of a design flaw. An investigation is needed to confirm who you should seek compensation from.
Investigations also tend to generate sufficient evidence that can indicate whether or not another party’s carelessness caused your accident. If you do not present enough evidence when seeking compensation, the negligent party’s insurer may question the validity of your case. A New York City personal injury attorney can help you present the evidence required to make a strong case.
Negotiating with Insurance Companies
Once you know who may be responsible for compensating you in a New York City personal injury case, the next step typically involves filing a claim against their insurance. In the case of a car accident, you can usually seek compensation for medical bills and a portion of your lost income from your own insurer. However, if your injuries meet certain criteria, you can also pursue additional compensation for your pain and suffering and additional economic losses from the insurer of the negligent party.
Few insurance companies are going to immediately agree to pay you if they do not have to. If an adjuster feels they can get away with offering a subpar settlement or denying a claim altogether, they likely will. You may benefit from hiring a legal expert who understands how to negotiate effectively with insurance companies. If you cannot reach a fair settlement, your lawyer can also bring your case to court.
You Can Afford to Hire Our Personal Injury Attorneys
Reading about the services we provide at Shulman & Hill may make you feel uneasy or hesitant because of the costs. However, our personal injury lawyers take cases based on contingency fees. That means that we work for you on a no-win, no-fee basis.
So, we finance the entirety of your case until its conclusion, and we can get started on it right away. This way, you can virtually eliminate your financial risk.
Proving Liability in a New York City Personal Injury Case
One thing most personal injury cases have in common is carelessness. In an injury case, someone’s careless or reckless behavior put others in harm’s way. When someone acts recklessly and causes your injuries, they may be on the hook for your damages.
However, we must prove that four elements exist in your case to pursue the other party for damages. They include the following:
Duty of Care
This means that the other party had an obligation to keep you safe. Examples of duty of care include:
- A driver following all road rules and changing their driving according to road conditions
- A property owner keeping their premises clean and free of hazards
- An employer ensuring the working environment is safe and all equipment is in good condition
Breach of Duty
This stage is when the other party’s recklessness occurs. That is, the other party fails to uphold their obligation. Using the examples above, breach of duty manifests when:
- A driver fails to yield the right of way and runs a red light.
- A property owner fails to fix a broken tile and doesn’t warn patrons about it.
Causation
Because the other party breached their duty of care, a traffic accident, slip and fall, or workplace accident transpired. On top of that, you suffered injuries. Common injuries personal injury victims sustain may include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI): According to Mayo Clinic, this injury occurs when someone sustains a violent jolt or blow to the head. The seriousness of a TBI varies from mild to severe. Still, common symptoms include headaches, nausea and vomiting, slurred speech, profound confusion, sensory sensitivities, poor coordination and memory, and loss of consciousness. If you believe you suffered this type of injury as the result of an accident, one of our lawyers who specialize in brain injuries can help you evaluate your options.
- Spinal cord injuries (SCI): Cleveland Clinic classifies spinal cord injuries into two categories. Complete SCIs cause the victim to lose total sensation and mobility below the injury site, whereas those who suffer from incomplete SCIs lose partial sensation and mobility below the injury site. Loss of bladder or bowel control, difficulty breathing, or intense pain in the back and neck may be indicative of an
- Whiplash: If you were hurt in a car accident, particularly a rear-end collision, you may have suffered whiplash. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, this injury occurs when your neck forcibly bends back and forth. Victims may suffer neck stiffness, blurred vision, neck pain, shoulder pain, back pain, and ear ringing. Luckily, they can usually make a full recovery.
- Broken bones and fractures: Personal injury victims can sustain broken bones or fractures in any type of accident. However, those involved in a slip and fall are particularly at risk for suffering broken bones. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it’s mainly ankle, hip, arm, and wrist fractures.
- Burns: Sometimes, fires break out in an auto or workplace accident. As a result, bystanders may experience burns. Their severity is classified into three tiers. According to Healthline, first-degree burns lead to minimal skin damage, like redness and mild inflammation. Second-degree burns blister the skin and harm the skin beyond the top layer. Third-degree burns are the most serious and damage every layer of the skin.
Damages
Lastly, we must establish that the accident and your injuries led you to sustain damages. Forms of evidence we can use to prove this may be:
- The police or incident report
- Your medical records and bills
- Statements from witnesses
- Accident reconstruction analysis
- Photos of visible injuries and the incident scene
- Available video footage
Any shred of evidence can help boost the validity of your case. If you think something can bolster your claim, no matter how seemingly minor, bring it to your attorney’s attention.
The Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Lawsuits in New York City
If you choose to file a personal injury lawsuit, you must comply with New York’s statute of limitations, a legal deadline by which you must sue the other party. According to CPLR § 214, claimants generally have three years to file suit. This deadline doesn’t apply to all cases, as certain exceptions could extend or reduce it.
For example, a lawsuit against New York City needs to be brought within one year and 90 days from the date on which the incident occurred.
Whatever the situation, we invite you to get in touch with our firm as soon as possible. Failure to adhere to your given timeline may result in the court denying your right to collect damages. As a result, the other party would no longer hold liability for what happened, leaving you to cover your losses.
Starting Your Case Early Can Help Us Access Crucial Evidence
On top of complying with the statute of limitations, starting your case with our firm right away can make it easier for us to obtain evidence that bolsters your claims against the other party.
For example, if you were in a traffic accident or slip and fall, there might have been witnesses to the incident. The sooner we interview them, the better. The longer we wait, the more likely they are to forget or misremember details of the incident.
What to Do After a Personal Injury Incident in New York City
How you act after you’re hurt in an accident can make a big difference in your pursuit of compensation. Take these steps to help protect your rights:
- Ensure your safety.
- Notify the authorities, whether that’s your employer, the manager on duty, or the police
- Seek medical care right away.
- Follow through with your treatment regimen.
- Refrain from giving the insurance company a recorded statement.
Then, you may want to consult one of our personal injury attorneys if you want to hold the other party accountable for their carelessness. They can go over your options and help you proceed accordingly.
Why Choose Shulman & Hill for Help With Your New York City Personal Injury Case?
New York City personal injury lawyers often claim they can help you secure the compensation to which you are entitled. However, not all can actually deliver on their promises. It can be challenging to know whether you should trust a lawyer with your case.
That is not something you have to worry about when you work with Shulman & Hill. Instead of making empty promises, we explain how we have successfully helped specific clients like you in the past.
Our record of success and reputation are clear indications of our familiarity with these cases. To learn more about how we can help, call us today at (866) 932-5558 for a free consultation at one of our New York City offices.