If you sustained injuries due to someone else’s negligence, you might be wondering, Is it worth hiring a personal injury attorney?
If you plan to pursue a claim for compensation against the negligent party, it’s essential to understand how insurance companies work and the tactics they use.
Insurance companies rely on the fact that you don’t have any legal experience.
When you hire a New York personal injury attorney, you have someone who will protect your rights and help you pursue the maximum compensation possible.
How a New York Personal Injury Attorney Can Help
If you are unsure about the benefits of hiring an attorney, here’s a look at some of the ways the Law Offices of Theodore A. Naima can assist you with your personal injury claim:
- Obtaining your accident report;
- Ordering copies of your medical reports, lost earnings statements, and repair estimates;
- Interviewing witnesses;
- Obtaining other evidence, such as surveillance video;
- Speaking with the defendant’s insurance company;
- Negotiating a potential settlement offer with the defendant’s insurance company;
- Filing a lawsuit within the statute of limitations;
- Hiring potential experts such as accident reconstructionists, medical doctors, etc.; and
- Gathering any other evidence and documents that support your case.
We will also be prepared to represent you at trial, if necessary.
Assistance with Car Accidents Under New York’s No-Fault System
New York follows no-fault rules when it comes to car accidents. That means that you must initially seek reimbursement from your own insurer for your injuries no matter who was at fault.
However, there are circumstances where you can bring a lawsuit against an at-fault driver.
If you are bringing a personal injury claim for a car accident, you must have damages that exceed $50,000, or you must have an injury that meets the serious injury threshold as outlined in New York Insurance Law Section 5102(d).
New York law defines a serious injury as one that results in:
- Death;
- Dismemberment or significant disfigurement;
- Fracture;
- Loss of a fetus;
- Permanent loss of a body organ, member, function, or system;
- Permanent limitation of a body member or organ;
- Significant limitation of a body system or function; or
- Medically determined impairment or injury of a non-permanent nature that prevents you from performing your normal daily activities for a minimum of 90 days.
When you retain us to represent you, we will immediately begin an independent investigation to build the strongest case for you.
Our priority is to document your damages and provide evidence that shows your injury meets the legal threshold of serious injury if applicable.
Types of Damages You Could Be Entitled to Receive
When deciding whether to hire an attorney, consider some of the damages you could be entitled to receive. Every case is different, so your potential settlement will vary.
Common types of damages in a personal injury case include:
- Medical expenses to date;
- Future expected medical expenses;
- Lost wages to date;
- Future loss of earnings;
- Equipment such as a wheelchair or walker;
- Physical pain and suffering; and
- Disability and/or disfigurement.
In very limited cases, you might be entitled to receive punitive damages. These damages apply only in cases involving malice, fraud, etc.
That means someone can’t just be careless; they must have behaved in a manner that completely disregarded your health or safety. Punitive damages are not easy to obtain.
If you believe you have a case that qualifies for a punitive damages award, you need a personal injury attorney who has experience with these types of cases.
Contact a New York Personal Injury Attorney Today
If you want to pursue a personal injury claim in New York, having an attorney on your side is essential. We are the only ones who have your best interests in mind.
No matter what the defendant’s insurance adjuster tells you, they are only looking out for their insured, not you.
With over two decades of experience, the Law Offices of Theodore A. Naima can help you recover financial compensation in a New York personal injury case.
Contact our office today to schedule an appointment to learn more about how we can help.
Theodore A. Naima
Theodore A. Naima is the founding partner of the Law Offices of Theodore A. Naima, a Personal Injury & Medical Malpractice Law Firm based in New York. In 2015, Ted was awarded the prestigious AV Preeminent® rating from Martindale-Hubbell®, the company that has long been recognized as setting the gold standard for lawyer ratings, signifying the highest degree of peer recognition and professional excellence.
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