You’re driving your family out to a celebration dinner when you notice traffic has slowed in front of you. You start to put on the brakes when you’re hit from behind. It only takes a few seconds for the worst to happen, but you could spend months or even years recuperating from your injuries.
When someone else is responsible for causing an accident that contributed to your injuries or other financial losses, it may be possible to seek compensation through the court system with the help of a Yonkers personal injury lawyer.
Personal injury cases give you the opportunity to hold the other party accountable and get compensation for your losses. Call the , to find out how we can help you recover damages.
What Types of Cases Do Personal Injury Lawyers Help With?
Personal injury claims often involve automobile accidents, but this isn’t the only type of incident that can result in these claims. Personal injury lawyers deal with many different cases, including the following:
- Medical malpractice, including surgical errors, birth injuries, and misdiagnoses
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Wrongful death
- Product liability, including defective products, failure to work, and marketing defects
- Premises liability
Each case is unique, and an experienced personal injury lawyer can help you determine whether you have a claim and what the best option is for pursuing compensation. In some cases, such as medical malpractice or product liability cases, there are specific strategies that can help you determine how to present your case for the best possible outcome.
An attorney can review your case and the evidence you have, compare it to what’s required legally to pursue a claim, and help you set expectations for what compensation you may be able to get.
What Is a No-Fault State, and How Does It Affect My Personal Injury Claim?
New York is one of only 12 no-fault states in the country. A no-fault state means that the car insurance company will pay for expenses you incurred as a result of your injuries in an accident, regardless of who is at fault. You may still need to work with the insurance companies to ensure a fair payout, and a personal injury attorney can help with that. The no-fault system can make it much easier to deal with medical bills in minor accidents.
However, there is generally a $50,000 maximum payout, which may not be enough for serious injuries or wrongful death cases. If you believe you’re entitled to more than $50,000, you will need to file a personal injury lawsuit, which means stepping outside the no-fault system. In general, you will need to show that you suffered serious injuries, such as broken bones or fractures or injuries that affect your ongoing quality of life or ability to work.
This can be done through personal testimony, expert witnesses, and evidence, such as your health records. Compensation in these types of cases can cover medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. It can be challenging to determine whether you should pursue a case outside of the no-fault system.
In New York, personal injury lawyers can review your case and help you understand what you need to do to get the maximum amount of compensation you deserve.
What Is the Statute of Limitations on Personal Injury Cases in New York?
In general, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases in New York is 3 years. However, if there was an injury to a minor child, the statute of limitations for that claim is 3 years after the child turns 18. The statute of limitations is designed to protect both parties.
It ensures that you can’t be sued 10 years after an accident has happened, but it also ensures the injured party has enough time to fully understand the extent of the damages and how the personal injury accident has affected their life. When you file personal injury lawsuits, you have to know how much you want the courts to award you in damages.
If you try to file your personal injury case too soon, you could end up potentially shorting yourself tens of thousands of dollars. If it’s been a couple of years since your personal injury accident and you are considering a personal injury claim, speak to one of our attorneys as soon as possible to ensure you file before the statute of limitations has expired.
What Are the Benefits of Working With a Yonkers Personal Injury Lawyer?
Personal injury cases are rarely simple. There are at least two parties involved, the insurance companies and other attorneys. For example, the other party may obtain legal representation, and insurance companies have entire teams of in-house attorneys to handle their legal concerns.
When you’re fighting against insurance companies, you need experienced, knowledgeable legal representation that is dedicated to your interests. In personal injury law, it’s important to understand what type of case you have, how and if the no-fault statutes apply, and what kind of evidence is needed to win your case. Yonkers personal injury lawyers have in-depth experience with all of these factors and can increase your chances of winning your case or getting a settlement.
At the Law Offices of Joseph A. Marra, PLLC, our legal team is dedicated to helping clients with their personal injury cases. Our Yonkers personal injury lawyers will review your case and help you understand your legal options and which one we believe is best for your situation. Call our Yonkers personal injury lawyer to get help today.