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What to Do After a New York Car Accident?

What to Do After a New York Car Accident?

Being involved in a car accident is a scary, painful, and confusing experience. It can be difficult to know what to do or who to talk to in the hours, days, and weeks following a crash in New York. Hiring an experienced New York car accident attorney can ensure that you do everything possible to preserve your claims to compensation after an accident. There are certain steps that you can take to protect your case and your rights to damages from those responsible for the crash. At The Law Offices of Justin D. Brandel, our team of highly qualified legal experts is here to help if you have been injured in a New York car accident. Call the office or contact us today to schedule a consultation of your claims.

Seek Immediate Medical Attention

The first step that you should take after any accident is to seek immediate medical treatment for your injuries. This is important for many reasons and is a critical step regardless of how minor or severe you believe your injuries to be. The first reason to seek immediate medical treatment is to have a healthcare professional assess your injuries and begin the healing process. Some injuries, such as internal bleeding or organ damage, are not always immediately recognizable after an accident but require urgent medical care. By going directly to a healthcare professional after a crash, all known and unknown injuries can be identified and treated.

The second reason for seeking immediate medical treatment after a car accident is to create contemporaneous documentation about the extent of your injuries at the time of the accident. This can be crucial evidence in a later lawsuit for damages, especially if the insurance companies try to claim that you were not actually as injured as you claim in the crash.

Gather Evidence From the Scene

The next step to take after a car accident in New York is to collect evidence from the scene. This can include photos and videos of the location of the crash, the extent of the damage, and anything else that may be helpful to your case, such as the weather conditions, traffic signs or signals, and information about the other people involved in the accident. If there are witnesses to the car accident, get their contact information so that your attorney can get their statements later. Request a copy of the police report and any other accident reports taken about the crash. All evidence from the scene may be helpful later in your case.

Keep a Record of Receipts

In the days, weeks, and months after the car accident it is important that you keep a record of your receipts associated with the incident. You should keep all receipts related to medical bills, property damage, rehabilitation, and transportation costs. As part of your compensation claim, the out of pocket costs are calculated into your final award and keeping a record of all receipts will ensure that you are receiving the full value of your economic losses.

Track Your Medical Progress

At the same time, you should also be keeping a record of your medical progress after the accident. Write a daily journal that details the extent of your injuries, all medical treatments and medications taken for the injuries, rehabilitation and physical therapy appointments, and the general progress or lack thereof in healing from your injuries. Keeping this record of your recovery can help make the argument for greater noneconomic compensation. Noneconomic damages refer to the payment for pain and suffering, emotional distress, disability, disfigurement, and the loss of enjoyment of life. This journal can serve as powerful evidence during your case about the lasting effects of the accident and the injuries you sustained.

Do Not Speak To Insurers

It is critical that after a New York car accident you do not speak to the insurance companies on your own. Insurance adjusters may reach out to you within hours after the accident to try and get a statement about what happened in the crash. Insurance companies, including your own, do not have your best interests at heart. Their goal is to settle your claim as quickly and for as little money as possible. Oftentimes, the insurers are trying to get you to make a statement against your own interests in order to mitigate or eliminate your claims for damages. When you hire a New York car accident attorney with experience handling the insurance companies you are protecting your rights to compensation.

Have an Experienced Car Accident Attorney

One of the most important steps that you should take after a New York car accident is to hire an expert lawyer in car accident cases. Hiring an attorney to represent your interests after a crash protects your claims and defends against other interested parties who want to lessen or eliminate your case for damages. First, when you hire a lawyer after a car accident, the insurance companies are required by law to send all communication about your case through the attorney. This includes all requests for statements, settlement offers, and negotiation. Your lawyer will handle the back and forth with the insurers while you focus on what is most important, your recovery.

Your attorney can also be present when you make a statement to the insurance adjuster about the crash. This ensures that your rights and interests are protected during this interaction. An experienced car accident attorney will be able to review the evidence in your case and determine the full and fair value of your claims to protect you against accepting a settlement worth far less than you deserve. Finally, if the insurers refuse to offer a fair settlement for your injuries, an attorney can take your case to trial.

Call or Contact Our Office Today

If you would like to speak with an expert in New York car accident cases about your claims, call or contact The Law Offices of Justin D. Brandel today to schedule a consultation. 

 

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What to Look For in a Personal Injury Lawyer: New York

What to Look For in a Personal Injury Lawyer: New York

After an accident, you need to find a personal injury lawyer in New York to represent your interests and protect your claims to compensation. But do you know what to look for in a personal injury attorney to find the right one for you? Here at The Law Offices of Justin D. Brandel, our team has years of experience successfully representing our injured clients and can provide quality guidance on what you should look for in a personal injury lawyer. If you would like to learn more about how our office can help in your personal injury case, call or contact us today to schedule a consultation.

A Personal Injury Lawyer in New York with a Specialized Practice

The first thing that you should want when researching potential personal injury lawyers is an attorney with a specialized practice in New York injury cases. Attorneys with a generalized practice have a little experience in many areas of law, but they usually lack significant experience in any particular area of practice. When you hire a personal injury attorney, you want one that focuses solely on personal injury law. 

A New York lawyer with a specialized practice in injury law will be up to date on the current law, understand the nuances of this area of practice, and have experience with the insurance companies that you will be battling in your case. Furthermore, the lawyer should have a specialty in your type of personal injury claim, whether it is car accidents, pedestrian accidents, slip and fall cases, or another kind of accident. You want a lawyer who knows the types of injuries common in your type of case as well as the full and fair value of your claim.

Your Lawyer Should Have a Proven Track Record of Success

The next thing that you should look for when looking at personal injury lawyers is whether the attorney has a proven track record of success in your type of personal injury case. When meeting with potential lawyers, you should specifically ask what their overall success rate is with personal injury cases generally as well as with your type of injury claim. What is the average settlement this lawyer has received for an accident case with your injuries? You will find that some attorneys push for higher settlements for their clients than others.

You Need a Lawyer With Trial Experience

You should also ask potential personal injury lawyers about their level of trial experience. Your attorney should have trial experience in personal injury cases. In the majority of personal injury claims, your attorney will negotiate with the insurers to reach a settlement that accurately reflects the costs of your injuries after an accident. However, there are cases where a settlement cannot be reached, and questions of fault or compensation must be taken to trial. You need a personal injury lawyer in New York who not only has trial experience but successfully advocated for clients at trial.

Your Lawyer Should Focus on Representing Accident Victims

You should also look for a personal injury lawyer that focuses specifically on representing accident victims. Some personal injury attorneys handle both sides of cases, representing both insurance companies and accident victims. You want a lawyer who is focused solely on the victim’s side of personal injury claims. Lawyers who work for both sides may be more likely to settle for less because they become sympathetic to the insurers or want to retain their business. You need someone who will always aggressively fight for you.

You Need a Lawyer with Resources

When speaking to potential New York personal injury lawyers, you should inquire about the level of resources their firm has at its disposal for your type of claim. You want to hire a lawyer at a firm who has the resources necessary to successfully advocate for your case. Depending on the type of accident and injuries, this could include access to personal investigators, expert witnesses, and others who can help solidify your injury claims. It could also include access to practice management resources like online bill pay or e-signing documents, which can be particularly important if your injuries make it difficult to travel to the law office. Ask potential personal injury lawyers about the resources they have available to help with your case.

You Want a Lawyer Who Works on Contingency

You should also look for a personal injury lawyer who works on contingency. This refers to the type of fee structure that the attorney charges for his or her work. For other practices of law, an attorney might require a retainer fee or bill the client monthly for services. However, the vast majority of personal injury lawyers work on contingency, which means that the lawyer does not get paid unless the client wins compensation for the case. Typically, a lawyer will take between 25% and 35% of the overall award, depending on how complex your personal injury case is. You want a personal injury lawyer who works on contingency because it makes them just as invested as you in getting the best possible outcome for your case.

Your Lawyer Should Provide You with Referrals for Satisfied Clients

Finally, you want a New York personal injury lawyer who is able to provide you with referrals to satisfied clients. If a lawyer is unable to provide you with the contact information of satisfied clients you should be concerned about his or her capacity as a quality attorney. A lack of referrals could either mean that the attorney does not work well with others or has not had the level of success described to you in your conversations. A successful personal injury attorney will always be able to provide you with satisfied clients who can speak to their competence as a lawyer.

Talk To Your Office Today

If you would like to learn more about what to look for when searching for a personal injury lawyer in New York, The Law Offices of Justin D. Brandel are here to help. Call the office or contact us today to schedule an evaluation of your case and speak with a highly qualified personal injury attorney now. 

 

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Do I Need a Bus Accident Attorney?

Do I Need a Bus Accident Attorney?

Buses are one of the most common forms of public transportation in the United States. Children use buses to get to and from school, workers commute on buses every day, and travelers ride on buses that take them across the state or even across the country. When a bus accident occurs, the results can be devastating for the victims. Given the significant size and impact force of a bus in a crash, a bus accident is often far more catastrophic than the typical vehicle accident. If you or a loved one has been injured in a bus accident in New York City, you need an experienced bus accident attorney on the case. Call or contact The Law Offices of Justin D. Brandel today to schedule an evaluation of your injury claims.

What Causes Bus Accidents?

Bus accidents can be caused by a number of different factors, and the specifics of your case will help determine who is ultimately liable for your injuries. One of the most common causes of bus accidents is distracted drivers. Drivers may be looking at their phones, distracted by passengers on the bus, or have their attention diverted by a distraction outside of the vehicle. Driver negligence also causes a number of accidents every year when bus drivers fail to adhere to traffic signs and signals or fail to check for other vehicles, bicycles, or pedestrians while behind the wheel.

In heavy urban areas, bus accidents can be caused by driver inexperience. This is especially the case when the large bus is in an area that is difficult to maneuver and drive. Road conditions and construction can cause bus accidents, especially when the bus driver is not used to driving in those conditions. Bus accidents can happen on the highway, in city centers, and everywhere in between when a driver is uncomfortable driving a bus in less than perfect pavement conditions.

Finally, bus accidents can be caused by vehicle failures and equipment malfunctions. Tire blowouts, brake failures, and weight distribution problems cause many bus crashes every year. In this type of accident, the bus company as well as the manufacturer of the vehicle or vehicle parts may be liable for victim injuries. Your bus accident lawyer can help you pursue the compensation you need from those responsible for your injuries. 

Injuries Caused by Bus Accidents

The injuries caused by bus accidents can be traumatic and catastrophic for victims. A person can be a passenger on the bus, in another smaller vehicle on the road, on a bicycle, or a pedestrian and suffer devastating injuries. Given the sheer size and force of a bus, injury victims often require extensive medical care, years of rehabilitation, and in many cases suffer from permanent disability or death. Some of the most common types of injuries suffered in bus accidents include the following:

  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Head and facial trauma
  • Neck injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Fractured bones
  • Amputated limbs
  • Severe burns
  • Soft tissue damage
  • Cuts and lacerations
  • Internal organ damage
  • Internal bleeding
  • Paralysis
  • Death

If you or someone you know suffered injuries in a bus accident, it is critical that you speak with an experienced New York bus accident attorney right away. Victims of bus crashes only have a small window to file their claims for compensation. 

Compensation for Bus Accident Injuries

Compensation for bus accident injuries include damages for economic and noneconomic loss. Economic damages refer to all out-of-pocket expenses caused by the accident, including property damage, medical bills, lost wages, and the loss of future income and benefits. Noneconomic damages compensate victims for pain and suffering, emotional distress, disability, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life. However, in many New York bus accidents, the case is rarely that straightforward.

If the bus involved in the accident is owned by a government agency like a public school or the city, the deadlines for filing a claim are much shorter than the typical personal injury case. In some cases, an injury victim must file a notice within ninety days of the accident. In other cases, the victim may only have up to one or two years to file a lawsuit and preserve their right to compensation. Do not take a chance with your case and talk to an expert in bus accident cases today. 

Hiring a New York bus accident lawyer is the best step you can take to protect your rights to compensation after a crash. First, an attorney can review the facts of your case and determine who is responsible for your injuries. Once liability is established, a lawyer can review the extent of your injuries and advise you on the full and fair value of your case. An experienced bus accident lawyer also understands the law and will ensure that your claim is not denied because of a missed deadline or legal filing.

After a bus accident, the insurance adjusters will be asking for a statement mere hours or days after the crash. Do not be fooled – the insurance companies do not have your best interests at heart. They are trying to settle the claim as quickly and as cheaply as possible, and they are hoping that you will make a statement that will mitigate or negate your claims for damages. When you hire a bus accident attorney, the insurers are required by law to send all communication, requests for statements, settlement offers, and negotiation through your attorney. Let your lawyer worry about handling the insurance companies so that you can focus on what is most important — your recovery.

Call or Contact The Law Offices of Justin D. Brandel Today

At The Law Offices of Justin D. Brandel, our team of highly qualified legal professionals is prepared to zealously advocate for your claims after a bus accident in New York. To learn more about the wide range of legal services offered to our personal injury clients, call the office or contact us today. Schedule a consultation with an experienced New York bus accident lawyer today.

 

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