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Long Island Personal Injury Lawyer
Let Us Help You Obtain the Compensation You Need to Recover
Accidents happen. When they do, you expect the at-fault party to provide you with the money you need to pay for medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Insurers in New York spend huge sums of money each year to avoid paying out damages on their clients’ behalf.
Injury Attorneys Proudly Serving Long Island for 20+ Years
When you are left with nothing to cover expenses, it is important to get the help of an experienced Long Island injury lawyer who can help you fight for the compensation you need. With over 20 years in practice, the Law Office of Gregory A. Goodman, P.C. stands ready to help you pursue justice. If you need personal injury representation, you know which injury law firm to reach out to.
Call the Law Office of Gregory A. Goodman, P.C in Long Island, NY at (800) 242-3740 or contact us online to schedule a free initial case review.
What Is a Personal Injury Claim?
A personal injury claim is a legal action pursued by an individual (the plaintiff) who has suffered physical, emotional, or financial harm due to the negligence, recklessness, or intentional actions of another party (the defendant). The purpose of a personal injury claim is to seek compensation, also known as damages, for the losses and injuries the plaintiff has endured as a result of the defendant's wrongful conduct.
Personal injury claims cover a wide range of accidents and incidents, including car accidents, slip and falls, medical malpractice, workplace injuries, defective products, and more. To establish a successful personal injury claim, the plaintiff and their attorney must demonstrate the following elements:
- Duty of Care: The defendant owed a legal duty of care to the plaintiff, usually in the form of acting reasonably to avoid causing harm.
- Breach of Duty: The defendant failed to uphold their duty of care through negligence or intentional misconduct.
- Causation: The defendant's breach of duty directly caused the plaintiff's injuries or damages.
- Damages: The plaintiff suffered actual harm, such as physical injuries, emotional distress, medical expenses, lost wages, or property damage.
In many cases, personal injury claims are resolved through negotiations and settlements with the defendant's insurance company. If an agreement cannot be reached, the claim may proceed to litigation, where the court will determine the appropriate compensation based on the evidence presented.
Seeking the assistance of an experienced personal injury attorney is essential to navigate the complexities of the legal process and ensure the best possible outcome for the claim.
Handling All Personal Injury Cases Throughout New York State
If you have been injured because of someone else’s negligence, please contact the Law Office of Gregory A. Goodman, P.C. immediately to protect your rights. A personal injury lawyer will provide you with a free consultation. Our law firm can provide you will legal representation on all types of personal injury matters and accidents.
Among other cases, we help clients with injury matters involving:
What To Do After a Car Accident
When you’ve been injured in a car accident, you may not know where to turn. Should you deal directly with the other driver’s insurance company? Is fault an issue in the case? What paperwork must you send to the insurance company?
Hiring a Car Accident Attorney in Long Island, NY
Hiring an attorney who is experienced in personal injury law will ease your stress. We have years of experience working on personal injury cases. Our personal injury lawyers are strong advocates you can depend on for results when you’ve been involved in an auto accident in the Long Island area. We can help you determine what steps to take during this difficult time.
Car Accident Injury Statute of Limitations in New York
Many people do not realize that if they fail to file a lawsuit within a certain period of time, they will be barred from bringing a lawsuit. In New York, people who are injured in a car accident have only three years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit in court.
Settling out of Court
Of course, many car accidents end up settling out of court. It’s important to hire an attorney who is able to work on settling your case while remaining prepared to file a lawsuit and take the case to trial if necessary.
Let our New York car accident attorneys help you with your injury claim. Call our dedicated personal injury attorneys at e} or contact us online to schedule a free consultation today.
New York’s No-Fault Insurance System
New York is one of only a few states that have no-fault car insurance systems. This system requires that you must collect first from your own insurance company, even if the other driver caused the accident. A fault is not considered unless drugs or alcohol are involved.
This rule is not absolute. You may have a personal injury claim against the other driver’s insurance company if the accident resulted in death or excessive medical bills over $50,000. Suffering certain serious injuries such as fractures or disfigurements may also allow you to file a lawsuit rather than collect from your own insurance company. Our Long Island personal injury office is available to discuss the facts of your case and to determine what rights you may have.
Shared Fault Law in New York and Long Island
When attempting to hold an entity liable for your injuries, they may argue that you share at least part of the blame. If you are found to share liability, this can affect your total received compensation.
In New York, shared fault compensation falls under the "Pure Comparative Negligence" rule. This means the amount of compensation you are entitled to will be reduced by the percentage of fault you had in the accident.
It is important to note that this rule is specific to injury lawsuits brought to trial. Though insurance adjusters can bring up the comparative negligence rule, you still can negotiate how that rule applies to your claim. A Long Island injury attorney can assist you whether you're dealing with the comparative negligence rule in the courts or with an insurance adjuster.
Choosing a Seasoned Personal Injury Attorney in Long Island, NY
With an experienced Long Island personal injury lawyer on your side, you will have a better understanding of a realistic outcome for your case.
You may be able to pursue several types of damages in an injury case, including:
- Medical bills
- Property damage (damage to your car that must be repaired)
- Lost wages (for any time you have missed from work as a result of your injuries)
We can review your case and assess what damages may be recoverable. We’re available for free consultations and have flexible payment plans. We look forward to advocating for your rights.
Injured in Long Island? Get the compensation you deserve. Dial (800) 242-3740 now or contact us online to get started with a free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
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If you have just been involved in an automobile accident—no matter how severe you think it is—there are several important things you keep in mind to preserve and protect your rights under the law.
Here are a few important steps and actions you should follow immediately following your accident:
- Seek immediate medical attention if injured. Be sure to document everything.
- Inform any and all healthcare providers of your injuries, complaints, medical history, and pain. Tell your doctors each and every area of pain, no matter how slight the pain is. Properly and honestly documenting your complaints can be the difference between successfully recovering on your case.
- Take photos of any and all injuries.
- Take photos of any vehicles involved in an accident.
- Take photos of your car—documentation is vital.
- Report to the police if they did not arrive.
- Get a copy of the police report.
- Review police report and make corrections with a police officer.
- Keep a detailed accounting of any expenses you have accrued as a result of your accident, including gas and mileage costs incurred from traveling to and from your doctor’s office for treatment related to injuries sustained from your automobile accident, lost time from work, unpaid bills, co-pays if applicable, etc.
- Immediately contact and report a claim to your insurance carrier A.S.A.P. (There are strict time requirements and documents you need to send to your insurance carrier. We can fully assist you with this process and handle most of these actions for you when retained)
- Complete and submit an application for a no-fault insurance claim (NF-2), which will enable you to receive medical treatment for the injuries you sustained in your automobile accident.
- Get an insurance claim number from your insurance carrier and the defendant’s carrier.
- Contact us immediately to discuss and preserve your rights. We will offer you a free consultation.
Along with what you should do, here are some important things not to do:
- Do not discuss or share any of the details of your accident or injuries with anyone except your attorneys.
- Do not post any details or photos regarding the details of your accident and injuries to Facebook, Twitter, or any other social media account. This information can be used against you and is often discoverable, which means you may have to share this information with the defendant should you pursue a lawsuit.
- Do not spare any details to your healthcare provider about the full extent of your injuries. Documenting the full details of your injuries and complaints can increase the chances of your success. Failure to document and failure to disclose honestly the details can result in decreasing your chances of recovery on your claim.
- Do not enter into an agreement with an insurance carrier without first consulting and retaining an experienced personal injury trial lawyer. Sometimes, when an insurance carrier knows they are liable, they may try to offer the victim money in an effort to save money. Their strategy is to get to you before you seek legal representation and before you know your legal rights.
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Property owners are expected to keep their premises safe. If you injured yourself in a slip and fall accident, you need to prove that the owner likely knew about the dangerous area, failed to repair it, and failed to warn people about the dangerous condition. Photo evidence is crucial, as well as proof of the owner’s awareness of the defect and their failure to repair it. It also helps to have a Long Island personal injury lawyer on your side who can help you establish a strong case for compensation for your injuries.
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The goal of no-fault insurance is to make sure all victims of an accident are cared for, regardless of who caused the accident. This means the insurance policy should cover medical costs and hospitalization fees, lost wages, and any funeral expenses incurred.
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No. Splitting fees with a management company is not a crime. In 2015, an insurance carrier tried to withhold payment of a provider’s medical fees by claiming that their management agency—which collected 6% of their total costs—was not medical staff. This was an attempt to argue that the healthcare provider was committing fraud, but the court ruled against the insurance carrier.
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Yes. If you want to be reimbursed for medical costs, you are required by law to appear. However, you do not have to appear alone. The Law Office of Gregory A. Goodman, P.C. can represent you during your EUO to help you avoid making any statements that would injure your ability to obtain full and fair compensation.
