When Should You Hire a Personal Injury Attorney?

Each year in New York, over 155,000 people get injured severely enough to need hospitalization. Another 1.5 million injured people receive emergency department treatment and then get released. Many of these people’s injuries result from an accident caused by someone else. 

If you are in this situation and suffering from injury caused by another, you may have a personal injury claim. Look out for these signs that it could be time to hire a Bronx personal injury attorney.

Severe Injuries 

You may not need a personal injury attorney to recover compensation for minor injuries. Small scratches or bruises from a trip/slip and fall may not require extensive medical care.

In contrast, scaffolding accident injuries could be extensive and life-altering. If your injuries are debilitating or life-altering, you may need extensive medical care. A personal injury lawyer can help you recover adequate compensation.

Severe injuries often need ongoing treatment and care into the future. They could also limit your ability to work, thereby limiting your earning capacity in the future. 

You Want to Claim Pain and Suffering 

When you file a personal injury claim, you must present evidence that supports your claims. For some injuries, this is a straightforward task. For example, you can get a repair estimate for property damage, medical bills for bodily injury, or paychecks for lost earned income. 

Pain and suffering is a possible claim but much harder to prove. There is no quantifiable way of verifying or measuring your pain or suffering. This makes it much harder to determine a dollar value that would compensate you. 

Pain and suffering can include fear, grief, or other psychological effects. It can also include the loss of companionship from a loved one. 

An experienced New York personal injury lawyer can explain the type of evidence necessary to present a persuasive claim. This will give you the best chance for success in recovering compensation. 

Debated Fault of the Accident

In some circumstances, it is not debated that the victim was not at fault for the injuries. However, in some personal injury cases, the defendant may argue that the injured party is partially or wholly responsible. 

A personal injury lawyer will fight for your right to recovery. They will have experience with common defenses and be able to help you overcome them. 

Multiple Parties 

If several parties are involved in the circumstances that lead to the injury, it can complicate recovery. 

You may practice safe driving habits, but others may not. A multi-car accident could have multiple potential defendants to your personal injury claim. These are other personal injury cases that commonly involve multiple parties. 

• Construction Accidents 
• Trucking Accidents 
• Medical Malpractice 
• Product Liability
• Trip/Slip and Fall on a Sidewalk 

It’s challenging to hold someone accountable when there are multiple possible defendants. If each successfully argues their innocence, you could end up recovering nothing. 

A personal injury attorney will help you navigate the legal system to prevent this situation from happening. 

Insurance Company Claim Denial 

Insurance companies are in business to make money. This means limiting the amount of money they pay out for claims. It is not their best interest to pay you a large sum for your claim. 

An experienced personal injury attorney will have experience negotiating with insurance companies. They will know insurance companies’ tactics to reduce your settlement amount. To combat this, they will assist you in gathering the necessary evidence to argue the severity of your injuries and damages. 

Some insurance companies act in bad faith. This could be taking actions that delay or hinder your ability to recover. Common tactics include: 

• Refusing to accept the filed claim 
• Requiring unnecessary paperwork 
• Refusing to investigate the claim 
• Giving you false information about your legal rights 
• Providing incorrect information about policy coverage 
• Outright blaming you for your injuries suffered 

Statute of Limitations 

A statute of limitations is the time period you have after an incident to file your claim in court. This time limit protects people from having someone come back many years after an incident to make a claim. 

The statute of limitations can vary based on the claim. In New York, car accidents have a statute of limitations of three years from the accident date. Medical malpractice has a limit of two years and six months from the date of the malpractice or end of continuous medical care. 

Because these time limitations vary, you could miss the filing time limit for your claim. If you do not file before the statute of limitations, you are barred from filing your personal injury lawsuit. 

It can take time to gather the necessary evidence to gather your claim. A personal injury attorney and their office can help you with this to ensure you file before the deadline.

Government Entity Involvement 

Getting injured by a New York government entity adds an extra layer of complexity to your personal injury claim. In many situations, the government is exempt from liability. However, this is not always the case. 

Talking with an experienced personal injury lawyer can help you determine if you have a viable claim. Do not wait, though. Per New York law, cases against a municipal defendant have a much shorter statute of limitations, only 1 year and 90 days, and requires a Notice of Claim be filed within 90 days.

What Is a Personal Injury Attorney?

A personal injury attorney is someone who represents injured individuals. These injuries are the result of another’s negligence or action. The liable party could be an individual, company, or government entity. 

Personal injury attorneys help their clients pursue monetary compensation for their injuries. There are several types of personal injury cases. So, you will want to find someone who specializes in cases that are similar to yours. 

Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer in the Bronx

If you recently suffered injuries from an accident, you will want the best personal injury attorney in the Bronx to represent you. They can help you handle all aspects of your personal injury case.

There are the other involved parties, insurance companies, and the court system. The personal injury attorney representing you is looking out for your best interests and fighting for your rights. 

Schedule a consultation with one of our personal injury attorneys and learn about your legal options for recovery.