The fallout from personal injuries affects victims in many ways, sometimes indefinitely. Even if your injuries heal, you might experience chronic pain, long-term mental suffering, and a lowered earning capacity. These damages are compensable through a lawsuit, which we can help you prepare, file, and win in Port Jefferson.
Give us as much time as possible to build your case, and reach out right after an accident. We can get the necessary records for your case, like medical records, income records, and police reports. We will write the injury complaint and file it before the three-year statute of limitations runs out. We will also handle everything that comes after filing, like settlement negotiations or a trial.
Our personal injury lawyers can review your case for free when you call The Carrion Law Firm at (631) 910-7493.
When Should You Get an Injury Lawyer After an Accident in Port Jefferson?
You should call our personal injury lawyers soon after an accident. The longer you wait, the harder preserving evidence may become.
Our lawyers can help you determine who is liable for your injuries, too. After a defective product accident at home or on a construction site, you may not know who is liable. The same can be said for slip and falls, which some victims think happen because of their own clumsiness.
We can explain how a product manufacturer or property owner is at fault and work to prove it.
You should also get an injury lawyer after a bad car accident in Port Jefferson. We can explain how New York’s no-fault system only lets victims with certain “serious” injuries sue for non-economic damages. All fractures, even simple fractures, are considered “serious” injuries in New York, so do not assume yours are not severe enough for a lawsuit.
You have three years to sue for a personal injury, barring any exceptions that might apply. Miss the deadline, and you also miss your chance to get compensation, so contact us about your case immediately.
How Do You File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Port Jefferson?
Filing a lawsuit is a complicated process. Make any missteps, and the court may dismiss your claim.
You start a lawsuit by filing a complaint. The complaint must follow a specific rubric, which we can abide by. We will name the defendant, state the facts of the case, and seek “relief” from damages. By seeking relief, we ask for compensation for medical bills, missed income, pain and suffering, and other damages.
After we file the complaint in the appropriate court, the defendant will get served with the lawsuit. The lawsuit can then officially start, and our lawyers will help you through all the next steps.
What Records Do You Need for a Personal Injury Lawsuit?
We will help you arrange the necessary records for a strong personal injury lawsuit in Port Jefferson.
Medical Records
Medical records are crucial evidence in injury lawsuits. Without medical records, you cannot prove your injuries exist.
If you have noticeable injuries right after an accident, go to the hospital. Doing so initiates your medical record, proving you were injured on the same date and at the same time as the incident.
When you give permission, we can get medical records from providers. These records give detailed information about your injuries, treatments, and prognosis. Records often include doctors’ notes and impressions, which also help your case.
Always keep medical records updated and accurate. If you need follow-up care, get it. Skipping appointments or delaying treatments is inadvisable. Your injuries might worsen, which might complicate your case.
Income Records
We also need income records. Tax returns, paychecks, and employer information help us calculate lost wages. We also use income records to calculate future lost wages, which are common when victims suffer bad injuries.
Police Reports
Though police reports are sometimes admissible in injury lawsuits, they help claims in other ways, too. You may call 911 to report any accident, from a car crash to a slip and fall. Police officers may arrive with paramedics, and you can tell officers what happened.
Details police include in the report can help us identify eyewitnesses, locate security camera footage, or confirm the accident’s cause.
What Happens After You File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Port Jefferson?
After you file a lawsuit, the “discovery” phase starts. Both sides exchange information, request evidence, and then settlement negotiations start. If a case does not settle, it may go to trial.
We can prepare you to give depositions during discovery and testimony later on if the case goes to court. The statements you give during a deposition may yield bigger settlement offers. You can explain your pain and suffering since the accident and give other useful information about its cause.
Settlement negotiations can take weeks or months. If they do not progress, trials are the solution. At trial, we present our case, and the defense presents theirs. The discovery phase lets us gauge the defense’s case so we will know what we are up against in court.
A trial may only take a few weeks or longer, depending on the case’s complexity. Having several eyewitnesses and expert witnesses testify may extend a trial, but it can also strengthen your case.
What Are Personal Injury Awards Based On?
If your case goes to trial and the defendant is found liable, the court awards damages. Compensation is based on the proof of damages we present, which makes organizing bills and calculating losses crucial.
We can keep copies of all bills related to an accident. The majority may come from hospital visits, but victims may also incur costs from childcare services and other expenses.
Awards are also based on testimony. When you testify, you can explain your lowered quality of life and other non-economic damages, potentially increasing your recovery.
Call Us About an Injury in Port Jefferson Today
Our personal injury lawyers can discuss your case for free if you call The Carrion Law Firm at (631) 910-7493.