Bushwick Personal Injury Lawyer
Bushwick is one of the most densely populated neighborhoods in Brooklyn, making it one of the hottest spots for personal injuries in NYC. If you have been the victim of another person’s negligence, our lawyers can help you file a lawsuit.
The claims process can be highly complex for those without legal counsel. Accident victims only have a few short years to file and must get medical treatment while making these considerations. Our team can take these issues off your hands and focus on your litigation. We will monitor your treatment and gather medical records for your initial filing. Once your lawsuit is filed, we can collect more evidence to determine how serious your injuries are and how much your damages are worth. If we cannot settle the case after investigating and negotiating with the insurance company, we can fight for damages in court.
Contact The Carrion Law Firm today at (718) 841-0083 for a private, free case review with our Brooklyn personal injury attorneys.
When You Should File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Bushwick, Brooklyn
The “statute of limitations” bears down on every type of personal injury claim. It is the clock that starts running the moment you are injured. According to C.V.P. Law § 214(5), you cannot pursue the case if you do not file your lawsuit within three years. So, it would make sense to file your lawsuit as quickly as possible. However, there are good reasons to use the time given before filing your lawsuit unless the deadline is fast approaching.
While you do not need all of it initially, you must submit some evidence of your damages and the accident so that your case is not dismissed at the outset. When our personal injury lawyers file your complaint, we will organize and submit some of your medical records. This will not prove your case just yet, but it will be enough for the court to understand you have a legitimate lawsuit. We will gather much of the other evidence during discovery after your case gets moving.
The duration of your medical treatment will also be a major factor in our decision on when to file. If you contacted our firm right after your accident and just getting into your treatment plan, we might not know how long it will go on, especially if your injuries are serious. For instance, you might need to recover for weeks or months before you can get surgery or start physical therapy. You might also need to be scheduled for neurological testing and orthopedic examinations to determine the full extent of your injuries.
We often need experts to review your medical records and occupational limitations if your injuries impact your job. They need time to prepare reports and their testimony. Of course, you need compensation sooner than later, so only so much time can be spent. Experts will help assess your projected future treatment and other losses, allowing us to accurately assess your damages ahead of time to settle your case.
What You Can Expect After Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Bushwick, Brooklyn
Some think lawsuits go straight from filing to trial, but many steps come before the courtroom. After filing your lawsuit, you can expect settlement negotiations to take place throughout the process. Contrary to popular belief, most personal injury cases settle before a trial is necessary. However, it is important not to settle too soon or for an amount that does not cover all your damages.
Our lawyers recommend not settling until we complete the “discovery” process. During discovery, we can collect evidence that the other side possesses. While we will have a good idea of the value of your damages from your medical records and other evidence, we might have reasons to claim more after getting evidence from the defendant.
During this time, though, insurance companies commonly send initial settlement offers to test the waters. They want to see how desperate an injury victim is for compensation and pressure them into taking the first offer. However, these opening offers usually will not include compensation for your pain and suffering. They will also fight the claim harder if even a little of your own negligence is involved.
If we cannot reach an agreement with the other side that fully compensates you, we will proceed to trial. However, juries tend to be more sympathetic to injury victims, so most insurance companies prefer to settle than roll the dice with a jury award.
Investigating a Bushwick, Brooklyn Personal Injury Lawsuit
We must investigate your case thoroughly to avoid a trial and get a satisfactory settlement. While different claims will call for different strategies, we have a few tried-and-true methods for assessing and proving a lawsuit.
Our team will typically start by reviewing accident reports. These reports usually come from the law enforcement agency investigating your accident, like after a car collision. However, the defendant might also have drafted accident reports we can review. If you slipped and fell in a store or restaurant or were hit by a commercial driver, the company might have made an internal report of the incident. When we gather company reports, we can see if the employee has a history of dangerous behavior.
Next, we will interview any witnesses we can identify and speak with. One of the reasons accident reports are so important is that they often contain witness contact information. If you did not get a chance to talk to anyone at the scene, the report might be the only way to identify eyewitnesses. Witnesses can provide details of the accident and the defendant’s conduct that you were unaware of, giving you further ammunition for your claim.
We will also review photos and videos, if available. You might have taken pictures with your phone, or the police have photos in their report. Depending on where it happened, surveillance cameras might also have filmed your accident.
Call Our Bushwick, Brooklyn Personal Injury Lawyers Today for Help
For a free case evaluation, speak to our personal injury lawyers at The Carrion Law Firm by calling (718) 841-0083.