Long Island
Personal Injury Lawyer

Most people who contact us are already dealing with unexpected expenses after an accident. Medical bills can add up quickly, and missing time from work can create additional financial stress. That’s why most personal injury lawyers, including Carrion Accident & Injury Attorneys, work on a contingency fee basis.

With a contingency fee arrangement, you do not pay any upfront attorney fees. Instead, our fee is collected only if we successfully recover compensation for you through a settlement or a verdict. If we do not recover compensation, you generally do not owe attorney fees.

During your free consultation, we can explain how our contingency fee arrangement works, discuss any potential case-related costs, and answer your questions so you know exactly what to expect moving forward.

If someone else’s negligence caused your injuries, you may be entitled to compensation for both financial and personal losses.

Economic damages often include financial losses, such as:

• Medical expenses
• Future medical treatment
• Lost wages
• Reduced earning capacity
• Rehabilitation costs
• Property damage

Non-economic damages may include personal losses, such as:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Permanent disability
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Loss of consortium

Every case is different, which is why it’s important to evaluate your damages based on your specific circumstances.

Yes. Many people assume they cannot recover compensation if they share some responsibility for an accident, but that is not necessarily true.

New York follows a pure comparative negligence system. Under this rule, you may still recover compensation even if you were partially at fault. However, your recovery will generally be reduced by your percentage of responsibility.

Insurance companies often try to place more blame on injured people than they deserve. An experienced attorney can help push back against those arguments and protect your claim.

In most cases, New York gives injury victims three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, there are exceptions. Certain claims may have shorter deadlines, particularly those involving government entities or wrongful death cases. In New York, the personal representative of the deceased person’s estate generally has two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit.

Because missing a deadline can jeopardize your right to compensation, it’s best to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible after an accident.

Most personal injury claims settle before trial. Insurance companies often prefer to avoid the expense, time, and uncertainty of litigation. In many cases, both sides can reach an agreement through negotiations once the evidence has been gathered and the extent of the injured person’s damages is understood.

That said, not every case settles. If the insurance company disputes liability, questions the severity of your injuries, or refuses to make a reasonable settlement offer, filing a lawsuit may become necessary. Even after a lawsuit is filed, many cases still settle before reaching a courtroom.

At Carrion Accident & Injury Attorneys, we prepare every case as though it could end up before a jury. If your case does proceed to trial, we will guide you through every stage of the process and explain what to expect. While the idea of going to court can feel intimidating, having experienced legal representation can provide peace of mind and help ensure your interests are protected.

Some cases settle within a few months, while others may take a year or longer. The length of your case often depends on the severity of your injuries, how long your medical treatment lasts, whether liability is disputed, the amount of available evidence, and the insurance company’s willingness to negotiate.

In many situations, it is important to wait until you have reached maximum medical improvement or your doctors have a clear understanding of your long-term prognosis before resolving a claim. Settling too early could mean accepting compensation before the full extent of your injuries and future medical needs are known.

If a lawsuit becomes necessary, the timeline may be extended due to court schedules, discovery, depositions, and other litigation-related procedures. While this can be frustrating, taking the time to build a strong case is often necessary to pursue the compensation you deserve.

Negligence is the legal concept at the heart of most personal injury cases. Put simply, negligence occurs when someone fails to act with reasonable care and another person is injured as a result.

For example, a driver who texts while driving, a property owner who ignores a dangerous condition, or a trucking company that fails to properly maintain its vehicles may all be considered negligent under certain circumstances.

To successfully prove negligence, you generally must show:

• The other party owed you a duty of care.
• They breached that duty.
• Their actions caused your injuries.
• You suffered damages as a result.

Each of these elements must be supported by evidence. Successfully proving negligence often comes down to telling a clear, consistent story about what happened and how the accident affected your life. It’s not enough to show that you were injured — you must be able to connect your injuries to another party’s careless actions and demonstrate the impact those injuries have had on your health, finances, and daily activities.

Examples of evidence commonly used in personal injury cases include:

• Accident reports
• Photos and videos from the scene
• Medical records
• Medical bills
• Witness statements
• Surveillance footage
• Expert opinions
• Employment records showing lost income
• Vehicle damage reports
• Cell phone records in certain motor vehicle accident cases
• Maintenance records
• Black box data from commercial trucks
• Documentation of ongoing medical treatment

It can also be helpful to keep records of how your injuries have affected your daily life. Notes on pain levels, missed activities, work limitations, and other challenges may help demonstrate the impact of the accident. Because important evidence can disappear over time, it is often beneficial to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible after an accident.