Most people will get hurt at some point in their lives. However, some accidents and injuries are the result of someone else’s careless behavior, and they should be held responsible. Depending on how you were injured, we may be able to help you file a personal injury case against the person responsible.
Your claim may be worth substantial damages, including the financial costs of your injuries and the emotional toll of the accident. Whatever your claim might be, you should start quickly, as you may only have 3 years to file your case in court. Once the case is filed, we may need time to steer it through the courts. Some people recover compensation rather quickly, while others spend months or longer working with their lawyer. You may also explore other legal options, like insurance claims or settlements.
Get a free, private claims assessment from our personal injury attorneys with The Carrion Law Firm by calling (631) 910-7493.
Possible Injuries and Damages in a Personal Injury Case
A personal injury case may involve a wide variety of accidents, and injuries may be just as diverse. Whether your injuries are relatively mild or downright catastrophic, you may take action to get fair compensation.
Since accidents in personal injury cases could involve almost anything, injuries tend to vary greatly. You might have broken bones, soft tissue damage, cuts or lacerations, and other mild to moderate injuries. More severe cases might involve devastating brain damage, spinal cord injuries, severed limbs, or the loss of hearing or vision.
Injuries tend to be expensive to deal with, even when they are mild. As such, your economic damages may be substantial and include vast medical bills. Expensive property damage and lost income if you are too injured to work should also be included.
Accidents can also inflict serious emotional or mental injuries that might not be proven through evidence of cost. Non-economic damages may involve mental distress, physical pain, psychological trauma, humiliation, the loss of enjoyment of your life, and a diminished quality of life.
How Long You Have to File a Personal Injury Case
In Nissequogue and the rest of Long Island, people with personal injury claims have a limited time to prepare their cases. Exactly when your time limit begins and ends may depend on specific details unique to your case.
Civil claims are restricted by the statute of limitations under C.V.P. Law § 214. Plaintiffs have 3 years to file their claims or else risk losing the right to bring their causes of action. Your time begins when the cause of action accrues, which is usually the day of the accident.
Under special conditions, our personal injury attorneys may have the statute of limitations tolled, giving us more time to file your case. Under § 208(a), you may have the statute tolled for infancy, meaning you were under 18 when the accident happened. In that case, the limitation period would not begin until you turn 18.
Similarly, the statute may be tolled for “insanity,” which may involve certain mental conditions that prevent someone from filing their case on their own. In such cases, the statute is tolled until the mental condition is lifted or cured.
How Long it Takes to Recover Compensation in Nissequogue Personal Injury Cases
Many plaintiffs need financial compensation to help them cover the costs of their accidents and make ends meet. Unfortunately, getting compensation can take time, but there may be ways your attorney can help you speed things up.
If you file a personal injury lawsuit, a trial may be scheduled. While a trial can help you get compensation and justice, they are notoriously time-consuming. Exactly how long your trial takes may depend on the strength of the evidence and the complexity of the facts.
A common way of resolving legal disputes is to reach a settlement agreement. Settlements are often faster than trials, but they are not guaranteed, and negotiations can fall apart. Additionally, settlements do not always cover the full extent of the plaintiff’s damages.
If the defendant refuses to pay, we may need to take additional legal action, which may take more time. The courts can garnish the defendant’s wages or place a lien on their property to make sure you get the compensation you are owed.
Do I Need to Have a Trial for My Personal Injury Claims?
As described above, trials can be a great way to get compensation, but they are not necessary in every case.
Trials can be helpful when plaintiffs and defendants cannot otherwise resolve their disputes. While they can be long and grueling processes, many plaintiffs get the full extent of their damages covered through a trial.
Many other plaintiffs resolve their legal claims through private settlement agreements. In exchange for dropping the lawsuit, the defendant may agree to cover your damages, or at least some of your damages. Settlement can be a good option for those who need compensation quickly and would rather avoid the headache of a full trial.
Still, many injured accident victims may pursue compensation through insurance claims. Depending on the accident and your insurance, you might file a claim with your insurance provider or the defendant’s. This is often a good place to begin your case, since we can file a lawsuit against the defendant if insurance does not pan out.
Medical Care You Might Need After Being Injured in Nissequogue
Medical care after an accident is crucial to your health and your potential legal claims. What kind of care you need will depend on how you were hurt.
It is a good idea to go to the emergency room after being injured. Whether your injuries are minor or severe, the doctor at the ER should be able to provide appropriate care, including scans and x-rays, to determine the extent of your injuries.
You might also need certain lab testing done, which can reveal information about injuries that initial examinations miss or cannot detect. In many cases, lab tests reveal deep complications and might change the entire course of your treatment.
In serious cases, more invasive treatment might be necessary. Emergency surgery or multiple surgeries might be necessary for your recovery.
Discuss Your Case With Our Nissequogue Personal Injury Attorneys
Get a free, private claims assessment from our personal injury attorneys with The Carrion Law Firm by calling (631) 910-7493.