Someone else’s negligent act might change your life forever, leaving you with distressing injuries and damages. Fortunately, those damages may be compensable when you file a personal injury lawsuit against the liable party.
Personal injuries happen for various reasons, often because of negligent drivers, property owners, and product manufacturers. Car accidents, slip and falls, and defective product accidents could cause permanent and serious injuries that warrant compensation. To get that compensation, you need medical evidence of your injuries, so make sure you go to the hospital immediately after an accident. While you get the necessary medical care, our lawyers can begin preparing your case so we can file it well before the three-year deadline for personal injury lawsuits in New York. Missing that deadline would bar you from recovery, which is not an option when dealing with expensive damages due to negligence.
To get a confidential and free case review from our Brooklyn, NY personal injury lawyers, call The Carrion Law Firm at (718) 841-0083.
Why Personal Injuries Happen in Park Slope
Some of the most common causes of personal injuries include car accidents caused by negligent drivers, slip and fall accidents caused by negligent property owners, and defective product accidents caused by negligent manufacturers. After these accidents and others caused by negligence, we can help victims identify liable parties and build compensation claims.
Negligent Drivers
Cars are massive pieces of machinery capable of causing considerable damage, especially at high speeds. Park Slope’s proximity to I-278 and I-478 presents a risk of highway accidents, and there is also a risk of accidents at busy intersections in the area.
Negligent drivers typically cause the worst accidents when they hit other cars head-on or perpendicularly. These accidents often cause traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, which might be permanent or fatal.
New York’s serious injury threshold limits when victims can sue negligent drivers. To file claims, victims must show that their injuries meet the definition of “serious” under I.S.C. Law § 5102(d). Common injuries that enable victims to sue include loss of limb, disfiguring injuries, fractures, traumatic brain injuries, and paralysis injuries, and our attorneys can compare your medical records to the serious injury threshold to confirm if you have a case.
Negligent Property Owners
Property owners have a duty to ensure reasonably safe environments. Ignoring dangers to visitors, like wobbly railings or potential tripping hazards, could cause an accident for which the property owner would be liable. Quickly preserving evidence is crucial, particularly in these cases. The property owner might have surveillance systems on-site that our personal injury lawyers can access to secure video evidence. This is often the case in slip and fall claims for accidents in restaurants, retail shops, or other commercial establishments with security cameras.
Negligent Product Manufacturers
If not made properly or affixed with the necessary safety instructions, various products could prove dangerous for consumers. This is especially common on construction sites, where workers might interact with hazardous machinery or equipment daily. If that equipment is defective, an explosion or other serious accident could occur. In these situations, the product manufacturer or distributor could be liable for a victim’s economic and non-economic damages.
What to Do After Personal Injuries Happen in Park Slope
Make documenting your injuries your top priority after an accident. Take photos of injuries at the scene and call 911 if you need transportation to the hospital. Do not forego medical treatment, as that could weaken your future claim.
Collect the negligent party’s information as well. When hurt by negligent drivers, victims should request their names, phone numbers, registration, driver’s license, and insurance information. Police officers can help victims get this information, another benefit of calling 911.
You should get the property owner’s information when hurt at someone’s home or business. Inform them about the accident. Do not discuss the incident at length with the liable party, as you could risk misspeaking and contradicting future statements or aspects of your claim.
You should go straight from the accident scene to the hospital. Delaying medical care, even if it is because you think you are unhurt, could threaten your recovery. If paramedics arrive after you call 911, let them take you to the emergency room. When you get to the hospital, physicians may evaluate you further and run various tests to diagnose your injuries. These immediate medical records will help our lawyers show you were hurt because of the accident and that you sought the necessary treatment. That alone is important, as showing you are committed to your physical recovery can emphasize your commitment to your financial recovery.
When to File Lawsuits Personal Injury Lawsuits in Park Slope
According to C.V.P. Law § 214(5), victims may only file lawsuits for injuries during the three years after an accident unless an exception applies. There are a few instances when time might pause, like if the victim is a minor, the defendant intentionally conceals their identity or leaves the state, or the victim does not discover their injuries until later.
The three-year filing deadline is for most personal injury claims, but medical malpractice lawsuits follow a different rule. Instead of having three years to sue for medical negligence, victims have two and a half years. This slight difference in filing deadlines could confuse victims or make them file late, and our attorneys can ensure this does not happen by confirming the appropriate deadline for your case and proceeding accordingly.
Before filing your lawsuit, our lawyers must ensure we have sufficient proof of negligence and damages to support your case. Filing too soon could cause issues with meeting the standard of proof or lead to a lack of evidence to leverage during negotiations. We can bring your case only after being confident in its chances of success and the evidence in your favor.
Call Our Injury Lawyers in Park Slope Now
Get a free case assessment from our personal injury lawyers by calling The Carrion Law Firm at (718) 841-0083.