Personal Injury Questions and Answers
If you are injured in an accident can you afford an attorney?
YES. Attorneys in New York State are permitted to work on a contingency basis. That means the attorney will be paid from the monetary recovery of the lawsuit.
If I am injured in an accident, how much money am I entitled to collect?
This amount is partially dependent on what injury you have sustained in the accident and what type of recovery you make from these injuries. Another important issue to consider is how much insurance coverage is available to pay for your injuries.
If you are injured in an auto accident and the person at fault had no insurance coverage, can you still recover a sum of money for your injuries?
YES. The insurance company for the car which you were a driver or passenger might be obligated to pay for your injuries or if you were a pedestrian, if you owed a car or lived in a household where someone owned a car that insurance company may be responsible. Sometimes even if there is no “other” insurance company, the State of New York through the Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation may be responsible.
What is no-fault Insurance?
It is the benefits you are entitled to when you are injured in an automobile accident regardless of who was at fault. Some of the benefits include lost wages, medical bills and medications.
If you are injured in an auto accident, is there a time limit to start a lawsuit?
YES. In New York State, the time limit to start the lawsuit for injuries is 3 years.
If you are injured in any type of accident, for example, a car accident or a slip and fall accident, and you are partially responsible for the accident, does that mean you cannot sue for your injuries?
NO – the law provides that under certain circumstances the degree of responsibility will be divided. For example, in a car accident if you have been found 30% responsible for the accident and the other driver 70% responsible, then you will be entitled 70% of the value of injuries.
If you fall on a NYC sidewalk in front of a business or apartment house due to holes or cracks in the sidewalk, who do you sue?
The owner of such property will be responsible for injuries caused by their failure to maintain the sidewalk in a reasonable safe condition.
If you are bitten by a dog, is the owner always responsible for your injuries?
NO. The owner of the does is responsible if he was aware of the dogs vicious propensities. This means that if the dog attached someone before he bit you, then the owner was aware that the dog might do it again and thus, the owner should have taken precaution to prevent the second attack.
Will bringing a lawsuit in an auto accident raise my insurance rates?
NO. If the accident was not your fault, your rates will not go up.
Please call Byron Lassin at (718) 651-0500 if you have any other questions and need someone to help you.