Each year, tens of thousands of New York residents suffer injuries due to other people’s negligence. While some of these victims recover just compensation for their injuries, far too many fail to seek the help they need and deserve.
If you have been seriously injured and someone else is to blame, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you pursue damages in your case.
7 Situations in Which You Should Speak with a Personal Injury Lawyer
If you are entitled to financial compensation, you do not want to let your opportunity to assert your legal rights slip away. Here are seven situations in which you should speak with a personal injury lawyer about filing a claim for just compensation:
1. You Were Injured in a Vehicle Collision
The majority of personal injury claims involve injuries sustained in vehicle collisions. This includes crashes involving cars, SUVs, motorcycles, pickup trucks, and commercial vehicles.
While New York has a “no fault” auto insurance law that limits accident victims’ financial recoveries in some cases, you should not assume that you are limited to seeking compensation solely through your personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. New York’s “no fault” law does not apply in all cases (e.g., it does not apply to accidents involving motorcycles).
Even if the no-fault law does apply, you can still seek full compensation if you suffered a serious injury in your collision. In order to determine what claims you can file and what damages you may be entitled to recover, it is in your best interest to consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer promptly.
2. You Were Injured While Walking, Jogging, or Riding Your Bike
In addition to collisions between vehicles, New York residents can also recover financial compensation when they are injured in pedestrian and bicycle accidents.
If you were injured while walking, jogging, or riding your bike (or if your child or another member of your family was injured), a personal injury lawyer can gather evidence on your behalf and seek the compensation you deserve.
3. You Were Injured in a Slip and Fall or Trip and Fall Accident
Slip and fall and trip and fall accidents are extremely common. The injuries in these accidents can vary widely. You may be entitled to compensation after a slip and fall or trip and fall through a premises liability claim.
If you fell at any of the following venues or locations, you should speak with a personal injury lawyer about your legal rights:
- Office, warehouse, or other place of business
- Government building or public property
- Swimming pool, gym, or other fitness or recreation venue
- Hotel, motel, or rental home
- Sports or entertainment venue
- A common area in your apartment or condo building
- A private residence
The insurance companies in dangerous premises claims often try to argue that you are partly or totally responsible for the injuries you suffer. It is important to work with an experienced lawyer who can present evidence of hazardous conditions and negligence on the part of the property owner or occupant.
4. You Were Injured in a Dog Attack
Dog bites can result in serious traumatic injuries. Victims often face long, difficult, and painful roads to recovery. Under New York law, victims of dog bites are entitled to seek financial compensation from the dog’s owner or keeper in many cases.
However, as with all types of liability claims, proving your right to compensation (as well as the amount you are entitled to recover) can be challenging. As a result, it is important to work with an experienced personal injury attorney.
5. You Were Injured in a Construction Accident
Working in construction presents many risks. Although you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits if you got injured on the job, you may also be able to recover compensation in some cases through a personal injury claim as well.
Negligent third parties may be liable for injuries you suffer on the job. Workers’ compensation benefits only cover a portion of your losses, so it is important to consider all of your legal options after a construction accident or other workplace injury.
6. You Have Been Diagnosed with a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) can occur in a broad range of circumstances. They can also have a broad range of effects.
If you or a member of your family has suffered a TBI in a fall, auto accident, sports accident, work-related accident, or just about any other scenario, you should speak with a personal injury lawyer to find out if you have a claim for financial compensation. The same is true for other cases of catastrophic injury, including spinal cord trauma, severe burns, and more.
7. You Received Poor-Quality Medical Care
Finally, medical errors are alarmingly common, and they can often have devastating effects. If you or a member of your family received substandard medical care, a personal injury lawyer can help you determine if you have a claim for medical malpractice.
Medical negligence can result diagnostic errors (i.e., misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose), surgical errors, and many other harmful events. It is important to contact a lawyer as soon as possible after suspected medical malpractice, as the evidence in these claims is complex and you may have a very short time to pursue compensation.
Contact Our Personal Injury Lawyers Today
As you can see, there are a variety of different circumstances where the negligence of one or more parties can result in serious injury. If you have been hurt through no fault of your own, our personal injury lawyers can help.
The attorneys at O’Connor & Partners, PLLC have been serving clients in Kingston, Poughkeepsie, Newburgh, and other areas of New York for over 150 years combined. Please call (845) 303-8777 today for a free consultation.