In any given year, there are over 100,000 car accidents in New York City. This leads to tens of thousands of serious injuries and many fatalities. But car accidents are not the only situations where someone may find themselves seriously injured. Accidents also happen at hospitals, construction sites and businesses. Regardless of how anyone is injured, accident victims often have to struggled with physical, emotional, and financial challenges for several
months, if not multiple years.
If you or a loved one has been injured in New York City, you may have legal recourse through a civil claim. Our team of personal injury attorneys at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. are here to help in any way that we can. Whether you’ve been injured in The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens or Staten Island we are here for you. We can evaluate your case free of cost and let you know if you have a valid claim that can be pursued. You can reach us anytime at 800-529-9997.
What Types of Claims Can A Personal Injury Lawyer Handle?
Car accidents remain one of the most common personal injury claims that people pursue. According to the National Safety Council , “In 2021, 46,980 people died in motor-vehicle crashes compared to 42,338 in 2020 and 39,107 in 2019.” But the attorneys at our office have extensive experience handling a wide variety of different claims. What follows are just some of the situations where we may be able to help.
- Pedestrian Accidents: Pedestrians lack the protection of enclosed vehicles and are more likely to be overlooked in the first place. As such, they are much more likely to be seriously injured. The Financial District in Manhattan has a number of very busy intersections, which can make it a particularly dangerous place for pedestrians.
- Truck Accidents: A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh as much as 80,000 lbs. A semi-truck traveling at 65 mph can take the length of two football fields to come to a stop.
- Bus Accidents: Buses have large blind spots that can easily obscure the presence of smaller vehicles and pedestrians. In June of 2023 an elderly woman was killed after being run over by a MTA bus in downtown Manhattan.
- Medical Malpractice: Medical malpractice occurs when a patient is injured or killed by a doctor or hospital’s deviation from the applicable standard of care. There is no single standard of care for any health-care field.
- Product Liability Claims: When a company fails to make their products reasonably safe they could be held accountable through a product liability claim.
- Premises Liability Claims: Building owners in New York have a legal responsibility to maintain their properties in reasonably safe condition. This must be done for the protection of everyone on a property whose presence is reasonably foreseeable. One person was killed and multiple people were injured after a parking garage collapsed in lower Manhattan’s Financial District.
- Construction Accidents: New York City has some of the strongest legal protections for workers. Property owners and general contractors are held strictly liable for gravity related accidents under New York State Labor Law § 240/241, commonly referred to as the scaffold law.
- Toxic Torts: A toxic tort occurs when a negligent actor such as a business or municipality negligently causes a person to be exposed to toxic chemicals. For example, tens of thousands of veterans were exposed to industrial solvents, benzene, and other chemicals during their stay at the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune.
No matter how you’ve been injured, it’s always a a good idea to seek the guidance of an experienced personal injury attorney. Insurance providers will do everything in their power to deny liability after any claim. It is also common for them to downplay the severity of a person’s injuries to minimize their financial obligation. A personal injury attorney can fight on your behalf to get you a fair and just outcome for your injuries.
Demonstrating Liability For A Personal Injury Claim
In general, you can file a personal injury claim when you are injured by the negligent actions of another personal or entity. Negligence is simply the failure to behave with the level of ordinary care that a reasonable person would have exercised were they in the same ituation. For example, a driver may fail to look backwards and run into a pedestrian. There are a number of facts that need to be demonstrated in any negligence claim.
- The defendant owed the plaintiff a legal duty of care.
- The defendant breached that legal duty of care.
- The plaintiff suffered an injury.
- The defendant’s breach was the proximate cause of the injury.
- The plaintiff incurred damages from their injury.
Damages in a civil claim can help cover many of the unexpected expenses that come with a serious injury. Even if you were partially at fault for any accident, you may still have legal recourse. New York is one of multiple states that operates under a comparative negligence system. If you are deemed partially at fault for an accident, any damages will be proportionately reduced. Many people fail to pursue claims because they believe they were at fault, but this is often not the case. This is why it is so important to speak with an experienced attorney after any accident.
Steps That You Should Take After An Accident
A serious accident can often be one of the most difficult things that most people will ever go through in their lives. Accident victims are often left with high medical bills and may need to take extensive time off of work. It is important to try to keep a clear head if you’ve been injured. What follows below are some of the steps that you should take if you’ve been harmed due to someone’s negligence.
- Call 911 so that a police report of the incident can be made.
- Document the scene as much as possible by taking photos.
- Get the contact information from all people involved.
- Seek medical attention as early as possible.
- Avoid taking calls or speaking with the other party’s insurance carrier.
- Seek the experienced guidance of a Manhattan personal injury attorney.
After any serious accident, it is very common for people to be in a state of complete shock. Accidents can leave our bodies filled with adrenaline as we enter a fight or flight response. It may take several days or even months for a person to fully realize the extent of their injuries. In some cases, those with traumatic brain injuries may be at an increased risk for dementia and other neurological conditions. This is why it is so important to get checked out by a doctor and not assume that you were uninjured after any incident.
Why You Should Hire Our New York City Personal Injury Attorneys
Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. is one of the oldest and most respected personal injury firms in New York City. We take great pride in the care and dedication that we give to each one of our valued clients. Our legal team is committed to getting you the best result possible. No claim is too small or too large for us to handle. If you’ve been injured in downtown Manhattan or anywhere throughout the city, here are a few reasons you should hire us to represent you.
- Experience and Expertise: With nearly 40 years of experience in personal injury law, our legal team has successfully handled many cases across New York City. We have an in-depth knowledge of the laws that will affect your case and a track record of achieving exceptional outcomes for our clients.
- Personalized Approach: We understand that every case is unique and requires a tailored approach. Our attorneys will work closely with you to understand your unique situation and develop a personalized strategy to maximize your chances of success.
- Comprehensive Legal Services: Our law firm can handle a wide variety of personal injury cases. Whether you were in a car accident or injured in a slip and fall, we have the knowledge and resources to give your case the precision and care that it deserves.
- Aggressive Representation: We are well known for being tenacious advocates for our clients. Our attorneys are skilled litigators and will pursue the best outcome possible for you. We are also not afraid to take your case to court if necessary.
- Client Centered Approach: At Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C., your well-being is our top priority. We take the time to listen to your concerns, answer your questions, and give you regular updates on the status of your claim. Our team of compassionate legal professionals are here to support you and make you fell comfortable every step of the way.
Dealing with the aftermath of a serious accident can be stressful enough in and of itself. When you hire our law firm, you can be at ease knowing that we will advance all of the costs associated with pursuing your claim. We work entirely off of a contingency fee basis. What this means is that you owe us nothing unless we are able to successfully resolve your claim. Our payment comes entirely out of any verdict or settlement that we are able to negotiate on your behalf.
Getting Legal Help With A New York City Personal Injury Claim
Hiring an experienced attorney can often mean the difference between winning or losing your personal injury claim. Insurance providers will fight hard to deny liability for any accident and will try to resolve claims as cheaply as possible. Our attorneys can help level the playing field and ensure that your best interests are always being taken into consideration. It doesn’t cost anything upfront to hire our attorneys to represent you. We can investigate the unique facts of your case free of cost and let you know what your legal options are.
The New York City personal injury lawyers at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. are here to help you. They can answer any legal questions that you may have and take steps to protect your rights. We have decades of experience and have recovered over $1 billion for our deserving clients. We are committed to getting accident victims the compensation and justice that they are entitled to under the law. You can stop by our Manhattan office or give us a call anytime to discuss your particular situation. Please feel free to reach out to us at 800-529-9997.
