Manhattan Personal Injury Lawyer

A busy city is full of accidents waiting to happen. Many people who live or work in the borough will suffer an injury due to someone else’s negligence. When that happens to you, a Manhattan personal injury lawyer from StolzenbergCortelli, LLP could help you hold the negligent parties accountable.

The law makes negligent parties responsible for paying your medical costs, reimbursing your lost income, and covering any future losses you will suffer due to your injury. Negligent parties also must compensate you for your inconvenience, physical pain, emotional anguish, and any permanent effects of the injury. A trustworthy attorney is here to ensure that you receive justice.

Types of Accidents That Could Lead to an Injury Lawsuit

Almost any accident could result in a personal injury lawsuit but Manhattan’s unique environment makes some types of cases more common here than they might be in other places. This firm often handles cases involving injuries suffered as a result of:

• Defective premises
• Car and truck crashes
• Bus, train, and subway accidents
• Construction accidents
• Falls on commercial or public property
• Wrongful death cases

If another party’s negligence contributed to an individual’s injury, a Manhattan accidental injury attorney from StolzenbergCortelli, LLP could hold them liable, regardless of the type of incident. Proving negligence requires the claimant to show that another party did not use reasonable caution and that the careless act or omission was a direct cause of the injury.

A claimant must prove that they suffered actual losses; the mere possibility of suffering losses is insufficient to support a claim for damages. A claimant could prove their damages through documentary evidence like medical bills, receipts, invoices, employment records, and tax returns. They could prove their non-economic losses, like disfigurement or disability, through medical records, photographs or video, and testimony from the claimant and their family and associates. A lawyer could help in this regard.

Allocation of Fault

If a case goes to trial, a jury decides how much responsibility each party has for the accident that caused the injury. Each party, including potentially the injured person, is responsible for a portion of the damages that reflects their share of the blame.

For example, if a person was running on a subway platform and tripped on a hose left by a maintenance worker, the Transit Authority likely bears most of the responsibility for the accident because workers should not leave tripping hazards on the platform. However, running on the platform is not safe, and the individual might not have tripped if they had been walking cautiously. A jury might decide the person was 15 percent responsible for their injuries, so the Transit Authority must pay 85 percent of the total damages.

During pre-trial settlement negotiations, most responsible parties will attempt to allocate as much fault as possible to an injured person to reduce their liability. A Manhattan personal injury attorney from StolzenbergCortelli, LLP could ensure that the plaintiff does not shoulder more than their fair share of responsibility.

When to File a Lawsuit

State law generally gives claimants three years from the date of injury to bring a lawsuit seeking damages. However, shorter time limits are applicable in many cases.

Immediate action is crucial if a government entity could be a defendant. If the accident took place on a sidewalk, street, or transportation facility, in a municipal building or park, involved a public employee, or in many other circumstances, then a local government might have liability. New York General Municipal Law § 50-e requires a claimant submit a formal notice of claim to the appropriate government office within 90 days of their injury. A failure to submit the notice could endanger their right to sue. An injured person should seek advice from a Manhattan attorney from StolzenbergCortelli, LLP as soon as possible after their accident to avoid losing their right to sue because of the statute of limitations issues.

Reach Out to an Aggressive Manhattan Personal Injury Attorney

If you suffered an injury that disrupted your life, you do not have time to handle the intricacies of a lawsuit by yourself. That is a job for a Manhattan personal injury lawyer from StolzenbergCortelli, LLP. Do not risk your right to sue by delaying legal action; schedule a consultation today with StolzenbergCortelli, LLP.