A single personal injury can derail your life, leading to time lost at work, lost income, high medical bills, and even permanent loss of ability. All of these challenges are tough enough to deal with alone, but many personal injury victims find themselves struggling to manage the details of their personal injury lawsuits by themselves.

Here’s the truth – you never need to go through a personal injury lawsuit alone. The right legal team can help you navigate the complexities of the legal process and help you get the compensation you need to pay for your medical bills and more.

Below, we will explore the benefits of hiring a Long Island personal injury lawyer or legal team like Schwartzapfel Lawyers P.C. And if you would prefer to speak with one of our expert personal injury law attorneys directly, at no cost, call us now at 1-516-342-2200.

What Is a Personal Injury?

A personal injury is any injury sustained either partially or fully due to the negligence of another party. For instance, it is unlikely that a personal injury claim would prevail for a pedestrian who, while on a walk in a park, trips and falls, spraining his ankle. However, were that same pedestrian to break their hip in a slip-and-fall accident at a restaurant with wet floors and no warning signs, then a viable personal injury claim would exist.

Personal injury claims require that a person or party be somewhat or mostly negligent in an implied or explicit duty. In the above example, the restaurant had a duty to keep its premises clean and safe for customers. They failed in the duty and, as a consequence, should be held at least partially liable for any injuries sustained by the injured person.

Common Causes of Personal Injuries

Personal injuries are all too common in New York City. According to official city statistics, the leading causes of injury hospitalization between 2012 and 2014 included: unintentional falls, personal assaults, assaults with a firearm, motor vehicle accidents, accidental suffocation, and more. And whether you’re in Suffolk County or Nassau County, these incidents occur regularly on Long Island as well.

Let’s break down some of the most common causes of personal injuries in detail.

Auto Accidents

Auto accidents are responsible for causing countless personal injuries every year. For instance, in the month of January 2022 there were over 7,000 auto accidents in the Big Apple alone (Note: NYC accounts for less than 1% of New York State’s geographical area).

Compared to other personal injuries, those sustained in auto accidents can be particularly severe given the weight of most vehicles. This is especially true when pedestrians are involved. However, even those in vehicles can be seriously injured in car accidents. Motorcycle and bicycle accident cases are also a concern in each of the five boroughs as well as Nassau and Suffolk County, Long Island

Serious injuries can include but are not limited to:

• Broken bones (e.g. wrists, ribs, legs)
• Dislocations (e.g. hips, shoulders, arms)
• Lacerations
• Internal bleeding
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• Paralysis and/or spinal injuries

Slip, Trip, and Fall Accidents

Slip-and-fall and trip-and-fall accidents occur when a person slips/trips and falls backward or forward due to a hazard on the ground. For example, a person could slip and fall on an icy road in front of a business’s premises. Or they may trip because of a broken stair in their apartment building that should have been repaired by the landlord.

Slip-and-fall and trip-and-fall accidents often lead to injuries ranging from broken bones to deep cuts and more.

Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice occurs when a medical professional, such as a nurse or surgeon, indirectly or directly causes harm to one of their patients or people under their care. Some examples of medical malpractice include:

• A surgeon failing to provide adequate care during an important medical treatment because of inebriation
• A nurse not paying attention and giving a patient too high a dose of medication, which, in turn, causes negative side effects
• A doctor misdiagnosing a patient because they do not listen to the patient’s symptoms or discount their reported feelings

Medical malpractice cases are severe and, unfortunately, also widespread. People place a lot of trust in doctors and other medical professionals. When that trust is breached, it could lead to severe medical problems or injuries ranging from infection to paralysis to brain injuries and more.

To learn more about medical malpractice and how Schwartzapfel Lawyers can help you and your loved ones, call us now at 1-516-342-2200.

Product Malfunction

All product manufacturers that sell products to the public have a responsibility to release safe products and, in the event that total safety is impossible, report potential dangers to consumers.

For example, a company that makes vitamins is obligated to tell consumers about potential side effects. A company that makes automobiles must ensure that its cars are safe and not sold with major defects.

If a company fails in its obligations toward consumer safety, it could be held liable for personal injuries. For example, suppose a truck accident occurs because a truck’s brakes don’t work. In that case, the investigation could reveal that the truck manufacturer knew the brakes were faulty but sold the vehicle anyway. They could be on the hook for personal injury damages or medical bills as a result.

Other Potential Personal Injury Situations

You might also pursue a personal injury case for one of the following:

• Construction accidents
• Dog bites
• Pedestrian accidents

Can You Sue the Responsible Party for a Personal Injury?

Yes, under certain circumstances.

New York law allows you to sue another party for a personal injury, provided the injuries were not sustained in a car accident. For example, if you slip and fall on a business’s premises and break a bone as a result, you could sue the business for damages.

Keep in mind that many New York personal injury cases are settled with shared fault rules. New York has a pure comparative negligence rule, which means that, while victims are entitled to compensation, that financial compensation could be reduced based on how much fault is assigned to them.

For example, if a pedestrian slips and falls outside a business’s entrance, the business may claim that the pedestrian was partially at fault for their injuries. Based on the evidence gathered and presented by legal representation, the court may agree somewhat or entirely. In these cases, victims may not receive the full value of their deserved compensation for their awarded damages.

No-Fault Auto Accident Laws

New York does not allow you to sue the other driver in a car accident unless your injuries are deemed sufficiently severe. In most cases, severe injuries are those that result in permanent or temporary disfigurement or disability or cost up to a certain amount of money.

Therefore, it’s a good idea to speak to legal advisors before trying to file an auto accident lawsuit for your personal injuries. Only some auto accidents or injuries may qualify. Otherwise, the damages for your injuries from a car accident should be covered by your or the other driver’s insurance companies.

If you want a quick answer, Schwartzapfel Lawyers P.C. can give you one – contact us online or call us at 1-516-342-2200 for legal advice. We’re experienced car accident lawyers who know the ins and outs of the system, so reach out to us for a free case evaluation.

Hiring the Right Personal Injury Lawyer

While filing a personal injury lawsuit could be financially wise, you must ensure your legal team is up for the job.

Experience in PI Cases

A good personal injury lawyer or law firm will have experience in personal injury cases. Don’t hire, for example, a corporate law office with experience in a practice area like fraud for your upcoming personal injury case. Instead, aim for a firm with experience in the types of personal injury cases you’re dealing with.

You can look on a personal injury law firm’s website to find past successful personal injury cases or Google the law firm’s name to find news reports.

Knowledge of Local Laws

The ideal Long Island personal injury attorney will also have extensive knowledge of local New York personal injury laws. Local laws can impact a variety of aspects of a case, such as your potential payout, your statute of limitations, and more. New York personal injury lawyers are acceptable for cases in this state – don’t hire a law firm from, for example, California.

Instead, hire Schwartzapfel Lawyers by giving us a call or visiting our website today!

Strong History of Success and Prior Results

You should also make sure your legal team has a strong history of past success. Skilled and knowledgeable attorneys will demonstrate that they can succeed with your case as they have for past clients. Check a prospective legal team’s testimonials page for their track record and see what they can do.

Compensation for a Personal Injury

Successful personal injury lawsuits may yield significant compensation for victimized parties. Depending on the specifics of your case, you could see damages or compensation for:

• Pain and suffering experienced from the injuries
• Past and future medical bills or ongoing medical expenses
• Loss of income or loss of ability if your injuries were debilitating/paralyzing

Schwartzapfel Lawyers P.C. has secured compensation for many New Yorkers just like you through successful personal injury lawsuits. One teacher slipped and fell and received $2 million in compensation to pay for their medical bills and pain and suffering.

In another case, the victim of an elevator accident received $1.625 million to cover the cost of their medical expenses. Cases like these demonstrate the compensation you may see if you hire Schwartzapfel Lawyers P.C. for your needs.

Contact Schwartzapfel Lawyers

If you or a loved one have suffered a personal injury, don’t try to handle the lawsuit alone. Schwartzapfel Lawyers is ready and willing to help your Long Island personal injury case succeed. Our team of experienced trial attorneys will fight for you from start to finish and help you secure the compensation you need to recover.

Contact Schwartzapfel Lawyers P.C. today at 1-516-342-2200 for more information and to set up a free consultation! We’re ready to support you every step of the way.

Sources:

Schwartzapfel Lawyers P.C. | Fighting For You™™

10 Leading Causes of Injury Hospitalization, New York City, 2012-2014 | NYC.gov

Jan 2022 Motor Vehicle Collision Report | Police Department City of New York

New York No-Fault Car Insurance | Nolo