Injury Law
What are
my legal rights?
Do I have the right to collect financial compensation?
If you
are injured and it is someone else's fault, you need a competent,
experienced and conscientious attorney working for you, an attorney who knows
how to try jury cases.
Personal injury litigation can be complex, labor intensive and
costly. Our law firm provides the legal and monetary resources
needed to obtain the money you are entitled to. If Zeccola & Selinger, LLC does not obtain money for you,
you pay no legal fees
We have obtained
millions in settlements and verdicts for our clients by taking
on insurance companies, Fortune 500 companies, negligent individuals
and government agencies.
If injured, you
should consider the following:
1. Talk only
to your attorney.
2. If you receive any letters or papers regarding your case,
send them to your attorney.
3. Do not give statements or sign any papers.
4. Do not contact the other party or their insurance company.
Cooperate
Fully With Your Doctor
1. Keep all appointments
with your doctor and follow their instructions.
2. Tell the doctor
all your complaints. Do not minimize or exaggerate them. Remember
that your doctor and their staff write down what you tell them.
3. Provide your
attorney with a list of every place you have gone for medical
treatment of any kind since your accident, the date you went
there, and what type of medical treatment you received, even
if you do not think of whether it is related to your accident.
Keep this list for your benefit.
4. Furnish your
attorney with copies of all medical reports, bills, and related
materials.
5. Notify your
attorney when there is a significant change in your medical condition
or if your doctor has scheduled you for tests, hospitalization
or referred you to another doctor or released you from further
treatment.
Document
Your Lost Earnings
If you have lost
wages because of your accident:
1. Furnish your
attorney with copies of your W-2 forms and income tax returns
for the five (5) calendar years before your accident and all
years since your accident.
2. Obtain a letter
from your employer stating the exact days you missed work because
of the accident, how much you are paid, and the amount of money
you would have made if you had been working during those days.
3. Let your attorney
know if your injuries have prevented you from advancing in your
employment or if it has prevented you from obtaining future employment.
4. Give your
attorney a copy of any statements from your doctor restricting
you from work, limiting your work, or releasing you to go back
to work.
Save All
Physical Evidence
1. Keep and preserve
everything pertaining to your accident such as the product that
injured you. Take pictures of the accident scene, your vehicle,
etc.
2. If your injury
requires a cast, brace, traction, or other appliance, save it
for evidence in trial.
3. If your injuries
are visible, please take pictures of them.
4. Send your
attorney any photographs you have relating to this accident -
both property damage and bodily injury photographs.
5. Furnish your
attorney with a copy of any accident report that you have.
Receive
All Your Insurance Benefits
1. Notify your
automobile insurance agent immediately if your injury resulted
from a motor vehicle accident. In New York State, if you have PIP (personal
injury protection) coverage and/or UIM (underinsured/uninsured)
motorist coverage, request that the appropriate claim forms be
sent to you and submit your medical bills to them for payment.
Do not give any statements or sign any papers.
2. Have your
own medical or hospitalization insurance carrier pay as much
hospital and doctor bills as possible. (There is a possibility
that this insurance carrier will require reimbursement out of
your portion of the settlement for those medical bills that they
have paid.)
3. If you were injured in an automobile accident, provide your
attorney with a copy of the automobile insurance policy for the
car in which you were riding, the personal automobile insurance
information of the driver of the car in which you were riding,
and your personal automobile insurance policy.
Keep Your
Attorney Informed of Your Status
Notify
your attorney immediately of any change in your address, telephone
number, marital status, employment situation, or medical condition.
How do
I know the "value" of my injuries?
In the beginning,
it is nearly impossible to tell the value of your case because
the extent of your injuries, the amount of treatment
you will require, and the loss of income and future earnings
you will sustain are not known. That is why it is unadvisable to quickly settle
your case.
What is the
Statute of Limitations for suing for personal Injuries arising
out of an accident in New York?
A lawsuit
must be filed in the Supreme Court of New York or in Federal
Court (if applicable) within three years after the accident.
You should contact an attorney as soon as possible to protect
your rights and make sure all evidence is gathered as quickly
as possible.
Find a
Qualified Attorney
If you
were injured, you may be thinking about whether or not you should
file suit. To take action, you need to be informed about your
legal options.
We provide a case assessment so that you may take the right legal
action after an accident. Write an informal case description
and if accepted, one of our attorneys will assess your case and
suggest a course of action. Note that an attorney-client
relationship is not formed until you have signed a retainer agreement.
Confidential
Case Evaluation
For a
confidential no-obligations case evaluation, please fill out
the form below or call 1(800) 387-4262.
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