In the event that you are in a car accident in New York City, your search for legal help should begin with law firms that specialize in such cases. Start immediately after any emergency medical problem is addressed. Look for phrases like “personal injury,” “injuries and accidents,” or “car accident attorney” in listings found in the phone book or on the Web. You can even write down contact information ahead of time for car accident attorneys you see advertised in public.
The number of motorists who experience car accidents annually in New York City is 225,000 and this leads to having several attorneys who claim to be car accident experts. New York City has the boroughs of Queens, the Bronx, Staten Island, Manhattan, and Brooklyn. When you get legal help, you should make sure that the attorney helping you knows the area where you were involved in the accident and that the person has practiced law in the area.
Some specific highways and streets in New York City are notorious “black spots.” If a lawyer knows about those places, it can be helpful. The other thing that can be beneficial is if an attorney knows the people who work in the local court system. Therefore, it is recommended that you seek the services of an attorney who practices in the area where your accident occurred. For example, if your accident occurred in Brooklyn, getting an attorney who practices in Brooklyn will be beneficial because the attorney will be familiar with the roads, other attorneys, and judges in the area.
Almost all car accident attorneys have a section detailing the settlements and verdicts they have found while settling cases on their websites or in print. Attorneys typically list financial settlements their law firms have won for car accident victims. You can also find customer testimonials, but it is not possible to talk to your previous customers. You should do your best to find an attorney whose firm has won such settlements before you say yes to using the legal services offered by that firm. This can help you verify if such settlement claims are genuine.
Car accident attorneys can agree to waive their fees until you collect a settlement. Some may state that they will not charge you anything for their services if they fail to win any compensation for you. You should always ask to validate such promises in writing.
It is necessary that you initiate legal action immediately in cases related to car accidents. The type of claim you are filing may affect the amount of time you have to file. In New York, people generally have three years to file a claim, but other issues in the case can affect this time.
The amount of money you can expect your attorney to take after subtracting any expenses charged for contingency fees or in situations where you did not pay your attorney up front is thirty-one-third percent. Attorneys may also deduct fees to recover money damages. As an illustration, if the amount you receive as a net settlement is $200,000, your attorney fees cannot exceed $666.66. This is just one example because other issues may affect attorney fees.
Even if New York State was a “no-fault” legal authority area regarding car accidents, you would still need a lawyer. The No Fault clause represents the idea that your insurance company will pay for any damages or injuries you incur due to an accident based on your policy limits. Your insurance company will compensate you regardless of who caused the accident.
You may still need a car accident attorney if the injuries are severe and likely to be permanent or the accident has resulted in death. If fault is not a clear issue or a police report is incorrect, you will need an attorney. There are also times when you don’t have adequate insurance, your liability insurance limits are too low, or your insurance company has involved its own legal help in the case.
