Car accident injuries can lead to pain and suffering, medical bills, and lost wages, leaving you looking for the compensation you deserve. A Harlem car accident lawyer at Omni Injury and Accident Law, P.C. can help you pursue this compensation, deal with insurance claims and represent you in court if necessary. You can contact them at 646-505-0404.
While hiring a lawyer might not be the first thing on your mind, a lawyer can help ensure that crucial evidence is preserved, your rights are protected, and that you recover all of the compensation you are entitled to.
How Can a Harlem Car Accident Attorney Help You?
If another driver was at fault in your accident, a Harlem car accident lawyer at Omni can assist you in a variety of ways with personalized and compassionate legal representation including:
Case evaluation to determine what compensation you may be entitled to.
Skilled accident investigation and evidence gathering to help determine liability and negligence if there is a disagreement, or if an insurance company is giving you a hard time.
Filing a claim with your insurance company.
Settlement negotiations with insurance companies and any opposing legal representation to help ensure that you get a fair settlement to cover your emotional and economic damages. Insurance companies and workers compensation boards want to pay you as little as possible, however, a skilled attorney knows all of the tricks they use and will work tirelessly on your behalf.
If the parties cannot reach a settlement, an attorney can file a claim and represent you in court with skilled legal representation. They will work tirelessly on your behalf to settle before trial but will happily represent you to verdict if need be.
If you are ready to take legal action, do not hesitate to contact one of our Harlem personal injury lawyers for a free consultation. We can perform an accident investigation to build a solid foundation for your claims.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Harlem?
When you get in a car accident in Harlem, there are some things you should do that may benefit you if you need to file a claim. These steps include:
If you or anyone else is injured, call emergency services immediately and seek treatment.
Call the police and be sure they get witness statements.
Document the scene of the accident should an accident scene reconstruction be necessary or if your no-fault insurance needs more information.
Even if you don’t call the police immediately, file a police report and be sure to keep a copy for your personal injury protection (PIP).
Contact a Harlem car accident attorney as soon as possible. Statute of limitations set a duration on how long after the accident that you can file a claim, so the sooner the better.
Common Car Accident Injuries in Harlem
Some of the most common injuries that occur from a car accident in Harlem include:
Whiplash – whiplash is a neck injury caused by a sudden forceful movement of the head and neck which commonly occurs in a car accident. It can lead to pain and stiffness.
Sprains and strains – a sprain occurs when a ligament is stretched beyond its normal range or partially torn while a strain is when a muscle or tendon is stretched or torn. Both can lead to pain and limited mobility.
Soft tissue injuries – these injuries are damage to muscles, ligaments, tendons and fascia and can be caused by trauma, overuse, or blunt force and can lead to pain, bruising, and swelling.
Broken bones – a broken bone or fracture occurs when a bone splits or breaks due to excess force such as the trauma from a car accident and can lead to extreme pain and inability to move the affected area.
A spinal cord injury – spinal cord injuries occur when there is damage to the spinal nerves that transmit signals between the brain and the rest of the body and can lead to loss of bodily functions to areas below the injury.
Traumatic Brain Injury – these cause damage to the brain from an external force such as a blow and lead to loss of consciousness in the immediate turn and the loss of the ability to function in life in the long-term.
Concussions – a mild traumatic brain injury caused by the brain being jolted or shaken that can lead to headaches, nausea, confusion, and memory problems.
Herniated disc – trauma can lead to fluid being pushed out of the spinal disc causing pressure on the nerves which can cause pain, numbness, and muscle spasms.
Internal bleeding – also known as an internal hemorrhage and occurs when the blood vessels are damaged and blood leaks out leading to pain, swelling, bruising, dizziness, and fatigue.
Burns – burns are injuries to the skin or underlying tissue caused by heat, electricity, or chemicals and can lead to redness, swelling, blisters, and nerve damage and death in extreme cases.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in Harlem
Some of the most common causes of car accidents in Harlem include:
Distracted driving – this can include phone use, eating, or engaging in other activities that distract a driver from the road leading to accidents caused by things such as running a stop sign or hitting a pedestrian in a crosswalk
Speeding – exceeding speed limits not only increases the risk of an accident, but also the severity of accidents, especially truck accidents where the weight of the vehicle can cause severe damage.
Failure to yield to pedestrians – pedestrian accidents are incredibly common in Harlem due to the large number of people walking and failure to yield to these pedestrians can lead to catastrophic consequences.
Impaired Driving – driving while drunk or high can result in lower reaction times and riskier driving tactics making it more likely that an accident occurs.
Fatigue – drowsy driving can result in lower reaction times and poor-decision making, increasing the risk of a driver causing an accident such as hitting a pedestrian in a crosswalk.
Vehicle Malfunctions – brake failures, loss of steering, and tire blowouts can lead to a driver being unable to stop or steer, making an accident almost inevitable.
Poor Weather Conditions – snow, fog, rain, and ice can reduce visibility and make the road slick, making it harder to drive and increasing the risk of an accident.
What Types of Damages Can Car Accident Victims Recover in Harlem
In New York, victims of car accidents can recover many different types of damages including:
Economic damages – this can include medical expenses (including rehabilitation and future care costs), lost wages caused by one’s inability to work, and property damage such as vehicle repairs. It can also include future earning potential if you are unable to work.
Non-economic damages – damages for pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of consortium can be recovered by a car accident lawyer in Harlem for a motor vehicle collision or motorcycle accident.
Punitive Damages – these damages can be awarded to punish the at-fault driver. These are not often awarded and are only allowed in cases of outrageous or extremely egregious conduct.
How Much Is My Harlem Car Accident Claim Worth?
How much your car accident claim is worth can depend on a range of factors such as the extent of your injuries, property damage, and other non-economic factors such as emotional distress. Severe injuries that leave a person debilitated or wrongful death claims can result in higher payouts.
A person’s ability to work can also affect a claim’s value with lost wages and reduced potential future earnings driving up the value. Factors that may reduce the value of your claim can include the comparative negligence of the drivers.
Statute of Limitations for a Car Accident Claim in Harlem
In New York State, the statute of limitations for a personal injury claim, like a car accident, is generally three years from the date of the injury except in some special cases such as a wrongful death claim which is two years from the date of death.
These deadlines also apply to slip and fall cases, construction accidents, premises liability claims, and other bodily injury liability claims.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Harlem Car Accident Attorney?
A Harlem auto accident lawyertypically works on a contingency-fee basis, meaning that the lawyer covers the costs of the suit and receives a percentage of the recovery only if you win your claim. This can include the costs of things such as mediation, expert witnesses, and other legal fees. The average contingency fee for a car accident lawyer is around 33% of the recovery.
Essentially, this means that you do not have to pay anything up-front so any concern about your ability to pay is minimized and, if you do prevail on your claim, the lawyer is paid the percentage of the recovery agreed upon out of the recovery.
Need Legal Help? Contact a Harlem Car Accident Lawyer Today!
If you have been injured in a car accident in Harlem, the team at Omni Injury & Accident Law can help you. They offer a free consultation to help you understand your rights, your potential legal claims, and how much your claim may be worth. This Harlem car accident lawyer will work tirelessly to help you recover what you are owed. Contact Omni Injury & Accident Law today to set up a consultation.
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