| FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS
Car Accident Injuries
• What To Do If You Have Been
Injured in a Car Accident
Pedestrian Accidents
• What Are the Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents?
• What Should I Do Right After
a Pedestrian Accident?
• What Are My Legal Rights?
Motorcycle Accident
• Common causes of motorcycle accidents
• Who can I contact if I've been
injured in a motorcycle accident?
Slip,
trip and fall
• 5 Helpful Tips
for a Slip, Trip and Fall case
Construction
Accidents
• Common Causes
of Construction Accidents
• What To Do If
You've Been Injured in a Construction Accident
Work Accident
• What Is Workers'
Compensation?
• What If I Don't
Have Health Insurance?
• What Types of
Injuries Does Workers' Compensation Cover?
Car Accident Injuries
The most common injury people sustain in a car accident is whiplash.
Brain and spinal cord injuries, which have a tremendous impact
on the survivor, are most commonly the result of serious car accidents.
Car accident injuries may also include bruises and abrasions, concussion,
broken bones, loss of limb(s), permanent disability, or death.
What To Do If You Have Been Injured in a
Car Accident
Stay at the scene of the accident unless medical
exigencies require you to leave. Call the police to file a report.
Seek prompt medical attention.
Make sure to preserve evidence (for example, take photos of damages
if possible and keep copies of all important documents including
medical records).
Do not admit fault or enter into negotiations with the other driver(s)
or insurance company(s).
Contact an attorney to make sure your legal rights are protected
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Pedestrian Accidents
If you or a loved one has been suffered injury
or death in a pedestrian accident, it may be in your best interest
to contact a qualified attorney who can help you determine an appropriate
course of action. You may be eligible to receive compensation for
your losses and suffering.
What Are the Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents?
The causes of pedestrian accidents are wide ranging; however,
some of the more common causes are listed below:
• Pedestrian walks/runs into the roadway
and is struck by an oncoming vehicle.
• Motorist does not see the pedestrian in time to stop.
• Motorist runs a red light at an intersection.
• Pedestrian is struck while getting out of a parked vehicle.
• Pedestrian is struck by a car moving in reverse or turning
a corner.
Other less common pedestrian accidents include
pedestrians who are struck intentionally, by fallen cargo, or
in a driverless vehicle incident (one involving an auto defect).
Dangerous pavement and other environmental hazards can also cause
pedestrian accidents. Overall, the most common cause of pedestrian
accidents is human negligence (usually a driver’s negligence).
Some of the common factors involved in pedestrian accidents include:
• Area type Pedestrian
accidents occur more frequently in urban areas.
• Location type Most pedestrian
accidents occur at non-intersections.
• Speeding Excessive speed is a contributing factor
in approximately 30 percent of all pedestrian
accidents.
• Alcohol Impairment Alcohol is involved
in nearly one-third of all
pedestrian accidents.
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What Should I Do Right After a Pedestrian Accident?
First and foremost, call the police to file a report. It is important
not to leave the scene of the accident unless medically necessary.
Gather as much information as possible including the names of all
witnesses and parties involved. You may also wish to take photos
of the scene and of any injuries sustained as further documentation.
Before entering into negotiations with an at-fault driver or an
insurance company, you should contact an attorney experienced in
pedestrian accidents.
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What Are My Legal Rights?
If you or someone you love has suffered injury
or death as a result of a pedestrian accident, it is important
to know your rights. You have the right to pursue a claim and
recover damages if you have suffered injury due to someone else’s negligence or
wrongdoing. To preserve your legal rights, it is important to seek
the early advice of a qualified attorney. Every pedestrian accident
is subject to a statute of limitations, which places a limit on
the time you have to file. Please contact us to speak with an experienced
attorney who can answer questions and help you to understand your
rights – FREE of charge.
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Motorcycle Accident
Motorcycle accidents are the cause of an estimated
50,000 injuries and 3,000 fatalities every year in the United States.
Motorcycles are more vulnerable to accidents because they are smaller
and less protected than automobiles. Due to the increased susceptibility
of motorcycles and the negligence of drivers on the road, motorcycle
accidents often result in devastating events.
Common causes of motorcycle accidents
Many factors contribute to the frequency of motorcycle
accidents including
• Vehicle blind spots – Motorcycles are
smaller than most vehicles and are often overlooked
by careless drivers
• Limited motorcycle visibility – About 70 percent of
all accidents occur at intersections because motorcycles
aren't as visible due to parked vehicles, buildings,
etc.
• Unsafe vehicle maneuvers – including speeding, improper
turning, and more
• Motorcycle defects – accidents often occur as a result
of cycle part defects or fuel system leaks
• Road hazards – uneven pavements, potholes, debris,
and puddles can all result in motorcycle accidents
• Weather conditions – Rain, hail, wind, snow, etc.
call all increase dangerous driving conditions
• Alcohol or drug use – on part of the motorcyclist
or other party
• Motor vehicle driver negligence – this is the number
one cause of motorcycle accidents.
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Who can I contact if I've been injured in a motorcycle accident?
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or killed in
a motorcycle accident, it is wise to seek the assistance of a qualified
personal injury attorney who will get you the compensation to which
you are entitled. Please contact us today to speak with an experienced
personal injury attorney who can answer your questions and protect
your legal interests.
Slip, trip and fall
Every day people are seriously injured from falls. An owner and
management company of a property are responsible for keeping
their premises in a reasonably safe condition to prevent people
from sustaining injury. Although walkways and sidewalks are not
required to be in perfect condition, they must be reasonably
safe to prevent a person from tripping. Owners of property are
required to maintain safe stairways, walkways, and handrails
and comply with State and local building codes. Uneven stair
risers, loose handrails, and loose steps are all dangerous conditions
that can cause an accident.
Negligence or fault must be shown by first showing that an unsafe
condition exists. In addition, the owner must 1) know about the
unsafe condition prior to the accident, 2) through reasonable inspection,
should have known about the unsafe condition or 3) have directly
caused the unsafe condition.
Strict time limitations exist to commence a lawsuit for a trip,
slip, or fall accident. In New York State, the time to commence
such an action may depend upon who is injured, who the potential
defendant is, as well as the enactment of new laws and judicial
decisions interpreting the law. Computing the time limitations
is not a simple matter and a person should promptly consult an
experienced accident attorney.
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5 Helpful Tips for a Slip, Trip and Fall case
1) Call the police and an ambulance if injured.
2) Report the accident to the owner of the property.
3) Obtain the names, addresses, and phone numbers of all witnesses
to the accident.
4) Obtain photographs of the accident site and your injuries.
5) Contact an attorney immediately to protect your rights.
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Construction Accidents
Construction areas are one of the most common sites of serious
accidents, posing risks to. both workers and innocent bystanders.
Depending on the precise circumstances of the accident, different
laws may apply.
Common Causes of Construction Accidents
There are perhaps innumerable ways in which a person can suffer
injury at a construction site. Scaffolding accidents are the most
common, constituting nearly two-thirds of all construction accidents.
Other common causes may include: falls, electrocution, and improperly
braced trenches.
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What To Do If You've Been Injured in a Construction Accident
Report your injury to your employer or the construction site manager
immediately.
Seek medical attention for your injuries.
Obtain the contact information of any witnesses who may have been
present.
Try to preserve as much evidence as possible. This may include
taking photos of your injuries, the site where the injury occurred,
and saving any tools or equipment that may have been involved.
Keep a copy of all important documents including correspondence
with doctors, attorneys, and insurance adjusters.
Do not negotiate with any liable party(s) without first consulting
an experienced attorney.
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Work Accident
Injuries on the job are a relatively common occurrence. While
most work accidents result in minor injuries like cuts or burns,
work accidents can result in severe injuries, long-term disability
or death. Regardless of whether the injury is minor or severe,
workers have a right to receive compensation for injuries they
incur at work. If you have suffered injury because of a work accident,
you may wish to contact a qualified worker's compensation attorney
who can help you determine your eligibility for benefits .
What Is Workers' Compensation?
Each state has a system of laws generally referred to as workers'
compensation. These laws vary from state-to-state and by occupation,
but they ultimately serve to protect workers and ensure that employees
who suffer injury due to work accidents receive proper compensation
including benefits to cover medical expenses and lost wages. State
worker's compensation systems are intended to provide relief for
injured workers while protecting employers from liability claims.
A number of federal statutes exist to protect those injured in
the line of railroad, mining, maritime, and other types of employment.
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What If I Don't Have Health Insurance?
You can still file a workers' compensation claim
even if you do not have individual health insurance coverage .
Most employers' are required by law to have workers' compensation
insurance for their employees. Workers who are injured on the job
or because of their job can file a claim with their employer's
workers' compensation insurance carrier. In other words, employees
who have been injured in a work accident receive benefits through
their employer's insurance and not their own.
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What Types of Injuries
Does Workers' Compensation Cover?
While the following list is not comprehensive, it does cover some
of the more common work-related injuries covered by workers' compensation:
Diseases contracted due to repeated and prolonged exposure to
toxins at work. Asbestos poisoning is an example.
Mental and/or physical strain caused by work-related stress.
Preexisting conditions worsened by job duties or the work environment.
A common example is back injury.
Repetitive stress injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome
Injuries sustained on company grounds while “off the clock”
There are injuries that workers' compensation will not cover. These
include self-inflicted injuries, injuries sustained during the
commission of a crime, or injuries suffered due to employee misconduct.
You should consult a qualified attorney if you have questions
regarding injuries you suffered as the result of a work accident.
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