What Is My Personal Injury Claim Worth?
If you have ever been involved in a car accident in New York before, you know how stressful it can be. After the initial shock wears off, you have millions of new concerns to deal with. More than anything, you will probably want to make sure that you and your passengers made it out unscathed. Even minor accidents can have major, life-long effects, so it is only natural for you to want to make sure that everyone is okay.
Of course, once those concerns are answered (and hopefully rightfully assuaged), you also have more practical matters to take into consideration. If you have suffered damages either to your person or your property, you need to know what to do next. Hospital visits and car repairs cost money—but how much are you entitled to? What are your damages worth? And how are you supposed to go about collecting them?
Do I Need A Personal Injury Lawyer?
New York is a no-fault state, which means that you will usually be seeking reimbursement from your own insurance company instead of the other party involved in your accident. There are some exceptions to this, but generally speaking, this is something you can count on. Keeping these things in mind may help you build up your best possible case:
If the other driver is at fault for the accident, as declared through police reports or simply because the circumstances of the accident indicate it, you may be able to pursue a claim against their insurance policy. This is true even though New York is a no-fault state. However, you must meet certain requirements in order to do so. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you determine whether or not you are eligible to pursue such a case, in addition to helping you determine the value of your claim.- While your insurance policy will surely help you recover some of the damages you have lost, it may still be difficult for you to determine the actual value of your claim. There are many online valuation sites that will offer you estimates, but such services are incapable of assessing some important factors in real time. In any case, because any payment for your insurance company is a loss, it is likely that they will minimize your payout. Your claims adjuster may be on your side, but they are also an experienced negotiator. Therefore, it is in your best interests to procure a seasoned personal injury lawyer in order to pursue the most accurate valuation of your claim.
Seeking Legal Assistance
Estimating the true valuation of a personal injury claim can be difficult. No two cases are the same, and other contributing factors are always in flux. Other losses may also factor into the claim, such as out-of-pocket expenses, lost income, future medical bills, and emotional distress. If your personal injury has disrupted your life, the last thing you need to worry about is getting the damages you deserve. Let us help you.
If you or a loved one have recently been suffering personal injury as a result of an automobile accident in Central New York, you have the right to seek legal help and compensation. Contact the law firm of Gattuso & Ciottoli, PLLC any time day or night at (315) 314-8000 to schedule a free consultation drawing on over 50 years of combined legal experience. We are located in Syracuse but serve the general Central New York area, including Syracuse, Watertown, Binghamton, Camillus, Liverpool, Cortland, Auburn, and North Syracuse.