If you carry聽American Family Insurance聽for your auto coverage, you need to know how to make a claim and what to expect from the process. Even though New York is a no-fault state, your insurance company is not on your side as much as you may think.

Insurance companies are trying to earn as much money as possible, and that means they don鈥檛 want to pay you as much as you truly deserve. A New York car accident lawyer will know how to negotiate with American Family Insurance.

About American Family Insurance

American Family Insurance is a聽Fortune 500 company聽with revenues over $9.5 billion in 2017. They have plenty of money to pay out claims, yet because of their for-profit approach, a lot of that money doesn鈥檛 go to claims.

American Family Insurance is also one of the oldest auto insurers. It started in 1927 insuring farm drivers, which were believed to be less risky to insure. This means they have a long history of adjusting auto accident claims. You, however, do not. Therefore you need a lawyer鈥檚 help when you make your claim.

For a free legal consultation, call聽(212) 732-2929

Starting a Claim with American Family Insurance

As of this writing, the number to call to start an insurance claim with American Family Insurance is 800-692-6326. You can find the latest number on the back of your insurance card. If you don鈥檛 have your card, you can usually get another copy or the number through your online account.

You鈥檒l need to file your claim within three years of your accident. Trying to get a claim after this time will cause you to violate the聽statute of limitations. Your claim could be denied, and you could lose your chance for compensation.

When you give your report, be factual about what happened and mention nothing about fault. If you鈥檇 prefer, you can have your lawyer make the report on your behalf. Be careful of making any comment about how you鈥檙e feeling. It鈥檚 so easy to automatically say you鈥檙e 鈥榝ine鈥� when you鈥檙e really not.

Repairing Your Car

American Family Insurance may ask you to take your car to a particular mechanic to check the damage. You do not have to use that mechanic if you don鈥檛 want to. Often, these mechanics have a deal with insurers to help them save money.

One tactic you can use is to go to their mechanic for the diagnosis, then take the car to your preferred mechanic for a second opinion. However, you鈥檒l need to weigh the costs of getting your vehicle moved between the two mechanics.

The same principle applies when an insurer tells you to see a particular doctor. You are free to get a second opinion from your own doctor to confirm a diagnosis, or to get evidence that the insurer鈥檚 preferred option doesn鈥檛 tell the entire story.

Click to contact聽our personal injury lawyers today

Negotiations

After you鈥檝e notified your insurer, they鈥檒l assign a claims adjuster to your case. The claim adjuster is not on your side. They want to limit or deny your settlement claim and will make you jump through hoops to justify your accident compensation. It鈥檚 far better to let a personal injury lawyer do the negotiations instead.

Insurance companies like AmFam know the legal loopholes and language that can deny you access to coverage. They can also do things like delay your case to financially pressure you, or try to get you to waive rights to compensation and trial.

Don鈥檛 face an American Family Insurance negotiation on your own. A car accident lawyer from 91原创视频amp; Aspromonte Associates LLP can examine all settlement offers, explain the pros and cons, and give advice on whether you should take it, make a counteroffer, or go to trial. If you need a lawyer,聽we鈥檙e ready to help you.

We have helped clients obtain justice and compensation in a variety of personal injury cases, such as car accidents, construction accidents, wrongful death, and severe injuries.

Call or text聽(212) 732-2929聽or complete a聽Free Case Evaluation form

The post NY Car Accident Lawyers for American Family Claims appeared first on New York Personal Injury Lawyers.

The following are examples of incidents that can serve as the basis of a lawsuit against New York City:聽

• Slip and fall or trip and fall accidents on city property including public sidewalks
• Traffic accidents with city vehicles (such as police cars, fire trucks, or garbage trucks)
• Traffic accidents caused by improper construction or maintenance of a city street or roadway聽
• Negligence on behalf of city agents聽

There may be other examples of claims against The City of New York not listed here.聽 If you have been injured and you want to discuss your rights, contact the lawyers at 91原创视频amp; Aspromonte LLP Associates at聽(212) 732-2929聽for a free consultation.聽 Our lawyers have been fighting for the rights of injury victims since 1988.聽

You Must File a Notice of Claim to Sue New York City

Even if you are not sure whether you want to sue The City of New York, you must first notify the City of your intention to file a lawsuit by completing a Notice of Claim, per聽NYS General Municipal Law Section 50-e. This must be done within 90 days of the incident in which you were injured. The document must include:聽

• Your name and address聽
• Your attorney鈥檚 name and address
• Information about the type of claim you are filing
• Details about the accident/incident in which you were injured
• The time, place, and manner of the injury or accident
• How much compensation you are seeking

Once the Notice is completed, it must be properly served on the City of New York.

It is crucial to meet the 90-day deadline. If you fail to do so your claim may be disallowed and you may permanently lose your rights to pursue your case and recover damages.聽

The filing of a Notice of Claim against The City of New York must also be carefully completed so that it contains accurate information.聽 If you fail to include accurate information, your claim may also be disallowed.聽 For this reason, it is highly recommended that you consult with a qualified and experienced lawyer to ensure that your Notice of Claim is both filed on time and contains accurate information that protects your claim.聽聽

Remember, the Notice of Claim only places the City on notice of your potential lawsuit and does not begin a lawsuit.聽 You must also file a Complaint against the City within 1 year and 90 days of your accident as will be discussed later.

Who Should Get Your Notice of Claim?

Our law firm can evaluate your case and determine who should get your Notice of Claim. The Notice of Claim must be submitted to the correct City entity.

For instance, claims against New York City hospitals and clinics must be filed with the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation.聽Claims involving city housing units must be filed with the New York City Housing Authority.聽

What Happens After You File Your Notice?

Once the City gets your Notice, they have the right to investigate your claim. The City may ask you to give testimony under oath to support your account of events. This is known as a 50H Hearing. 聽The purpose is to give the City an early opportunity to investigate, evaluate and possibly settle your case. It is generally not advisable to attend a 50H Hearing without a lawyer at your side.

At a 50H Hearing:

• You will give testimony under oath about the facts of your case and injury.聽
• All questions and answers are documented for the record.聽
• You may be asked to submit to a medical exam.聽
• Your attorney will advise you and prepare you for the hearing and will be with you throughout the process.

聽You cannot file a lawsuit against the City until the 50H Hearing is conducted.聽

For a free legal consultation, call聽(212) 732-2929

There Are Legal Deadlines for Your Lawsuit

The聽New York Bar Association聽explains that you have a deadline to file a lawsuit against the City. This is called the 鈥渟tatute of limitations.鈥澛�

In most cases the time to start a lawsuit against the City of New York is one year and 90 days after the incident that caused your injury. The filing deadline is different for wrongful death lawsuits. In those cases, there is a two-year deadline, and the case can only be brought by the representative of the decedent鈥檚 estate.聽

Certain exceptions could extend the time you have to file your case depending upon your special circumstances. Even if you feel that your time has expired, speak to a lawyer from our team to discuss your rights.

We鈥檝e Been Serving Claimants Since 1988

The City of New York has teams of lawyers defending its interests. Once you file your Notice of Claim, they might reject your claim or they might try to persuade you to accept a very low amount of money for the injuries that you have suffered. Before you make any important decisions, speak to a lawyer first.

Our personal injury lawyers have extensive experience fighting The City of New York. We have filed thousands of lawsuits against New York City since our founding.聽

In one notable case,we secured a $31 million verdict for our client who was injured in a motor vehicle accident involving the NYC Transit Authority. Other cases include $6.3 million for a woman struck by a police motor scooter, $2.4 million for a bicyclist who struck a pothole, and $8 million for smoke inhalation victims caused by a garbage disposal fire in a City housing complex and many others.聽

We are confident in our abilities to handle your case. Best of all, we do not require that you pay us any money upfront for our representative.聽 We only receive a legal fee when you recover compensation.聽

Click to contact聽our personal injury lawyers today

Connect With Our Law Firm Today

You can sue New York City if you were harmed due to negligence. However, the guidelines for suing the City are different than suing an individual.聽

91原创视频amp; Aspromonte LLP Associates has recovered over $500 million for our clients. To discuss your rights, call us today at聽(212) 732-2929.

Whether you鈥檙e dealing with injuries from a car accident, construction accidents, or a wrongful death case, our attorneys are here to provide compassionate support.

Call or text聽(212) 732-2929聽or complete a聽Free Case Evaluation form

The post How Can I Sue New York City? appeared first on New York Personal Injury Lawyers.

If you鈥檙e in that situation and aren鈥檛 sure how to get the help you need, you鈥檙e not alone. While many NYC personal injury victims worry about the cost of hiring a personal injury lawyer in New York, retaining an attorney is easier than you think.

Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer in New York on Contingency

If you鈥檝e looked at personal injury law firm websites, or even advertising for a聽personal injury聽lawyer in New York, you have probably seen language like, 鈥淣o fee unless we win鈥� and 鈥淲e don鈥檛 get paid unless you do.鈥� However, to the inexperienced injury victim, those promises can seem too good to be true.

Here鈥檚 how contingency fee arrangements work in personal injury cases:

• You retain the attorney with a 鈥渃ontingency agreement鈥� that entitles the lawyer to reimbursement for any costs he or she covers, plus a percentage of your verdict or settlement
• The attorney commences the case without taking any attorney fees from you in advance
• In most cases, a personal injury lawyer in New York will also advance any costs, such as filing fees, costs of depositions, expert witness fees, and other expenses
• When the attorney settles the case on your behalf or wins a verdict at trial, the attorney fees and expenses come out of that award鈥攖he rest is yours
• If you don鈥檛 get a settlement or verdict, the lawyer doesn鈥檛 get paid

In the business world, this is known as 鈥渁lignment of interests.鈥� In plain English, that means that what鈥檚 good for you is good for the lawyer, and vice versa. The larger the settlement the attorney is able to negotiate for you, or the verdict the attorney wins for you at trial, the more he or she gets paid. That gives the lawyer a powerful incentive to work hard on your behalf.

For a free legal consultation, call聽(212) 540-2984

Start with a Free Consultation with a Personal Injury Lawyer in New York

Our New York personal injury lawyers are experienced in a wide range of personal injury cases, including work injuries, slip and fall and other premises liability cases, car accident and truck accident cases, construction accidents and many others. We鈥檝e structured our fee arrangement and management of litigation expenses with that in mind.

The process begins with a free consultation, so you can learn more about your options, fully understand the contingency fee arrangement, and ask questions to help find the right NYC personal injury attorney for you. You have nothing to lose by learning more about how we can help you recover fair compensation for your injuries.

Call or text聽(212) 540-2984聽or complete a聽Free Case Evaluation form

The post What if I Can鈥檛 Afford a Personal Injury Lawyer in New York? appeared first on New York Personal Injury Lawyers.

These tips will help you determine which New York personal injury lawyers are in the best position to help you.

What to Look for in a Personal Injury Law Firm

For a free legal consultation, call聽(212) 732-2929

Choose attorneys who have a history of success in the courtroom.

Most personal injury cases settle, so you may not think it鈥檚 important that your personal injury lawyers have trial experience. However, you can鈥檛 predict how your case will unfold in advance. Your attorneys must be prepared to go to trial if that鈥檚 the best course of action in your case. Even if your case doesn鈥檛 go to trial, the fact that opposing counsel knows that your lawyers can and will skillfully try the case can impact settlement offers.

Choose personal injury lawyers with experience directly related to your case.

Some聽personal injury聽lawyers handle a wide range of cases, while others devote most of their time to a particular type of case. If you have a complex claim such as a commercial boating accident injury or a medical malpractice claim, for example, you probably won鈥檛 want to entrust that case to an attorney who has only handled car accident cases.

Click to contact聽our personal injury lawyers today

Be confident that the New York personal injury lawyers you choose have the resources to manage your case.

Complex litigation requires a significant investment of time and money. Your attorneys must be prepared to work for a year or more without receiving payment, and will often be required to advance payment for costly experts, testing and other trial preparation. A new, young, solo attorney may be fully invested in your case, but be sure to ask the questions necessary to determine whether he can adequately support the litigation.

Complete a聽Free Case Evaluation form聽now

Choose an attorney you are comfortable working with.

Skills, experience, willingness to go to trial and resources are all important factors when choosing an attorney. But, it鈥檚 important to remember that you will be entrusting important matters to your personal injury lawyer and must have confidence in him or her.

Schedule a Free Consultation with a New York Personal Injury Lawyer

The first step toward finding the right New York personal injury lawyers for your case is to schedule a free consultation. Discussing your case and the firm鈥檚 history will give you the opportunity to learn more about the lawyers鈥� experience, measure their familiarity with your type of case, ask questions, and give yourself the best opportunity to make the right choice for your family and your case.

You can schedule a free consultation with 91原创视频amp; Aspromonte Associates LLP by filling out the contact form on this page, or by calling聽(212) 732-2929聽right now.

We are committed to representing victims of personal injury, whether they鈥檝e been involved in car accidents, construction accidents, or cases of severe harm and wrongful death.

Call or text聽(212) 732-2929聽or complete a聽Free Case Evaluation form

The post Choosing the Right New York Personal Injury Lawyers appeared first on New York Personal Injury Lawyers.

The State of New York requires landlords to provide a basic and reasonable amount of security to ensure the safety of their tenants. If a tenant is subjected to a criminal attack or suffers harm due to unsecure railing or some other property malfunction then the victim may be able to sue through a聽personal injury聽lawyer in NYC. The key to winning such a case lies in the landlord鈥檚 negligence in preventing a foreseeable event. For example, if the property has a history of problems with criminal elements hanging around the premises and the landlord has taken no precautionary steps to reduce that activity and someone gets hurt then the victim may be able to sue for negligence.

For a free legal consultation, call聽(212) 732-2929

You shouldn鈥檛 have to live in fear for your safety or that of your loved ones. If you believe that an assault or injury has occurred due to your landlord not taking the necessary steps to provide proper security, contact us for a free consultation. We have the聽best NYC personal injury lawyers聽that are committed to obtaining all the compensation you鈥檙e due under the law.聽 If you need help with a personal injury case in New York City, contact us today.

Our attorneys bring years of experience to cases involving car and construction accidents, severe injuries, wrongful death, and numerous other types of personal injury.

Call or text聽(212) 732-2929聽or complete a聽Free Case Evaluation form

The post In a Dangerous World, Injury Compensation May Be Due to Inadequate Security appeared first on New York Personal Injury Lawyers.

Proving that a loved one or child has suffered health problems due to lead paint poisoning can sometimes be a difficult task, but experienced New York City聽Lead Paint Poisoning Lawyers聽have handled such cases before, and know how to properly investigate in order to prove negligence and ensure that you or your loved one gets the compensation they deserve, as well as proper medical care and treatment for lead paint poisoning.

For a free legal consultation, call聽(212) 732-2929

If you believe that lead paint poisoning may be responsible for injuries or health issues suffered by a loved one, contact a New York City Lead Paint Poisoning Lawyer today. It is also advised that you try to get some lead paint chips or pictures of the area where the lead paint poisoning may have occurred, as any additional evidence that can be acquired can further strengthen your case. You will be able to receive a free consultation with your lawyer, and learn more about lead paint poisoning and what recourse you have in ensuring that you get the compensation you deserve.

Call or text聽(212) 732-2929聽or complete a聽Free Case Evaluation form

Our attorneys bring extensive experience to a range of personal injury cases, including car and construction accidents, catastrophic injuries, wrongful death, and more.

The post Has lead paint put your health or the health of a loved one at risk? appeared first on New York Personal Injury Lawyers.

Liability waivers have become so common that many people sign them without even reading them or thinking about the ramifications of waiving claims. Waivers are sent home before school field trips, presented when you sign up for a gym membership, included in a pile of other paperwork when you decide to give skydiving a try, and in a wide variety of other contexts.

Unfortunately, people who are injured after signing a waiver often assume that means that they aren鈥檛 entitled to compensation for their injuries and fail to explore their options.

That鈥檚 what the business owner who asks you to sign the waiver wants you to think, but it may not be true. Many people who have been injured after signing a waiver still have valid personal injury claims. In fact, the business asking you to sign the waiver probably knows it isn鈥檛 enforceable, but is hoping you don鈥檛.

Enforceability of Liability Waivers

The analysis as to whether or not a waiver bars recovery may be complex, and the best way to find out whether or not you have the right to proceed with a personal injury or wrongful death claim is to consult an experienced personal injury lawyer.

Here are some of the most common situations in which liability waivers are invalid or unenforceable.

For a free legal consultation, call聽(212) 732-2929

Liability for Injury to Minors Generally Cannot Be Waived

In New York, most contracts entered into by a minor are voidable, meaning that the minor can鈥檛 be bound to the terms of the contract. Thus, a minor鈥檚 signature on a waiver of liability has no binding effect.

In theory, a parent鈥檚 signature on the waiver could be binding and effectively waive the minor鈥檚 right of recovery, but under New York law, it is not. In short, liability waivers are generally not effective as to injuries to minors, particularly where those injuries have been caused by negligence.

Some key areas in which this protection often arises include:

• Injuries on school grounds
• Sports participation injuries
• School field trips
• Clubs such as Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts
• Minors visiting amusement parks, public pools and other recreational facilities

If you are鈥攐r your child is鈥揳 minor who has been injured after signing a liability waiver, chances are very good that you still have a right to compensation for your injuries. You should seek advice from an experienced New York personal injury attorney as soon as possible.

Your Gym Membership Waiver May Not Be Valid

Gyms are just one of the types of business that commonly employs an unenforceable waiver. That鈥檚 because New York鈥檚 General Obligations Law makes waivers that exempt an organization from liability for negligence void and unenforceable if:

• The facility is a pool, gymnasium, place of public amusement or recreation or similar establishment; and
• The owner or operator receives a fee or other compensation for use of the facility

So long as you pay for use of the facility, this law nullifies waivers of liability for negligence in contexts such as:

• Water parks
• Campgrounds
• Concert venues
• Public pools
• Gym memberships
• Amusement parks
• Skating rinks

Click to contact聽our personal injury lawyers today

Unclear Language May Save Your Personal Injury Claim

In New York, a waiver does not act to bar recovery for negligent acts on the part of the owner, operator or their agents unless the language of the waiver clearly specifies such. So, a waiver that is not carefully worded may fail, even though it would have been enforceable had it been properly phrased.

Complete a聽Free Case Evaluation form聽now

Talk to an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney

Of course, the person or organization responsible for your injuries would like you to believe that you鈥檝e signed away your rights and can no longer pursue a personal injury case. Don鈥檛 make assumptions or take someone else鈥檚 word: if you鈥檝e been injured and have signed a waiver that you believe may affect your rights, your first step should be to contact a聽personal injury聽lawyer.

Our firm is dedicated to helping clients affected by construction accidents, car accidents, major injuries, wrongful death, and additional types of personal injury.

Call or text聽(212) 732-2929聽or complete a聽Free Case Evaluation form

The post Does a Liability Waiver Mean You Can鈥檛 Recover for Your Injuries in New York? appeared first on New York Personal Injury Lawyers.

When first conducting your research, you鈥檒l want to narrow down your selections to those with lots of experience. New York is full of all sorts of laws and regulations, and an experienced lawyer will be fully capable of understanding the laws so as to better be able to prove negligence on the part of the person or business that was at fault for your injuries.

For a free legal consultation, call聽(212) 732-2929

You鈥檒l of course also want an attorney that provides you with a free consultation. Believe it or not, many NY聽personal injury聽attorneys do not, and knowing which ones do and which ones don鈥檛 will help you narrow down your selection even further. Meeting with the attorney during your free consultation allows you to also get a feel for the lawyer and enable you to see whether he seems experienced and if you are comfortable with him or her.

Be sure to ask questions of the lawyer as well, such as how well they performed during past cases. When choosing the top New York personal injury lawyer, you want a lawyer that has a great track record and has managed to acquire large settlements for his or her clients.

Protect your rights鈥攕chedule a consultation with our personal injury attorneys.聽We have helped clients obtain justice and compensation in a variety of personal injury cases, such as car accidents, construction accidents, wrongful death, and severe injuries.

Call or text聽(212) 732-2929聽or complete a聽Free Case Evaluation form

The post How Can You Find the Best New York City Personal Injury Attorney? appeared first on New York Personal Injury Lawyers.

This means that you never pay your lawyer out of your pocket.聽The lawyer only gets paid if he or she wins your case and then the legal fee comes out of the money he or she gets for you.聽If the lawyer does not win or settle your case for cash, you do not owe the lawyer any fee.

How exactly does a contingency fee work?

In many types of cases, when you hire a lawyer, you agree to a retainer amount and your lawyer deducts money from the retainer for the hours they spend working on your case, based on their hourly rate.聽In a contingency fee arrangement, your lawyer is only paid if your case is won and their payment is not based on the hours they spend working on your case.聽Instead, the fee is a percentage of your settlement or award.

For example, if you are injured in a car accident and suffer a neck or back injury, and you are awarded $150,000 in damages by way of a settlement or jury verdict, your personal injury lawyer will take a fee of $50,000 and you will receive $100,000.

For a free legal consultation, call聽(212) 732-2929

How does a contingency fee arrangement benefit me as a client?

As a client, there are several advantages to hiring a personal injury lawyer on a contingency fee basis.聽 First, you can have confidence in knowing that you can afford your lawyer鈥檚 fees. The second advantage is that you know that your personal injury lawyer has a personal stake in the outcome of your case.聽If you lose, they lose.聽The more you win, the more your lawyer earns as well.

Am I Responsible to Pay Case Expenses?

Disbursements are expenses that are paid in order to pursue your case.聽These expenses can run hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars.聽You can sign a retainer that makes the law firm responsible to pay all the reasonable and necessary expenses to fund your case and also provide that the law firm only gets reimbursed those expenses if the case is won.

At Dansker& Aspromonte Associates, we take the time to explain the terms of the retainer and the options that you have at the initial meeting with our firm. If you have been injured in an accident, it is important to hire an experienced personal injury lawyer.聽The聽personal injury聽lawyers at our firm have handled thousands of cases successfully and would be happy to review your case and determine your best option and strategies.聽Call us today.

Our firm is dedicated to helping clients affected by construction accidents, car accidents, major injuries, wrongful death, and additional types of personal injury.

Call or text聽(212) 732-2929聽or complete a聽Free Case Evaluation form

The post How Much Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Cost? appeared first on New York Personal Injury Lawyers.

Whether the fire was in an apartment, single-family home, or multiple-family home you may find that other than the building being ruined, many of your personal belongings will be damaged by fire, smoke, or the water used to put the fire out. There may even be holes in the wall where firefighters cut to try and find the source of the fire, and to make sure the blaze is completely out. It is imperative to ask when it is safe to enter a property after a fire or to recognize that the building is not safe and you may never be able to enter again. You must consider your health and safety even after the fire is out, as the damage inside the unit may make you extremely sick upon entry.聽 You need to obtain a fire report and secure your property as well to avoid looting or theft or tampering with evidence. The fire report is a public document and is easily obtained through the local fire marshal. After a fire it is important to know who to call, you should contact your family to let them know you are safe and also your insurance provider. You may even need to contact NYC burn injury attorneys or burn injury lawyers. A big mistake people make is assuming that insurance providers or lawyers will contact you, this is the number one thing that you have to do on your own.

For a free legal consultation, call聽(212) 732-2929

Contacting an insurance agent will let you know what to do with the immediate needs of your home. The company may ask you to make a list of everything that was damaged by the fire in detail and explain how much you spent on the items. Remember to keep all receipts in the aftermath and cleanup process as many times insurance can reimburse or help you with certain processes. Normally it will take between 30-60 days to settle with an insurance company about personal injury or related property damage. Follow your gut and get multiple estimates from third party companies if you feel you need help or are being inadequately compensated. No matter how any kind of property or personal injury occurred you may be eligible for compensation, this is important to keep in mind when deciding whether or not you need聽NYC burn injury attorneys聽or聽burn injury lawyers. Getting help for you and your family is essential regardless if it is through therapy or a legal company. Handling the aftermath of devastation properly is key to securing a happy future afterwards.

Let us fight for the compensation you deserve鈥攕chedule your consultation now. Our experienced team has assisted personal injury victims with claims involving car accidents, construction accidents, wrongful death, and other serious injuries.

Call or text聽(212) 732-2929聽or complete a聽 Case Evaluation form

The post What To Do After a House Fire appeared first on New York Personal Injury Lawyers.