Frequently Asked Questions

1. How is my lawyer paid? I cannot afford a lawyer.
Personal injury attorneys customarily get paid a percentage of the money recovered, called a contingent fee. This means that your personal injury lawyer gets paid at the end of your case, whether you recover money through settlement or jury verdict and judgment. In most cases, the lawyers fee is one-third of the total settlement or judgment. The fee for medical malpractice cases is based on a sliding scale, required by the State of New York.

A personal injury attorney advances expenses on the case and will recover those at the case conclusion, and the client is responsible for these, win or lose. But the client pays no attorney fee unless money is recovered. And a good attorney will usually be able to tell at the beginning of your case if he or she believes that you can win.

2. How long do I have to bring a case?
You must file your case within the statute of limitations, a fixed period of time dictated by the law. This can be as short as ninety days or as long as three years. In automobile accidents, certain steps sometimes must be taken within thirty days. If you miss the deadline for filing your case, your claims can be dismissed. Consequently, it is important to talk with an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as you receive or discover an injury.

3. I was injured but may have been partly at fault. Can I still sue?
Yes. Under New York's comparative negligence rules, you may still have a case even though you were partly at fault in the accident. The possibility of recovery varies from case to case, and requires careful analysis of the facts and law by an experienced personal injury lawyer.

4. How much is my case worth?
These are probably the most frequently asked questions. Every case is different, and there are no rules for valuing a case. Many factors influence case value: the severity of the injury and whether it impacts on your ability to earn a living; the question of liability or fault; the amount of available insurance coverage; the permanence of your injuries; and other items too numerous to list here. Your attorney may be able to give you a very general idea of the value of your case based on prior similar injuries, but usually cannot predict a specific recovery. Reputable attorneys will not speculate on the value of a case or promise a specific result.

5. How long will my case take?
Every case is different. Some cases can be settled promptly while others take years to resolve. A number of factors influence how long a case will take. Generally, the more severe your injury, the longer the case will take. Because a more severe injury may take longer to stabilize, it takes more time to judge the full extent of the effects of the injury and its residual effects. What if you need surgery in the future? It can take longer to build up and present a larger case to the insurance company for the other side. While fast results are desirable, remember that you do not want to hurry or rush your case as your financial recovery will be better if the case is handled carefully and thoughtfully.

6. An insurance adjuster wants to settle and says I do not need lawyer. Should I get one?
Remember who the adjuster works for: an insurance company. It has one goal - to settle your case for the least amount of money possible. What may seem like a fair offer to you could fall far short of the amount of money received in a personal injury settlement through a lawyer. A national study showed that injured persons represented by an attorney received 300% MORE than persons who settled without a lawyer. So even after you deduct the usual attorney's fee of one-third, people represented by personal injury attorneys recover far more than those who take a check on the spot. Remember, the insurance adjuster becomes a hero to the insurance company every time he or she forces a small, quick settlement on an unrepresented injured person. Do not count on an insurance company to to look out for your best interests. Hire an experienced personal injury attorney.

7. If I get hurt on the job, can I sue my employer?
If you are accidentally injured on the job you cannot sue your employer or co-worker. The trade off is that your employer's Workers' Compensation insurance will pay your medical expenses and a portion of your lost wages while you are unable to work.

However, often someone else is partially or totally responsible for your accident, and in such cases you can pursue a claim against that person or company. For example: If you are traveling while on your job and are in an automobile accident, you can bring a claim against the other vehicle and driver that caused the accident. If you are injured while working on a construction site, you may be able to sue the owner or general contractor for safety violations. If you are injured due to defective machinery, you may be able to sue the manufacturer, or seller of the equipment. The best advice is if you suffer any serious injury, whether on the job or not, contact an experienced personal injury attorney. Many attorneys have affiliations with attorneys in other states, or with attorneys that specialize in the handling of Workers' Compensation or Social Security Disability claims.

8. What Is uninsured motorist coverage? What is underinsured motorist coverage?
Uninsured motorist coverage protects you if you are in an automobile accident with a vehicle that has no insurance coverage. This can occur if an owner did not pay insurance premiums, if a car is stolen, or in a "hit and run" accident. In an uninsured motorist situation you can recover monetary damage for your pain and suffering from your own automobile insurance company, even if you are a pedestrian or riding a bicycle. Note that uninsured motorist coverage will not pay for property damage to your vehicle, so that if you do not have collision coverage you may have to repair your car yourself or junk it without compensation. Also note that if you are not covered for uninsured motorist coverage by a car insurance policy, you may be eligible to receive uninsured motorist benefits from a New York State agency, known as the Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation (MVAIC).

Underinsured motorist coverage is optional automobile insurance coverage for which you pay an extra instance premium. This coverage applies if you are injured by a vehicle with insurance policy coverage limits that are less than the limits of your own underinsured motorist coverage. After the other vehicle's insurance company pays you its policy limits, you can recover additional money from your own automobile insurance policy.

An example of underinsured motorist coverage- would be where the other vehicle has the minimum insurance coverage required in New York, $25,000, and you have $100,000 in underinsured motorist insurance coverage. If the other vehicle's insurance carrier pays its $25,000 coverage limits you could potentially recover up to $75,000 from your own automobile insurance company, for a total of $100,000. Not all automobile insurance policies contain underinsured motorist coverage, but everyone should have it. You should read your insurance policy carefully and, if in doubt, discuss it with your broker or insurance carrier.

There are several technical requirements and short deadlines that apply to claims for uninsured and underinsured insurance coverage. If you are injured in a car, truck, motorcycle or automobile accident, you should quickly contact an experienced personal injury attorney.

9. What is "No-Fault" insurance?
"No-Fault" insurance, or "Personal Injury Protection" (PIP) as it may called out side of New York State, pays your medical bills and part of your lost wages for injuries resulting from a motor vehicle accident, no matter who caused the accident. In certain circumstances No-Fault insurance covers medical and hospital expenses, prescriptions, housekeeping services (if a doctor confirms the necessity), taxi cabs to medical appointments, and pays a portion of your lost wages, no matter who caused the accident. Your injury must relate to a motor vehicle accident - although you may be a pedestrian or bicycle rider when hurt. Most people involved in an automobile accident in New York State, even pedestrians, can get No-Fault benefits from somewhere, possibly even the Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation (MVAIC). (Motorcycle drivers are not usually covered.)

If you are hurt in an automobile accident, you should get the benefits, which do not compensate you for pain and suffering, just for economic loss. (However, if you were working at the time of the accident, you may be eligible for Workers' Compensation.) No-Fault benefits do not last indefinitely and there are procedures for your insurance company to cancel the benefits.

Additionally, there are certain forms that must be filed with the No-Fault insurance carrier immediately as short time deadlines apply which could jeopardize your claim for No-Fault benefits. These deadlines can be as short as thirty days from the date of your accident. We can only repeat the advice previously given: If you are injured in a car accident, truck accident, or automobile accident, you should quickly contact an experienced personal injury attorney.

10. What is medical malpractice? What is a birth injury?
Medical malpractice occurs when a physician fails to understand the risk of a disease or injury and doesn't make a timely and proper diagnosis of a disease or injury, causing the patient to sustain further harm or injury. It can also arise in performing faulty operations or other treatment, that falls beneath the required standard of care. Simply stated, it is necessary for the patient to prove that if the physician had acted properly, the outcome would have been a cure, successful rehabilitation or other improvement of the condition being treated.

Babies are especially susceptible to malpractice during birth. Birth injuries during delivery can be the result of mishandling an infant during the birthing process. In infants, head injuries occur easily because of their soft skull and brain tissue. Also, if an infant is not immediately able to breathe after birth, lack of oxygen can cause brain damage, sometimes leading to birth injuries like cerebral palsy or paralysis. The consequences of birth injuries can be catastrophic and have a life-long affect on a child.

For your serious personal injury, you need serious legal representation from a qualified personal injury attorney. You need the Law Offices of Gary E. Rosenberg, P.C.! Contact us for your free, initial consultation.

Law Offices of Gary E. Rosenberg, P.C.

109-01 72nd Road, Suite 1A
Forest Hills, New York 11375

(718) 520-8787

26 Court Street, Suite 404
Brooklyn, New York 11242

Serving: New York City, including the Boroughs of Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, Staten Island, and Bronx, and the Counties of Kings, Richmond, Queens, New York, Bronx, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland and Dutchess.