Personal Injury Frequently Asked Questions
If you or a loved one has been physically or psychologically injured due to the negligence or wrongdoing of another party you probably have many questions and do not know where to turn. It is important to understand that hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer is one of the most important choices you can make. To help those who have not yet hired a lawyer we have answered some of the most asked personal injury questions we receive. Please note, because they are some of the most common questions, the answers here are general, and you should speak to a personal injury attorney about the specific facts of your case.
Frequently Asked Questions about Personal Injury
Our personal injury lawyers provide answers to some important questions below.
If you have suffered injuries following an accident and someone else is at least partially responsible for your injuries, it is generally advisable to seek legal representation. Following an accident a personal injury lawyer will gather evidence, including video, photographic and witness information, as well as medical proof to build a case against the other parties whose negligence caused your injuries.
At LaMarche Safranko Law, we take pride in our collaborative approach to handling personal injury cases. When you choose our firm, your case will be assigned to one of our partners and a paralegal, ensuring that you have at least two points of contact within our team. This system enables us to provide comprehensive support and assistance throughout the legal process.
In order to get the best outcome in your personal injury case it is crucial that you take care of your health and well-being by promptly seeking medical attention for your injuries and following your healthcare provider’s advice. You should keep records of all medical treatment and expenses and document your recovery by taking photographs, if possible, of your injuries and recovery. It is also important to notify your personal injury lawyer anytime you see a new medical provider, or if something changes with your medical condition. You should never speak to the other parties’ insurance carrier without first talking to your personal injury lawyer. You should also be careful when using social media about the types of content you post, as anything you post can be used against you in the future.
When meeting with a personal injury lawyer for the first time, it’s helpful to bring any information related to your case such as the accident report if you have it, copies of any medical records in your possession, photographs of the scene or of your injuries, your own automobile and health insurance information, as well as the names and addresses or phone numbers for any witness to the accident. However, if you don’t have any of this information, don’t worry, it can all be obtained after the meeting.
Maybe. Whether or not your personal injury case will go to trial depends on several factors, including whether there is a dispute about who was at fault for your injuries and whether an agreement can be reached about the value of your damages. In many cases personal injury cases can be resolved through a settlement without the need for a trial.
While it is generally acceptable to speak to your own insurance company following an accident, you should not speak to any other insurance companies following an incident. However, if you have any concerns about speaking to anyone, you should contact a personal injury lawyer who can explain your rights when dealing with insurance matters.
A personal injury lawyer will cost you nothing. Now that doesn’t mean that injury lawyers do not get paid. However, personal injury lawyers handle cases on a contingency fee basis. This means they are only entitled to legal fee if the case results in a settlement or verdict. In NY, a personal injury lawyer is entitled to a 1/3 of the total recovery. Thus, if your lawyer can secure a settlement that is acceptable to you or wins your case at trial, the lawyer is entitled to 33.33% of the recovery. A personal injury lawyer will also pay all of the expenses associated with pursuing the case so that you don’t have to pay anything out of your own pocket. Expenses include filing fees, costs for transcripts as well as expert fees. However, at the end of the case, your personal injury lawyer will also be entitled to be paid back all expenses along with a 33.33% legal fee. All legal fees and expenses are taken directly out of the settlement or trial verdict and you never have to pay anything out of your own pocket.
How long a personal injury case takes depends on the nature of the case and the complexity of the issues in the case, the number of defendants involved in causing the accident and the severity of the injuries. Some personal injury cases can be resolved in 6 months or less, while other personal injury cases can take years.
There is no set formula for how often you will hear from your injury lawyer, however the key to a successful attorney-client relationship is communication. Your personal injury should be responsive to your questions and should get to know you and the impact this injury has had on your life. You should also expect to be contacted or notified whenever there is an important occurrence in your case.
Yes. If you fail to follow the doctors’ advice and if you participate in activities that are going to make your medical condition worse, these are the types of things that will harm your personal injury case. Also, posting activities on social media that are inconsistent with your injuries is also going to be harmful to your case.
LaMarche Safranko Law Testimonials
“Throughout the attorney client relationship regarding my personal injury lawsuit, George and his staff continually exhibited tremendous amounts of legal knowledge, skill, and a vast amount of expert resources that ultimately resulted in a final judgment in my favor. George was there every step of the way to explain where we stood and what to expect next and there was never a need to question his professional judgment…
“I cannot thank George E. LaMarche lll and his team for the excellent legal work they provided for my son, and in extension, our entire family. His experience, knowledge of the law, networking ability and communication is second to none. In our case, our son was wrongly accused by a small town police officer and charged with 5 tickets…
“Dear Andy,
Thank you so much for everything you have done for our son over the last three years. This has been a very challenging time for our family and the knowledge that our son has an attorney as capable and amazing as you are has given us peace of mind!
“Dear Andrew and George,
I cannot thank you enough for your hard work, diligence, and selfless manner that you put towards my legal difficulties in Colonie. From the first moment I met you, you helped reassure me that things were going to turn out in a more favorable manner than I originally thought. Clearly, the final result of my court case displays the quality of time and work that you put into this….
“I wanted to express my deepest appreciation to Mr. Andrew Safranko for the exceptional job he did in regards to my legal representation. Mr. Safranko displayed the utmost in professionalism and discretion during the entire court process, and took the time to explain each and every step….
“I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for your excellent representation on my recent matter. I have worked with lawyers, and in law firms much of my professional life, but I have never encountered the rare mix of skill, integrity and humanity in one individual—you….
“The staff at LaMarche Safranko Law took care of whatever I needed, it was just fabulous. It was top shelf, if I called, I got George. If he was in a meeting, they left him a message. He called me right back after the meeting. Everybody was very courteous and very nice there. If I left a voicemail, everybody got back to me quickly. The level of service was very, very good and I would Highly recommend them.”
“Dear George, Andy and Staff,
Thank you all for your kindness and all your help in getting back to my wellbeing and life. I could not have done it without you all. Everything is going so well again. I recommend you highly. Thanks Again!”
“No one likes to be in a bad situation, but if you need a lawyer George is your man. Not only does he point you in the right direction he offers good advice for your future. As much as we bring him business he does not encourage that next time anticipation….
“I am an attorney who found himself in the middle of a serious, personal legal matter that compromised not only my personal life but my professional life as well. I immediately contacted Andrew (Andy) Safranko, Esq. Andy worked tirelessly and extremely hard to bring my legal situation to a very favorable resolution. In so doing, Andy not only saved certain aspects of my personal and professional life…
“I can honestly say that the best decision I’ve ever made was retaining George LaMarche as my attorney. I was in a situation where everything wasat risk; my career, livelihood, and the ability to provide for my family. In desperation, I contacted over a dozen attorneys. The majority of the lawyers I spoke with promised results without seeing paperwork or knowing valuable facts….
“My family and I cannot thank George and his staff enough for all of the support and guidance they have given us over the past six months. Anyone who has ever suffered a personal injury knows how difficult they are to overcome, but I’m glad we had such an intelligent and hardworking attorney on our side so I could focus on my recovery rather than on the details of the case….
“Dear Mr. Safranko,
Thank You so much for answering my question, and so expediently!
The dedication, respect, and consideration with which you treat your clients, current and past, is remarkable. It is why I reached out to you when searching in my time of need, and why I would highly recommend…
“The arrest of my husband in 2008 was an extremely difficult and emotional time for our family. The arrest turned our lives upside down. It was sudden and unexpected and had tragic emotional as well as financial consequences. I had no idea what to do under the circumstances….