When you are injured in New York City, either intentionally or through negligence, your first thoughts are not normally about finding a personal injury lawyer. Unfortunately, to recover emotionally, physically and financially, you will need the help of a lawyer who practices in this area and field.
Are You Within the Statute of Limitations
Many personal injury cases are subject to a statute of limitations. This means that in New York State, you only have ninety days to five years to seek damages, depending on the type of injury. This is when finding a personal injury lawyer in the Garment District, Manhattan, NY, right away becomes important.
Determine if Your Injury Qualifies
To file a lawsuit, your injury has to qualify. In most cases, the injury has to be intentional or due to the negligence of another party. Remember, if you are injured, and it is someone else’s fault, you can usually recover damages for:
- Disability
- Disfigurement
- Lost opportunity, lost wages and loss of property
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Medical, therapy and other related expenses
- Physical and emotional pain and suffering
A personal injury lawyer can help calculate the exact monetary value of these damages. The calculations vary depending on the type of injury and type of damages. The court costs and attorney’s fees are sometimes added to the damages.
Seek Referrals From Family and Friends
If someone you know won a personal injury lawsuit in the Garment District, Manhattan, NY, you can ask them which lawyer they retained. Be sure to ask them:
- How they felt about the outcome of their case
- How they felt about their lawyer overall
- If their lawyer helped to make the case less stressful
- Whether they had direct contact with their attorney or just paralegals
- How comfortable with their lawyer if their case went to trial
- If the lawyer made attempts at mediation or settlements before going to trial
Consider their answers carefully. Make sure that their experience was a positive one rather than a high-stress negative one.
Find Lawyers That Specialize in Your Type of Injury
Finding the right personal injury lawyer requires a lot of inquiries. There are hundreds of types of personal injury cases. Some personal injury attorneys practice in general areas, while others specialize. You might find a firm with lawyers specializing in only car accidents or slip and falls, and you might find ones that only take on negligence cases. Remember to look for experience with your type of case.
Research the Personal Injury Lawyer in the Garment District, Manhattan, NY
In some cases, the internet is your friend. Check out review-based and social media websites. Be your own detective when it comes to researching a lawyer. Bar associations, social media and client review websites are sometimes good sources of information about a firm.
Be objective when you are reading reviews. Sometimes a disgruntled client will state things about the firm that are not exactly true. Check if the firm replies to reviews and pay attention to how they respond.
Ask Questions About the Firm
Write down a list of questions to ask a potential lawyer, including:
- Can I talk to former clients or read client reviews?
- Have you handled cases like mine before? If so, what was the outcome?
- Are you familiar with and licensed to practice in the Garment District Manhattan, New York?
- How many cases do you settle or take all the way to trial?
You will probably have many more questions than these but ask anything that you are curious about or want to know. Make sure that the lawyer can easily answer these questions. A lawyer that dodges questions is a red flag.
Most law firms keep case statistics on file. You should ask about their win, loss and settle ratios as well as their general track record. You do not want to hire a lawyer who loses more than they win. Keep in mind settlement is a win as well.
Write Down What You Will Need During the Consult
It is very important that you write down the facts of your case. Before your initial consult, answer these questions:
- Who
- Why
- What
- When
- Where
This will help you clearly state your case to your lawyer. You should also gather supporting documents such as:
- Police reports
- Medical records
- Photographs
- Names of witnesses
- Bills for services such as home health and transportation
Bring along anything that you believe will support your case. You will have to give copies to the lawyer your choose, and having it all in one place is helpful. Gathering the documentation may also jog your memory about the details of the case.
Discuss Your Rights and Responsibilities
While you are with the lawyer, make sure that you discuss your rights and responsibilities. This discussion is an important part of the attorney/client relationship.
Some of the rights that you have when you hire a lawyer are:
- You have the right to your lawyer’s undivided loyalty with no conflicts of interest
- You have the right to receive timely responses to your questions and concerns
- You have the right to have your objectives and goals addressed by the lawyer
- You have the right to privacy
- You have the right to know the lawyer’s fees upfront
These are just a few of your rights. Your responsibilities are very similar. Some of your responsibilities include:
- Giving your lawyer all of the facts as you know them
- Telling the lawyer about any changing circumstances
- Understanding that a lawyer may decline your case
- Paying any fees and expenses that the lawyer accrues after a previous discussion about the payment
You should know or have a copy of your rights and responsibilities and abide by them.
Talk to Lawyers That Work on Contingency
Most personal injury lawyers work on contingency. This means if you do not win, they do not get paid. If you win or the case settles, the lawyer takes a percentage of what you won. It could also be attorney’s fees billed to the defendant in the case. Either way, the defendant pays for your lawyer if you win. If for some reason, you do not win or settle your case, the lawyer does not get paid.
Choose a Lawyer You Respect
A very important part of choosing the right lawyer is choosing one that you respect and who respects you. You will work closely with your lawyer, so this aspect is important.
Your lawyer should always be professional and knowledgeable about your type of case. Some lawyers are very personable, while others are not. This is not an indication of how well they do their job.
If you do not respect a lawyer, do not hire them.
Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer In the Garment District, Manhattan, NY
Hiring a personal injury lawyer is a big decision. You need to be able to count on your lawyer to keep your best interests in mind. If you would like to discuss your personal injury claim in the Garment District, Manhattan, NY, the representatives at Cellino Law can help. We handle various personal injury cases with no upfront fees and only get paid when you win. Call us at (332) 263-3340 or contact us on the web 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to get your free case review.