Suffolk County Auto Accident Lawyer
Serving All of Suffolk County for Over Three Decades - (631) 406-4385
Being in an auto accident is one of the most stressful experiences you may ever have to face. In addition to the shock and pain of being injured, you are faced with a number of other questions. How will you pay your bills while you are out of work? Who will pay your medical bills and vehicle repair costs? How can you know if what the insurance company is offering you is a fair amount? What happens if the driver who hit you doesn’t have enough insurance coverage – or worse – if you are a victim of a hit and run?
"He made sure all my medical bills were paid and got me a very fair settlement
in a short period of time."
-Gregory
After an accident, it’s important to have someone on your side who you can trust to help you answer these questions and fight for every dollar of compensation you are due while you focus solely on getting your health back. At The Law Office of Matthew Glassman, you can count on our Suffolk County auto accident lawyer to provide you with personalized advocacy backed by more than 30 years of experience. Our office has handled all types of even the most complex auto accident claims and has secured high-value results for numerous satisfied clients. We invite you to contact us today to learn more about your rights and legal options.
Call (631) 406-4385 now to tell us about your case. We’re always available to take your call.
What to Do at the Scene of an Accident
Gather Witness Information
- In the aftermath of an accident, probably the most helpful investigative tool is the witness. If you think anybody witnessed your accident, you should try to get a name address and telephone number. Do not simply assume that the police will do this! I cannot count the number of clients who have told me that the police took the witness information on the police report. Later, when we receive the report, there is no witness listed and the information is possibly lost forever. It only takes a moment to get a name, phone number or even e-mail address. In certain situations, we place signs at or near the scene of an accident or advertise in the paper for witnesses but as a practical matter it is simply much more expedient to get the witness information at the scene.
Make Your Complaint Known
- Believe it or not, statements that you make at the time of the accident can come back to haunt you years later. If you are experiencing pain at the accident scene, tell the truth when asked. Don’t think that you are being a burden or that if you complain you will be hauled off in an ambulance. Take stock of yourself and assess whether you are achy in any part of your body and then respond accordingly if questioned by police or ambulance personnel. You should assume by this time that you will probably not make it to your intended destination and you will need to make arrangements for someone to communicate with the place or person you were on your way to when you got into the accident. Somebody may have to call your home, your office or your kid’s school and tell them that you were in an accident and you may not be coming. The standard police report has a notation of whether there was a complaint of pain and to which part of the body. It is very helpful in establishing a crucial element of your case later on if you have given early information regarding your complaints.
Tell Your Story
- If you are within earshot of the other driver or their passengers and you clearly hear them giving a differing version of the accident, do not engage in a shouting match in front of the police! But you should be given an opportunity to dispute the opposing version of the facts on the police report. Make sure the police know your version and tell them you are disputing the opposing version if it is different. Of course, this is a good time to start finding that crucial eyewitness.
Gather Photo or Video Evidence
- These were not available until a few years ago and now they are indispensable in aiding accident investigations. Camera phones make it possible to record events practically in real time. If you have the presence of mind, or if someone else nearby can help, have pictures taken of the scene, of the cars showing their relative positions, of roadway debris, traffic lights, signs, skid marks and the like. Any or all of these pictures could be vital to the success of your case.
Who Pays the Medical Bills? About the New York No-Fault Law
The Comprehensive Motor Vehicle Insurance Reparations Act, more commonly known as the New York No-Fault Law, became effective on February 1, 1974. This all-important law made it easier for accident victims to obtain economic compensation for injuries sustained in car accidents. Prior to 1974, when you were in a car accident, you would have to track down the other driver’s insurance company and make a claim for your medical bills and other economic loss.
Since this law came into effect, this is no longer the case. Now, you use the insurance for the car you occupy when you are in the accident, whether you are the driver or a passenger. This makes it much easier to get medical care following an automobile accident. In fact, in most cases, when you arrive at the emergency room, you are asked whether your injury was caused by an automobile accident and if you respond affirmatively, you will be presented with a form for you to pass along the automobile insurance information to the hospital. Hospital billing then usually sends the initial bill to your automobile insurance company for payment. This is important because it constitutes notice to your insurance company within the required period of time, which, as of 2002 was amended to require that the initial notice of economic loss from an auto accident claim must be made within 30 days of the accident! If you cannot locate this information because, for instance, you were a pedestrian, you must contact a lawyer immediately to make sure you don’t lose important economic benefits.
By the way, No-Fault benefits are a complete package that includes medical bills, medicines, wages, mileage reimbursement for medical care and household help. The basic No-Fault package is $50,000 and can be expanded when you purchase your policy. Again, we are fully familiar and experienced with these benefits and can help you to get what you are entitled to.
Why You Need an Auto Accident Lawyer
When you have been in an automobile accident, chances are you will be experiencing some form of after-affects for a long time to come. You may have been told that you sustained herniated discs or bulging discs, or even disc protrusions. You may hear terms like spinal stenosis or degenerative disc disease. You may have sustained tears to some of the smaller muscles in the body called menisci and may have been referred to an orthopedic surgeon for surgery.
You may be in pain and you may have limitations in your activities of daily living. Your relationships, home life, work life, and recreational life may all be affected. You may need to have wages paid or you may have to change to a different type of job entirely. You might never be able to return to work ending up on Social Security Disability. Although most people heal up substantially within the first year, it is nevertheless a year of struggle and inconvenience for which they deserve to be compensated. It is not enough to just have their medical bills paid.
The sooner you contact a lawyer to represent you in a car accident case, the earlier a sound strategy can be put into place to ensure you have the greatest likelihood of getting fair compensation when the time comes to evaluate the case.
The Law Office of Matthew Glassman is always available by toll-free telephone or by email and can get back to you day or night to discuss your case at no cost to you. Please feel free to call us today at (631) 406-4385.