Nassau County Car Accident Lawyer
Over the past decade, our cars have gotten a lot safer with technologies like backup cameras, anti-lock brakes, and airbags. Yet despite these improvements, the rate of motor vehicle accidents remains shockingly high. In Nassau County alone, an average of 7 people die and 1,129 people are seriously injured in car accidents each month.
If you are injured in an automobile accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your losses. This may include money to cover your medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, emotional distress, and other losses. A seasoned Long Island personal injury lawyer can help you get fair compensation for your injuries.
At The Odierno Law Firm, we have the knowledge and experience to get our clients maximum compensation for their injuries. We handle all cases on a contingency fee basis, which means that you don’t pay anything upfront – and only pay us if we recover money for you. Reach out to our law office today to schedule a free initial consultation with a member of our legal team.
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Proving Fault in a Nassau County Car Accident
Car accident claims fall under the broad category of personal injury law. Generally, these cases are based on a theory of negligence or carelessness. To prove that the other driver was negligent in causing your case accident, you will have to show four things:
- Duty: the at-fault driver (defendant) owed you a duty to use reasonable care
- Breach: the defendant violated that duty in some way
- Causation: this breach was the proximate (but for) cause of the accident
- Damages: you suffered losses as a result
Drivers may be negligent in any number of ways, from speeding to texting while driving to running a stop sign to failing to yield. If you can demonstrate that the defendant was negligent – and that their negligence caused your injuries – then you will be able to recover financial compensation for your losses.
In New York, you can file a personal injury lawsuit against another driver even if you were partially at fault for the accident. New York follows a pure comparative negligence model. Under this rule, your total recovery will be reduced by the percentage that you were at fault for the crash. Unlike other states, which typically only allow injury victims to seek damages if they were 50% or less at fault, you can file a lawsuit even if you were more than 50% to blame for a wreck.
A skilled Nassau County car accident attorney will use different types of evidence to demonstrate that the defendant was negligent. This may include things such as photos and videos of the accident scene, medical records, witness statements, and police reports. They may even work with expert witnesses, such as an accident reconstruction specialist, to prove that the other driver was at fault for your crash.
What Damages Are Available for a Motor Vehicle Accident?
In a car accident case, injury victims may be entitled to three types of damages (compensation): economic, non-economic, and punitive damages. Economic and non-economic damages are considered compensatory because they compensate accident victims for their losses. Punitive damages are designed to punish a wrongdoer for engaging in intentional or reckless conduct, such as drunk driving.
Economic damages compensate you for specific financial losses. They may include lost wages, reduced earning capacity, property damage, medical bills, and future medical expenses.
Noneconomic damages address intangible losses that are often more difficult to prove. Examples of non-economic damages include pain and suffering, scarring, disfigurement, emotional trauma, and loss of enjoyment of life. If a person suffers a fatal injury in a car accident, then their survivors may seek compensation for things like loss of consortium in a wrongful death claim.
Finally, punitive damages may be awarded when a defendant acts intentionally or recklessly. Because a typical personal injury claim is based on a theory of negligence, punitive damages are not usually available. An experienced Nassau County personal injury attorney can help you determine if you are eligible for punitive damages.
How Our Nassau County Car Accident Lawyers Help
After a car accident, you may be approached by an insurance adjuster. They may ask you to sign paperwork or give a statement. They may even tell you that they accept full responsibility for the crash and offer you a settlement.
In this situation, you may think that your best course of action is to just take the settlement and move forward with your life. Unfortunately, this usually backfires. Insurance companies rarely offer a fair settlement for a personal injury claim unless an injury victim has legal representation.
The Odierno Law Firm knows how to deal with insurance companies – and greedy insurance carriers. We will handle all communications with the insurance company for you, protecting your legal rights and helping you avoid saying or doing anything that may undermine your case.
Our legal team has substantial experience with all types of Nassau County car accident cases. We have a track record of success and have recovered millions of dollars on behalf of our clients in settlements and verdicts at trial.
We know that most injury victims don’t have experience dealing with an aggressive insurance company. We are also aware that our clients are particularly vulnerable after an accident, as they deal with ongoing medical care and financial strain. Our goal in every case is to get our clients’ maximum compensation for their claims, as soon as we can.
When you hire our law firm, you won’t have to pay anything out of pocket. In fact, we only get paid if we get money for you through a settlement or verdict at trial. In this way, our interests are aligned – we both want you to get top dollar for your claim as quickly as possible.
If you have been hurt in an auto accident in Nassau County, don’t go it alone. We’ll help you take on the insurance company – and win. Reach out today to schedule a no-cost, no-obligation consultation with a seasoned car accident attorney.
Do I Really Need a Lawyer for a Minor Car Accident?
It depends. If your car accident just involved a small amount of property damage, it may make sense to handle it on your own. However, if you suffered any accident injuries – even minor injuries – then your best bet is to consult with a Nassau County personal injury attorney before giving a statement or signing any paperwork from the insurance company.
Insurers don’t want to pay you a fair amount for your claim. In fact, they use a number of strategies to minimize or even deny claims. The Odierno Law Firm can help you protect your rights and will work to get you maximum compensation.
What Should I Do After a Car Accident in Nassau County?
The most important thing you can do after a crash is to seek medical care so that your injuries are properly diagnosed and treated. If you are able to do so, you should also take photos and videos of the accident scene, and get contact information for the at-fault driver and any witnesses.
Next, reach out to a personal injury law firm to schedule a free initial consultation. In Nassau County, the Odierno Law Firm will help you get maximum compensation for your injuries. Give us a call today to learn more about how we can help you.
Contact Us Today
If you have been hurt in a car accident, know that you are not alone. Our law firm will stand by your side and help you fight for full compensation for your injuries.
From our law office in Melville, NY, the Odierno Law Firm represents injury victims in Nassau County. We work hard to help our clients get the best possible outcome for their claims. To learn more or to schedule a free initial consultation with an experienced Long Island car accident lawyer, give us a call at 631-752-8580 or fill out our online contact form.
Call The Odierno Law Firm, P.C. at (631) 752-8580 to discover your legal options in a free initial consultation!
Dedicated To You
We are committed to getting you the compensation you deserve for the injuries you have sustained. We are determined to fight for you. We have a no recovery, no fee policy, so you don’t pay unless we win.
Why Us?
You Will Not Pay Us Unless We Win Your Case- Our Firm is Backed By Trial Success & Client Satisfaction
- We Will Review Your Personal Injury Claim For Free
- We Have Over 150 Years of Combined Legal Experience
You Will Not Pay Us Unless We Win Your Case