Recovering from a serious injury is a difficult process. Your first focus should always be your health and seeking immediate medical attention. But after your condition has been stabilized, you may realize that the injury was not your fault.
If you were hurt in a New York car accident, for instance, or were injured on a Syracuse construction site, these are instances in which someone else may be responsible for your injuries. You may be eligible to file a personal injury claim for damages, or compensation, for your injuries.
However, filing a claim is not simple. Insurance companies do not make money by paying every claim filed, and they stay in business by denying claims or offering minimal amounts that don’t always fairly compensate injury victims. Insurance representatives may contact you while doctors are still determining the extent of your injuries – and they may pressure you into signing release forms that absolve them of any responsibility.
The New York attorneys of Scott C. Gottlieb & Associates, LLP, with a location in Syracuse, have represented many personal injury clients. We believe that insurance settlements should always be enough to truly compensate the victim for damages and not just to pay the minimum amount – and you deserve someone advocating on your behalf against the insurance companies.
If you or a loved one has been hurt and you need help dealing with an insurance settlement, call our Syracuse personal injury lawyers toll-free or contact us via our online contact form.
Filing a New York Insurance Claim
Some accidents have their own insurance laws – for instance, if you are injured in a car accident, you can seek compensation for medical expenses and lost income from the no-fault car insurance policy. But, depending upon the policy, the amount may or may not be enough to compensate you – and you may still end up needing to file a lawsuit. And if you do decide to file a claim for no-fault insurance, you must do so right away – because the deadlines are extremely tight. Following are key time limits for filing a claim following a car accident in New York:
- File Accident Report: 10-day deadline
- File No-Fault Claim: 30-day deadline
- File for lost wages: multiple deadlines
- File for New York State Disability: 30-day deadline
- File Notice of Claim (if applicable): 90-day deadline
- File claim against other driver: no specific deadline, but you are encouraged to do it as soon as possible
- File claims with MVAIC (the Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation – responsible for no-fault benefits for those injured by someone without insurance): multiple deadlines
- File SUM/UM claim (supplementary uninsured motorist /underinsured motorist): as soon as possible
Car accidents aren’t the only scenarios that lead to personal injury claims – but regardless of what caused your injuries, if someone else is to blame, you will most likely be dealing with an insurance company. For instance, if you were hurt by medical malpractice, your claim might be against the hospital, but you will end up dealing with the hospital’s malpractice insurance carrier. Insurance companies are almost always involved in injury cases, and they make the process cumbersome and confusing, hoping to discourage people from filing claims.
Never sign an insurance settlement for any injury without first consulting an attorney. The Syracuse injury lawyers of Scott C. Gottlieb & Associates, LLP, can review your settlement and discuss your claim to be sure you are being offered a fair deal. If we honestly feel the settlement is appropriate, we will tell you so – but if you aren’t being offered adequate compensation and we believe we can help, we will tell you that as well.
Contact Our Syracuse, New York, Insurance Claims Attorneys
At Scott C. Gottlieb & Associates, LLP, we have helped countless New Yorkers handle insurance settlements. Experience counts. Our years of dealing with insurance companies means we are prepared to handle your case effectively and obtain the best results on your behalf.
If you need help with an insurance settlement following a serious injury, call us toll-free or contact us via our online contact form for a FREE case review.