Although drivers navigating the streets of New York probably do not think about the prospect of being hit by another vehicle when leaving home, New York constitutes the seventh deadliest state for motorists based on NHTSA statistics. Vehicle collisions claim the lives of more than a thousand people annually in our state, which exceeds the […]
Why Hire a New York Injury Lawyer
Although drivers navigating the streets of New York probably do not think about the prospect of being hit by another vehicle when leaving home, New York constitutes the seventh deadliest state for motorists based on NHTSA statistics. Vehicle collisions claim the lives of more than a thousand people annually in our state, which exceeds the national average by 160 percent.
When a family loses a loved one or a vehicle occupant suffers catastrophic injuries, crippling financial hardships often accompany the emotional trauma and physical pain experienced by accident victims and their families. Facing these monetary challenges, injured victims and surviving family members need to increase their financial recovery from negligent parties to cover medical bills, vehicle repair costs, lost income from hospitalization as well as periods of disability, and much more. In this blog, we examine some of the ways New York car accident injury lawyers can maximize the monetary recovery of victims of negligent drivers.
Balancing the Scales of Justice: In most cases, an injury victim will be dealing with a negligent driver’s insurance company. Insurers practically salivate at the prospect of dealing with laypersons. Although New York laws do not bar an injury victim from handing his or her own personal injury case, the balance of justice will be weighted heavily in favor of the insurance company. Insurers handle billions of dollars in claims annually, so they have an enormous advantage in resources, experience, and expertise over laypersons seeking compensation. Insurance companies have virtually no incentive to offer a fair settlement because of these advantages. An experienced New York auto accident lawyer brings experience, specialized knowledge, expertise, and resources to adjust the scale of justice back in the direction of an injury victim.
Multiple Studies Confirm Represented Parties Get More: While no two personal injury cases are identical, several studies quantify the financial benefits of legal representation. Several separate studies by the Insurance Research Council (IRC) quantify the benefit of hiring an attorney. A 2014 study specifically cited increased attorney representation as a factor in rising recoveries by claimants. Injury victims that hire an attorney recover 3.5 times more than people who seek compensation for their injuries without legal representation. These results have been confirmed by an All-Industry Research Advisory Council (ARAC) report observing that injury victims represented by attorneys consistently received significantly larger settlements. A separate IRC study entitled, “Auto Injuries Claiming Behavior and Its Impact on Insurance Costs,” revealed that 85 percent of all dollars paid to claimants go to individuals represented by a lawyer.
Navigating an Unfamiliar Road to Recovery: The legal process for recovering civil damages for car accident injuries and property loss requires a detailed understanding of unfamiliar legal terms, complicated legal standards, confusing procedural steps, and non-forgiving deadlines. Attorneys spend many years acquiring legal expertise, settlement and litigation experience, specialization through continuing legal education, and real-world experience in actual cases. Anyone who has visited the inside of a law library cannot help but be overwhelmed by the massive volumes of information that experienced attorneys utilize to practice law effectively. This ability based on legal training, specialized knowledge, and experience explain the statistical evidence of the benefits provided by an experienced personal injury lawyer.
If you or a loved one have been injured by a driver violating traffic laws, multitasking behind the wheel, or otherwise driving unsafely, an experienced New York car accident lawyer can help you maximize the value of your financial recovery.
Parker Waichman LLP helps families recover monetary compensation for harm caused by reckless drivers. For your free consultation, contact our Accident Law Firm today by using our live chat or calling 1-800-YOUR-LAWYER (1-800-968-7529).
