If you suffered an accident as a pedestrian in Long Beach, you could retain a lawyer to help you fight for damages. The Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP has over 100 years of combined experience. By hiring our team, you will work directly with a lawyer; your case will not be passed off to an assistant or a paralegal.
You can start pursuing compensation for your losses today.
Pedestrian Accident Losses You Could Collect an Award for
Past and future medical bills might be the first thing you think of when considering your accident-related losses. However, you could also claim other damages in your demand letter to the insurer. These losses could include:
- Pain and suffering
- Past and future lost wages, benefits, tips, and bonuses
- Transportation costs to doctor’s offices if you cannot drive during your recovery period
- Funeral and burial costs
- Loss of consortium, household benefits, and parental guidance
- Scarring, disability, and disfigurement
How New York’s Statute of Limitations Affects Your Pedestrian Accident Case
While your case will likely settle through insurance negotiations, it may need to go to court. If so, you generally have three years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit, per CVP §214.
If you lost a loved one due to a pedestrian accident in Long Beach, you generally have two years from the date of their passing to file your case, per EPT §5-4.1. Your legal team can determine the appropriate filing period and whether any exceptions affect your case.
You May Still Be Entitled to Partial Damages Even if You Are Partially at Fault for the Accident
The New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) says that New York is a no-fault state. In the event of an accident between two motor vehicles, you would file a claim with your own insurer to seek damages.
However, in accidents involving motorists and pedestrians, the injured party would file their claim with the negligent driver’s insurance company.
Even if you think that you partially caused the accident, this would not bar you from recovering compensation. If the insurance company tries to deny or devalue your claim by saying you were negligent, we can defend your legal rights by showing evidence of fault.
How Filing an Insurance Claim Works
Filing an insurance claim will start by talking to us about your losses. We will then assign values to each of your separate losses. Then, we will total your expenses and list this sum in your demand letter.
We send this letter to the insurance company and see if they accept or deny the figure. If the insurer does not accept our settlement figure, however, we start negotiating. Depending on the relevant insurance policy and the insurer’s willingness to settle, your claim could be resolved through this route.
You Might Need to File a Lawsuit to Recover Compensation
If the insurance company does not accept our offer, unfairly denies your claim, or undervalues your losses, you could file a lawsuit. We can continue to negotiate while your case progresses in court. The American Bar Association (ABA) states that most cases are settled before their court dates.
However, your case might end up before a judge. If it does, we will argue your case in hopes of receiving an award.
We Work on Contingency
We operate on a contingency-fee-basis. This means that you do not have to pay us upfront for us to work for you. Our payment is sourced from the settlement or award we win for you.
If we do not win your case, you do not have to pay us. We want to fight for you; do not let your financial concerns hold you back from seeking justice.
What Our Past Clients Have to Say About Us
Some of our previous clients have left us positive feedback on our website. We hope that their words will provide more information about how we will serve you. Our former clients have said:
- We keep our clients “informed through every step of the process.”
- We aim to be “responsive and attentive…” and to “care [for] you, even after you leave [us].”
- Our staff is “very nice and highly competent.”
If there is any way we could help you, please do not hesitate to let us know. For instance, if you cannot come to us, a pedestrian accident lawyer serving Long Beach can come to you.
Potentially Liable Parties in Your Accident
You would be correct in assuming that many vehicle operators are at fault for pedestrian accidents. This is because they engage in negligent driving practices like:
- Speeding
- Driving while distracted
- Drowsy driving
- Road rage
Other parties could be responsible for your injuries as well, though. These parties might include:
- A mechanic who did not properly tighten or care for a component on the vehicle that hit you
- The vehicle driver’s employer, if the driver was working at the time of the accident
- The manufacturer of the vehicle part that malfunctioned and caused your accident
- The municipality responsible for maintaining the intersection, road, or traffic lights where you were injured (including if any of those components were involved in causing your injury)
Call the Attorneys at the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP to Get Started
During your free consultation, we can explain the potential of your case and the ways we will help you seek justice after suffering such a painful experience. Call the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP today at (516) 358-6900.
For a free legal consultation with a pedestrian accidents lawyer serving Long Beach, call 516-358-6900
The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only. Information on this website may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information and may not be applicable in your jurisdiction.
