Determining whether it is worth hiring a truck accident lawyer in New York often will depend on the extent of your injuries, your ability to continue working in your current capacity, and the expectation for the quality of your life going forward.
If you are facing significant hardships and financial losses related to your injuries after a truck crash in New York, hiring an attorney may be helpful when trying to receive a monetary award for your damages. Insurers tend to fight harder when facing larger-than-average payouts. So, if you are seeking the maximum award in your case, you may find hiring a lawyer can aid the process.
Determining If You Could Win a Larger Settlement in Your Case
So, how do you know if you could win a larger-than-average settlement if you are a truck crash victim? A few items can point toward a larger potential award that the insurance company may attempt to fight, making it worth considering hiring a truck crash attorney in New York.
A Long Hospital Stay and Ongoing Medical Care
If you must spend several days or weeks in the hospital receiving emergency care or undergoing multiple surgeries, your medical bills will skyrocket. Recovering a reimbursement for your medical costs is a key part of what your New York personal injury attorney will attempt to do on your behalf.
Additionally, if you need outpatient medical care or physical therapy appointments to treat your injuries, you will have ongoing costs for medical care. Any settlement you receive from an insurer should reflect an estimation of these ongoing costs. An attorney can help you estimate the amount you should request for these items.
Significant Missed Time at Work
Another aspect of compensation in your truck accident injury claim involves reimbursement for lost wages. When your injuries force you to work reduced hours, miss multiple weeks of work, or leave you unable to work at all, your lost wages could add up quickly.
A truck accident lawyer will negotiate with the insurer on your behalf regarding the amount you should receive for lost income. An attorney also can estimate what kind of wages you could lose in the future and include this amount in your settlement offer request.
Pain and Suffering Judgment
If you have chronic pain or a significantly reduced quality of life after a truck accident, you might be able to receive an award to compensate you for the future you are facing. If you have disfiguring or disabling injuries because of the truck crash, your New York attorney can argue for a large pain and suffering award.
An Attorney Will Take Over the Negotiation Process
After you suffer an injury in a truck accident, you may hear from the insurance company within a few days. This may even occur while you are still in the hospital. Usually, an insurer will want to begin negotiating with you on a settlement immediately. You may start receiving frequent phone calls. When you are trying to recover, and when your mind is on how your injuries may affect your family, these pestering phone calls from the insurer may be unwelcome.
We Are Ready to Make the Phone Calls Stop
Once you hire an attorney to represent you in your injury case, they will take over the negotiations. You will no longer need to speak with the insurer without your attorney being present. This gives you more time to focus on putting your life back together after the crash.
A Lawyer Can Work to Meet All Deadlines in the Case
When filing a personal injury claim after a truck accident, victims in New York have up to three years to start the process, according to CPLR § 214. Failing to meet this deadline could make you ineligible to receive any financial award for your injuries.
Should the truck accident cause a fatality for your loved one, the family members have the right to file a wrongful death case. In New York, this type of case has a two-year deadline, according to EPTL § 5-4.1.
Individuals who want to represent themselves in a truck accident injury case may not be familiar with these deadlines. This could mean they will start the process of seeking recovery too late. With a personal injury attorney on your side, however, you can be confident that you will make important case deadlines.
The Truck Accident Attorneys at Morelli Law Firm Are Ready to Work for You
Truck crash injuries can change victims’ lives forever. If you cannot work in the same capacity, or if your injuries have reduced your quality of life permanently, Morelli Law Firm is ready to try to work toward recovering damages for you. Compensation can cover your medical bills and replace your lost income and other expenses. It may be worth it to hire a truck accident lawyer in New York who can explain your legal options.
For a free review of your case to learn how one of our truck injury accident attorneys can help, call us as soon as possible at (212) 751-9800.