Jacoby & Meyers: Protecting Your Future With Expert Legal Representation

ersonal injury law is an area of civil law in which an individual was injured in an incident caused by careless, reckless, or intentional behavior exhibited by someone else.

This area of the law focuses on establishing liability in the accident and awarding compensation for injury related expenses, including:

Medical expenses such as ambulance transport, emergency department services, surgery, hospitalization, medication, rehabilitation, and the provision of mobility assistance such as wheelchairs or crutches.
Future medical expenses in cases involving ongoing treatment or permanent disability.
Repair or replacement of property that was damaged in the accident, such as a vehicle damaged in a car accident.
Other out-of-pocket expenses, including the provision of home modifications to accommodate the injured individual or the cost of renting a car or taking a taxi to attend medical appointments.
Lost wages due to being too injured to work or missing work for medical treatment.
Loss of future earning capacity in cases involving injuries that are so severe that the injured individual is unable to continue doing the same type of work as he or she did before the accident and is forced to take a lower-paying job, or the person’s injuries result in permanent disability, rendering him or her unable to work at all.
Non-economic expenses to compensate the injured individual for the emotional toll that the injury has on his or her life, such as pain and suffering, or loss of enjoyment of life.
To obtain compensation for expenses that are due to an accident that resulted in injury, the injured person (plaintiff) must establish liability on the part of the at-fault party (defendant).

This is done by proving that:

The defendant owed the plaintiff a duty of care. This duty of care depends on the type of accident involved. In car accidents, the duty of care would likely be to drive a motor vehicle safely and lawfully. In medical malpractice cases, the duty of care would be to provide the level of care that a reasonably prudent doctor would in similar circumstances. In premises liability cases, the duty of care would be to keep one’s property safe from hazards that may cause injury to guests.
There was a breach in the duty of care. Again, the breach is dependent on the case, but this is the negligent or intentional behavior that placed the plaintiff in danger of experiencing an injury.
The breach led to the accident, which resulted in the plaintiff acquiring an injury and resultant expenses.
Upon establishing legal liability for the accident, the plaintiff’s personal injury lawyer will attempt to obtain compensation for his or her client by either negotiating a settlement with the defendant’s insurance carrier or by pursuing a court judgment.

A personal injury lawyer provides your best chance for obtaining fair compensation for your injuries.

Not only does a personal injury lawyer provide you with guidance as to the legal options that are available to you, but they can provide other services as well, including:

Establishing a value to the case based on the expenses you face and the impact your injuries have had on your life.
Examining your case to determine all potentially liable parties and insurance resources.
The use of experts such as those knowledgeable in accident reconstruction and medical professionals with experience in treating the type of injuries you sustained to strengthen your case.
Skilled negotiation with the goal to obtain the highest settlement possible in your case.
The timely filing of a personal injury lawsuit if a fair settlement is not offered.
Aggressive representation in court, including the pre-trial, trial, and post-trial phases.
Assistance in collecting your award or settlement.

It costs nothing to meet with an experienced New York personal injury lawyer for the first time to discuss your case. Virtually any lawyer you hire will also work for you on a contingency fee basis. This means that you and the lawyer will agree in advance on the lawyer receiving a percentage of any money recovered on your behalf as a fee.

You pay nothing upfront, and the lawyer only receives money if you also receive money.

That way, you get top-notch legal representation without having to take on new expenses, and you and the lawyer have the same goal: getting you as much money as possible, as soon as possible.

Have questions about a personal injury that you or a loved one suffered in New York? Contact our experienced New York personal injury lawyers today for a free case evaluation.

According to the Internal Revenue Service, most personal injury compensation is not considered income and therefore is not taxable. However, if you claimed your medical expenses as a tax deduction on your previous year’s tax return, then you may have to repay that amount. Also, some categories of personal injury damages are sometimes taxable, such as damages for emotional distress and punitive damages.

Do not simply assume that you owe no taxes on your personal injury compensation. Instead, speak with an experienced New York personal injury attorney right away to avoid making a mistake in your taxes.Do I have to pay taxes on the money I get for my