A brain injury is one of the worst kinds of trauma you can suffer. The effects are often debilitating and long-lasting. You might be looking at a long recovery period, expensive medical bills, and weeks or months of missed work. Your family probably feels the effects, too, especially if they have to devote time, energy, and money to your care.
If you or your loved one suffered head trauma as a result of someone else’s actions, a brain injury lawyer in Bohemia, Long Island, can fight for your rights and help you win the compensation you deserve. Call the personal injury team at Gacovino, Lake & Associates, P.C. We offer free consultations to New York injury victims. You can sit down with an attorney, discuss your options, and receive legal advice on how to proceed. Schedule your appointment today by calling 631-600-0000.
How Can a Brain Injury Attorney Help Me Collect Compensation?
Our attorneys employ a thorough process to help you win a fair settlement that includes every type of compensation you deserve. We start by doing the following:
- Conducting a complete investigation to identify every party that was potentially at fault for your injury;
- Determining the laws that apply to your claim;
- Gathering evidence to prove liability;
- Determining and documenting your economic and non-economic damages; and
- Identifying and interviewing expert witnesses and accident reconstruction experts.
Once we have identified all responsible parties, gathered evidence against them, and calculated your damages, we can file a claim with the insurance company of the liable party or parties. We show the insurer the evidence we have and attempt to negotiate a fair settlement outside of court.
In most cases, the insurance company will attempt to offer a lower settlement, effectively paying you less than you deserve. Our attorneys negotiate for the full compensation for which you are eligible. Ideally, we attempt to reach an agreement outside of court, but if necessary, we will file a lawsuit and take your case all the way to trial. We can advise you on whether you should settle or file a lawsuit.
What Damages Can I Recover for My Brain Injury?
Every case is different. The effects of your brain injury and the specific losses you suffer as a result of it determine the types of damages you can recover. For many clients, we have been able to win compensation for:
- Current and future medical bills;
- Emergency transportation costs;
- Rehabilitation, physical therapy, hospitalization, and surgical expenses;
- Prescription drug costs;
- Expenses related to medical devices, such as wheelchairs or neck braces;
- Other medical equipment;
- Property damage;
- Pain and suffering;
- Emotional anguish;
- Lack of consortium;
- Wrongful death, if a loved one died due to their brain injury; and
- Other related costs.
When Is the Other Party Responsible for My Brain Injury?
Regardless of how your injury occurred, our attorneys can determine if you might be eligible for compensation. Most brain injuries happen due to accidents, but there is often at least one responsible party at fault. We can identify such parties, gather evidence against them, and pursue them for damages.
We have seen brain injuries happen in a number of common ways.
Slip and Fall Accidents
A 2013 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicated falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injury, accounting for 47 percent of emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and deaths. If your slip and fall accident occurred on someone else’s property, the owner or manager might bear liability. We have to prove that a danger or hazard on the property contributed to your fall and a reasonable owner or manager should have known about it and taken steps to protect you.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
New York is a no-fault state for car accidents. In most cases, you must file a claim with your own personal injury protection (PIP) policy to recover damages, regardless of who caused the crash. If your injury meets the state’s serious injury requirement—which most brain injuries do—we can recover additional compensation from the at-fault party and their insurance company.
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycles lack the protection of a standard car, truck, or SUV. In a severe motorcycle accident, even a helmet might not prevent a brain injury. We can pursue the at-fault party and their insurance company for compensation to cover all costs associated with your injury, as well as your property damage.
Intentional Acts of Violence
Sadly, many brain injuries occur due to violent acts, including gunshots, battery, and vehicular assault. If you were a victim of a violent act and suffered a brain injury as a result, we can pursue compensation from the responsible party even if they were never convicted in criminal court. The evidence standard to win damages in a civil lawsuit is significantly lower than the proof required to win a conviction in a criminal trial.
Other Causes
The possible causes of a brain injury are far too numerous to list. For instance, athletic injuries, product defects, and medical malpractice can all cause serious head trauma. No matter how your injury occurred, you should talk to a brain injury lawyer at Gacovino, Lake & Associates, P.C., about your options for recovering compensation.
The initial consultation and case review are always free. You do not pay our legal fees until we recover damages for you. That means there is no risk in sitting down with an attorney, discussing your case in detail, and receiving answers to all of your questions. We can let you know what to expect if you decide to file a claim against another party.
How Can I Locate a Brain Injury Lawyer in Bohemia, Long Island?
At Gacovino, Lake & Associates, P.C., we focus on helping brain injury victims recover the compensation they deserve after an accident. We want to put our resources to work for you. To schedule a free consultation, call our office today at 631-600-0000.
