Serious injuries can cost thousands, if not millions in medical bills, lost income and reduced quality of life. An experienced New York personal injury lawyer can help ensure you receive fair compensation.
Personal injury lawsuits involve legal claims of harm and damages caused by intentional, accidental, or negligent acts or inaction by another individual or organization – such as municipalities or government agencies – including intentional tortious behavior and any actions they take negligently that harm another. To be successful, such a suit must establish four elements: duty breach causation damages.
Reputation
An experienced personal injury attorney is more likely to secure you with a larger settlement offer, while insurance companies also appreciate working with attorneys with proven success records to achieve favorable settlements for their cases.
Look for an attorney with experience as both an adept negotiator and aggressive trial lawyer. While some personal injury cases can be settled out-of-court through mediation or arbitration, others require going all the way to trial. Working with an attorney who possesses extensive trial experience will guarantee your case will be managed with care whether it settles quickly or goes to court.
Ben Rubinowitz has been honored as both a New York Super Lawyer for 2024 and 2025, Jeffrey Bloom has been recognized in Best Lawyers in America, and Howard Hershenhorn has secured multi-million dollar verdicts in serious personal injury cases.
Experience
Consider your needs when selecting a personal injury lawyer and their experience handling cases similar to your own. Experience can provide insight into applicable laws, available damages and effective negotiation tactics – which could prove invaluable when seeking representation for personal injuries.
An experienced personal injury attorney will also have extensive knowledge of your local court system and have established relationships with experts that could strengthen your case – this is particularly important if you plan to file suit against a large corporation, insurance provider, or another entity.
When meeting with potential personal injury lawyers, bring relevant documents such as medical records, police reports and insurance information related to your claim. When interviewing attorneys you have shortlisted, make sure that you bring relevant paperwork including medical records, police reports and any fee structure information for each one; pay close attention to communication styles and fee structures – you should feel at ease that they can meet all your goals and expectations for your case; otherwise consider finding another personal injury lawyer instead; Ben Rubinowitz, Howard Hershenhorn and Jeffrey Bloom are among several who have been recognized as Super Lawyers by receiving multi-million dollar verdicts/settlements awards in recent years – consider them before making your final choice; all three attorneys have secured multi-million dollar verdicts/settlements!
Fees
Many individuals in need of personal injury lawyers don’t have enough money to pay upfront fees; as a result, most practice on contingency basis allowing them to only receive payment once their clients win compensation from insurers.
Attorneys charge different rates depending on the nature of a case they’re handling. A flat fee might apply when helping set up a business or writing wills; hourly rates typically prevail when representing someone seeking damages against another party.
Complex cases and any unexpected expenses may drive up representation costs significantly, making it essential to discuss with your attorney from the outset their fee structure so you have a clear picture of what to expect. Some personal injury firms advance costs and expenses during litigation which will later be deducted from any award before calculating their contingency fee percentage while other firms require clients cover these costs as they arise directly – something which could put undue strain on your finances.
Insurance companies
Insurance companies frequently prioritize profits over individual claimants and can be aggressive in denying payments or reducing them. Personal injury lawyers provide a level playing field by navigating complex insurance laws to ensure individuals receive fair compensation for their losses.
Before hiring a personal injury attorney, do your research and examine their track record. While past results don’t guarantee similar outcomes in your case, they provide an indication of the attorney’s expertise and commitment to his/her clients. It may also be beneficial to research whether they speak at continuing legal education seminars or have leadership roles in organizations dedicated to negligence/personal injury law.
Insurance companies keep detailed notes about which lawyers they interact with and know which are quick to settle and undervalue claims quickly. Selecting an experienced personal injury lawyer with experience going to trial could give your settlement more weight by giving your insurer reason to reconsider quickly settling claims without giving a chance for trial to play out.