Frequently Asked Questions

I have been injured in an accident, what should I do?

First of all you should seek immediate medical attention.  Have someone call the police and summon an ambulance.

If you fell inside of a store or other private property make sure an employee prepares a report of the incident.

Secondly, collect as much information as possible (i.e. names of witnesses, description of scene, take photographs if possible)

Do not let others (employers, managers, friends, neighbors, etc.) intimidate you into providing authorities and emergency medical service personnel with false information about the circumstances of the accident.  *Often times these people with provide you with false information in order to protect themselves and/or out of ignorance/misinformation.

Call our law firm immediately so that an investigation may be conducted immediately, witnesses may be questioned, and evidence preserved.  

How much do you charge to represent an accident victim? 

Remember, all consultations for accident victims are free.  We have offices conveniently located in downtown Manhattan and Central New Jersey.  If for some reason you are unable to be transported to our office, we will come to a location convenient for you.

Our law firm will forward all of the expenses of your personal injury case.  When your case is settled or a judgment is obtained at trial, our firm will be reimbursed out of the award and then our firm will earn 33.33% fee for our services.  In the rare event that we are unsuccessful in obtaining an award for your injuries, you will not be responsible for any of our expenses

What do you mean when you say Slip & Fall and Trip & Fall?

Slip & Fall and Trip & Fall accidents are those resulting from: icy sidewalks and steps, snow which hasn’t been shoveled, uneven/cracked/misaligned/raised sidewalks, broken pavement, potholes, loose, uneven or deteriorated steps, spills/grease on floors inside stores, malls, shopping centers, hospitals, sports arenas, etc., broken or missing stair railing, poor lighting and staircases/stairways which are not built to code.

What determines the amount of money a person can get?

Simply put: Ability to pay, Damages & Liability.

When evaluating any personal injury case, we assess the strength and weaknesses based on the following factors: whether or not the person or entity responsible for your accident is insured or has access to money or assets that can be used to compensate the victim for the accident. Damages refers to the extent and nature of injury(ies) suffered. Liability is based on whether or not the person or entity that is being sued owed a legal duty to the victim, whether or not that duty was breached and finally whether or not the victim’s injury was proximately caused by the breach.

What type of damages can I recover in Slip & Fall, Trip & Fall cases?

“Damages” in a personal injury case, refers to the amount of harm that has been done to you as a result of an accident. Those are generally two types of damages that may be recovered 1) compensatory; and 2) non-compensatory. Compensatory damages include the cost of medical bills, lost earnings and other accident related out-of-pocket expenses. Non-compensatory damages are for pain and suffering, disfigurement, inconvenience, discomfort, lifestyle changes, physical limitations, long-term pain or disability and other negative impacts of an accident.

Value of cases is very fact specific and determined by a myriad of factors (i.e. age, occupation, marital status, geographic location, severity of injury, frequency, intensity and type of treatment, etc.).

Why is it important to contact our office as soon as possible?

First, there is a time limit (Statute of Limitations) for bringing personal injury lawsuits depending on the type of case and the state where the case will have to be filed. (NJ – 2 years, NY – 3 years). In addition to the Statute of Limitations, it is important to pursue your case while the facts of the accident are fresh and also to preserve evidence in your case.

After meeting with you, our firm, staff and experts will act expeditiously in gathering critical information necessary for your case as well as notifying the proper parties to make sure that insurance companies are notified of your claim.

What kind of information about the accident are you looking for?

In addition, we want to know what happened to you. You would have to be able to describe your injury(ies), We need to know if you went to the hospital, which one and what did they do there, which doctors you have treated with and how much you have paid for treatment? Did you go back to work after accident or did you stay home and for how long. The purpose of these questions is to establish the severity and nature of your injuries.

We will also ask you to describe any other ways in which your life has changed as a result of your injuy(ies). For example, you are no longer able to engage in athletic or recreational activities, your physical appearance has changed, you cannot care for your children, or your spouse, etc.)

What are some sample Slip & Fall and Trip & Fall cases your firm is currently handling?

1. New Jersey – Lady in her 60’s was visiting friends house in the Poconos and fell down a flight of stairs due to poor lighting, staircase railing not built to code and staircase treads of different depths causing her to slip off the edge of the step, resulting in fractured wrist requiring two surgeries and implant of metal plates and screws. Two years after the accident, still no sensation in portion of her arm, deformed appearance, and permanent loss of range of motion.

2. 85 year old great grandmother fell on snow and ice in front of her apartment building in Elmwood Park, NJ resulting in hip fracture requiring surgery and implant of metal rod into her leg.

3. Truck driver slipped on snow and ice at loading dock in Queens, NY resulting in surgery requiring implant of large metal rod in upper leg.

4. 30 year old single male from Brooklyn, NY slipped on ice in front of apartment building resulting in broken ankle and torn ligament in knee requiring surgery to the knee.

5. 52 year old mother shopping in a large supermarket in NYC when she slipped and fell on spilled grease in pre-cooked food department resulting in multiple injuries to the spine requiring injections and surgery.