New York City New York Legal Blog

If you work in the construction field in New York, then you know that his year-round industry can be dangerous. Accidents involving scaffolding falls, machinery pinning, and electrical accidents can all leave an unsuspecting worker seriously injured or dead. Those who are fortunate enough to survive such incidents may have a lot to deal with in addition to their physical and mental recovery, including figuring out how to pay for their medical expenses and recoup lost wages.

Workers' compensation, of course, can help cover these losses, but only if the system is successfully navigated. The first step in recovering these benefits is understanding the process. First, an injured worker needs to seek immediate medical attention and notify his or her employer. This notice can be verbal, but written notice must also be provided within 30 days. Then, a workers' compensation claim needs to be filed.

Unexpectedly losing a loved one can leave a surviving family utterly devastated. In addition to confronting the emotional toll such a loss can inflict, these individuals usually have to find a way to cover financial damages. With medical expenses, funeral costs, and lost wages playing a part, these losses can seem insurmountable, especially when a family is trying to grieve their loss.

Fortunately, these surviving families may be able to recover compensation for their losses if they are able to successfully impose liability and prove the extent of their damages. Yet, even those who are successful in accomplishing both of these feats can still face an uncertain outcome. One reason is because an award of compensation made by a jury may be modified by a judge. This modification may lessen an award if a judge feels that the award is not in line with the deceased individual's earnings at the time of death, or if the deceased individual was well-known for wasting money away.

If you've ever been surrounded by semi-trucks and suddenly found yourself anxious, you're not alone. These massive vehicles can strike fear into the bravest amongst us, and for good reason. When driven negligently, semi-trucks can cause a massive amount of devastation. Not only can vehicles be completely destroyed in truck accidents, but victims can suffer serious injuries. The worst cases result in death. On top of that, truck accidents are more common than many individuals think.

One reason for their frequency is the increased distance required to safely bring these vehicles to a stop. Whereas a car may be up to 18 feet in length and weigh up to 4,000 pounds, a semi-truck can be as long as 65 feet and weigh 80,000 pounds. This means that a car that is traveling at 40 miles per hour will need approximately 125 feet to come to a safe stop. A semi-truck traveling that same rate of speed will need almost 170 feet to stop safely. When speeds increase to 65 miles per hour, a car will need 316 feet, and a big rig will need 525 feet. The difference is almost the length of a football field.

Pursuing a medical malpractice lawsuit takes courage. It also takes a firm grasp of the law and how it applies to the facts at hand. This is because, as we discussed on the blog previously, there are a number of defenses to these types of claims. Also, high-paid doctors and established hospitals have extensive resources to dump into their defense. This means that aggressive defense attorneys will do everything they can to rip apart a victim's claim, even if that means blaming the victim himself or herself.

To combat such tactics, medical malpractice victims should carefully consider who they choose to be their legal advocate. A competent legal professional, like those at Paul B Weitz & Associates, will know how to spot weaknesses with a hospital negligence claim, then diligently work to gather evidence and witness testimony to strengthen the claim. Our legal team knows how to anticipate potential defense strategies, which leaves us well-positioned to present our clients' claims in a way that is persuasive to judges and juries.