Personal Injury

There have been many recent incidents in the news regarding bus accidents. Bus companies are “common carriers”—companies entrusted with the safety of those they serve. As such, they are expected to take a high degree of care toward their clients. Various regulations apply to such companies, requiring them to take specific measures to protect their riders; violations of such regulations would constitute negligence on the part of the bus company. However, a bus accident may result from the negligence of people who are not associated in any way with the bus company. Thus, a person injured in a bus accident may have to investigate the circumstances of the accident carefully in order to determine which people or entities might be held responsible for the harm suffered. An experienced bus accident attorney would be of great help in such an evaluation. If you have been injured in a bus accident, and are pursuing treatment and trying to recover from the trauma, you should consider hiring an experienced attorney to protect your rights.

As anyone who has ever had a car accident knows, even a minor fender-bender can leave drivers and passengers shaken up and even seriously injured. Unfortunately, people involved in more significant car crashes have to handle much more, beyond the initial shock and the resulting anxiety. When people are injured in a car accident due to the negligence of another person, they may sue the responsible party, seeking compensation for their medical bills, lost wages (and/or loss of earning power), pain and suffering, and any property loss resulting from the accident. In addition, relatives of people killed in car accidents caused by the negligence of another or by a defective product may bring a “wrongful death” suit, seeking compensation for the economic losses that they suffer as a result of their loved one’s untimely death. After a serious car accident, people must deal not only with their suffering, but also with police and insurance company reports and investigations. Injured people must seek treatment and may be unable to work for some time due to the injury. Relatives may have to make funeral arrangements and mourn the death of a loved one. During this initial period immediately after an accident, insurance companies require certain documents to be filed or they may not reimburse you for your medical bills and lost earnings. In the aftermath of a serious car accident, an experienced car accident attorney can help clients collect and preserve evidence; ensure that the all the parties that must be notified are notified in time; handle various insurance-related issues; and use professional experience in negotiating with insurance company representatives and other lawyers, so that clients who are harmed will receive full compensation for their injuries and losses. To have your rights fully protected after a serious car accident, call one of the experienced attorneys at Zwirn and Saulino P.C. Our firm always takes pride in providing efficient, caring, effective representation to clients injured in New York car accidents.

Constructions sites are complex and dangerous workplaces, often involving a variety of companies and individuals working together in difficult conditions. Construction workers suffer more on-the-job injuries than workers in most other industries; however, passer-bys and non-employees present on a worksite may also be injured in construction accidents. If a person’s injury was caused by someone’s negligence, or by the use of a defective product (such as defective scaffolding, cranes, other heavy machinery, or any other equipment or tool used on the site), the injured person may seek compensation for his or her pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost wages, as well as other long-term medical and economic consequences of the injury. However, because construction sites generally involve a variety of participants (owners, general contractors, subcontractors, manufacturers of various products, etc.), it may be difficult to determine who was responsible for the injury—in other words, who must pay compensation. If you have been injured in a construction accident, you should consult an experienced personal injury attorney, who can help you determine the best way to pursue compensation, and from whom. If you have lost a loved one in a construction accident, a personal injury attorney can help you pursue a wrongful death claim. In New York, any workers who are injured on the job must also consider the interaction between personal injury law and Workers’ Compensation insurance. While workers usually seek and get Workers’ Compensation benefits more easily, those benefits may not be enough to cover all the economic losses suffered by the workers, especially if the injuries were severe. In addition, Worker’s Compensation does not compensate injured workers for their pain and suffering. In the particular context of construction accidents, three important sections of the New York Labor Law (Sections 200, 240, and 241(6)) allow construction workers who are injured in worksite accidents to file a claim and seek full compensation from the owners of the site and/or the general contractors. The law places the ultimate responsibility for the safety of a worksite on the owner and/or the general contractor; other parties, such as subcontractors or architects, may also be held responsible for certain violations of the Labor Laws. It is important, therefore, to consult an attorney and discuss the particular circumstances of your case, as soon as possible after being involved in a New York construction accident. Attorneys of Zwirn & Saulino, PC stands ready to evaluate your case, help you gather all the required evidence, determine the party or parties who may be held responsible for the harm you have suffered, negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf, and, if necessary, go to trial in support of your claims. If you are considering pursuing compensation for injuries suffered in a New York construction accident, or if you lost a loved one in such an accident, please contact The Law Office of Zwirn & Saulino, Pc right away.

In New York, if a dog bites another person or animal, the dog’s owner is responsible for paying any medical or veterinarian costs associated with the resulting injury. However, an injured person may be able to recover additional compensation, for pain and suffering, wages lost as a result of the injury, and more. New York is a “one-bite” state, which means that, in order to recover additional compensation, a person injured by a dog must prove that the dog’s owner knew or should have been aware that the dog had an inclination toward viciousness. An owner would be considered aware of the dog’s propensity for viciousness, for example, if the owner knew about prior incidents in which the dog, unprovoked, either bit or threatened another person or animal (snarling, baring teeth, lunging at them, etc.). If a dog owner had knowledge of the dog’s vicious propensity, in New York that owner would be strictly liable (i.e. legally responsible) for the harm that the dog inflicted. The injured party would not have to prove that the owner was negligent in his or her handling of the dog. In addition, if the conduct of the dog owner was particularly blame-worthy, he or she may be ordered to pay punitive damages—an additional amount of money intended to punish the wrongdoer and to deter similar conduct. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that approximately 885,000 people receive medical attention for dog bite-related injuries each year; more than 31,000 people underwent reconstructive surgery as a result of such injuries. If you or your child have been injured by a dog in New York, please report the injury to the police; if nothing else, that would help any future victims prove that the owner knew that the dog was dangerous. You should also discuss your situation with an experienced New York personal injury attorney. You might be able to pursue compensation for the harm you suffered; however, you have only a limited period of time in which to do so. At the Law Offices of Zwirn & Saulino, PC, we take pride in our prompt, caring, effective representation of clients injured by dog bites in New York.

Elevator installers and mechanics sometimes fall into improperly guarded elevator shafts; are caught in between elevators or the elevators and the elevator shafts; are electrocuted; or have objects fall on them while they are working in a shaft. Passengers are also occasionally injured by elevators or escalators; thousands of people require hospitalization for such injuries in the U.S. every year. The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that at least 10% of the injuries to escalator passengers result from clothing, or other items, becoming entrapped between the escalator’s parts. Children are most frequently the victims of such incidents. Injuries related to elevators and escalators may occur when such devices are improperly designed, installed, maintained, or inspected. If those injuries were caused by someone’s negligence or by a defective product, the injured person may pursue compensation from the negligent parties or from the manufacturers or suppliers of the product involved. In addition, in New York the Labor Law provides additional protection for workers injured on construction sites, by holding owners and general contractors responsible if they don’t provide proper working conditions and training for their workers. If you were injured in an accident involving an elevator or escalator, you may be able to receive compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, and more. You should discuss your situation as promptly as possible with a New York attorney with experience in personal injury and labor law. At the Law Office of Zwirn & Saulino, PC, we are ready to get to work right away on your behalf. We take pride in providing prompt, caring, and effective representation.

Falls from ladders and scaffolding cause severe injuries each year. In New York, while workers must generally seek compensation for most work-related injuries through the Worker’s Compensation system, several state labor laws allow injured construction workers and their families to sue the owners and contractors involved in the construction site where the injury occurred. Injured workers may file claims under such laws and receive compensation even if they are also receiving Workers’ Compensation benefits. One such law, Labor Law Section 240, focuses on protecting workers who are injured by falls off ladders, scaffolding, or other devices used to elevate people or objects. The law also covers injuries caused by objects that fall off such structures and injure workers below. Labor Law Section 240 holds owners and general contractors responsible if they don’t provide proper equipment and training for the workers on their site. Other related laws specify in detail some of the equipment that must be provided and the measures that must be taken in creating a safe work site. Injured workers and their families can also pursue compensation from other sources if a defective product caused the injury—if, for example, the ladder or scaffold had a manufacturing defect or was defective in design. However, in situations where a worker was offered protective equipment but refused to use it, or where the worker’s own negligence was the only cause of the accident, the injured worker would not be likely to make a successful claim. If you or someone you love has been injured in a fall or other accident related to ladders or scaffolding on a New York worksite, you should contact an experienced New York personal injury attorney right away. While you are dealing with medical treatments and other consequences of the accident, an attorney can do the work required to pursue compensation. An experienced and knowledgeable attorney would investigate the facts of your accident, bring together the evidence required to make a strong case on your behalf, and work on countering any defenses that a potential defendant might bring.

Motorcycle accidents are often caused by the negligence of car drivers who speed, fail to yield, or are not paying enough attention to the road and don’t notice a motorcycle in time to avoid a crash. When a traffic accident caused by someone’s negligence leads to injuries, the injured person may sue in order to receive compensation (or “damages”) for pain and suffering, medical bills that result from the accident, wages lost as a result of the injury (or, in more severance cases, loss of earning power), and more. In New York, if the person who was injured was partly negligent as well, he or she can still recover financial compensation for at least part of the harm suffered. In order to do so, however, the injured person must be able to prove the other party’s negligence—in other words, that the other person involved in the accident did not act as a reasonable person would have under the circumstances. The injured person must also be able to prove the extent of his or her injury. If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, please contact Zwirn & Saulino P.C. right away. We will help you bring together the necessary evidence to prove your case, and use our knowledge of the law and of outcomes in comparable cases, as well as our professional negotiation and advocacy skills, to help you get full compensation for your losses.

While there is an entire legal formula dedicated to determining negligence, the easiest way for a lay person to conclude whether a person acted negligently is to prove that any other reasonably sensible person would not have acted in the same manner under similar circumstances. Showing that the person under question acted with less care than any other person would have in the same situation is how a personal injury claim begins. Negligence can occur anywhere and under any circumstances. From car accidents and medical malpractice to dog bites and defective products, neglecting to exercise care can cause someone else to be injured and this is what leads to personal injury lawsuits. Different groups of people may be held to different standards of care depending on their position in society. For example, health care providers are held to a higher standard of care than the average person and children under the age of 12 are held to a much lower standard of care. Each person is judged according to the standard expected of them and if it is determined that they acted below that standard, they may be compelled to provide compensation to the individuals to whom they caused injury.

In a city with as many pedestrians as New York, it is only to be expected that there will be accidents, but this does not make a single one acceptable. While the walker is responsible for the accident in some cases, drivers are far more often found to be at fault. Other leading causes included backing out of a driveway or parking space without looking, driving drunk, running a red light or stop sign and aggressive driving. Pedestrians commonly suffer severe injuries ranging from broken bones and traumatic brain injury paralyzing spinal cord injuries which will leave them with a permanent disability. After an accident, many people do not know where to turn or who trust. When you work with Law Office of Zwirn & Saulino, P.C., you can rest assured that your case will be handled by trusted and highly experienced New York personal injury attorneys who always have your best interests in mind. We understand that obtaining the compensation you need is important to you and we will strive to assist you in receiving a favorable outcome in a swift amount of time. You deserve the best possible representation and the highest amount of compensation available which is why you need to contact our team today and schedule your free and confidential case evaluation as soon as possible.

Police officers are supposed to protect citizens from harm. At times, they have to use force in the process. However, they are also supposed to respect and follow the law. If a police officer uses a level of force that is excessive under the circumstances, he or she is violating the law. In New York, as elsewhere, victims of police brutality (excessive use of force) can pursue legal claims against the police officers involved; they might also choose to sue additional defendants for failing to properly train and supervise the officers. The goal of such a lawsuit is to compensate the victim financially for the harm suffered. A plaintiff (in other words the person bringing the complaint) can seek compensation for pain and suffering, as well as for any medical bills and expenses related to injuries caused by the police brutality, and wages lost as a result of such injuries. Punitive damages may also be awarded in some cases: that additional amount of money is intended to punish wrongful conduct and deter similar conduct in the future. If you have been punched, slammed, hit with a baton or other object, or otherwise mistreated by a police officer, you should discuss your situation with an experienced New York personal injury attorney even if you were charged with disorderly conduct or resisting arrest following such an incident. It is important to understand your civil rights and ensure that they are respected. Beyond that, reporting and pursuing a claim for police brutality may keep others from suffering the same kind of treatment. In New York, victims must file a notice of claim with the appropriate agency within 90 days of the incident, or lose the right to pursue their police brutality claim. Some exceptions may apply; however, filing during the designated time and discussing your case with an attorney as soon as possible after the incident would maximize your chances of succeeding in the claim. Keep in mind, too, that with the passage of time, key evidence may be lost or destroyed.

If you were injured on someone else's property, Zwirn and Saulino PC Law Office can help you with all your needs, including your medical bills and compensation for pain and suffering. Depending on the specfics of your case, you may be able to hold the owner of the property where your accident took place partially-or entirely-liable to you for monetary damages and medical expenses. If successful, your claim could make it possible for you to recover monies for all your medical expenses, your lost income and reduced future earning power. If you were injured by tripping on a defect, a falling object, slipping on liquid, etc., please call us. We will guide you through the process in order to help you get fairly compensated. Our staff have decades of experience in handling premises liability cases and we are committed to making your experience as pleasurable and profitable as possible. A premises liability claim is based on the fact that the property owner has a duty to take reasonable precautions to protect guests and patrons against suffering injuries in an accident. Provided that the owner knew-or should have known about the hazardous conditions which caused your accident, and failed to take action to remove it or to post warning signs, you have a right to claim damages. While there is no way for anyone to make a property 100% accident-proof, it is expected that the proprietor should have conducted regular inspections of the premises and to resolve any obvious dangers. When a property owner fails to do so, you can sue on the basis of negligent security. Animal attacks, such as dog attacks, are often another premises liability issue. If a dog attacked you on your property or ran away from his/her owner and attacked you on public property, you are entitled to recover damages.

If you slipped, fell, and were injured as a result of a hazardous condition on someone else’s property (for example by slipping on a wet supermarket floor, on ice in front of a restaurant, or down poorly lit steps in an apartment building), you may be able to get compensation for your injuries from the owner or occupant of that property. In claming compensation, you would have to demonstrate that the owner or other party responsible for maintaining the premises either a) created the hazardous condition that led to your injury, or b) had notice of the condition and failed to fix it. If the condition was visible and present long enough to give the owner time to discover and address it, the owner would be considered to have had notice of that condition, and be liable (i.e. legally responsible) for the harm that resulted from it. Both state laws and the Administrative Code of the City of New York impose liability on some property owners if they don’t maintain their property and surrounding sidewalks so that they are reasonably safe for the public. Of course, not all slip and fall incidents involve negligence. In addition, in some cases both the property owners and the injured people acted negligently. In such cases, the injured people may still be able to receive compensation for part of their medical bills, pain and suffering, and other economic losses related to their injury. In slip and fall cases, evidence that would prove the negligence of a property owner may be lost if not gathered promptly after the accident. If you have suffered a slip and fall incident on someone else’s property, and were injured as a result, it is therefore very important that you discuss your situation with an experienced New York personal injury attorney as soon as possible.

Spinal cord injuries may happen in a variety of circumstances, including falls , car accidents, or sporting or recreation activities. Spinal cord injuries may also result from incidents of medical malpractice or nursing home negligence. If you have suffered a spinal cord injury as a result of someone else’s negligence or of the use of a defective product, you may be able to pursue compensation for the various economic losses related to that injury, as well as for your pain and suffering. The negligent parties, or the manufacturer and/or suppliers of the defective product, may be held responsible for the harm they caused, and be required to make you “whole,” to the extent that money can achieve that. In addition, if you suffered a spinal cord injury as a result of an intentional assault; you may sue the attacker to seek compensation for the injury. If you are recovering from such an injury, you already know that the treatment may require extensive hospitalization, surgeries, costly medications and devices, and long-term rehabilitative care. Following such an injury, you may be unable to earn a living, pursue a particular career, or enjoy certain activities as you did before. In pursuing compensation for a spinal cord injury, whether in court or in the process of dealing with insurance adjusters, you would benefit from having an experienced professional on your side, helping you build the strongest case possible. At the Law Offices of Zwirn & Saulino, PC we are ready to use our knowledge of the law and of outcomes in similar cases, as well as our professional negotiation and persuasion skills, to achieve a successful outcome in your case.

Every year, some riders are injured in accidents related to their subway or train commute. They may trip and fall in a station, slip on stairs, or, more rarely, suffer injuries as a result of train or subway collisions. If the accident that harmed them was the result of negligence (either on the part of an individual or on the part of the company in charge of the subway or railroad), the victims may bring a personal injury suit against the party or parties responsible. In such a lawsuit, the victim must prove that the person or company was negligent (in other words, failed to act as a reasonable person or entity would have in similar circumstances), that the victim was harmed, and that the proven negligence caused the proven harm. If the injured person acted negligently as well, he or she would be held partly responsible for the resulting harm, but would still be able to recover compensation for the extent to which the other party was responsible. The compensation would cover any medical expenses resulting from the injuries, lost wages, and any other related property losses; in addition, the injured person would be able to seek a monetary amount as compensation for the pain and suffering resulting from the injury. Victims of subway or railroad accidents may also pursue compensation if the accident was caused by a defective product. In addition, relatives of people killed in subway or train accidents may bring wrongful death suits against the people or companies responsible. If you have been injured in a train or subway-related accident, you should seek medical treatment and contact Zwirn & Saulino, P.C. right away. An experienced and efficient attorney can help you in countless ways—from collecting all the necessary evidence, to assigning appropriate monetary values to damages that are sometimes hard to quantify, to negotiating on your behalf, and, if necessary, advocating in court.

Traumatic brain injuries can result from a slip and fall, a car crash, a medical procedure that goes wrong, or a variety of other occurrences. A person who suffers such an injury will find his or her life inevitably changed. Aside from the immediate pain and suffering and the costs related to emergency responses, traumatic brain injuries often lead to life-long limitations and expenses. The costs of diagnosis and treatment of traumatic brain injuries are extremely high. Diagnosis usually requires expensive tests such as MRIs and CT scans. Treatment may include surgery, as well as lengthy rehabilitation services. Severe injuries may leave victims unable to earn a living, or dependent on others and requiring help for even the most basic daily activities. If you or someone you love is dealing with the aftermath of a traumatic brain injury, you are already well aware of those consequences. You may not be sure, however, whether you are entitled to any financial compensation that would ease your situation. The best way to determine this is to discuss your case with an effective and dedicated personal injury attorney. If a person’s traumatic brain injury was caused by someone else’s negligence, or resulted from the use of a defective product, the injured person may be able to recover compensation for pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning power, and more. The goal of personal injury law is to make the injured party as “whole” again as possible; while no amount of money can restore lost abilities or memories, or inhibit pain, financial compensation can pay for medicines, treatment, and services such as long-term care. Legal claims related to traumatic brain injury can be complex. Expert evaluations and testimony will often be required to prove the presence and extent of the injury, as well as to place a dollar amount on losses that may be hard to quantify, such as loss of enjoyment and loss of earning power. Expert testimony may also be necessary to prove causation—in other words, that the negligence of the defendant or the defect of a particular product was the cause of the injury at issue.

Property owners, or other parties responsible for maintaining a property, are required by law to keep that property in a reasonably safe condition. If you have been injured by tripping and falling because of a buckled floor mat, a cracked sidewalk, a staircase without a handrail, or other similar conditions on someone else’s property, you may be able to get financial compensation for the harm you suffered as a result. The owners or other entities responsible for the property would be considered liable (i.e. legally responsible) if they created the condition that caused you to trip and fall, if they received prior complaints about the condition but failed to fix it, or if the condition was simply noticeable and present long enough that it should have been discovered and remedied. Startled by their fall and their injury, people sometimes have a hard time pinpointing what caused them to trip. In trip-and-fall cases, the evidence gathered right away about the conditions of the location, as well as anything that the injured person says to insurance adjusters or attorneys, may determine whether or not the victim gets any compensation for his or her injuries. If you tripped, fell, and were injured on someone else’s property, you should discuss your situation as soon as possible with an experienced New York personal injury attorney. While you pursue the medical treatment required for a full physical recovery, your attorney would investigate the circumstances of your case may be able to help you seek compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, wages lost as a result of the accident, and other types of harm you may have suffered.

If you have been injured in an accident and you are looking to obtain compensation for your injuries, do not hesitate to work with a dedicated New York personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Understanding the regulations that govern truckers and trucking companies is important if you are looking to take legal action against them after an accident has caused damage or injury. An injury attorney can investigate the conditions of the accident and determine its potential causes. If it can be proven that the collision resulted from a trucker's reckless driving behaviors, or a trucking company's failure to adhere to the federal standards expected of it, a strong legal case can be developed. If you are among the many who are looking for an attorney for your truck accident case in New York City, NY, then you can rely on the skillful legal experience and acute personal attention that can be delivered to you at Law Office of Zwirn & Saulino, P.C. Tired truck drivers, negligent employers, reckless decisions, and defective products can all factor into the cause of a truck accident. Whether you have been injured in an underride accident a jackknife accident or any other truck accident, under the legal guidance of a professional from Zwirn & Saulino, P.C. you can determine how your accident was caused, and what can be done about it. Our skillful team of lawyers can aggressively pursue investigations and case-building tactics in order to ensure that an effective case is built on your behalf. Together, we will work tirelessly to make sure that you are given the opportunity for financial compensation that you deserve as the innocent victim of a truck accident.

Losing a loved one is the hardest thing a person may go through in the course of their entire life. While all deaths are arguably untimely, when a sudden, senseless accident becomes the cause of such a great loss, the pain of dealing with the absence of your loved one from your life becomes substantially more difficult to process. On top of the incalculable grief you must bear as a family member, you may find yourself left with medical and funeral bills associated with the tragedy. Our firm wants to allow you to properly mourn the loss of your loved one without having to worry about finances and we can help you do this through wrongful death claim against the negligent party that caused the fatal accident. Filing a claim of wrongful death can be particularly challenging in the state of New York because of our unique laws governing the matter. That is why you should seek the counsel of an experienced personal injury attorney in New York City when evaluating your options and trying to decide the right course of action. Our firm is dedicated to seeing our clients through the most difficult legal situations and will remain a steadfast source of legal service until the very end of the process. If you need assistance in a wrongful death claim, contact Law Office of Zwirn & Saulino, PC, P.C. today and discuss your situation with a member of our legal team.