In New York, including Long Island, you generally have three years from the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver. However, not every loss from a car accident is pursued through a lawsuit. The deadlines can also vary depending on what you’re claiming and who you’re claiming against.
Yes, you can sue a government entity for severe injuries sustained in a car accident on Long Island, but the rules are different from suing a private driver. Notably, the deadline is shorter, and the procedural requirements are strict and complex.
Making yourself safe after a car accident on Long Island is your first priority, and then you must carefully follow some straightforward but crucial steps to protect your legal interests and rights.
You still have legal options if the driver who caused your accident doesn’t have insurance. New York requires that all auto insurance policies include Supplementary Uninsured/Underinsured Motorists Coverage (SUM) by default. It exists primarily for these situations.
Yes, it is challenging to recover compensation in slip and fall cases, specifically because New York law requires that you prove the property owner knew, or should have known, about the hazard before you fell.
Yes, you can sue a Long Island gym or fitness center for an equipment-related injury even if you signed a liability waiver with your membership. New York’s General Obligations Law § 5-326 makes these agreements void and unenforceable if your injury was caused by their negligence.
Premises liability is a category of negligence law applying to injuries caused by unsafe property conditions, while general negligence is the broader legal category covering any situation where someone’s carelessness causes harm.
The timeline for a car accident settlement on Long Island or in New York City depends largely on how long it takes to reach maximum medical improvement (MMI), whether liability is disputed, and whether the case enters litigation. There is no fixed timeframe. Some cases can resolve within a matter of weeks or months, while others involving serious injuries or contested fault can take years.
A Defense Medical Examination (DME), often referred to as an Independent Medical Examination (IME), is a physical or mental exam that the defense can order when you file a personal injury lawsuit in New York.
New York Labor Law §240, also known as the “Scaffold Law”, makes property owners and general contractors strictly liable when a construction worker is injured in a fall or by a falling object due to inadequate safety equipment.