White Plains personal injury lawyer

Personal injury takes many forms, but the bottom line is that you were seriously injured because of the actions or inaction of another entity. Whether you are now suffering and unable to work because of a motor vehicle accident, slip and fall, poorly designed product, or some other cause, you need a personal injury lawyer to protect your rights. At Douglas & London, our White Plains personal injury lawyers have the skill and resources to fight for maximum compensation.

What to do after an accident
Often, there is little a seriously injured person can do in the aftermath of an accident. If you are able to document the circumstances surrounding the incident, that is critical for your case. If possible, use a smartphone to photograph or video the scene, and obtain the names and contact information of any witnesses.

If personally documenting the scene is not possible, try to have a relative or friend visit the location as soon as possible and take relevant video and photos. When the case involves a slip and fall injury on ice or snow, certain evidence can literally melt away within a short time, so it is essential to report your accident to authorities and ensure a police report is made.

Always seek medical attention after an injury, even if you do not think you were badly hurt. Some symptoms may not appear for 24 hours or more, and the at-fault party’s insurance company might try to claim that when you did finally seek medical treatment, it was not due to an injury relating to their client.

There is another caveat concerning insurance companies. After your injury, you might hear from the at-fault party’s insurance representative, who wants to negotiate a settlement. Never agree to a settlement amount before speaking with legal counsel. Once a settlement amount is agreed to, it cannot reopen, and you could find yourself with compensation that cannot pay for your ongoing care.

It is the insurance representative’s job to pay as little as possible, while it is the job of your personal injury attorney to ensure you receive a fair settlement.

New York statute of limitations
The statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit varies by state, and in New York it is three years from the date of the incident. However, if the personal injury lawsuit involves any type of government entity, the statute of limitations is just six months from the date of the incident. For example, if someone experiences a bad slip and fall on a Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) bus or subway, they must take legal action within that six-month deadline, or the matter cannot move forward in court.

Contact White Plains personal injury lawyers

If you or someone you love were seriously injured in White Plains because of the recklessness or negligence of another party, Douglas & London is poised to help. Call us 24/7, or contact us online to arrange a free case evaluation. There is no fee unless we win.