If you need to file a personal injury lawsuit on Long Island, you might be aware that it is a good idea to hire a lawyer. But why is this the case? Why can’t you just do this on your own? What kinds of services does a personal injury attorney on Long Island provide? If you are not aware of the benefits of working with a personal injury lawyer, it is all too easy to dismiss the importance of choosing the right attorney. This might leave you with a settlement that is too low to cover your damages, and it might even leave you with no compensation whatsoever.
But hiring the right personal injury lawyer in Long Island is about more than just money, and working with a qualified professional can provide you with a sense of confidence as you navigate the legal process. The best lawyers establish good working relationships with their clients, cultivating trust and reassurance. The Law Office of Frank A. Cetero are dedicated to working closely with each of their clients to work toward the best possible outcome. What exactly can a Long Island personal injury lawyer do for you?
Lawyers Can Help With Negotiations
Experienced personal injury attorneys in Long Island bring strong negotiation skills to the table, and this is one of the most important benefits of working with a lawyer. Without a lawyer at your side during negotiations, it can be all too easy to accept a settlement that is far too low. Most injury victims have no idea how much their case is truly worth until they consult with a qualified lawyer. If injured victims simply accept the first settlement offer, they almost always miss out on much higher sums.
In many situations, injured victims will need to negotiate directly with insurance companies for compensation. Insurance companies are not charities, and they are profit-driven organizations. As such, it is in their best interests to offer you the lowest possible settlement they think they can get away with. This means that the first offer is often a “lowball” offer that does not even begin to cover your damages. Accepting this offer without first getting advice from a lawyer is a common mistake.
Lawyers can use a range of negotiation strategies to help you fight for a suitable settlement. The truth is that over 90% of civil lawsuits are settled out of court, and everyone wants to avoid a trial if at all possible. These cases only go to trial if negotiations fail, which is almost always due to poor conflict resolution skills and stubbornness on the part of one or both parties. The best lawyers recognize that these negotiations should not be combative in nature but rather productive discussions that take everyone’s needs and requirements into account.
Our Process
We meticulously strategize every detail to ensure effective advocacy and solutions.
We seamlessly move into proactive execution, leveraging our strategy to advocate fiercely for your rights and interests.
We proceed with filing your case in court, where we advocate vigorously for your rights and pursue justice on your behalf.
Other Practice Area
Lawyers Help Gather Documents and Evidence
As an injured victim, you might not know what kind of documentation and evidence you need to support your injury lawsuit. What evidence is admissible in court? What exactly do you need to prove in the first place? How do you collect this evidence and use it effectively? These are all questions that a lawyer can answer. Your attorney can help you collect a wide range of evidence while instructing you to save certain documents for later use. This can be immensely helpful if you are preoccupied with ongoing medical treatment for your injuries. Serious injuries may put you out of commission for months as you get treatment, and a lawyer can collect evidence during this period of inaction. This evidence might include medical records, and lawyers can help you understand what type of medical documents may be useful. For example, you might need to request copies of medical images, such as X-rays or CT scans. Of course, lawyers need to determine who is at fault before collecting evidence. This is an important step as you pursue justice, and the negligent party might not be clear at first. For example, your car accident might have involved numerous vehicles, and you might not know who started this “chain-reaction” crash. A lawyer can examine police reports, review dashcam footage, and take a number of other steps to determine the at-fault party. There are many other situations in which the negligent party might not be immediately clear. For example, your accident might have been caused by an Uber or Lyft driver. Do you sue the rideshare company or the driver? The answer depends on the circumstances of the crash, and your lawyer can explore these matters further. In many cases, you may be able to name multiple defendants in your lawsuit.Representing You During a Trial
As previously noted, most civil lawsuits never go to trial. But there are some situations in which trials are unavoidable. For example, the defendant or the insurance company may refuse to offer you a suitable settlement. They might also refuse to offer you any money whatsoever – usually because they believe your case will be thrown out of court. If your lawyer believes that they can win in court, they may recommend that you pursue a trial.
Compared to negotiations behind closed doors, trials are subject to much stricter rules and processes. This includes a more formal discovery phase, which forces both parties to share as much information as possible with each other prior to the trial. Each side will have a chance to present their evidence and witnesses. The opposing side also has the opportunity to cross-examine witnesses. At the end of the trial, a jury decides how much money you should get. A skilled lawyer can convince a jury to provide you with a fair award. That being said, trials are always a little unpredictable. You might receive far more than you initially sought, or you might receive far less. This unpredictable nature is why a settlement is generally seen as a more reliable option.
Paperwork
Lawyers also fill out a wide range of paperwork on your behalf. While this might not be the most exciting service that they offer, it is incredibly helpful if you are stuck in the hospital or trying to recover from your injuries at home. Most injury claims involve a considerable amount of paperwork, including appeals, requests for information, filing evidence, and so on. If you try to fill out this paperwork by yourself, it is easy to make mistakes, and these mistakes could be costly.Lawyers Offer Helpful Payment Options
Another important benefit of working with a qualified lawyer is the ability to pay via a contingency fee. This means that you will not need to pay any legal costs upfront, and you can instead wait until after you win your settlement to settle your bill. This system ensures that injured victims always have the ability to take legal action – even if they have few financial resources. Furthermore, you only pay your legal fees if you win. If you do not win a settlement, you do not need to pay. This means that lawyers will readily offer their services if you have a good chance of winning your lawsuit, and they will simply take a percentage of your settlement after helping you achieve justice.What Happens if You Don’t Work With a Lawyer?
Now that we have covered all of the benefits of working with a qualified personal injury attorney in Long Island, it is time to figure out what happens if you don’t work with a lawyer. First of all, it is important to note that there is no law requiring you to hire a Long Island personal injury lawyer. Technically, it is possible to file a lawsuit on your own and go through the process without assistance. But in practice, this would be incredibly difficult for most people. The legal world is filled with confusing terminology and complex rules. Breaking one of these rules or making a mistake can cost you your entire settlement.Where Can I Find a Qualified, Experienced Personal Injury Attorney on Long Island?
If you have been searching for an experienced personal injury attorney in Long Island, look no further than the Law Office of Frank A. Cetero. The best way to learn about the benefits of a personal injury attorney is to book a consultation. During this initial meeting, you can discuss your situation with a prospective lawyer and receive general advice. You can also take this opportunity to learn more about the lawyer’s personality and general philosophy toward personal injury cases.
While you might not be a legal expert, you can trust your gut instinct and choose a lawyer who you feel confident about working with in the future. Remember, you may be working alongside this legal professional for months or even years as you pursue justice and compensation.
Perhaps most importantly, your lawyer can explain what they will bring to the table and how they will work to address your injuries. This provides a much more in-depth overview of their benefits than internet research. If you are ready to start pursuing real results, it s time to get off the internet and book your consultation today. Reach out now to get started with the Law Office of Frank A. Cetero.