It’s easy to underestimate the physical, emotional, and financial impact of a sudden accident until you experience one firsthand. The New York City personal injury lawyers at Charnas Law Firm understand the trauma that such an event can cause to victims and their loved ones. We are here to answer your questions, provide the legal advice you need to make informed decisions, and aggressively fight for the compensation you deserve.

 

Attorney Scott Charnas has an AV-Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has more than 25 years of experience in personal injury law. Licensed to practice in both Massachusetts and the state of New York, Scott has helped hundreds of people pursue justice and compensation after serious accidents. Call 212-980-6800 to schedule a free case evaluation.

 

Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle

 

We have the skills, knowledge, and experience to handle a wide array of tort claims including those involving:

 

 

Qualities That Set Us Apart from Other Personal Injury Law Firms in NYC

 

At Charnas Law Firm, we make it a point to stay readily accessible to clients throughout the proceedings, and we routinely obtain settlements and verdicts that exceed our clients’ expectations. Our lawyers have represented clients in highly complex cases against some of the largest insurance companies in the country and have won several multimillion-dollar settlements and verdicts.

 

Below are a few more factors that set us apart from other legal practices:

 

  • Honest predictions regarding potential outcomes of your claim;
  • A transparent fee structure with no surprises along the way;
  • Prompt responses to all phone calls and emails;
  • Access to a vast network of experts who can provide valuable testimony; and
  • Proven settlement negotiation and litigation strategies.

 

Importance of Contacting a Personal Injury Attorney Right Away

 

When injured parties choose to file a claim without hiring a lawyer, one of the most common errors they make is to overlook critical evidence. You’ll need compelling evidence of both liability and damages to avoid unnecessary disputes and build a strong case.

 

Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for certain types of evidence to be time-sensitive. That means if you put off your consultation with an attorney and the investigation is delayed, your case may be more difficult to win.

 

Whether you were hurt in a motor vehicle accident, dog attack, slip and fall, or another incident, turning to our law firm immediately will allow us to gather all relevant evidence while it’s still available. Our legal team can interview eyewitnesses, compile important documentation and, if necessary, consult with experts to ensure your claim is as strong as possible before entering settlement negotiations.

 

Gathering evidence isn’t the only benefit of seeking prompt legal counsel. There are all sorts of mistakes you can make that might jeopardize your case. For instance, a single post on a social networking website could motivate the insurance adjuster to dispute liability or the severity of your damages. And if you return to work or your active lifestyle against your doctor’s orders, this could constitute a failure to mitigate your damages. Attorney Scott Charnas can explain the steps you must take and the mistakes you should avoid to give your claim the best possible chance of success.

 

Finally, it’s important that you let an attorney handle all correspondence with the insurance company from day one. Insurance adjusters know every trick in the book when it comes to getting claimants to inadvertently admit fault or make other compromising statements. You might be entirely convinced that what you say could only strengthen your claim, but it’s always possible for your statements to be taken out of context. Attorney Scott Charnas knows how to handle insurance companies, and he’ll make sure you are treated fairly through every step of the claims process.

 

What Can I Do to Strengthen My Personal Injury Claim?

 

You’ve already taken the smartest step toward strengthening your claim, and that’s finding a well-credentialed personal injury lawyer to represent you. Other potential ways to improve your claim’s chances of success include:

 

  • Start a personal injury journal and write daily entries about how the injuries are affecting your wellbeing, any medication side effects, and other information that might be pertinent to your case;
  • Follow your doctor’s orders;
  • Track all costs associated with your injuries;
  • Direct any emails and phone calls from the insurance adjuster to your attorney; and
  • Avoid posting about the accident or your injuries on social media.

 

Staying off social media might be one of the most challenging suggestions listed above, but it’s also one of the most important. While these sites make it easy for you to keep friends and family updated on your condition, they also give insurance adjusters insight into your daily activities. It’s very common for adjusters to use photos, text posts, and videos from a claimant’s social media accounts—and even the accounts of close friends and family—to dispute liability or damages.

 

It’s best to deactivate your accounts until your claim is resolved. If that’s not possible, you should still refrain from discussing your injury, accident, or case online. Also, set your profiles to private, and ignore any new friend or connection requests.

 

We Prepare Every Case for Trial

 

Most personal injury claims are resolved before going to trial; however, even if it seems likely that your case will settle, our legal team will still prepare for court. This approach tells the opposing party that we’re serious about getting the compensation our clients deserve, and it can prevent unnecessary disputes. If the insurance company refuses to settle despite our best efforts, we aren’t afraid to take your case to court.

 

You may be wondering what the difference is between an attorney who prepares for trial and one who simply prepares for settlement negotiations. It comes down to the amount of time and effort devoted to the investigation and the strategies used during settlement negotiations.

 

We want the insurance company to know exactly what they’re going up against if they reject our settlement offer. Often, simply being willing to go to trial (and having a reputation as a skilled litigator) gives the opposing party more incentive to agree to a fair payout.

 

How Much Is My Personal Injury Claim Worth?

 

Every personal injury case is unique. Determining a fair settlement amount will require an extensive investigation and a comprehensive understanding of the types of injuries you sustained and their effects on your quality of life, your loved ones, and your ability to earn an income. There may also be miscellaneous costs to consider like domestic help, child care, and home and vehicle modifications.

 

If your case seems strong, the insurance adjuster may offer a low settlement before you’ve had a chance to speak with a lawyer. At Charnas Law Firm, we can review the facts of your case, identify the types of damages you should pursue, and calculate their value. The insurance company’s initial offer might not include non-economic damages and future damages, but we will help you seek the highest settlement possible.

 

Scott Charnas is well-versed in the tactics that insurance adjusters use to reduce the value of perfectly legitimate claims. He has built a reputation as an aggressive legal advocate, and insurance companies throughout NYC know that he won’t let his clients be manipulated into accepting an unfair payout.

 

Calculating a fair settlement will require a careful review of your medical documentation, financial records, and perhaps the input of experts. Scott Charnas has a track record of success handling claims of all sizes—from minor, temporary injuries to permanent disabilities and wrongful death.

 

Scott and his support staff always perform a thorough investigation before settlement negotiations commence. After listening to your story and assessing the facts of your case, we will determine the most strategic way to gather evidence and build the strongest claim possible.

 

Below are a few kinds of evidence we may use to prove the value of your damages:

 

  • Hospital bills;
  • Pharmacy receipts;
  • Income tax returns and paystubs;
  • Statistics regarding the lifetime cost of living with the injuries you sustained;
  • Statistics regarding the lifetime earning capacity of those in your field with positions similar to yours;
  • Contractor quotes for making any necessary home modifications to accommodate disabilities;
  • Mechanic quotes for making any necessary vehicle repairs or modifications;
  • Photographs of any visible wounds, disfigurement, or scarring;
  • Journal entries about your recovery and the difficulties of living with your injuries; and
  • Statements from loved ones about the ways in which your injuries have affected your life.

 

Call 212-980-6800 for a Free Consultation with an NYC Personal Injury Lawyer

 

If you were hurt or lost a member of your family due to someone else’s negligence in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, or Staten Island, contact Charnas Law Firm. Attorney Scott Charnas has successfully resolved hundreds of cases involving serious personal injuries and wrongful death. Call 212-980-6800 or fill out our Contact Form to schedule a free consultation at our law office.

 

 

Past Verdict Settlement Outcomes