If you are hurt in an accident, the aftermath can devastate you and your family. You may be unable to work, and medical bills add up fast. The repercussions are especially frustrating if someone else was negligent or reckless, causing harm to you that could have been avoided.
As varied as personal injury claims are, they all arise when the actions of another person or business fail to uphold their duty of care. If somebody harmed you, we invite you to sit down with one of our Rochester personal injury lawyers to discuss your situation and learn how we may be of help. Reach out to us today at Richmond Vona, LLC for a free consultation.
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Types of Personal Injuries
Although vehicular accidents are the most common type of personal injury, many others fall under this umbrella. Personal injuries generally result from:
Medical malpractice
Slip and falls
Bicycle accidents
Defective products
Premises liability
Dog bites
Nursing home abuse
On-the-job accidents
Motorcycle crashes
Pedestrian accidents
These incidents can result in injuries that range from mild to catastrophic, and can even result in wrongful death. Proving the elements of negligence or recklessness takes a skilled litigator. If insurance companies are involved, a practiced negotiator is a critical asset. Our Rochester personal injury attorneys are both. We compile evidence in many forms to build a case for justice and compensation for those who were wrongly harmed.
New York’s Statute of Limitations
The Statute of Limitations is the filing deadline for lawsuits. Although personal injury claims generally must be filed within three years of the accident, according to the New York Civil Practice Law & Rules § 214, there are exceptions. These include plaintiffs who are minors or mentally impaired. In these cases, the injured party may be able to have the Statute of Limitations extended through tolling, in which the three-year time limit does not begin until they reach age 18 or regain competency.
Filing deadlines are crucial because failing to file a lawsuit or other documents, such as the Notice of Claim, within this timeline will preclude the plaintiff from ever being able to seek compensation for their losses. Our seasoned Rochester personal injury attorneys understand what must be filed and when, and are committed to seeking justice for our clients.
Damages Awarded in Personal Injury Cases
Juries award compensation, also referred to as damages, for economic and non-economic losses sustained because of an accident. These compensatory damages attempt to put a person back in the position they enjoyed before they were injured. Although some injuries, such as catastrophic and disfiguring ones, will never completely heal, the jury can assign a dollar value to them to ease the future burdens the plaintiff may face.
Economic damages reimburse the plaintiff for what has been paid, such as medical bills, property damage, and lost wages. Non-economic damages assign value to the plaintiff’s pain and suffering, disfigurement, emotional trauma, and loss of consortium. In rare cases, punitive damages may be awarded if the defendant acted wantonly, egregiously, or intentionally to harm the plaintiff. Our personal injury attorneys fight to get individuals who are hurt in Rochester accidents the compensation they deserve.
Enlist the Help of a Rochester Personal Injury Attorney
Personal injury claims often involve insurance companies represented by lawyers whose job is to pay an injured party the least amount they can get away with. When you consider who you want to represent you at the negotiating table, choose an advocate with experience and skill in settling disputes, and one who is not afraid to stand up for what you deserve.
A Rochester personal injury lawyer from Richmond Vona, LLC can stand in your corner and advocate on your behalf. Reach out today to learn more.
With over 25 years of combined personal injury experience, our co-founding attorneys, John E. Richmond and Keith R. Vona, have helped injury victims and their family members recover more than $150 million in financial relief.
John E. Richmond
Co-Founding Member
As one of New York’s top personal injury attorneys, John E. Richmond understands that clients come first. With over a decade of experience representing plaintiffs, he knows how to hold negligent corporations and big insurance companies liable.
In his nearly 15 years in practice, Keith has been consistently recognized for his client service and record of results. He has been selected for inclusion in the New York Super Lawyers® Rising Stars list four times (2013 to 2016), an honor reserved for the top up-and-coming attorneys.
