Staten Island Personal Injury Lawyers

If you have been hurt by someone else’s actions or failure to act, a personal injury claim may be an option for recovering the compensation you deserve.

Mark E. Seitelman Law Offices has been representing injured clients in Staten Island for over 30 years. Our combination of experience, knowledge, and tireless dedication to our clients makes us an ideal fit for injured accident victims in the borough.

Types of Cases We Handle

At Mark E. Seitelman Law Offices, we handle a wide variety of personal injury cases for our clients, including:

• Car accidents

• Motorcycle accidents

• Truck accidents

• Bicycle accidents

• Pedestrian accidents

• Rideshare accidents

• Construction accidents

• Workplace accidents

• Premises liability accidents

We offer free consultations, so there is no risk in speaking with one of our personal injury attorneys about your legal options after an accident.

How a Staten Island Personal Injury Lawyer Can Assist You

Navigating New York’s complex legal system is only one consideration when you are facing a personal injury claim. Most claims are settled before ever going to court, which means that negotiations and communication with insurance companies take up a significant portion of an accident victim’s time.

The insurance adjusters and claims representatives you speak to may seem like they’re on your side, but they are not. When you are seeking compensation from an insurance company for an accident, the company’s goal is to pay as little as possible. That does not align with what’s best for you. Our Staten Island personal injury lawyers will advocate for you and fight to ensure you receive a reasonable and fair settlement offer from the insurer. We will also file a lawsuit on your behalf if no settlement can be reached.

One of the biggest advantages to working with an attorney is having someone you can trust in your corner. The level of support that an experienced lawyer offers is invaluable, especially during a time when your energy and time should be focused on physical and emotional recovery.

When calculating what your personal injury case is worth, we will factor the following damages into our considerations:

• Existing medical bills

• Future medical treatment

• Lost wages

• Diminished earning capacity

• Property damage

• Medications and assistive devices

• Loss of enjoyment of life

• Pain and suffering

• Disability

• Disfigurement

• Emotional distress

Financial compensation is an important part of your overall recovery after an accident. Working with a qualified attorney improves your chances of a positive outcome and can help maximize the amount of damages you are awarded.

No results can be guaranteed, but having legal representation typically produces better outcomes than going through the process on your own.

What We Do When Handling Your Personal Injury Case

The first step is scheduling a free consultation with one of our personal injury attorneys to ensure you are eligible to file an accident claim. This consultation also allows you to decide if Mark E. Seitelman Law Offices is a good fit for you.

The Staten Island clients that we represent also benefit from our assistance with the following steps and tasks:

• Notifying opposing parties and insurance companies that you have retained legal representation

• Gather evidence that could be helpful to your claim, including police reports, video footage, photos, and witness statements

• Coordinate with expert witnesses to reconstruct the accident or provide relevant testimony about your injuries

• Calculate the value of your accident claim

• Negotiate with the insurance company or negligent party

• File a lawsuit if a settlement is not reached

• Issue discovery requests to the opposing party and respond to discovery requests sent to you

• Strategize and develop a legal approach

• Prepare for court and litigate your case

We handle myriad tasks and responsibilities for our injured clients to ensure their cases are handled with the utmost care. Our clients’ overall recovery and well-being are our top priority, which means we do everything we can to help them reach a positive outcome in their accident claims.

How to Afford a Staten Island Personal Injury Lawyer

We work on a contingency fee basis. This means that our clients pay no upfront legal fees. If you choose to work with us, you will owe us nothing unless we win your case or successfully secure a settlement for you.

Contingency fees allow everyone to access legal representation regardless of their financial situation, which is especially important after an accident. We understand how quickly medical bills and other expenses can pile up after an injury, and that should not prevent you from having a high-quality attorney represent you.

If we recover compensation for you in your personal injury case, our legal fees are deducted from your monetary award. Please note that legal fees and expenses are two different things, and clients are responsible for paying expenses even if the outcome of their case is unsuccessful.

We would be happy to speak with you if you have further questions about our contingency fee. Contact us to schedule a free consultation to discuss the details of your personal injury case.

Will My Personal Injury Case Go to Trial?

There is no way to predict with certainty how any case will proceed or what the outcome will be. However, it is likely that your personal injury case will not go to trial because the vast majority of cases are settled prior to that step.

Many personal injury victims find that the faster and simpler option of accepting a settlement offer is preferred to the time and stress involved in going to trial. Because no two cases are the same, our Staten Island personal injury attorneys can provide personalized guidance to help you decide what the best option is for you. Settlement versus litigation is a decision that is best discussed with your lawyer to ensure you receive the most accurate advice that is tailored to your needs.

Proving That Someone Caused Your Injuries

Negligence is a crucial element in any personal injury claim. Establishing that the other person or entity caused your accident by acting negligently is the key to a successful accident case.

There are four elements to the concept of negligence:

• Duty

• Breach of duty

• Causation

• Damages

The at-fault party must have had a duty to you. They must have breached that duty, and as a result of that breach, you suffered damages.

What If I Was Partially at Fault for My Accident?

New York uses a system called contributory negligence, which means that more than one person can be responsible for an accident. It also allows an injured party to recover compensation as long as they are not 100% at fault.

For example, if you were speeding when a drunk driver ran a red light and hit your vehicle, you may be found partially at fault. However, it is also likely that the majority of the fault will placed on the other driver for their negligence and role in the accident.

So, even if you contributed to your accident in some way, you can likely still recover financial compensation for your injuries.

Can I File a Lawsuit If the At-Fault Party Has Been Charged with a Crime?

Some personal injury accidents involve an at-fault party who committed a crime, such as drunk driving. You can still pursue damages for your injuries if the other person has been charged with a crime. In fact, in some cases, a criminal conviction can be helpful to establish fault in your accident claim.

Contact a Trust Staten Island Personal Injury Attorney

Mark E. Seitelman Law Offices has built a reputation for providing personalized, caring representation to injured clients in Staten Island. Contact us to schedule your free consultation.