Greenburgh, NY Personal Injury Lawyers
Compassionate legal advocates for accident victims in Greenburgh, NY
Greenburgh is home to suburban neighborhoods, busy shopping areas, and major roadways connecting New York City with upstate communities. Unfortunately, personal injury accidents can happen anywhere here. It could be a slip and fall at a Central Avenue grocery store or a car crash on the Sprain Brook Parkway. In the blink of an eye, you or a loved one could be facing serious injuries, mounting medical bills, and an uncertain future.
The Greenburgh personal injury attorneys at Giampa Law understand the pain, stress, and confusion that follow a sudden accident. We can guide you through the legal process with compassion and determination, so you can focus on healing. If you or a loved one were injured in a Greenburgh accident, contact us for a free consultation. There’s no obligation, and no fee unless we win your case.
FAQs About Greenburgh Personal Injury Claims
- What types of personal injury cases does Giampa Law handle in Greenburgh?
- What should I do after a personal injury accident in Greenburgh?
- What are common causes of accidents and injuries?
- What are common personal injuries in these cases?
- What is the average personal injury settlement in New York?
- What types of evidence can strengthen my personal injury case?
- How do I prove fault in a Greenburgh personal injury claim under NY law?
- What challenges will I face with insurance companies?
- How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in New York?
- What types of damages can I recover in a Greenburgh personal injury case?
What types of personal injury cases does Giampa Law handle in Greenburgh?
Our Greenburgh personal injury attorneys handle several types of personal injury cases, including:
- Motor vehicle accidents: Car crashes, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, Uber/Lyft and taxi accidents, and other traffic collisions. We assist drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and cyclists injured on Greenburgh’s roads.
- Premises liability: Slip and fall injuries, trip hazards, unsafe property conditions, negligent security incidents, and dog bites. For example, if you fell due to a wet floor in a Hartsdale store or were bitten by a dog in a Greenburgh neighborhood park, we can help.
- Construction and workplace accidents: Injuries on construction sites or industrial workplaces, including falls from heights, machinery accidents, or other job-related injuries (sometimes leading to third-party personal injury claims beyond workers’ compensation).
- Product liability: Injuries caused by defective or dangerous products, from faulty auto parts to unsafe consumer products.
- Wrongful death: Fatal accidents caused by negligence. We support families who lost a loved one in any type of accident, pursuing a wrongful death claim for their loss.
If your injury happened because someone else failed to take proper care, you may have a valid personal injury case. While you focus on your recovery, Giampa Law can investigate what happened and gather evidence to build a strong claim that insurance companies can’t ignore. We’ve helped clients in Greenburgh and across Westchester get justice after all kinds of accidents, and we’re ready to help you too.
What should I do after a personal injury accident in Greenburgh?
- The moments after a personal injury accident can be overwhelming. It’s important to take certain steps to protect your health and your legal rights. Here’s what to do after any accident that causes your injury:
- Check yourself and others for injuries. If you’re in a dangerous area, move to a safe location if possible. Never move someone who is unconscious or has a possible neck or back injury unless there’s an immediate hazard.
- Call 911 for medical help and police right away. Adrenaline can mask serious injuries, so let a doctor examine you. Having an official accident report can also document what happened.
- If you can, gather evidence. In an auto accident, take photos of the vehicles, the scene, skid marks, traffic signals, and any visible injuries. For a fall or other accident, photograph the hazard (such as broken stairs or a spill) that caused your injury. If there are witnesses, get their names and contact information.
- For motor vehicle accidents, obtain the other driver’s name, contact, insurance details, and license plate. If you were hurt on someone’s property, get the property owner or manager’s details.
- Stay calm and avoid apologizing or admitting fault. Stick to the facts when talking to police or others. Anything you say can be misused later by insurance companies.
- Attend all follow-up appointments and follow medical advice. Save all documents – such as medical reports, hospital bills, prescription receipts, and repair estimates.
- Before giving any statements to an insurance adjuster, talk to a Greenburgh personal injury lawyer. Insurance companies may pressure you to settle quickly or provide a recorded statement that could hurt your case. Having an attorney handle all communication can prevent costly mistakes.
What are common causes of accidents and injuries?
- Personal injury accidents in Greenburgh usually trace back to some form of negligence or unsafe behavior. Here are a few of the most common causes we see in personal injury cases:
- Driver negligence: Car and truck accidents often happen because a driver was speeding, texting, intoxicated, or failed to obey traffic laws.
- Unsafe property conditions: Many injuries occur because property owners don’t maintain safe premises. Slip and falls can result from causes like wet floors with no warning signs, icy or broken sidewalks, poor lighting in stairwells, or cluttered store aisles.
- Lack of security: In some cases, assaults or injuries happen in places that should have better security (such as an apartment complex with broken locks or a parking garage with no lighting or cameras).
- Defective products: Injuries can also be caused by faulty products, from car parts that fail (leading to crashes) to unsafe appliances, tools, or children’s products that cause harm.
- Workplace negligence: Construction sites are a common scene of accidents due to someone’s failure to follow safety protocols. For instance, a contractor might not secure a ladder or provide harnesses, resulting in a fall injury.
Most accidents happen because someone wasn’t as careful as they should have been. Giampa Law can investigate exactly how your injury occurred and gather the proof to hold negligent parties accountable.
What are common personal injuries in these cases?
- In our experience, many accident victims suffer a few types of serious injuries again and again. Some of the most common injuries that lead to personal injury claims in Greenburgh include:
- Head and brain injuries: Concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBI) can result from blows to the head, common in car crashes, falls, and pedestrian accidents. These injuries range from mild concussions to life-altering brain damage.
- Neck and back injuries: Whiplash (soft tissue strain in the neck) often occurs in rear-end collisions. More severe back injuries include herniated discs, spinal cord damage, or fractured vertebrae. Even a “minor” back sprain can cause chronic pain.
- Broken bones and orthopedic injuries: Fractures of the arms, legs, ribs, hips, or pelvis are frequent in high-impact accidents. For example, pedestrians struck by vehicles and cyclists hit by cars often sustain broken bones. Serious fractures may require surgery with pins, plates, or lengthy rehabilitation.
- Shoulder and knee injuries: These joint injuries can happen if you brace yourself in a fall or during a car crash. Torn ligaments (such as ACL tears in knees or rotator cuff tears in shoulders) often need surgical repair. They can also cause long-term limitations in mobility.
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis: In the most devastating cases, trauma to the spine can cause partial or total paralysis. Even without paralysis, spinal injuries might lead to nerve damage, loss of sensation, or chronic back pain requiring ongoing care.
- Internal injuries: Car accidents and falls can cause internal organ injuries or internal bleeding. For example, a seatbelt in a high-speed crash might save your life but still cause internal trauma. These injuries are dangerous because they aren’t visible and can be life-threatening without immediate treatment.
- Scarring and disfigurement: Severe lacerations, burns, or facial injuries can leave lasting scars or disfigurement. Beyond the physical pain, these injuries can also take an emotional toll on one’s self-esteem and mental health.
What is the average personal injury settlement in New York?
You may wonder what your personal injury case is worth, but the answer truly depends on the severity of your injuries, the clarity of who was at fault, and the insurance policy limits involved, among other factors. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all number. Giampa Law can discuss averages and typical ranges to give a sense of the landscape.
For many personal injury claims in New York, settlements can range anywhere from the tens of thousands of dollars to hundreds of thousands (and even more for very severe cases). Minor injury cases (such as relatively small fractures or whiplash with full recovery) might resolve under $50,000. More serious injuries (including multiple fractures and injuries requiring surgery and long-term treatment) often result in six-figure settlements or verdicts.
Be cautious of anyone who promises you an “average” number without evaluating your specific case. Our Greenburgh personal injury attorneys can estimate your claim’s potential value once we know the details. We fight to maximize that value because victims of negligence deserve full compensation for what they’ve been through.
What types of evidence can strengthen my personal injury case?
- Strong evidence not only proves how the accident occurred and who was at fault, but also demonstrates the extent of your injuries and losses. Key types of evidence in a Greenburgh personal injury claim include:
- Accident reports: Police or incident reports provide key facts, including parties involved, conditions, and possible violations. They offer an official record of the event.
- Photographs and video: Photos and video of the scene, damage, or injuries can strongly support your case. We secure any footage before it’s lost.
- Witness statements: Independent witnesses offer unbiased views. We gather their statements early while memories are fresh.
- Physical evidence: Vehicles, products, helmets, or shoes can show how an accident happened. We preserve and analyze them as needed.
- Medical records and bills: Your medical files prove the extent of your injuries, treatment, and costs through detailed documentation.
- Expert analysis: Experts help explain how the accident occurred and how your injuries relate to it, including future care needs.
- Documentation of damages: Lost wages, hired help, and other expenses should be tracked with pay stubs, receipts, or logs to show financial impact.
By collecting and preserving all this evidence, we build a strong foundation for your claim. Insurance companies have teams working to reduce your case value. Giampa Law knows where to find the evidence and how to use it effectively to negotiate a fair settlement or present a powerful case in court, if needed.
How do I prove fault in a Greenburgh personal injury claim under NY law?
Proving fault is at the heart of any personal injury case. In New York, most personal injury claims are based on negligence, which means showing that someone failed to use reasonable care and caused your injury. To establish negligence in your Greenburgh case, we generally need to demonstrate four key elements:
- Duty of care: We show the defendant had a legal responsibility to act with reasonable care toward you.
- Breach of duty (negligence): We prove they failed to meet that responsibility by acting unsafely or neglecting a known risk.
- Causation: We connect the defendant’s negligence directly to your injury with strong supporting evidence.
- Damages: We demonstrate that you suffered real physical, emotional, and financial harm because of the accident.
New York law follows a pure comparative negligence rule, which means more than one party can share fault. Even if you were partly responsible for the accident, you can still recover compensation. Insurance companies often try to exploit this by blaming the victim. For example, in a pedestrian accident, the driver’s insurance company might claim the pedestrian was jaywalking or not paying attention, to reduce their compensation. Our Greenburgh personal injury lawyers anticipate these arguments and work to refute them with evidence.
What challenges will I face with insurance companies?
- Dealing with insurance companies is often the most frustrating part of a personal injury case for accident victims. Insurance adjusters may seem friendly on the phone, but they’re not truly on your side. Their job is to save the insurance company money, which usually means paying you less. Here are some common challenges and tactics you should be aware of:
- Quick settlement offers: Insurance companies often make early lowball offers to take advantage of your stress and uncertainty. Accepting too soon can waive your rights to future compensation if your injuries worsen, so always speak to a Greenburgh personal injury lawyer first.
- Recorded statements and tricky questions: Adjusters may request a recorded statement to twist your words against you later. You’re not required to give one, and it’s safer to let your lawyer handle all communication.
- Delaying or denying claims: Insurance companies may stall or deny your claim to pressure you into settling for less. Giampa Law can push back, manage delays, and file suit if necessary to get things moving.
- Disputing medical treatment: Insurance companies often challenge your care by claiming it’s excessive or unrelated to the accident. We fight back with documentation from your treating doctors and guide you through biased exams like IMEs.
- Underinsured or uninsured at-fault parties: If the at-fault driver lacks sufficient insurance, you may still have options like UM/UIM coverage or New York’s MVAIC fund. We explore every available policy to help ensure you’re fully compensated.
- Shifting blame: Insurance companies may try to blame you or downplay your injuries to reduce your compensation. We use solid evidence and expert testimony to defend your case and prove the truth.
Giampa Law has dealt with all the major insurance carriers and knows their tricks. When they see you have an experienced Greenburgh personal injury attorney representing you, they know they can’t easily take advantage. We handle the negotiations, protect you from bad-faith tactics, and if the insurer refuses to be reasonable, we are fully prepared to take your case to court.
How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in New York?
In New York, the general statute of limitations for personal injury cases is three years from the date of the injury. This means if you don’t file a lawsuit within three years, you’ll likely lose your right to pursue the claim in court forever.
If your injury was caused by a public entity (for example, you were hit by a town-owned vehicle, or you fell on public property due to the town’s negligence), the timeline is much shorter. New York law requires you to file a formal Notice of Claim within 90 days of the incident for claims against a city, county, or other local government. After filing the notice and waiting 30 days, you then must file the lawsuit within one year and 90 days from the accident.
If the accident tragically resulted in someone’s death and you are a family member pursuing a wrongful death claim, the statute of limitations is typically two years from the date of death (and note that only certain family members or a representative of the estate can file such claims). Also, a notice of claim is required within 90 days if the wrongful death involves a government entity.
Even though three years might sound like a long time, a lot needs to happen before filing a lawsuit. Evidence can disappear, witnesses become hard to find, and memories fade. Additionally, the insurance process happens well before any lawsuit; if you wait until the last minute, you might jeopardize your ability to negotiate a fair settlement.
Giampa Law can move quickly to preserve evidence and protect your rights. We ensure all deadlines are met and your case is set up for success.
What types of damages can I recover in a Greenburgh personal injury case?
When you file a personal injury claim in New York, you’re seeking compensation (“damages”) for the losses caused by your accident. These fall into two categories: economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages cover direct financial losses:
- Medical expenses: Examples include hospital bills, doctor visits, surgeries, rehab, prescriptions, and future treatment costs.
- Lost wages and income: Covers pay lost during recovery and reduced future earning ability if your injury affects long-term work.
- Out-of-pocket costs: Includes travel for medical care, property damage, help with daily tasks, and home modifications.
Non-economic damages compensate for personal and emotional harm:
- Pain and suffering: For physical pain now and in the future.
- Emotional distress: Covers anxiety, depression, or trauma resulting from the accident.
- Loss of enjoyment of life: For limitations on daily activities, hobbies, or personal independence.
- Loss of consortium: Compensation for how the injury affects your relationship with your spouse or family.
In wrongful death cases, additional damages may include funeral costs and lost financial support. New York places no cap on personal injury damages, and we fight to recover every dollar you’re owed to ease the burden and help you move forward.
Giampa Law is here for you – free consultation and no fee unless we win
If you were injured in a personal injury accident in Greenburgh or anywhere in Westchester County, Giampa Law can fight for the justice and compensation you deserve. It costs nothing to speak with us about your case. We’ll listen to your story, explain your options, and help you understand what your claim might be worth. There’s no upfront cost for our services, and we only get paid if we win for you. That’s our contingency fee promise.
With an office in Westchester County (Valhalla) and another in the Bronx, we proudly serve clients in Greenburgh, all of Westchester, and the New York City area. If you can’t come to us because of your injuries, we can arrange to come to your home or hospital. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation and take the first step toward rebuilding your life after an injury.