New York City Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Vehicular Accident Attorneys

Car, Truck, and Motorcycle Accident Representation Throughout New York State

Any accident involving a car, truck, motorcycle, or any other moving can cause significant injuries and radically disrupt your life. In addition to dealing with the physical pain of your injuries, you may be forced to miss work and incur exorbitant medical expenses. If the collision was not your fault, you may be able to collect the compensation needed to cover these losses from one or more liable parties.

At Bruce J. Gitlin, P.C., we are committed to representing members of the deaf and hard-of-hearing communities who have been injured in car, truck, and motorcycle crashes. Our New York City deaf and hard-of-hearing vehicular accident lawyers have over 40 years of experience and understand how to effectively litigate these matters on behalf of people with hearing loss in state and federal courts. We will fight to protect your interests in and out of the courtroom and work to secure the maximum available compensation.

If you were recently injured in any type of vehicular collision, do not wait to contact us online or call (646) 513-4556.Our firm offers services in American Sign Language (ASL), English, and Spanish.

What Does a Car Accident Lawyer Do?

A car accident lawyer provides legal representation and assistance to individuals who have been involved in car accidents. These lawyers help their clients navigate the complex legal process of personal injury law and seek compensation for their injuries and losses resulting from the accident. 

Here's how a car accident lawyer from our firm can help you:

• Case Evaluation: Lawyers evaluate the circumstances of the accident, the extent of injuries, and the liability of the parties involved. They determine whether there are grounds for a legal claim.
• Gathering Evidence: Car accident lawyers gather evidence to support their clients' claims. This may involve collecting accident reports, witness statements, photographs, medical records, and other relevant documentation.
• Establishing Liability: Lawyers work to establish the liability of the responsible parties, whether it's another driver, a manufacturer, a government entity, or other parties that contributed to the accident.
• Negotiating with Insurance Companies: Car accident lawyers communicate and negotiate with insurance companies on behalf of their clients. They seek fair compensation for medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.
• Determining Damages: Lawyers assess the full extent of their clients' damages, including economic losses (medical bills, property damage, etc.) and non-economic losses (pain, suffering, emotional distress, etc.).
• Calculating Compensation: Lawyers calculate the appropriate compensation amount based on the client's losses, future medical needs, long-term impacts of the injuries, and other factors.
• Litigation: If negotiations with insurance companies are unsuccessful, lawyers can file lawsuits on behalf of their clients. They represent clients in court, presenting evidence, cross-examining witnesses, and making legal arguments to support their clients' claims.
• Settlement Negotiations: Lawyers engage in settlement negotiations throughout the legal process. They advocate for their clients to ensure that they receive a fair settlement offer that adequately compensates them for their injuries and losses.
• Trial Representation: If the case goes to trial, car accident lawyers present their clients' cases to the court, argue for their clients' rights, and seek a favorable judgment.
• Expert Consultation: In complex cases, lawyers may consult with accident reconstruction experts, medical professionals, economists, and other experts to strengthen their case.

Overall, car accident lawyers help injured individuals seek justice, navigate the legal process, and recover fair compensation for their injuries and losses resulting from car accidents.

Who Is Liable for a Vehicular Accident in New York?

In many crashes, a negligent motorist will be responsible for the other drivers’, passengers’, and pedestrians’ losses.

A driver may be liable for injuries they caused if they were:

• Excessively speeding
• Running stop signs or stop lights
• Failing to yield
• Changing lanes without signaling
• Turning without signaling
• Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Driving recklessly in dangerous conditions

Your case may be more complicated if the accident involved a commercial truck. Though a truck driver can be found negligent for any of the behaviors that apply to other drivers, several other parties may be liable for your injuries. 

Depending on what happened, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against one or more of the following parties after a truck accident:

• The truck driver
• The truck driver’s employer
• The cargo company that loaded the truck prior to the accident
• The truck’s manufacturer
• The mechanic(s) who worked on the truck prior to the accident

If you are not sure who is liable in your case, turn to Bruce J. Gitlin, P.C. Our New York City deaf and hard-of-hearing vehicular accident attorneys will conduct an investigation and determine your legal options.

Protecting Your Rights After a Vehicular Accident in New York

As a person with hearing loss, you must take extra care when navigating the immediate aftermath of any kind of vehicular collision. Advocating for yourself can be more challenging when the other parties involved are not used to communicating with someone who is deaf or hard of hearing, but there are still certain steps you should take to protect your ability to recover compensation.

After a vehicular accident, you should:

• Check if everyone is okay and seek emergency medical assistance if necessary. Do not hesitate to summon an ambulance and go to a hospital if you or anyone else is critically injured. 
• Contact the police. Use text-to-9-1-1 and ask for a police officer to come to the accident scene. In New York, you must stay at the scene until police arrive if anyone was injured. 
• Convey that you are deaf or hard of hearing to everyone involved. The other driver and the responding law enforcement officer will likely not be initially aware that you are deaf or hard of hearing. Make sure they understand you have hearing loss and, if necessary, request an ASL interpreter to accompany the police to the scene to help facilitate communications. 
• Gather contact information and evidence. You must get the names, phone numbers, and addresses of everyone involved in the accident, including passengers, pedestrians, and any witnesses. Get the license and insurance information from each driver. Again, do your best to find an effective communication strategy, especially if an ASL interpreter has not yet arrived or is for some reason unavailable. Then, take photos and videos of your injuries, damage to your vehicle, and the crash scene.
• Seek a medical evaluation. If you did not initially go to the hospital, now is the time to see a doctor, even if you feel your injuries are relatively minor. Some serious injuries may not be immediately apparent and could take a professional evaluation to detect. Be sure to advocate for yourself in any medical setting and make it clear you were in a car, truck, or motorcycle accident. Carefully follow any treatment advice your doctor gives you and get a copy of their report.
• Avoid making unnecessary statements before and after the crash. Whether it is through an ASL interpreter or simple pen-and-paper communications, do not say more than you have to, as anything you say could be used against you in litigation. Avoid making any unnecessary statements or implying you share any fault for the accident. In the days after an accident, do not answer questions or give additional statements if the other driver, their insurance company, or their lawyer calls. Instead, contact our firm. Our team will get to work on your case and handle all communications on your behalf.

Recovering Damages in a Vehicular Accident Lawsuit in New York

If you wish to collect compensation for vehicular accident-related injuries and losses, you will typically have three years from the date of the crash to start the legal process in New York. Should a vehicular accident kill someone, qualifying loved ones will generally have two years from the date of their passing to file a wrongful death claim. Damages cannot be sought after these deadlines, so it is important to act fast.

Our New York City deaf and hard-of-hearing vehicular accident lawyers will work to secure relief for all damages, including:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Reduced earning capacity
• Property damage
• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of consortium

We understand how to effectively advocate for the deaf community when its members have been injured in car, motorcycle, or truck accidents. Contact us online or call (646) 513-4556 to discuss your case today.