Rochester Personal Injury Lawyer
A personal injury occurs whenever one party’s negligence results in a physical injury and/or economic loss to another party. If you have been hurt by another party’s actions, you likely have grounds to pursue a personal injury claim. A Rochester personal injury lawyer can be an invaluable asset for your recovery efforts, so it’s vital to consult an experienced attorney as quickly as possible after the injury.
Experienced Personal Injury Counsel in Rochester, NY
The attorneys at Gattuso & Ciotoli, PLLC, have more than 60 years of combined experience representing injured clients in New York. You’re likely to have many difficult questions about your legal options in the aftermath of a serious injury that another party caused, and we can provide the answers and support you need in this difficult situation.
The New York State Department of Health reports that accidental injuries are among the top causes of death and hospitalization throughout New York for all age groups each year. An estimated 8,000 New York residents die from accidental injuries, and more than 155,000 individuals require hospitalization for injuries every year. While not all injuries result from negligence, when they do, victims have grounds for legal recourse against those responsible.
Our team can review the details of how your personal injury happened, identify those responsible, and explain the legal options you have in this difficult situation. Our team is capable of representing Rochester clients in a wide range of personal injury cases, including:
- Slip and fall accidents. These accidents may lead to premises liability claims against negligent property owners.
- Motor vehicle accidents, a leading cause of personal injuries throughout the state. We can help you navigate auto insurance issues and, if you are eligible to file a personal injury case, pursue maximum compensation from the driver who caused your accident.
- Defective product claims. If you were injured by a defective and/or unreasonably dangerous consumer product, the manufacturer may be liable for your damages under product liability laws.
- Medical malpractice. When a patient is injured by a medical professional’s negligence, it can form the basis for a medical malpractice suit. This is a complex type of personal injury case that requires following strict procedural rules.
- Catastrophic injury cases. A catastrophic personal injury is one that causes permanent harm, such as a severe burn, traumatic brain injury, amputation, or spinal injury. Plaintiffs in these cases require experienced legal counsel to ensure they recover maximum compensation for their economic and non-economic damages.
- Wrongful death cases. This type of personal injury case is filed on behalf of an injured victim who does not survive their personal injury. If your loved one died due to the negligence of another party, a Rochester personal injury lawyer can help you determine whether you have grounds to file a wrongful death suit.
Success with any personal injury case in Rochester requires proof that the defendant is directly responsible for causing the injury, showing the full scope of the resulting damages, and then proving that those damages solely resulted from the defendant’s actions.
Any personal injury case may appear straightforward at first and then evolve into a complex legal battle that the average person will not be able to navigate successfully on their own. If you believe you have grounds to file a personal injury case, reach out to Gattuso & Ciotoli, PLLC, at your first opportunity to learn how an experienced Rochester personal injury lawyer can help with your recovery.
FAQs
Q: How Do I Prove Liability for My Personal Injury in Rochester?
A: It’s possible to prove liability for your personal injury in Rochester using various forms of evidence. The evidence you will need will depend on the nature of the incident that caused your injury. A Rochester personal injury lawyer at Gattuso & Ciotoli, PLLC, can determine what evidence you will need to accurately identify the at-fault party and hold them accountable for your damages.
Q: What Happens if a Plaintiff Shares Fault With a Defendant?
A: If a plaintiff shares fault with a defendant, New York’s pure comparative fault statute comes into effect, and each liable party will have a fault percentage assigned to them. The plaintiff can still seek compensation for their damages with a personal injury case, but their case award will be reduced by their fault percentage. Consult an experienced attorney right away if you are worried that you bear partial liability for your personal injury.
Q: How Much Compensation Can I Claim for a Personal Injury?
A: The amount of compensation you can claim for a personal injury depends on the overall severity of the injuries you suffered, whether the defendant caused any permanent harm, and whether you have experienced legal counsel representing you. It’s possible for an injured plaintiff to claim compensation for economic damages such as property losses, medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering compensation for the physical injuries they sustained from the defendant.
Q: How Is Pain and Suffering Compensation Calculated in New York?
A: In New York, pain and suffering compensation can ultimately determined by a judge or jury at a trial. However, most cases reach a settlement without a trial. Generally, plaintiffs who have suffered catastrophic injuries receive more pain and suffering compensation than those expected to make full recoveries. Your attorney can help you maximize this aspect of your case award or settlement.
Q: What Are Attorneys’ Fees for a Rochester Personal Injury Lawyer?
A: Attorneys’ fees for a Rochester personal injury lawyer will be a percentage of your total case award if you choose Gattuso & Ciotoli, PLLC, to represent you. We accept personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning our firm only charges our client a fee if and when we win their case. Because the fee is a percentage of the client’s total recovery, there is never any risk of paying more for legal counsel than you win in compensation for your damages.
The attorneys at Gattuso & Ciotoli, PLLC, have extensive experience representing injured clients in a wide range of complex personal injury cases, and we are ready to put this experience to work in your particular case. You have limited time to pursue your recovery, so it’s important that you connect with legal counsel right away. Contact us today and schedule your free consultation with an experienced Rochester personal injury lawyer.