Patchogue Car Accident Lawyer

Patchogue has become a destination for many seeking great food and entertainment. With the influx of people comes more cars, congested roads and overflowing parking lots. This is especially true on weekend nights. Often there are cars fighting for on street parking or parking spots in one of Patchogue’s public parking lots. As a result of all this traffic, Patchogue has its fair share of car accidents.

The ramifications from these car accidents can range from mild inconvenience to life changing injuries. A car accident may take away your ability to work and support your family. You may find yourself strapped with medical bills. Your ability to take care of your children may be adversely affected, as well. If you have been involved in a serious car accident in Patchogue, we are here to help. Palermo Law was founded in 1994 with the goal of providing car accident victims of Patchogue and beyond with skilled and aggressive legal representation to ensure that injury victims get the compensation they are entitled to.  We are located right in downtown Patchogue and are available for appointments at our office or we can even come to you.

Our Patchogue car crash attorneys have dedicated their careers to the art of car accident litigation. Being life-long residents of Long Island, we are all too familiar with the dangerous roads our residents navigate each day. As a result, we are uniquely positioned to advocate for our clients that have been injured in car accidents on the Roads of Patchogue and beyond. Feel free to call us for a free consultation.

When should you consult with a Patchogue car accident Lawyer?

If you have suffered any injury as a result of a car crash it is always a good idea to speak to one of our car accident lawyers. The fact is once you have received medical treatment from a car crash, you will have to complete complicated insurance forms in order to have your medical bills paid. To make matters worse, those insurance forms must be completed with the first thirty days of your car accident. If not done properly, you will be responsible for paying those bills as opposed to your insurance company. That’s why it’s always a good idea to speak to one of our lawyers as soon as possible. We always offer a free consultation and are available to meet you at one of our five convenient locations within Suffolk County, including Patchogue, Hauppauge, Riverhead, Huntington or Babylon. We can even come to you.

How Much is My car accident case worth?

The amount of money that you receive following a car accident is based upon several factors. First, the severity of your injuries is taken into account. Obviously, the more injured you are as a result of your car crash, the more compensation that you are entitled to. Another factor is the treatment necessary in order for you to recover. The more treatment and more involved that treatment is has an effect on your overall financial recovery.

Another factor in determining the amount of compensation that you are entitled to is the economic ramifications of your accident. For example, if you have missed time from work as a result of the accident, you are entitled to lost wages. If you have out of pocket expenses as a result of your car accident, you are entitled to get reimbursed for those expenses. Finally, If you have to make any modifications to your home, you are entitled to be reimbursed for that, as well.

The final factor in determining the value of your case is to investigate the available insurance limits of the at fault party. In New York State, there is a requirement that every automobile be insured for at least $25,000 of liability insurance. There is no maximum amount. Further, if you are injured by a driver that does not have enough insurance, you may be entitled to recover from them personally. In certain instances, you may also be able to recover additional compensation for your injuries from your own automobile insurance policy. That’s why our Patchogue car accident lawyers do a thorough investigation to determine all possible insurance available to you as a result of your car accident.

To best determine the amount of compensation that you are entitled to its best to speak to one of our lawyers. With over 28 years of experience handling serious car accident cases, our law firm can get you the compensation you’re entitled to.

The Dangers of Driving in Patchogue

Patchogue has some of the most dangerous roads in all of Suffolk County. Poor lighting, high speed limits, congestion and pedestrian traffic lead to Patchogue seeing it’s fair share of car accidents. Among the most dangerous roads in Patchogue are the following:

• Route 112
• North Ocean Avenue
• Sunrise Highway
• Montauk Highway
• Sills Road
• North Dunton Avenue

If you regularly operate a vehicle in and around the Patchogue area it is important to always be vigilant. For more information on accident data in Suffolk County please visit the NHTSA’s website.

Common causes of car accidents:

1. Rear end accidents. Any time a vehicle strikes you from the rear it is usually entirely that party’s fault. There are some rare exceptions to this rule. For example, if you switch lanes immediately prior to the accident, you may be partially or entirely at fault for the accident.
2. Left hand turn accidents. Any time another vehicle makes a left turn in front of you without sufficient time and space to do so, causing an accident, it is their fault. A mitigating factor in left hand turn cases may be the speed of your vehicle. If you were driving at an unsafe speed, you may be found to be partially at fault for the accident.
3. Disregarding traffic control devices. This is another common cause of car accidents in Patchogue. All vehicles are required to stop for red lights and stop signs. Should a driver fail to do so, they will be considered at fault for the accident
4. Unsafe lane changes:  This type of accident occurs frequently on our highways when a vehicle operator fails to see another vehicle and inadvertently changes lanes and strikes the other vehicle. This is commonly referred to as a side swipe accident.
5. Drunk driving: Another common cause of accidents in Patchogue is drunk driving. Anytime a person has an accident as a result of consuming too much alcohol, the accident is obviously their fault. Patchogue is full of night spots and we see our fair share drunk driving car accidents.
6. Aggressive driving: This is another common problem we see that leads to car accidents. Congested roads and parking lots lead to frustrated drivers making dangerous moves. Should an aggressive driving maneuver lead to an accident, it will be entirely that driver’s fault with few exceptions.

Common Injuries from car accidents:

After handling so many car accident cases over the last several decades, we have become proficient in understanding the injuries our clients have suffered and the medical treatments necessary for them to undergo in order to recover. This knowledge has helped us in both settlement negotiations and at trials. Some of the more common injuries we deal with are as follows:

1. Back and neck injuries: Perhaps the most common injury we see are back and neck injuries. Injuries to your spine can range from minor to severe. Fractures, bulging discs, herniated disc and sprains are among the more common type of back and neck injuries. There are a wide range of treatments that a person can undergo following an injury to their back and neck including physical therapy, massage therapy, chiropractic adjustments and acupuncture. If conservative treatments fail, often an injured person will try pain management treatment. If that fails as a last resort surgery may be needed.
2. Knee and shoulder injuries: The force of a car crash often causes trauma to the joints of an accident victim. The steering wheel is usually the culprit when it comes to shoulder injuries. The brake pedal and dashboard of the vehicle can often cause injuries to your knees. The most common types of shoulder and knee injuries are cartilage, tendon and ligament tears. These are often treated conservatively with therapies such as physical therapy and massage therapy. But, if therapy does not resolve the issue, surgery is an option.
3. Concussion and Traumatic brain injuries: Among the more serious injuries suffered in car crashes are injuries to your brain such as a concussion and in the worst case scenario, a traumatic brain injury (TBI). A concussion can cause symptoms that range from mild to severe. Headaches, nausea, sleeplessness and dizziness are the most common side effects of a concussion. A concussion may last a few days, weeks or even months. A TBI can cause long lasting problems such as memory loss, depression and cognitive issues.  TBI’s can often be diagnosed through diagnostic tests such as a brain MRI. However, in situations where a brain MRI does not show an injury, it may be diagnosed through an evaluation with a neuropsychologist.
4. Post-traumatic stress disorder: Another common injury following a car accident is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This type of injury is often seen in conjunction with physical injuries and can be devastating making everyday life extremely difficult. PTSD can cause anxiety, sleep issues and depression. Usually, such issues last for several month. But, sometimes they last for months, years and even permanently.   

It is important that if you have been injured in a car accident that you seek attention immediately. Any delay cannot only be dangerous to your health, it can have a negative impact on your car accident case.

Five Essential Tips for Patchogue Car Accident Victims following an accident

1. Seek medical attention for any injuries, even minor injuries. Often injuries that result from a motor vehicle accident intensify in the hours and days following an accident. It’s best to be cautious.
2. Obtain a Police Accident Report. It is always a good idea to call the police to the scene of the accident. However, it is also possible to file a police report following the accident.
3. Contact your automobile insurance carrier to report the accident. Any medical bills will need to be paid by your no-fault insurance.
4. Do not give any statements to the other vehicle’s insurance company without first consulting with an attorney.
5. Contact a Patchogue car accident lawyer for a free consultation if you have any issues.

What is No-Fault Insurance?

Why choose Palermo Law for your car accident case?

Managing partner, Steven Palermo has been handling serious accident cases for over twenty years. Over that time, he has represented more than one thousand car accident victims and recovered millions of dollars for the injured. Some of his career successes include a 5.5 million dollar verdict, a 3.2 million dollar settlement and a 1.7 million dollar mediated settlement.  He has been recognized for his work by the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, as well as receiving a perfect 10 rating from AVVO. His law firm has been voted best law firm on Long Island two years running and he is a member of The Nation’s Top One Percent, a select legal organization dedicated to promoting the highest standard of legal excellence.

Steven personally oversees every case that our law firm takes on. He has a team of experienced attorneys and support staff that assist him in fully prepare every case for trial. This approach has yielded excellent results because when a law firm is ready for trial, they have the upper hand when it comes time to negotiate with the insurance carrier.

Service our Patchogue car accident lawyers perform:

• Complete a full investigation into the facts of your accident: This includes gathering all witness statements, police reports, photos, video and insurance information.
• Complete and file all the necessary insurance forms: We will file all the needed forms to ensure that your medical bills are paid and that you receive any lost wages that you are entitled to.
• Gather and evaluate all of your medical records. We will contact all of your doctors that are treating you for injuries related to your car accident and gather all relevant medical records. Once reviewed, we will use these records to help negotiate for a maximum financial recovery.
• File a claim with the responsible party’s insurance carrier. We will contact the responsible party’s insurance company and open of a claim. We will then communicate with the insurance company representative in order to present your case and work on negotiating a settlement.
• Litigate your case in court. If settlement isn’t possible through negotiation, we will litigate your case in court. We will complete all necessary discovery and prepare the case for trial. This often leads to the insurance carrier making a settlement offer.
• Negotiate a settlement on your behalf. Once the insurance company has made an offer to settle your case, we will use everything in our arsenal to negotiate the best settlement possible for you.
• Conduct a trial, if settlement is not possible. Finally, if a fair settlement cannot be reached we will conduct a trial on your behalf and fight to get you the compensation that you are entitled to and we have had some amazing results at trial.

Our Process