If you sustain a personal injury because another person was negligent in the state of New York, you are entitled to full reimbursement for your medical bills, lost wages, and more. But a personal injury matter often takes weeks – and sometimes takes months or longer – to resolve.

Your healthcare providers, however, may demand payment right away. If you’re seriously injured, and you can’t work, your other bills could start piling up rapidly. How can you meet your financial obligations while your personal injury case is pending? Can a Bronx car accident lawyer help?

Some personal injury victims decide to apply for and accept what’s called a “lawsuit loan.” This is a brief discussion of lawsuit loans, their pros and cons, and how they work.

WHAT’S THE FIRST THING TO KNOW ABOUT LAWSUIT LOANS?

If you choose this option, you need to be careful. The interest or “fee” for a lawsuit loan can be exceedingly high.

Lawsuit loans offer relief to the injured victims of negligence while a personal injury claim is being resolved. Speaking precisely, a lawsuit loan isn’t really a “loan.” It’s more like an advance against the compensation you expect to receive in an out-of-court settlement or a jury award.

In fact, lawsuit loans are sometimes advertised as “pre-settlement funding” or as “lawsuit cash advances.”

HOW LONG CAN IT TAKE TO RESOLVE A PERSONAL INJURY CASE?

Personal injury matters often take months to resolve, and the most complicated cases can take a year or more. Your accident attorney may be engaged with an insurance company in complex negotiations.

If your case goes to trial, the discovery phase alone can take months before any trial actually commences. All this time, if you’re unable to work, your bills keep arriving. Your financial obligations aren’t put on hold because you’ve been injured.

Obtaining a lawsuit loan based on your personal injury case is not difficult. You can find the lenders easily online, and their advertising is on television and billboards everywhere.

WILL YOUR LAWYER BE INVOLVED WITH YOUR LAWSUIT LOAN?

To qualify for a lawsuit loan, your accident attorney’s cooperation will be needed. A lender will want to review the details of your case and may even need to speak with your lawyer.

But even discussing your case with a lender risks a violation of the attorney-client privilege, so many Bronx personal injury attorneys strictly advise against lawsuit loans.

Attorneys are firmly committed to a client’s confidentiality, and handing over files or discussing details of the case with an outside third party is something that attorneys strongly resist. A lawyer’s duty is to protect the client.

If your attorney cooperates, he or she must agree to ensure that the lender gets paid before you receive what’s left of your settlement or jury award, and you’ll both have to sign that agreement.

But even if your lawyer has your consent to speak with a lender, and even if your lawyer agrees to cooperate, a lawsuit loan still may not be the best idea – or even your best option. Keep reading for an explanation of how lawsuit loans work – and for a look at your other options.

HOW DO LAWSUIT LOANS WORK?

When you obtain a lawsuit loan, your personal injury compensation functions as the collateral. There is usually no credit check, and you probably won’t even have to be employed. As long as your personal injury settlement or verdict is enough to pay off the loan, it will probably be approved.

You can apply for a lawsuit loan online. After reviewing the details of your case and speaking with your accident attorney, if the lender believes that your personal injury claim will prevail, you’ll receive the loan almost immediately.

The typical lawsuit loan is for ten percent of what the lender thinks you will receive in a settlement or verdict. If the lender thinks you’ll get $50,000, the lender will probably offer to loan you $5,000.

If your claim does not prevail and a jury awards you nothing, you’ll owe the lender nothing for the lawsuit loan. This happens rarely, but it’s the risk the lender takes, and it’s the ostensible reason why the interest rate or “fee” for a lawsuit loan is so excessive.

HOW HIGH IS A LAWSUIT LOAN’S “FEE” OR INTEREST RATE?

Lawsuit loan lenders are not regulated by state or federal law, so they’re allowed to charge genuinely exorbitant rates – in some cases as much as fifty percent annually.

While a lawsuit loan may give you more time to negotiate for a better settlement, the increasing amount that you’ll owe might, on the other hand, pressure you into settling your claim too soon.

WHAT ARE YOUR OTHER OPTIONS FOR QUICK CASH?

If you are injured by someone else’s negligence in the New York City area, and you seek compensation with a personal injury claim, consider these other options for immediate cash before you agree to a lawsuit loan:

1. Can any of the insurance policies pertinent to the case offer quick cash?
2. Do you qualify for any state or federal disability benefits?
3. What about a personal loan – at a better rate – from your bank or credit union?
4. Could you borrow from a friend or family member?

When your case is finally resolved, you’ll pay your lawyer’s fees and expenses. If you were seriously injured, you may have to pay medical liens. And if you took a lawsuit loan, that must be paid as well – before you see the first dollar of your compensation.

WHAT ELSE SHOULD YOU KNOW IF YOU SEEK A LAWSUIT LOAN?

1. Find a lender offering the lowest rate. Make sure that all rates, costs, and “administrative fees” are disclosed. If you do not fully understand the interest rate and how the interest is calculated, do not move forward with the loan.

2. Avoid loan brokers. These operations charge even higher fees. Deal directly with a personal injury lawsuit loan company.

3. Don’t sign any documents until your attorney has reviewed everything and advised you regarding the loan.

4. Adhere to your lawyer’s advice. Your lawyer is advocating for you and protecting your interests – even if you don’t like the advice.

Lawsuit loans are risky. If the resolution of your case takes more than a year, you could end up paying back twice what you borrowed – or more. If you have any other option for cash while your personal injury claim is pending, take it.

WILL YOU RISK ANYTHING IF YOU TAKE LEGAL ACTION?

But you won’t need to risk anything to pursue justice. An experienced Bronx personal injury attorney can offer you a first consultation at no charge if you’ve been injured by another person’s negligence.

At that consultation, your attorney will review your case and explain where you stand legally. If you decide to take legal action, you will not pay an attorney’s fee until you receive the compensation you need and deserve.

If you’re injured by negligence in any accident in the New York City area, obtain medical treatment at once – that’s the top priority. Then speak with an aggressive advocate who will fight for your rights – an experienced Bronx personal injury attorney. Your future could depend on it.

It is not difficult to get into a traffic accident in New York City. According to the NYPD, in one recent month alone – September 2018 – 18,986 traffic collisions were reported in New York City.

When the police investigate a crash, what goes into their written accident report? If you file an insurance claim, or if you have to take legal action to recover damages from a negligent driver, how much weight does the police accident report carry? Can it help you or hurt you? Can a Bronx car accident law firm help?

WHEN ARE THE POLICE NEEDED AT A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT SCENE?

Police officers in New York are usually dispatched to traffic accidents when fatalities or injuries are reported, traffic is blocked, or one or more parties involved in the collision are intoxicated, belligerent, or violent.

When you’re involved in an accident, call 911 to summon medical assistance and the police. Be as precise and as detailed as possible when you speak to the 911 dispatcher.

If there are any injuries or fatalities, the police will secure the accident scene and investigate what happened. They will take notes, ask questions, and gather evidence at the scene. Later, the officers will review that information and create an accident report.

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN A WRITTEN POLICE ACCIDENT REPORT?

Typically, a written police accident report will include these details:

1. the location, date, and time of the collision
2. the injuries sustained by the passengers and drivers
3. the year, make, model and color of each vehicle involved
4. the road and weather conditions when the accident happened
5. the damage to the vehicles

Factors that potentially contributed to the accident, such as broken turn signals or wipers, may also be noted. Officers may also take photographs and interview witnesses.

WHAT ELSE MAY HAPPEN AT AN ACCIDENT SCENE?

Police officers may conduct field sobriety tests if they reasonably believe that one or more drivers in the accident were driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and officers may make DUI arrests at accident scenes.

If other traffic violations contributed to the accident, tickets may be issued. The police will see that a vehicle is towed if it can’t be driven or if the driver is too injured or intoxicated to drive safely.

If a police officer gives you a card, that card may have a “service number” or accident number. Hold onto it. You may be asked for that number when you request a copy of the written accident report.

In some cases, the police will need some additional answers before they can complete a report, so you may be visited again, even if you’re in the hospital.

WHEN SHOULD YOU CONTACT A PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER?

If you’re injured in an accident in or near New York City, as soon as you’ve been examined or treated, reach out at once to an experienced car accident attorney for legal advice and representation.

Your case may never go to trial, but if you’ve been injured, it’s imperative to have a good personal injury lawyer handle your injury claim.

If your health is on the line, or if you’ve sustained a catastrophic or disabling injury, you’ll need the maximum available compensation. Bronx personal injury attorneys routinely handle these negotiations with insurance companies. A good injury lawyer knows what it takes to prevail on a client’s behalf.

A written police report will typically describe the at-fault driver’s behavior leading to the accident. A diagram of how the accident happened is usually included. The report may also indicate the officer’s opinion regarding fault and liability.

Accident reports are usually available after seven or ten days. Make certain that the police explain to you how to obtain a copy.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HAVING POLICE AT THE ACCIDENT SCENE?

Whenever you are in an accident that involves one or more other vehicles, summon the police to the scene. Don’t allow the other driver to talk you out of it. The other driver or one of that driver’s passengers could later claim to be injured – and try to blame it on you.

When you summon the police to an accident scene, they will:

1. gather the evidence to draft a written accident report
2. provide, if necessary, reliable eyewitness testimony regarding the accident scene
3. help you obtain contact and insurance information if the other driver is too injured, too intoxicated, or too hostile to be cooperative

You should also call the police if you’re in an accident because you’ve hit some kind of object or obstruction on the roadway. If the object was in the road because of another party’s negligence, you might have a claim and qualify for compensation.

If you are injured in a hit-and-run situation, call the police at once and try to write down everything that you can remember. Sometimes these drivers disappear, but they’re often apprehended – especially when their victims can get their license plate numbers.

HOW DO YOU OBTAIN AN ACCIDENT REPORT IN THE BRONX?

The paperwork that you need to make an insurance claim – or take legal action – is not comprehensive without the written accident report. Read it carefully to make sure that all of the details and facts are correct.

To obtain a written police accident report in New York City, the City’s website provides these instructions:

1. You can get reports of accidents that occurred in the last 30 days.

2. You may request a report in person or by mail. To make a request in person, go to the precinct where the accident occurred.

3. You should bring a valid form of picture identification, such as a driver’s license or passport.

4. New York State provides reports of accidents that happened more than 30 days ago.

WHAT IS A CLAIMS ADJUSTER’S ROLE?

If you submit a claim to the at-fault driver’s auto insurance company, a claims adjuster representing the company will begin investigating the accident separately from the police investigation, even if the police accident report clearly indicates which driver was at-fault.

In some cases, a claims adjuster may discover something missed by the police, but that’s rare. Usually, an adjuster’s findings will confirm and line up with what the police found.

Police accident reports are powerful evidence in personal injury cases. If you’ve been injured by a negligent driver, and the police agree that the driver was negligent, your claim can probably be settled quickly.

WHAT IF THE POLICE ACCIDENT REPORT POINTS AT YOU?

But what if the police find that the at-fault driver was you? Mistakes in an accident report can be corrected, but changing a police officer’s opinion is probably an impossible task.

However, a good personal injury lawyer may be able to persuade a claims adjuster to look more closely at key aspects of the accident rather than relying exclusively on the accident report.

If you are injured in any traffic accident in or near New York City, get the help you need, and get that help right away. Put your case in the hands of an experienced Bronx personal injury attorney from the very beginning. Having a good injury attorney handle your case is your legal right.

A serious workplace injury can disrupt your life, threaten your health, and eat away at your finances. Here in New York, what should you know if you are injured on the job? What are your immediate priorities?

1. Your first priority is critical. You must seek medical attention immediately from a qualified healthcare provider.

2. Your second priority is legal. After you have been examined by a healthcare provider, you must discuss your legal rights and options with a Bronx workplace injury attorney who has substantial personal injury and workers’ compensation experience.

WHAT DOES WORKERS’ COMPENSATION REQUIRE?

Under New York’s workers’ compensation regulations, most New York workers who are injured on the job will not be treated by a doctor of their own choice. Instead, those workers must be examined and treated by a healthcare provider chosen by the employer’s insurance company.

But what if you are an injured worker and you are dissatisfied with the diagnosis offered by that healthcare provider?

Will you be allowed to seek a second opinion from another healthcare provider? How will that affect your eligibility for workers comp?

When you are injured at your place of work, it is imperative to understand your rights and options so that you can obtain the best available medical treatment, the maximum available compensation, and return to work in good health as quickly as possible.

DOES WORKERS’ COMP LET YOU SEEK A SECOND DOCTOR’S OPINION?

But if you need a second doctor’s opinion regarding your injury and condition, how do you proceed under workers compensation? And how can you make sure that you – and not an insurance company – are the one choosing the doctor who is offering the second opinion?

After any job-related injury in or near New York City, discuss your rights, options, and the details of your case – immediately – with an experienced workplace injury attorney.

Under workers’ compensation, an injured worker must be seen by a doctor chosen by the employer and the workers’ comp insurance company, but if you’ve been injured at work, you have the right to see your own doctor – or another doctor that you trust – for a second opinion.

WHAT IS THE ADVANTAGE OF SEEING YOUR OWN DOCTOR?

Your own doctor knows you and knows your medical history. If the workers’ comp doctor insists that you can go back to work, but you do not feel that you’ve fully recovered, the doctor that you choose may be able to provide a statement on your behalf.

You have the right to see your own doctor, to obtain a second opinion, and to have that second opinion considered when you seek workers’ compensation benefits in New York.

However, you’ll need the guidance of a skilled workplace injury lawyer who can ensure that if you are injured on the job, you will be treated fairly by the insurance company and by your employer.

HOW CAN A WORKPLACE INJURY LAWYER HELP YOU?

A workplace injury lawyer can see to it that your doctor’s second opinion becomes a part of the record, and if your workers’ comp benefits are cut off before you’ve fully recovered, your attorney can appeal that decision and fight for the benefits you need.

In New York, if your workers’ comp claim is denied, your attorney can request an appeal before a Workers’ Compensation Law Judge. Testimony and evidence may be presented by both sides at the appeal hearing, and the judge’s decision is usually final.

If you appeal a denial of your workers’ compensation claim, you must be represented by a Bronx personal injury attorney who knows what it takes to prevail with one of these appeals.

If you need to contest a decision regarding your workers’ comp benefits, you must take action promptly.

You’ll face deadlines, and if you miss a deadline, you may be denied the benefits you need. Your attorney can ensure that you meet those deadlines and will provide the legal guidance you need.

WHAT IS AN INDEPENDENT MEDICAL EXAMINATION (IME)?

If you are seeking workers’ compensation benefits in New York, it is also imperative to understand the difference between a second opinion – from a doctor you choose – and what is called an “independent medical examination” or IME.

IMEs are not really independent. However, workers’ compensation insurance providers do have the right to request what is called an independent medical examination, purportedly to confirm the findings of the doctor who treated you for your workplace injury.

But in most cases, the real motive for requesting an IME is to look for evidence that can be used to deny, reduce, or terminate your workers’ comp benefits. In fact, the IME is one of the leading tools that insurance companies use to reduce their workers’ compensation costs.

HOW SHOULD YOU HANDLE AN IME?

If you’re asked to submit to an IME, take it seriously. Your workers’ compensation benefits could depend on it:

1. Remember that everything you say to the doctor will be noted.
2. Don’t provide any answers except to the specific questions that the doctor asks.
3. Be honest regarding your condition and limitations. Do not mislead or exaggerate.
4. Ask any questions you have. Make sure you get answers that satisfy your concerns.
5. Request copies of every form you sign or complete during the visit.

Beyond helping you to obtain the workers’ comp benefits that you are entitled to, a good workplace injury lawyer will also ensure that you get the medical services and care that you need.

ARE YOU CERTAIN THAT YOU’RE COVERED?

New York law requires nearly every New York employer to provide workers’ compensation insurance coverage for employees. Most employees are covered, but most volunteers and independent contractors are not.

If you’re not sure that workers’ compensation covers you, ask your employer. If the answer doesn’t satisfy you, a workers’ compensation lawyer can explain how the law applies in your own employment circumstances.

A reputable workplace injury attorney can explain your employment rights, review your injury claim, see that you have proper medical treatment, and advocate aggressively on your behalf if your benefits are denied, reduced, or terminated for any reason.

No one wants to be injured at work, but if it happens, you are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits and the best available medical care. Have an experienced attorney fight on your behalf. That is your right.

Let’s say that you are involved in a traffic accident in New York City, but the only damages to either vehicle are some minor dents and some scratches.

Still, if you do not have auto insurance, or if you are driving while intoxicated, you would probably rather not report the accident. Our team of New York car accident lawyers explain more:

WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY ABOUT REPORTING ACCIDENTS IN NEW YORK?

Every state has its own rules for reporting traffic crashes. What is the law in New York?

In this state, accidents that involve personal injuries are categorized differently from accidents that involve only property and vehicle damages. If anyone is injured in a New York traffic accident, the driver responsible for causing injury must call 911 and report the accident.

However, if you only damage someone else’s property with your vehicle – let’s say that you crash into a parked car or even a building – you are required by New York law to report that accident only if the owner of the damaged property is not present at the accident scene.

When an accident must be reported, the law in New York says that the driver must report the accident to the nearest police station or law enforcement officer “as soon as physically able.” That means immediately unless that driver is incapacitated by an injury.

DO YOU HAVE TO REPORT A CRASH TO YOUR AUTO INSURANCE COMPANY?

None of the fifty states require you to report a traffic accident to your automobile insurance company, but you’ll have to make that call nevertheless.

While policies may vary, most auto insurance policies require you to inform the company within twenty-four hours of a crash that you’ve been in a traffic collision.

The failure to inform your insurance company about an accident could result in the company choosing to deny coverage for the accident.

ARE NEW YORK DRIVERS REQUIRED TO FILE WRITTEN ACCIDENT REPORTS?

If you are a driver who is involved in a traffic accident in New York, and if anyone was killed or injured in the accident, you must submit a written report within ten days of the collision on an official New York State Department of Motor Vehicles motorist accident report form.

WHAT CAN HAPPEN IF YOU DON’T MAKE AN ACCIDENT REPORT?

A variety of penalties may apply to a driver who fails to report an accident:

1. A failure to report immediately a vehicle collision with property damage can be penalized, upon conviction, with as much as fifteen days in jail and/or a $250 fine.

2. A failure to report immediately a vehicle collision with a personal injury or injuries is considered a Class A misdemeanor that may be penalized upon conviction with as much as a year in jail and/or a fine ranging from $500 to $1,000.

3. However, a failure to report immediately a vehicle collision with a serious physical injury is considered a Class E felony that may be penalized upon conviction with as much as four years in prison and/or a fine ranging from $1,000 to $2,500.

4. And finally, a failure to submit a written accident report within ten days to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles is a misdemeanor which can be penalized with the revocation or temporary suspension of the driver’s vehicle registration or license.

WHAT IF YOU CANNOT SUBMIT A WRITTEN REPORT IN TEN DAYS?

If you have been injured so severely that you cannot file a written accident report within ten days, and if there was a passenger with you when the accident happened, the obligation to file that report becomes the passenger’s obligation.

If you cannot file the report within ten days, and if you were not the owner of the vehicle, the obligation to file that report becomes the owner’s obligation.

WHAT SHOULD YOU KNOW IF YOU’VE BEEN INJURED?

If you were injured in an accident because the other driver was negligent, you have the right to compensation under New York law, so you must speak as quickly as you can regarding your rights and options with an experienced personal injury attorney.

However, being legally entitled to compensation does not mean that compensation will simply be handed to you. You’ll have to prove that the other driver’s negligence is the reason that you’re injured.

HOW CAN A PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER HELP?

You will need an accident attorney who will listen to and address your concerns, who will fight aggressively for justice on your behalf, and who will hold the responsible parties accountable for their negligence and wrongdoing.

If you take legal action to obtain compensation, your lawyer will conduct an investigation of your accident and injury, compile and preserve evidence, and question the witnesses on your behalf.

If necessary, your personal injury lawyer will seek the assistance of accident reconstruction specialists and medical experts to help you prove your case.

If you can prove that a negligent driver is responsible for your personal injury or injuries, you can be compensated for all of your current and future accident-related medical expenses, for your lost wages and any lost earning capacity, and for your accident-related pain and suffering.

WHAT WILL IT COST TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR RIGHTS?

Moreover, it will not cost you anything to learn more about how the law applies to your individual case. Here in New York, a personal injury lawyer will provide you with a free first consultation and case review for no charge and with no obligation.

Personal injury cases are handled on a contingent fee basis, so you will pay no attorney’s fees unless and until your personal injury lawyer obtains a settlement or a verdict on your behalf.

When a crash happens, cover all of your bases. Report the accident immediately to the police and to your insurance company and within ten days to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles.

Speak immediately after the collision with an experienced Bronx personal injury attorney. Legal help is your right after you’ve been injured by negligence.

Get the legal help you need, and get that help immediately. If you’ve been injured by negligence anywhere in or near New York City, your future could depend on it.

Being able to drive a company vehicle gives you some real advantages, especially in New York City, but if you’re involved in an accident while you’re driving your employer’s vehicle, who pays for the damages and injuries? What can a car accident law firm do to help?

When someone driving a company car is involved in a collision, who pays for the damages will hinge – more or less – on whether the person operating the company vehicle was working at the time.

More precisely, who pays will depend on if that driver was operating within the “course and scope” of his or her job duties when the crash occurred.

WHAT IS VICARIOUS LIABILITY?

The legal concept of “vicarious liability” makes most employers liable for the negligence of most employees who were acting within the “course and scope” of their employment duties.

Vicarious liability transfers employee liability to the employer. Here’s an example:

Let’s say that a delivery person on his or her normal delivery route runs through a red light and into a bicyclist. Vicarious liability means that the employer will probably be held liable for the bicyclist’s injuries – because the driver was operating within his or her regular job duties.

WHEN IS VICARIOUS LIABILITY APPLICABLE?

In any specific traffic accident, whether vicarious liability is applied will depend on the answers to three questions:

1. Was the vehicle’s driver an independent contractor or an employee?
2. Did the incident occur “within the course and scope” of the employee’s duties?
3. Was the employee’s negligence intentional or unintentional?

Employers in New York are almost never held liable for the negligence of independent contractors. They may only be held liable for the negligence of their own employees.

If your injury is caused by an independent contractor who is driving a vehicle owned by a company that has hired that contractor, there is no vicarious liability and the company is not considered liable.

HOW ARE CONTRACTORS DISTINCT FROM EMPLOYEES?

Determining who is an employee or a contractor is seldom difficult, but when a driver injures you and that driver is an employee, determining the “scope and course” of that employee’s job duties can often be difficult.

Here’s what must be taken into account:

1. the driver’s job description
2. the location, time, and the nature of the negligence
3. how much freedom and discretion the employee has regarding job duties
4. the driver’s meaning or intention when the accident happened

Another important factor is the kind of auto insurance coverage carried by the employer.

Some employers carry collision insurance that covers employees; some don’t. If your employer asks you to operate a company vehicle, make sure that you understand exactly what the coverage is – before you get behind the wheel.

WHEN DOES VICARIOUS LIABILITY NOT APPLY?

You should also understand that even when a driver is “on the clock,” vicarious liability will not apply if the driver was not acting in the course and scope of his or her job duties.

Here’s an example: If a delivery driver takes the company car or delivery truck to lunch, drinks one too many, returns to the delivery route and subsequently causes an accident, the employer will have no liability, and vicarious liability will not apply.

Why? Because criminal behavior – driving while intoxicated – is not in the course and scope of a delivery driver’s duties.

Similarly, if a driver uses a company vehicle for personal reasons that are not work-related, whether on or off “the clock,” the company does not have any liability for an accident.

WILL YOU NEED AN ATTORNEY’S ADVICE?

If you sustain a personal injury or injuries while driving your employer’s vehicle, or if you’ve been injured by another motorist who was operating a company vehicle, you will require reimbursement for your related medical expenses and your days lost from work.

If you are injured in or near New York City, you’ll need to have the advice and representation of an experienced personal injury attorney.

If a careless driver injures you, and that if the driver was operating a company vehicle within the course and scope of his or her employment duties, you may be able to pursue a personal injury claim against the negligent driver and the driver’s employer as well.

If you’re injured seriously, you may need the maximum available compensation.

HOW WILL AN INJURY ATTORNEY HELP?

After any traffic accident with injuries, a variety of factors must be taken into account. Have the details of your case examined by a knowledgeable New York personal injury lawyer? There is no charge or fee for a first consultation and a review of your case.

Your personal injury lawyer will explain how the law applies to your own case and – if you have grounds for legal action and you choose to take that legal action – your attorney will protect your rights and fight for the justice and for the compensation you deserve.

If you were operating a company vehicle, and if you’ve been injured by a careless driver while you were functioning within the course and scope of your employment duties, you can probably pursue an injury claim against the motorist who caused your personal injury or injuries.

In any collision that involves an employer-owned vehicle, if the driver was working within the course and scope of the job duties, the employer has vicarious liability and cannot make the employee responsible for any of the damages.

WHAT ABOUT RECKLESS BEHAVIOR AND RECKLESS DRIVING?

If an employee causes an accident because that employee was acting recklessly or violating company rules, that employee may be terminated. Employers are almost never considered responsible for the intentional misbehavior of employees.

Nevertheless, after any collision that happens when you are driving a company-owned vehicle, you should speak to your supervisor or manager immediately to understand fully the company’s policy and position.

Report the crash and adhere to the company’s accident policies, procedures, and practices.

If your accident and injury happened in or near New York City, after contacting your employer and obtaining medical attention, discuss your rights and options immediately with a skilled Bronx personal injury attorney.

In the state of New York, the victims of negligence have the right to compensation – and the right to justice. If you injured by a negligent driver – in any accident scenario in this state – get the legal help you need at once. That is your right.