If you’ve suffered serious injuries in a Smithtown, NY, car crash caused by a careless or reckless driver, our team is here for you. Our experienced lawyers know how to manage car accident cases and pursue the maximum compensation possible based on the facts of the case and New York laws.
A Smithtown personal injury attorney from Trantolo & Trantolo, LLC, will fight for justice on your behalf. We help our clients recover fair compensation and hold the at-fault driver accountable. Call us today for a free consultation with our team.
What Compensation Can a Smithtown Car Accident Attorney Recover for Me?
The compensation potentially available in your case will depend on the expenses and losses you experienced because of your accident injuries. Our car accident attorneys will identify, document, and value these recoverable damages, seeking a fair payout based on your estimated value range when possible.
Some of the most common recoverable damages after a serious injury car crash in Smithtown, NY, include:
- Present and future medical treatment, care, and support
- Related expenses
- Income losses, usually from time missed working
- Diminished earning ability if there are lasting impairments
- Pain and suffering damages
- Other non-economic losses
Property Damages in a Long Island Collision
It is possible to recover compensation for property damage after a Long Island crash. You can file a claim based on your collision policy with your own insurer and let them handle it or pursue a case based on liability to hold the at-fault driver responsible. Your attorney can explain how these cases work.
Wrongful Death in a Smithtown Crash Case
When car accident victims do not survive their injuries, their families can seek and recover compensation for many expenses and losses through wrongful death lawsuits.
EPTL § 5-4.1 outlines the laws for these cases. This includes giving families up to two years to sue and only allowing the estate executor to serve as a plaintiff in a wrongful death action. Our Smithtown lawyers are experienced in navigating these cases and fighting for justice. Let us assess your options based on your loved one’s death during a free consultation.
Choose Trantolo & Trantolo, LLC, Lawyers to Manage Your Smithtown Car Accident Case
At Trantolo & Trantolo, LLC, our personal injury lawyers have spent over 85 years fighting to recover compensation for our clients. We have the experience, resources, and reputation to handle your car accident case and fight for the money you need for your current and future injuries and damages.
We take on even the most complex and challenging cases, giving them the personalized attention and support necessary to help seriously injured clients navigate the legal process while remaining focused on their treatment, rehabilitation, and healing. We will not settle for less than our clients deserve and will take your case to court if necessary.
Recovering money for a Long Island traffic accident is not always easy. The laws are complex, and these cases can be difficult to navigate. However, we have a long history of recovering large payouts for our clients based on the details of their cases. Some recent settlements and verdicts won include:
- $7,900,000 settlement during trial for a client living with a permanent, severe brain injury after a police officer in pursuit of another vehicle broadsided his car
- $1,550,000 settlement for a vehicle passenger who has a traumatic brain injury and numerous other health concerns after a collision
- $1,500,000 settlement for a passenger seriously hurt when the drunk driver caused a single-vehicle accident
- $1,380,000 settlement for a client who is living with brain damage and other severe injuries after being broadsided by a police cruiser
- $1,300,000 mediated settlement for a client who required surgeries for severe injuries after their car was hit by a driver who was texting behind the wheel, as confirmed by his cell phone records
Our Smithtown car accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. You will not have to pay any fees or costs for us to work on your case. We only get paid when we win. You can learn more during a free consultation with our team. Contact us today to learn more.
Our Long Island Personal Injury Lawyers Understand the Causes of Smithtown Car Accidents
Long Island is one of the most dangerous parts of New York State for serious injury and fatal crashes. Our Smithtown collision lawyers investigate these accidents frequently and understand why and how they occur. In Suffolk County, some significant causes and contributing factors to car accidents include:
- Distracted driving
- Failure to yield to the right of way
- Following too closely
- Improper lane change
- Failure to obey red lights or stop signs
- Drunk or drugged driving
- Speeding or driving too fast for conditions
- Aggressive driving
While having the evidence to show a driver was distracted, drunk, drugged, or driving aggressively will provide additional support to our case, it is not always necessary to hold a motorist responsible for a Smithtown crash. Instead, we must show negligence occurred. The four elements of negligence include:
- Duty of Care: The driver had an obligation to behave a certain way.
- Breach of Duty: The driver failed to uphold their duty of care.
- Causation: The at-fault driver’s breach of duty caused the collision.
- Harm: The collision caused the victim to suffer physical, emotional, and financial harm.
Drivers owe others sharing the roads a duty of care to drive safely and prevent collisions when possible. This requires them to follow all applicable traffic laws. When they violate a traffic law, they breach their duty of care. These laws exist for a reason. Often, a violation could cause a crash. If the victim suffers serious injuries in a Long Island crash, they have a right to pursue compensation from the at-fault driver.
This is the basis of most car accident cases our attorneys handle. We gather evidence to show the at-fault driver acted negligently and hold them accountable based on that evidence.
Our Smithtown Crash Attorneys Build Compelling Cases Against At-Fault Drivers
To recover compensation in a car accident case, our lawyers must have strong evidence to support our allegations against the at-fault driver. In addition, we must document the severity of our client’s injuries and the damages they incurred. The evidence in these cases can vary widely, but we often take steps to secure evidence that include:
- Identifying and interviewing eyewitnesses
- Gathering all relevant documentation
- Requesting a copy of the police accident report
- Seeking and obtaining any available video of the crash
- Surveying the accident scene
- Analyzing relevant medical records
- Consulting with medical doctors and other experts
It is also important to understand that CVP § 214 generally gives us three years to file the paperwork to start a lawsuit. However, evidence is often time sensitive. We must identify, obtain, or preserve evidence as soon as possible to develop our case to support an insurance claim or lawsuit.
We encourage our clients to call us as soon as their injuries allow or to have a trusted loved one call on their behalf. This will enable us to begin our work on the case quickly. Only once we complete our investigation, analyze the available evidence, and organize our case can we proceed with a legal strategy to hold the at-fault driver accountable. This could include:
- Demanding fair compensation from the at-fault driver’s auto liability insurance provider
- Negotiating with the at-fault driver, their lawyer, or their insurer
- Preparing evidence for trial and litigating the crash case
- Discussing other options for resolving the dispute and recovering fair compensation
Our car accident attorneys have the skills and experience to negotiate an appropriate settlement in many cases. We engage with insurance carriers and present solid evidence to support our demand for fair compensation.
Sometimes, we need to file a personal injury lawsuit based on a Smithtown crash. This could still settle outside of court. However, preparing and filing the lawsuit is the first step in preparing the case for trial. This might be necessary if the facts are disputed, we cannot reach a fair settlement, or there are other reasons why a lawsuit is necessary.
Occasionally, we might utilize alternative dispute resolution methods to close these cases. This could include:
- Mediation, a method of negotiation guided by a trained, third-party professional
- Arbitration, a type of dispute resolution that results in a binding ruling by a third-party professional arbitrator
Discuss Your Smithtown Car Accident Injuries With Our Team Today
Trantolo & Trantolo, LLC, provides free consultations for victims hurt in Long Island collisions. Our team will assess your rights and legal options, explaining how our Smithtown car accident attorneys would handle your case.
Call us now for a free consultation. Let Our Family, Help Your Family.