NEW YORK CITY NECK INJURY ATTORNEY
Neck injuries are one of the most common injuries from traffic accidents, and the symptoms are not always present right away. That’s why you need an experienced New York City neck injury attorney to represent you. After a car, bus, truck, or bicycle accident, it’s a good idea to check to see if your neck has a full range of motion. Gently moved your down and around in a circle and notice if there is any pain with this movement. Our necks are less protected than other parts of the body, and what might feel like a slight twinge initially could be a herniated disc, a torn ligament or even a slight fracture. This is all the more reason you should seriously consider taking an ambulance to the hospital directly from the scene of an accident.
It’s also a good idea to call an expert New York City Neck Injury Attorney to find out what you might need to do right away to preserve your rights. At Wittenstein & Wittenstein, we’ve been holding client’s hands through their cases for over 60 years. Let us work on the legal aspects of your situation, while you focus on returning to full health. Please call us for a free consultation at 718-261-8114.
Strains and Sprains (Whiplash)
Whiplash is the lay term for mild traumatic injuries to the neck. Sensitive tendons, muscles, and ligaments work together in your neck. A strain of the neck is when the muscle or tendon is suddenly contracted or stretched. A sprain is when the ligaments are stretched or torn. It is very difficult to diagnose a neck problem with any certainty without Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) films. With an MRI, a doctor can determine the extent of your neck problem and recommend the best treatment.
Herniated Disc
The neck (cervical spine) is made up of discs with a hard shell and a soft gel filled interior. This works to absorb force and protects the spine. When the gel inside the disc protrudes, due to trauma or degeneration, this is known as a herniated disc. Symptoms include a shooting pain that radiates down the arms, numbness or tingling and muscle weakness.
A herniated disc is usually diagnosed with an MRI and clinical testing of reflexes, range of motion and pain level. Treatment is usually a combination of physical therapy, chiropractic treatment, pain relievers and muscle relaxants. Rarely, surgery is necessary to relieve the pain.
These are the most common types of traumatic neck injuries from traffic accidents. If you have sustained an injury to your neck, you should seek medical treatment and consider suing the negligent party for compensation. Please call Wittenstein & Wittenstein for a free consultation at 718-261-8114
Everything You’ve Ever Wanted to Know About Truck Accidents
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, most truck accidents fatalities are to persons in passenger vehicles in collisions with 18-wheelers, big rigs, tractor trailers and other large commercial vehicles. Despite increasing safety regulations, truck accidents have increased substantially since the 1990’s. This could be due to downturns in the economy that are causing drivers to work longer hours or from recent legislation that rolls back safety legislation. Why You Might Need a Truck Accident Lawyer in NYC It’s also not surprising that truck accidents are the leading cause of catastrophic injuries or fatalities from vehicle accidents. These cases are often multi-faceted, including worker’s compensation, interstate or international litigants and large amounts of insurance coverage. That’s [...]
Understanding New York’s No-Fault Law
New York is one of the twelve states in the country with no-fault motor vehicle accident laws. The other no-fault states are Florida, Kansas, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Kentucky, Minnesota, Michigan, New Jersey, North Dakota, Utah and Pennsylvania. It’s called no-fault because your medical bills, lost wages and some out of pocket expenses are paid regardless of how the accident happened. What many people don’t know is that the law was passed to decrease personal injury claims, so it limits lawsuits against the at fault parties to cases where there is a “serious permanent injury.” This law is complicated and failing to properly meet the requirements can cause your case to be delayed or even dismissed. That’s why [...]
What to Do After a Construction Accident in New York City
Workplace accidents can have severe consequences, especially for those employed in the construction industry. Knowing the appropriate steps to take after such accidents is crucial for protecting your rights and collecting compensation. When you take the appropriate action immediately after an accident, the best NYC construction accident lawyer can help you collect the maximum amount of compensation. Some Queens and Brooklyn traffic accident attorneys handle construction accident cases, but it’s important to make sure that the lawyer you choose has ample experience with construction accident cases, especially the important exceptions to worker’s compensation as the sole remedy, third party lawsuits and rights under labor laws. Seek Immediate Medical Attention If you are injured in a construction [...]
How to Avoid Scams When Seeking an Accident Attorney
Billboards, pop-up ads, Facebook feeds - everywhere you look, there are lawyers offering “No Fee Unless We Win,” and claims that they can collect “Billions of Dollars.” They call you at the hospital, they want to come to your house, they offer to give you money, they send you to “their doctor.” With this cacophony, it’s useful to know how to avoid scams when seeking an accident attorney. When seeking a reputable accident attorney, the first place to look is at the venerable firms in your area that have been serving the community for generations. These prestigious firms that are sustained and grown mostly by referrals are usually the most trustworthy. Scammers and shysters are often “fly [...]
3 Top Secrets of Accident Attorneys
You can’t go anywhere these days without seeing giant billboards from Big Box law firms promising “millions of dollars” if you sign up with them. What they don’t want to you to know is that you would never want to trade places with their million-dollar clients whose lives are tragic and nobody would want to be in their shoes. Here’s the truth about accident cases that most Queens car accident attorney don’t want you to know. Policy Limits Reduce Most Settlements Unless you’re suing Elon Musk, the insurance policy limits are all you can collect in most cases. In New York, the minimum policy for passenger cars is $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. [...]
Your Rights After A Bicycle Accident
Cyclists can now count on dedicated bike lanes throughout the five boroughs of New York City, making going for a ride more fun and commuting easier. This is attracting many new bikers to come on board to enjoy the healthy benefits of cycling. Learning how to bike safely in the city is an important step to take before you hit the road, and it’s also a good idea to understand your rights if you are unlucky enough to have a bicycle accident. It’s also good to know that some of the best New York City bicycle accident attorneys offer free consultations to discuss the particulars of your potential case. Insurance Coverage for Bicycle Accident Victims [...]
For Goodness Sake – Don’t Leave Your Car in Storage!
If you have collision insurance (aka full coverage) for your car, your insurance company will inspect your car and pay you promptly for the damage. If you don't have this coverage, you can make a claim against the car that caused the accident to collect money to fix your car (or the book value of your car if it is "totaled.") This can sometimes happen quickly as well. If you are hit in the rear by somebody that insured with, let's say, GEICO, they will come and inspect your car and pay you for the damages or book value. This will seem not much different than if you had full coverage (and there's no deductible.) That's [...]
Is An Employer Liable For Employee Car Accidents?
An employer is generally responsible for the harm their employee does to others. This is limited to harm that is accidental and “within the scope of employment.” So if, for example, the pizza delivery person, en-route to a delivery, knocks over a pedestrian. The pizza place is liable, as well as their employee, because it was “within the course of his employment” to be delivering pizza. This is called “vicarious liability,” and the best way to know if it applies to a specific situation is to consult with an Brooklyn Car Accident Attorney. If the employee decided to abscond with the pizza and head for Canada, the pizza shop would not be liable for his “rogue” [...]
Do I Have a Construction Accident Claim?
If you’ve been injured on or near a construction site, you may be entitled to monetary damages for your out of pocket medical expenses, lost earnings, pain, suffering and mental anguish. Construction sites are dangerous and there are many laws, regulations and customs that must be followed to ensure the safety of workers, bystanders and guests on the site. When an accident occurs, the legal options can be very complex, so it’s important to speak to an experienced NYC construction accident lawyer as soon as possible. Is Workers Compensation an Exclusive Remedy? The lion’s share of victims of construction accidents are workers on the site. New York law prohibits most lawsuits by workers against their employers, [...]