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
Dangers of the State Island Ferry
Ferry travel feels so safe, none of the lane changing and stress of driving, but The New York Post has reported that ferry captains warn that The Staten Island Ferries are “ticking time bombs.” After a major accident in 2003, there has been some scrutiny of the safety of these aging ferries, and what’s been revealed shows that most of the ships suffer from serious safety problems. The ferry captain, who wanted to remain anonymous said of the ship’s propellers, “They often fail, resulting in the shutdown of one or more of the four “drives” that are linked to propellers, making it at times impossible to slow, or even stop, the boat.” [...]
How To Help People With Traumatic Brain Injuries
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC,) TBIs are the leading cause of disability and death among young adults and children in the United States. Over a million and a half people a year sustain TBI’s with most of the victims recovering completely, but close to a quarter of million need to be hospitalized, close to 100,000 suffer long term disability and about 50,000 lose their lives. Cumulatively, over five million Americans live with a TBI disability today. When TBIs are caused by the negligent, reckless or intentional acts of others, it’s possible to collect large amounts of money for economic and non-economic losses from the responsible parties. TBI’s are often life shattering [...]
When you’ve injured in a car accident – don’t refuse the ambulance!
The other day a client called, telling me that she was very nervous about what to do because she just had a car accident. She said that she had the green light, but the woman that blasted through a red light, lied to the police, and the police report says that the accident is a "question of lights." She said she had a witness, a pedestrian, that had to jump out of the way as that woman sped through a red light. She said she was hurt and so was her mother. I told her she should come in right away. She said she was busy and could not come in until next Tuesday. By the [...]
Are You Having Trouble Making Ends Meet?
The stock market is going through the roof, companies are showing record profits, and CEO salaries for large companies average over ten million dollars a year. That’s great for billionaires, but the rest of us are having difficulty paying our rent/mortgage and putting healthy food on the table. It’s hard enough when you’re working full-time, but if an accident causes you to accumulate large amounts of out-of-pocket medical expenses and you’re losing time from work, staying above water financially can feel impossible. That’s why it’s important to find out if you’re entitled to monetary damages because your accident was caused by somebody else’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional conduct. Wittenstein & Wittenstein is the Forest Hills [...]
There’s No Free Lunch
ETHICS 101 HOW TO FIND AN HONEST LAWYER - WHAT ARE THE RED FLAGS TO LOOK OUT FOR? As children we all remember our parents explaining the “No Free Lunch Rule.” Simply, if it seems to good to be true, it probably it, there’s no “free lunch.” Lawyers, like politicians, often make promises to their clients that are impossible to keep, hoping to fill their office with uninformed ignorant clients. In this post you will learn what is reasonable to expect from an attorney, and the red flags to warn you that you are being disrespected. RED FLAG NUMBER ONE - Valuing a Case at Day One An attorney tells you that your case is [...]
The Personal Injury Lawsuit Process for Traffic Accidents
CLIENT INTERVIEW The client and attorney meet and discuss: How the accident happened The extent of the injuries Employment and when the client expects to return to work Health issues that might impact the rate of recovery for injuries The jurisdiction and venue (where the accident happened and where the parties live, or where a company does business.) Ascertaining all defendants and the insurance coverage that should apply Any liens that might be levied on the case Legal options are discussed, including whether or not a lawsuit should be commenced immediately A retainer and preliminary authorizations to obtain medical reports are signed, as well as any other documents that will be filed immediately such as [...]
WHAT IS A CIVIL RIGHTS LAWYER?
A Civil Rights Lawyer can bring an action on your behalf for violations of Civil Rights guaranteed under New York City, New York State and Federal Law. There are several common types of civil rights actions: Employment Discrimination: - An employer cannot treat you differently because you are a member of a "protected class" and must reasonably accommodate disabilities. In the United States most workers are "employees at will," which means that they can be terminated without cause, but they cannot be terminated because of their race, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, etc. They can be fired for talking too much, not dressing well, or having blue eyes. Sexual Harassment/Hostile Work Environment: You have a [...]
Why Are Parking Lots So Dangerous?
According to the National Safety Council, one fifth of traffic accidents occur in parking lots and many of these crashes result in serious injuries. In highly trafficked areas in New York City, the incidence of crashes is even higher, with the worst injuries sustained by pedestrians. The best accident attorneys in Queens warn clients to be especially careful driving in parking lots because the low speed setting can create a false sense of security for drivers and pedestrians. Myriad Distractions Create Hazards Experienced Bronx car accidents attorneys understand why parking lots are so dangerous. They know that it’s usually only daredevils that text or watch videos while driving 55 miles down a highway, it’s shocking [...]
Five Stages of a Personal Injury Case
When somebody suffers an injury because of the intentional, reckless or negligence action of another person, this can give rise to a personal injury case. There are many different types of personal injury cases such as: Traffic Accidents Slip and Fall Medical Malpractice Product Liability Dog Bites Civil Rights If you have a personal injury case that’s being handled by an attorney, it’s a good idea to know the five stages civil litigation that applies to personal injury cases. If you have a Queens, Manhattan, Staten Island, Bronx or Brooklyn personal injury attorney, they will also know the specific rules that apply to these New York City jurisdictions. Smaller cases with less serious injuries are usually [...]