New York, NY asked in Car Accidents and Personal Injury for New York

Q: I was hot by car cracking my skull open, fractured legs and multiple other injuries

A Settlement was offered based on condition:

Condition 1: I will be Paid $1,200.00 immediately if I leave the town and never return.

Condition 2: I will be paid $1,000.00 per month for 12 months if and only if I agree to live in the streets.

Was this legal?

2 Lawyer Answers
Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
Answered
  • Personal Injury Lawyer
  • Little Neck, NY
  • Licensed in New York

A: I'm very sorry for your accident and your serious injuries. You should consult with an experienced attorney right away. There are too many elements to address in the brief scope of a post here, one of the most pressing being the IMMEDIATE AND URGENT filing for no-fault benefits to cover your ambulance, ER, radiology, hospitalization, surgery, and related medical expenses. I'd recommend you reach out to an experienced attorney without delay to arrange a free initial consult before entering any settlements or agreements. I wish you a healthy recovery from this serious accident. Good luck

Jonathan R. Ratchik agrees with this answer

Jonathan R. Ratchik
Jonathan R. Ratchik
Answered
  • Personal Injury Lawyer
  • New York, NY
  • Licensed in New York

A: So sorry to hear what happened to you. There's nothing illegal about making you a low settlement offer; insurance companies do it all the time, especially when someone is representing themself. The only way an insurance company will take your case seriously is if you hire an experienced personal injury attorney. You can find many excellent attorneys using the Find a Lawyer tab on the JUSTIA homepage. As my colleague correctly advised, given the deadline in which to file a claim for no-fault benefits, best to do so sooner rather than later.

Tim Akpinar agrees with this answer

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