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New York Personal Injury Questions & Answers
3 Answers | Asked in Personal Injury and Education Law for New York on
Q: In NYS state, should we sign a liability waiver that includes waiver of willful/gross negligence

Our child’s school is requiring us to sign a liability waiver that includes willful and/gross negligence to attend a mandatory, all-day retreat. He is not allowed to graduate without it and we’ve been told we are not allowed to alter the language of the release.

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Sep 28, 2023

I'm sorry you were placed into this position. In general, such liability waivers are not looked kindly upon by courts, for reasons of public policy. In terms of your question of whether or not you should sign it, it's an individual decision. As a general premise, such agreements can be... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Personal Injury for New York on
Q: Can I sue the Red Cross for atrial puncture injury caused during blood donation?

After the injury the Red Cross provided misleading information on severity and needed treatment. This resulted in a Pseudo aneurysm that required surgery.

Jonathan Bradford Ripps
Jonathan Bradford Ripps
answered on Sep 22, 2023

Hello - so sorry about your situation. What you describe sounds terrible. In order for you to have a malpractice claim, you would need to prove that the nurse or whoever did the blood draw deviated from a normal standard of care. You should consult with an attorney to discuss your matter further... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Identity Theft, Criminal Law, Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice for New York on
Q: Please help!! How can i get my structed settlement money turn over to me?

I am 35 year old and i just found out my mother have been secretly using my settlement money since I was 7 year old. This settlement money was rewarded to me when I was a minor due to medical malpractice. My mother told me that I need to stay quiet about it and you still under guardianship. So I... View More

Jonathan R. Ratchik
Jonathan R. Ratchik
answered on Sep 26, 2023

If you had a medical malpractice case as a minor which settled, the proceeds would likely have been deposited in a bank account which would have been jointly held in trust by your guardian (your mother) and an officer of the bank. Significantly, any such monies should have been off-limits to your... View More

0 Answers | Asked in Personal Injury, Products Liability and Civil Rights for New York on
Q: My company produce some dispensing machines with refrigerated cooling systems. The machines has some sanitation problem

The machines able to create mold and spread out because the air fans force mold to distribute. I’m a worker of this company, but the company trying to hide this info for customers and workers

2 Answers | Asked in Personal Injury and Car Accidents for New York on
Q: Can you direct me to the legal act that protects personal injury settlements from garnishment by creditors in NY State?
T. Augustus Claus
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answered on Sep 14, 2023

In New York State, personal injury settlements are generally shielded from garnishment by creditors through a combination of federal and state laws. While there isn't a single specific legal act that offers this protection, it's derived from various legal provisions. Federal exemptions... View More

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3 Answers | Asked in Insurance Bad Faith, Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury for New York on
Q: Is there liability for a insurance company if my condition worsens due to their denial of authorization for more PT?

I was undergoing physical therapy for back/ spine issues with intermittent numbness and improving. Additional authorizations by my insurer were suddenly denied. PT office did not appeal immediately and only did once I received a copy of the letter and informed them. An appeal would take 30 days to... View More

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Sep 16, 2023

You raise a very good question - and one that does not go overlooked by attorneys in challenging denials of medical care. Unfortunately, it is also a difficult issue to argue in most settings where a claim is closely processed with valid independent medical exams or peer reviews. If you have an... View More

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3 Answers | Asked in Consumer Law, Personal Injury and Products Liability for New York on
Q: If a case is reassigned in federal court to a different judge, do previously submitted motions need to be resubmitted?

If, in a federal civil action, a case is reassigned from a magistrate judge to a district judge and all hearing dates are vacated with the order that "motions must be renoticed for hearing before the judge to whom the case has been reassigned," does that mean the previously submitted... View More

Marco Caviglia
Marco Caviglia
answered on Sep 9, 2023

Generally, reassignment of a case does not mean it starts all over again. That goes for motions which were filed and presumably decided already. The rulings are considered the law of the case. Essentially, the new judge picks up where the former judge left off.

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1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law, Personal Injury, Products Liability and Small Claims for New York on
Q: Got chemical burns to my face and scalp, from Blonde Solutions hair products applied by their Educator. who do I sue?

After visiting a dermatologist, I found out the person listed as an Educator was an Unlicensed stylist.

Jonathan R. Ratchik
Jonathan R. Ratchik
answered on Sep 8, 2023

Sorry to hear what happened to you. If the educator was the individual who applied (or misapplied) the hair product in question, you would arguably sue that person along with his or her employer (assuming the educator was acting within the scope of employment). In the meantime, take photographs... View More

4 Answers | Asked in Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury for New York on
Q: My husband has constant bedsores as a result of being bedridden for months at a hospital I won’t name. Is this a case?

My husband has cancer that has responded to treatment but he’s suffering multiple issues just from the staff neglecting him. Bedsores, infections, psych meds not given when it was very clear in his chart he needed them. Location of hospital is in westchester but our home is in Wappingers Falls.

Jonathan R. Ratchik
Jonathan R. Ratchik
answered on Sep 7, 2023

Sorry to hear what's happening to your husband. He might certainly have a case for malpractice if his bed sores were caused due to the hospital's neglect and could have been prevented. Best to reach out to an experienced medical / nursing home malpractice attorney. You can find many... View More

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4 Answers | Asked in Personal Injury for New York on
Q: I found a piece of glass in my sandwich today thankfully I didn’t swallow it or suffer any injuries. Do I have any case
John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Sep 5, 2023

Thankfully you were not injured. You definitely have a case but your compensable damages are probably the cost of the sandwich

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3 Answers | Asked in Consumer Law, Personal Injury and Products Liability for New York on
Q: What is the process of suing a company? I unknowingly purchased food that contained bugs in it, how do I sue?

I have the receipt, I took pictures of the barcode, etc. I also took the pictures of the bugs and what looked like holes within the black-eye peas.

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Aug 25, 2023

If you are contemplating using an attorney, they would advise. If you are interested in handling the claim yourself, there are resources online. If you consult with an attorney, one of the first questions raised will be the extent of damages you suffered. I hope you're okay, but unless there... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury for New York on
Q: Hi. I traveled to New Jersey for a hip injection from upstate NY and I am curious about legal action.

I traveled from Upstate NY to New Jersey for a hip injection. There was a blizzard outside but we informed the doctor I was already there so he said he would come in. I was laying on my left side on the table, with my knees at a 90 degree angle but my torso was facing the ceiling and lifted up. My... View More

Jonathan R. Ratchik
Jonathan R. Ratchik
answered on Aug 25, 2023

Sorry to hear what you've been through. It's unclear how an injection into your hip would cause vertebrae in your neck to get out of alignment or shortening of your leg - one likely had nothing to do with the other. Unless you can demonstrate that the doctor's treatment fell below... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law and Personal Injury for New York on
Q: In New york state, if someone was to host an event, with donations accepted

and there so happened to be two parties that wanted to fight, accident waivers and release forms signed. is there anything in the law stopping this fight? will the only people liabal for said fight would be the two parties and not the host of the event.

Marco Caviglia
Marco Caviglia
answered on Sep 2, 2023

Laws don't stop fights, they just tell one what conduct is illegal and the penalty if a perpetrator gets convicted. Your question seems to really be what is your liability. If you are somehow civilly responsible for allowing the fight (or promoting it) your accident waivers, even if... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents and Personal Injury for New York on
Q: If a car hit me from the side from behind, who is at fault?

I got into an accident in Brooklyn, NY about a year ago. I was merging lanes for an exit and the guy behind me was texting. Even though it was all very slow motion, his SUV pushed into the rear left side of my car (behind the passenger seat area, near the gas tank) causing quite a bit of damage. At... View More

Jonathan R. Ratchik
Jonathan R. Ratchik
answered on Aug 25, 2023

Under New York Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1129, the driver of a motor vehicle is not supposed to follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent under the circumstances. Generally speaking, the vehicle which strikes another vehicle from behind is at fault. On the other hand, a... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents and Personal Injury for New York on
Q: A cyclist ran into me and got hurt but he was speeding and I looked twice before turning who is liable ?

I looked twice before turning both ways and no vehicle was there and I turned and the cyclist came out of no where and hit my front left side and my bumper fell off and he stated he is fine but later on I saw him with a hand brace and I tried calling him and he stated “you have to talk to my... View More

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Aug 17, 2023

I hope everyone involved is okay. It could depend on the signage, the traffic control devices at the intersection, and your respective headings. You should place your insurance company on notice of the accident. They will be able to set up their claim and investigate the matter. Good luck

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1 Answer | Asked in Personal Injury for New York on
Q: I fell on a homeowner’s property last year in the Bronx. I gave the case to an attorney who advised they can’t find insu

They can’t find the insurance company for the homeowners and she was served twice but never responded!

Jonathan R. Ratchik
Jonathan R. Ratchik
answered on Aug 25, 2023

It is possible that the homeowner did not have liability insurance. In which case getting a recovery is going to be exceedingly difficult as you will have to pursue the owner's personal assets. Best to speak with your attorney about what steps he or she wishes to take next, such as moving... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law, Contracts, Health Care Law and Personal Injury for New York on
Q: I found feces marks on my hotel sheets and the house manager said that she didn’t inspect the room, should I sue?

My mom and I went to a hotel in the city. While I was in the bathroom, she was fixing the sheets. She was trying to fix the bed before leaving and found feces marks on the sheets underneath the sheet that she was laying on. The hotel has a cleanliness policy and this is violating it. Should we sue... View More

Jacqueline A. Cara
Jacqueline A. Cara
answered on Aug 14, 2023

In order to have a viable cause of action to sue, you will have to prove damages. That means that you incurred injury or cost related to the incident. If, for example, the hotel refused to correct the issue and you had to get a different room at your expense, that might be sufficient damages.... View More

3 Answers | Asked in Personal Injury and Criminal Law for New York on
Q: I accidentally side swiped a outdoor restaurant seating structure on the street? There was no real damage no police repo

There was a person in the structure that was not in contact with my vehicle but claimed he was assaulted? He also took a picture of my license? Is that legal? And was that assault? He refused me calling medical attention

Steven Richard Smith
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Steven Richard Smith
answered on Aug 6, 2023

Taking a photograph of your license plate is certainly legal. To prove assault, he would have to prove intent to harm. This sounds more like a simple, negligence action. If your car accidentally hit a structure, your liability insurance should cover the damage. Simply report the accident to your... View More

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3 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents and Personal Injury for New York on
Q: WAY back in 2005 or 2006 I was in a car accident that resulted in whiplash. It was deemed a no fault accident.

Now years obviously have passed and after all my initial PT and seeing a spine specialist who sent me to a chiropractor . The chiro seemed to have helped it for awhile and that was the last time I think I ever checked that box that this was from a no fault accident. I've had problems over the... View More

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Aug 3, 2023

I'm sorry about your lingering pains. Unfortunately, there's probably not very much that could be done at this point, some 17 - 18 years post-accident. If you were receiving medical treatment under your no-fault policy, which is likely the case, you would have probably had an IME... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Health Care Law, Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury for New York on
Q: If I am an esthetician and my client has an allergic reaction, can I offer them Benadryl from my first aid kit?

Estheticians are not medically trained professionals, and this would be a single packed unopened packet to be offered for a client with histamine reactions.

Jonathan R. Ratchik
Jonathan R. Ratchik
answered on Jul 28, 2023

Yes, you can offer them Benadryl. Offer it to them and let them make their own decision as to whether or not to take it. Just make sure they are aware of the side effects / risks of the mediation, perhaps by having the warning label / package insert available for them to read. You are not a... View More

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