And as usual, it's time for the weekly ten-minute session with Michael Brook, head of the Bureau of Accident and Road Traffic Investigation. Hello, Misha.
Misha: Hello Alexander. Hello, dear listeners. And traditionally, I wish everyone health and that no one gets injured or falls into any trouble. But if, due to certain circumstances, you do receive an injury, whether you fall somewhere, break something, or something happens at work, or at a construction site, or you get into a car accident and your back hurts or you have a fracture or something else – in all these situations, the best and simplest thing is to have my phone number at hand, 718-256-5610. If you dial it right now on the Internet, you'll get to my website, and there you can immediately download all my information, which you will have at your disposal for any unforeseen situation with you, your friends, relatives, or colleagues. Once again, my phone number is 718-256-5610.
Alexander: Michael, many listeners ask this question: if they get into an accident, how long do they need to receive treatment, and what to do if the insurance company sends a letter, calls for a commission, and then just closes the payment for treatment? What should they do? Please answer.
Michael: In case they stop paying for your treatment, you should consult with a lawyer. Sometimes the lawyer negotiates with the doctor so that you can continue receiving treatment, which is called getting treatment on a lien. This means the lawyer will settle with the doctor once your case is over. In cases where the compensation is significant, it makes complete sense to do so, especially if your injuries are not yet healed. If they stopped paying for your treatment, my lawyers can sometimes manage to convince the insurance company to continue paying if your injury isn't fully healed. For all such matters, you should consult with one of my lawyers.
The general rule, unspoken but strongly adhered to by insurance companies, is that if a person has been treated for less than 90 days, especially concerning car accidents, they might not pay anything at the end of the case. They can claim that your injury doesn't exceed a certain threshold or limit, and if it is below this threshold, they are not obliged by law to pay you anything, even if you weren't at fault in the accident. So, if you were treated for less than 90 days, they might later contest this threshold in court and not pay. Let me give an example: A family contacted me, involved in an accident. The wife received treatment for quite a while, about five months, but the husband only 1.5 months due to his job in another state. He then called me because the lawyer refused to proceed, saying he didn’t get enough treatment. I asked if he still had any ailments. He replied that his shoulder was a significant problem. So, I connected him with the lawyer again, who sorted it out with an orthopedist. The orthopedist said the shoulder wouldn't heal without surgery. They performed a small arthroscopic surgery lasting 1.5 hours. After that, his shoulder healed, and he reinstated his case. Later, my lawyer secured quite a lot for him, $100,000.
For any such matters, always consult with me. I provide experienced lawyers who will advise you on how best to proceed in each specific case. So, once again, my phone number is 718-256-5610. Keep my number in your mobile, always carry it under the name Michael Brook.
Alexander: Thank you for your always thorough and sensible answers. Now let's hear from Mira; she has a question. Mira, please.
Mira: Michael, I got into a taxi, and near the taxi, there was a hole. I tripped over it and broke my nose against the taxi. In such a situation, is the driver at fault for stopping where he shouldn't have?
Michael: Sometimes the driver might be at fault if he lets passengers out where he shouldn’t. But in this situation, since you said you tripped over some hole, we need to find out who is responsible for that hole. It could be the city, a private person, or there might be regular deliveries damaging the pavement. My lawyers will quickly determine who is at fault for your fall and sue the responsible party to get compensation from their insurance. An example from my practice: someone contacted me after tripping over a hole and breaking their arm at the entry to a store's territory. Trucks with products frequently entered there, breaking the pavement. The store's insurance was responsible. My lawyer proved it and got $250,000 for the client. So, call me as soon as possible at 718-256-5610 if something similar happens, and always keep my number saved on your phone.
Alexander: Thank you, Mira. Now we have time for Joseph's question. Joseph, please.
Joseph: Michael, I was a passenger in a car that got into an accident. My daughter found me a lawyer, but time seems to be dragging, and it feels like the case is going nowhere. Can I change to your lawyer?
Michael: Of course, you have the right to change lawyers. However, my lawyers won’t just take another lawyer’s case. First, they will consult you to see if it makes sense. They'll check if there have been any court decisions or offers from insurance companies on your case. If they believe they can secure a significantly larger amount, they'll take the case with your consent and take it to completion, even going to jury trial if needed. Another example: a client came to me after an accident; children had found him a lawyer he felt wasn't doing much. The very next day, that lawyer offered him $15,000 to settle, claiming he couldn't get more. The client contacted my service, and I connected him with Arvet Gitalman, who advised not to settle without examining the matter in court. The previous lawyer hadn’t filed a lawsuit, just tried to settle over the phone. My lawyer sued the responsible party and got $90,000 from their insurance. When you contact my service, I find a lawyer already successful in such cases to get maximum compensation for you. Just call me as soon as possible at 718-256-5610, always keep this number saved.
Once again, 718-256-5610. You can also visit my website michaelbrook.com or dial this number online to get my information. Save my website as an icon on your phone; you'll always have it handy. Let's hope nothing bad happens, but in case it does, call Michael Brook, chief of the Bureau of Accident and Road Traffic Investigation, who will direct you to experienced lawyers to get maximum financial compensation. 718-256-5610.