Comparative Negligence: What happens when they try to blame you for your injury?
In New York State, an accident victim may receive less than 100% of their damages, even if they “win” their case. That is because New York State law allows for a defense called “comparative negligence.” What is Comparative Negligence? New York State is a pure comparative negligence state. That means that if both the plaintiff…
Social Media is only free until it costs you your settlement
In recent years, it has become so commonplace to document our lives on Social Media, that sometimes we forget that it’s not the same as a private conversation with friends. When you file a personal injury or medical malpractice lawsuit, the insurance company will do everything they can to defend their client and themselves. First…
Attorney Bagen is Hosting a Community Coat Drive
The weather experts are predicting that our area will experience a very cold and snowy winter this year. Before you know it, winter will be upon us and we will all be needing our winter coats to keep us warm! Sadly, there are many adults and children in our community who do not have a…
What Does “No Fault” Really Mean for Accident Victims?
Most New York drivers have probably heard the term “no fault” at some point, but based on the calls I receive to my office, I know that this is a term that has led to a lot of confusion. Here are a few of the common questions I have received. What is no fault? Personal…
Bullying can result in serious injury
As Putnam County students settle into their new routine and the excitement of a new school year, some of those students may also be forced to deal with something a lot less pleasant. We’ve all heard terrible stories of bullying and this year the problem will touch many local families. According to stopbullying.gov, Bullying is…
Keeping your kids safe on the school bus
Putnam County students will be going back to school in a few weeks. This means the end of summer and an exciting time for both children and parents. Riding a school bus is a safe and convenient way for your child to get to school. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, school…
Pokémon: Staying safe and avoiding distraction.
It seems everyone has heard of Pokémon Go, and although I have never played the game myself, I am concerned about what it means for the safety of our community. For those who have not heard, this is a smartphone game which uses the phone’s camera and GPS to allow players to search the real…
Pool Safety Video
Summer is here and that means open swimming pools. This video from poolsafely.gov offers some reminders about how to keep everyone safe around the swimming pool. The best thing for everyone is to avoid accidents and injuries. Unfortunately, sometimes fatal drownings and pool related injuries do occur. For more information about the law relating to…
Swimming pool safety and liability
Summer in Putnam County is here and that means many of us will be enjoying our own swimming pools or visiting friends and family for a swim on a hot day. I want to help make sure your excitement and fun last all summer, so I’m going to give you something to think about when…
Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month – Share the Road
May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month and as a rider myself, I take motorcycle safety very seriously. I want to take this opportunity to share some information on motorcycle safety and encourage all drivers and motorcyclists to share the road with each other. In 2014, 4,586 motorcyclists were killed in traffic crashes and 88,000 motorcyclists…