Your attorney is on your side, tell him everything
In order to do the best job he can for you, an experienced personal injury attorney will ask you questions about your life. In some cases, questions may seem embarrassing or personal, and you may not want to answer. Keep in mind that your attorney is not asking because he wants to pry into your personal matters, but because his goal is to win your case. The purpose is to ensure that he is prepared for anything the defense might use against you and that he is aware of any factors which can improve your case. What type of questions…
A police report is always a good idea
You may at times have wondered whether it’s really necessary to wait for an officer to arrive at the scene of an accident to issue a police report. Perhaps the damage is minor and no one is hurt, so you think it should be enough to exchange license, registration and insurance information. New York State law requires that drivers stop and exchange information at the scene of an accident, but the law goes even further. What are you required to do? Your obligation depends on the circumstances of the accident. If the accident causes only minor property damage, then you…
Our office is moving to 3 Starr Ridge Road, Brewster
On February 14, 2017, the Law Office of Gregory W. Bagen will open at our new location: 3 Starr Ridge Road Brewster, New York 10509 The phone numbers and email address will remain the same after the move: Phone: 845 279-7000 Fax: 845 279-4900 Email: gbagen@gbagenlaw.com Greg Bagen is proud to be Putnam County’s Personal Injury Attorney and will continue helping accident victims from his new office location in Brewster, New York.
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 and defendant contributed to the accident, the court must determine each party’s percentage of fault and award compensation accordingly. This can mean that even if a party is almost entirely at fault for an accident, he may still receive compensation. How does Comparative Negligence work?…
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 and foremost that means proving that their client was not at fault and second it means proving that you really weren’t injured. Things you may not even imagine to be a problem could be used to convince a jury that you are not really as…
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 winter coat to keep them warm. Can you imagine not having a coat to keep you or your child warm? To help ensure that none of our neighbors go without a coat this year, the Law Office of Gregory W. Bagen is conducting a coat…
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 Injury Protection, commonly known as “no fault coverage” is included in every motor vehicle insurance policy sold in New York State. This applies to drivers and passengers, pedestrians and bicyclists, but specifically excludes motorcyclists. This coverage provides reimbursement for medical payments, lost wages and other…
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 defined as unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. Both kids who are bullied and who bully others may have serious, lasting problems. If…
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 buses are the safest mode of transportation for getting children back and forth to school. The following graphic illustrates just how much safer your child is on the school bus than riding with a friend or parent. Just 1% of student fatalities during normal 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 world and find characters and other elements needed to play the game. While this is meant to be a fun on-line game, it can have real-world consequences if people play while driving, crossing the street or doing any other dangerous activity that requires your full…