An Accident in New York is like a bad dream.

You get into a car accident. You get hit by a car, bus, or truck walking our great city’s streets. Your doctor misses a crucial medical diagnosis.  Your landlord neglects to fix that light that has been broken for the last month in your building’s stairwell and you trip and break your leg.  You fall from a scaffold or ladder because you were not provided the proper equipment.

Due to the carelessness or negligence of someone else, you face hospital bills, time off from work and lost wages. You call the insurance company, and they tell you….

“This is all that we are contractually obligated to provide for you.”

And what they are offering you isn’t nearly enough.

You are facing financial ruin for something that isn’t even your fault, and the people that are supposed to take care of you are telling you that it isn’t their problem.

It isn’t a bad dream. It’s how insurance companies do business. And unless you have someone to fight for you, you’ll be their next victim.

Insurance Company Tactics: Profits First

The sad reality of insurance these days is that people get injured twice. The first is the initial injury, and the second is the insufficient settlement that they offer to people that file claims.

Insurance companies have placed a huge emphasis on profits, often to the detriment of their policyholders. Examples of this “profits over people” mentality are there anytime you read the paper or watch the evening news:

Oct. 6, 2006 – Northwest Indiana Times: “…Allstate has had a policy for the past decade that gives its policyholders two choices -- accept a poor settlement or face a long, drawn out legal fight…insurers traditionally pay out 70 cents on the dollar for claims, but Allstate began paying 52 cents on the dollar in order to return millions to shareholders.”

April 5, 2006 – L.A. Times: “The companies that provide Americans with their homeowners and auto insurance made a record $44.8-billion profit last year even after accounting for the claims of policyholders wiped out by Hurricane Katrina and the other big storms of 2005, according to the firms' filings with state regulators. Top executives described the profit — an 18.7% increase over the previous year — as a fluke, the product of gains in other lines of insurance besides homeowners and a very good year for their investments.”

May 29, 2006 – Newsweek: “Thousands of families who lost everything to Katrina's fury last August are now facing a second disaster: their insurers won't pay them a dime. The homeowners say they were led to believe they'd be covered when they signed up for their policies.”

The relationship between insurance companies and their customers is so bad that even a U.S. Senator that was a leading advocate for tort reform had to file a lawsuit.

October 12, 2006 – New York Times: “Senator Trent Lott is one of thousands of homeowners in the Gulf Coast who have been fighting with their insurers over payments for damage in Hurricane Katrina…”

If a United States Senator that had had been backing legislation favorable to insurance companies couldn’t get fair treatment, it’s safe to say that you wont either.

The Law Offices of Peter Panas: Don’t Get Hurt Again

If you are seriously injured, having an attorney to represent you is not only recommended; it’s essential. Insurers are betting on the fact that you have no legal knowledge, and will simply accept the first low offer that they give you. If you don’t accept, they can always take advantage of the fact that they have lots of time and money, and delay any negotiations. The average injury victim has very real financial issues to deal with, especially if the injury results in lost wages and an inability to work. By waiting until your financial situation is desperate, they have a serious advantage in any settlement offers that they could make. 

Having an attorney on your side can level the playing field. Obtaining legal counsel that has a thorough understanding of both liability law and insurance company tactics is crucial to obtaining a fair and decent settlement.

In New York, that attorney is Peter Panas.

Before dedicating his career to helping the injured receive fair treatment, Peter worked for one of the foremost medical malpractice defense firms in New York. As a result, he has firsthand knowledge of how insurance companies and their lawyers work. He learned about the stalling tactics, the delays, and the low settlement offers, and he brought that experience with him when he founded his own practice.

Individual Legal Representation

Hiring an attorney can be a daunting proposition. There are hundreds of injury lawyers in New York, and all of them claim to know the best way to handle your case. While many large personal injury firms are staffed with accomplished and reputable attorneys, it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle. Your case could be handed to a young and inexperienced associate, or even delegated to a paralegal. If your future is in the hands of someone else, you will want their undivided attention and unwavering support.

Attention and support is what Peter Panas gives all of his clients.  If Peter takes you on as a client, then it’s his case for the duration. From the initial letter of complaint to the settlement, or even all the way through a trial, no aspect of your case will be handed off to anyone. You will be briefed on the progress of your case on a regular basis, and you will be informed in ways that are easy to understand; Peter is a straight shooter who hates lawyer jargon and legalese.  He says what he means and means what he says.

Legal Practice Areas

While insurance companies might vary in terms of the areas that they choose to cover, their tactics do not. Low settlements, delays, outright denial, or taking advantage of what the injured party doesn’t know are all standard tricks of any insurer. Peter Panas has vast experience in dealing with insurance companies of all stripes, and can apply his skills and dedication to all injury cases, including:

Pedestrian and Car Accidents

The Law Offices of Peter Panas are currently accepting cases involving New Yorkers that have been injured as the result of car or pedestrian accidents. If you or a loved one has been injured by a car, and the accident wasn't your fault, contact our offices for a free case assessment.

Your New York Municipal Liability Attorney

The laws for filing grievances against the city are different than those involving private citizens or corporations. The statute of limitations is much shorter for actions involving New York City.

New York Construction Accident Attorney

The Law Offices of Peter Panas are currently accepting cases involving workers who have been injured or killed while working construction in New York City.

Slip and Fall/Trip and Fall Accidents

When a business owner or property manager fails to provide for the safety of their customers, tenants, guests or passersby, people can get hurt. This falls squarely under the category of Premises Liability. Peter Panas is an experienced attorney that can help you recieve fair treatment for injuries sustained during a fall.

New York Medical Malpractice

When a healthcare professional makes a mistake, people could have their conditions worsened, or they could be permanently adversely affected, or they could even die.

Your future and your well being are too important to be left to the devices of a profit minded insurance company. If you have been injured due to no fault of your own, don’t get hurt again. Contact Peter Panas for a free legal consultation today.