Practice Area

Personal Injury and Accidents

Our experienced trial attorneys are former New York City Prosecutors who will relentlessly protect your rights. You’ve suffered injury due to someone’s negligence, now fight back with our three decades of experience.

We know that a serious injury can not only cause you continuous pain but also alter the life of your family. The added stress, the loss of the ability to earn a living and the loss of the ability to just do the things that you once took for granted. To lead a vigorous life, to sit or stand pain free, to pick up and play with your child or grandchild. The attorneys at Guttmann & Kellner P.C pledge to do our very best so that you are fairly and justly compensated. You didn’t ask to be hurt but you can and should ask that your accident lawyers will fight every step of the way for you.

Our trial attorneys have handled all serious accidents including:

  • Car Accidents

  • Truck Accidents

  • Pedestrian Accidents

  • Construction Accidents

  • Slip and Falls

  • Premises Liability

  • Dog Bites

Injured in a car accident? Know your rights.

What if I am injured in a car accident?
What should I do?

The following is a general outline of steps you should take, which we at the Law Firm Of Guttmann & Kellner, P.C. highly recommend based upon our experience:

Things You Should Do Immediately After a Car Accident:

  • Stay calm and immediately call an ambulance for anyone injured. Call the police and make sure you are safely out of the way of any oncoming traffic.

  • Exchange information with the other driver: a) Name b) Address c) Telephone Number d) Drivers License Number e) License Plate f) Name of Insurance Company g) Insurance Policy Number

  • Obtain the names. addresses. and phone number of all passengers in the other vehicle

  • Obtain the names, addresses, and phone numbers of all witnesses

  • Obtain the name, address, and phone number of the owner of the other vehicle – remember: in New York State an owner of a vehicle is just as responsible as the driver of that same vehicle as long as the driver had the permission from the owner to drive the vehicle – don’t assume the driver is also the owner of the vehicle.

  • Damage to vehicles: Take note of the vehicle year and model, license plate, and any damage visible.

  • As soon as practicable, record the date, time and exact location of the accident and make a diagram of how it occured.

  • Report the accident as soon as possible to your agent or broker – failure to do so may result in jeopordizing your insurance coverage.

  • Report any accident involving injury or death to the police. Obtain a copy of the police report as soon as possible. Note, in Suffolk County, unlike most jurisdictions, the responding police officer will usually write a field report, followed by a regular accident report, and a document called a “supplemental 1010 report” concerning driver, passenger, or witness statements. Always try to obtain all supplemental 1010 reports along with the regular accident reports.

  • Save all photographs of the damage to your vehicle, scene, or injuries.

  • Most importantly, do not discuss the details of the accident with anyone or attempt to blame the other parties. Too often, you may discover that what is said at an accident scene can later be used against you. Also, after the accident be very careful who you are talking to. Very often adverse insurance company investigators will try to obtain a statement over the phone by recording the conversation without your knowledge. Although this may not seem ethical, it is quite legal. In New York State only one participant in a phone conversation needs to consent in order to legally record a phone conversation – not two. We always advise our clients to refer anyone seeking information about an accident directly to our law firm so that we can adequately protect your rights.

There are so many aspects of a personal injury claim and lawsuit to consider should you or a close family member or friend become injured in a car accident. The main consideration in choosing the proper law firm to represent your interests is the amount of litigation experience your lawyer has. Insurance companies have little respect for attorneys who are not prepared to go to court and litigate a case before a jury to verdict.

Conversely, insurance companies are much more inclined to settle a case for its fair value when they know they are dealing with attorneys who are ready, willing, and able to pick a jury, prepare, and litigate a case to its conclusion.

At Guttmann & Kellner, P.C. we will be by your side every step of the way to protect your rights, backed up by years of proven litigation experience and results. As with all our personal injury cases, Guttmann & Kellner, P.C. never charges a fee unless we are successful in obtaining a settlement or judgment in your favor.

Call us for a free consultation or e-mail us with the specifics of your case and we will respond within 24 hours guaranteed.

Contact Us Today

Call us for a free consultation or e-mail us with the specifics of your case and we will respond within 24 hours, guaranteed.

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