Central New York Injury Lawyer Blog

Do You Need a Lawyer or Can You Represent Yourself in a New York Personal Injury Claim?

September 3, 2018 | by Michael Bersani

I hate to break it to you, but despite all the cute auto insurance ads on TV, insurance companies are not “nice guys”. At least not if you were injured through the negligence of their insured. You have to understand this very important fact right from the get-go: In personal injury litigation, insurance companies are not your friend. They are not a “good neighbor”. They are not a cute little lizard. They are not “by your side”. You are not in “good hands” with them. They are a business. Their business is to pay you as little as possible on your claim so they can yield a bigger profit.

Case in point: Last week I settled a case for a woman who fell off a horse at a local riding stable during a riding lesson in upstate New York (near Syracuse). It was her first time on a horse. The saddle spun around while she tried to mount, throwing her to the ground, where she suffered a serious femur fracture. Turns out she weighed more than the saddle setup could handle. The stable owners knew it, but failed to warn her. Here was the original position the insurance company took (you need to click the image to read it):

After we got that letter, we sued the stable owners. We then took the deposition testimony of the owners and witnesses. The insurance company lawyers then asked the trial judge to toss out our case because our client had “assumed the risk” of horse riding lessons, and had signed the waiver. The trial judge dismissed our case. We then appealed to the appellate court in Rochester, New York, got the trial judge reversed, and the case reinstated. Last week, at a mediation, we settled the case for $130,000, which by the way was the amount of money we always thought the case was worth.

Michaels Bersani Kalabanka’s Backpack and School Supplies Giveaway Brings Many Smiles to Auburn, New York

August 31, 2018 | by Michael Bersani

Yesterday there were lots of smiles on the sidewalk of East Genesee Street, Auburn, NY, just outside the office of Michaels Bersani Kalabanka. The reason? Our back-to-school backpack giveaway. We loaded up the new backpacks with all kinds of school goodies and supplies. Live radio coverage was provided by Mix 98.5. For a full hour they came, lined up, chose their backpack, and left with a smile. Most takers were single parents or grandparents with their kids. It was so great to see smiling kids pick out their backpacks. Shout out to Catholic Charity volunteer Ellen Wayne and Angelo DiAngelo of Angelo’s Pizzeria (free pizza)! Check out our photos below:

Keep safe!

Mike Bersani

New York’s Assumption of Risk Doctrine Generally (But Not Always) Bars Personal Injury Claims For Adventure Sports Activities

July 15, 2018 | by Michael Bersani

I am in my final days in Costa Rica where I have been exploring rain forests, volcanos, and beaches. Some of the exploring is (just a little) risky. Costa Rica is famous for its “environmental tourism” also called “adventure tourism”. But where there is adventure there is a risk of misadventure. In other words, s— happens. And since I can’t go anywhere without taking my lawyer brain with me, I have been thinking a lot about the “assumption of the risk” doctrine, which protects sport facilitators from lawsuits by participants who might get hurt while engaging in the sport. This includes of course adventure sports.

I have had some “misadventures” here already. Read on and find out about them!

But first, a little about the assumption of risk doctrine. In New York, this means that if you are injured in an adventure sport such as zip-lining, hiking, bungee jumping or whatever, it is difficult to bring a claim and get compensation in court against the entity that provided or facilitated your participation in the activity. It is pretty much universally the rule – in New York and everywhere – that you “assume the risk” of dangerous activities you choose to participate in. This is based on a fundamental concept of law . It’s called “common sense”.

Cuidado! Sidewalk Hazard law in New York versus Costa Rica

July 9, 2018 | by Michael Bersani

Photo above: A New York sidewalk defect, suitably marked with orange cones.

I love traveling and have done a lot of it, including in Mexico and Central America. Right now I am in Costa Rica. Love it here! The people are super friendly, the climate is awesome, the food great. The countryside is spectacular – active volcanoes, dense pristine jungles, and sandy beaches both on the Atlantic and Pacific costs. What’s not to like?

So far I can think of only one thing: Their tort law. Though I have not read their laws, I have to assume – from what I have seen – that someone injured through the negligence of others does not have much of a remedy in Court. Take a look at this video I shot today before you read any further:

Six Stubborn Myths about Motorcycle Safety Debunked by Central New York Injury Lawyer

June 10, 2018 | by Michael Bersani

At M&S, we are big on safety, and that includes motorcycle safety. But safety requires some study and practice. We like to say that “safe riding is no accident!” We urge our biking clients to read up on and follow the strictest biking safety guidelines. But unfortunately, there are many FALSE biking safety tips out there. And some myths never die no matter how much evidence accumulates to debunk them. For example, remember when they used to tell you that eating before you swim was a no-no because it could cause you to cramp up and drown? Turned out to be false! Still, many people still believe it to be true.

Here are the most common and enduring myths about motorcycle safety. Share these with any friends or family members who bike:

MYTH 1. Full-Face Helmets Restrict Your Visibility

Central NY Injury Lawyer And Boater Wants FEWER Boating Injury Cases

June 2, 2018 | by Michael Bersani

Yes, you read that caption right. This personal injury lawyer wants FEWER boating accident cases. Not because I don’t enjoy representing those injured through negligent boating (I do), but because I want there to be fewer accidents altogether. I have enough personal injury cases. I don’t need more and would prefer fewer cases if it meant fewer people were being injured and killed in boating accidents.

And I think I know a way to make boating much safer, and to avoid accidents. Here me out!

But before you hear me out, here’s a little background. I just became a first-time boat owner. Not that I am new to boats. I grew up around motor boats and sail boats (on Skaneateles Lake) and have been using my brothers’ motor boats for many years. I have boated on Cayuga Lake, Owasco Lake and Seneca Lake.

Syracuse Motorcycle Accident Lawyer: Most Common Types of Upstate New York Motorcycle Accidents (and how to avoid them)

May 27, 2018 | by Michael Bersani

Hey Upstate New York bikers, it’s that time of year again. You’ve probably taken your motorcycle out of storage, tuned it up, wiped it down, and taken a few rides. Good for you. Now all you need is to freshen up on safety. You might think (cynically) that New York motorcycle accident lawyers like us would rather wait for you to have the accident and then turn a profit off of your suffering. No! Believe me, we have plenty of work, and we would rather save a life than add one more case to our portfolio.

Knowledge is power. If you know how most Upstate New York motorcycle accidents happen, you are more likely to avoid them. So are you curious to know the most common types of motorcycle accidents here in Upstate New York, including the Syracuse and Rochester areas? Thought so. Here they are:

Head-On Collision As Car Turns Left

M&S Senior Partner Lee Michaels Makes Syracuse University News with His Trial Skills Teaching Techniques.

May 20, 2018 | by Michael Bersani

M&S’ senior law partner, Lee S. Michaels, is not only a top New York personal injury lawyer, but also an award winning adjunct professor at Syracuse College of Law. He teaches young soon-to-be lawyers how to try a court case. This is called “trial practice” in law school. The Syracuse College of Law website recently featured an article about Lee’s amazing trial teaching techniques.

Lee’s trial teaching philosophy is simple: The best way to learn to try a case is – well – to try a case. So his students all have to try one to get their final grade. It’s just a simulated trial, sure, but a very realistic one nevertheless. The students take on roles such as prosecutor, criminal defense lawyer, and witnesses in a fictitious criminal trial.

Lee tries to make the simulated trial as realistic as possible, “with a little help from his friends”. He calls on former students – now judges – to act as trial judges. Lee’s class’ most recent “trials” starred Auburn NY’s City Judge David Thurston and US Northern District Magistrate Judge Thérèse Dancks, both former students of Lee’s. Also participating were Auburn City Judge Michael McKeon and Lee’s former student Kevin Kuehner, a Syracuse trial lawyer

Central New York Injury Lawyer Interviewed on Finger Lakes Radio station about His Book “Understanding Your New York Personal Injury Claim”

May 17, 2018 | by Michael Bersani

This morning I was at the radio studios of Finger Lakes Radio Group in Geneva, New York. They wanted to interview me about my new book, “Understanding Your New York Personal Injury Claim“. Geneva’s station – WVGA – ran the interview live. It’s sister station in Auburn, NY – WAUB – will run it at a later date.

It was fun to be on the radio again. Ted Baker is an excellent interviewer. He has interviewed me several other times about my volunteer work for the Boys & Girls Club of Geneva. He made me feel right at ease and asked very on-point questions about my book. For example, he asked me:

Why did you write the book?

Personal Injury Scammers May Make a Killing in New York, But Certainly Not in Upstate NY

May 13, 2018 | by Michael Bersani

I just read a disturbing article in the New York Times about a large-scale personal injury insurance scam in New York City. It works like this: A gang of fraudsters lines up “scouts” to go into poor neighborhoods in search of people willing to “fake” accidents and injuries in exchange for money. The “victims” are then coached on how to fake both the accidents and the injuries. Suitably trained, they then “fall” in potholes, deliberately trip outside of restaurants or other businesses, or crash cars. The fake accident victims then visit doctors whose pockets are also being lined with the fraud ring’s money. The dishonest doctors then “treat” the “patients” for broken bones or internal injuries that do not exist, and of course keep copious records of all the “treatment” they provide. The doctors even go so far as performing unnecessary medical procedures to bump up the settlement value of the injury.

The five men who orchestrated this particular scam have now been indicted. The indictment alleges that the scam lasted for five years and cost insurance carriers about $30 million.

This is the kind of dishonesty that gives New York personal injury lawyers, and personal injury victims, a bad name. And this is the kind of news article that jury members I empanel will have in mind when I am presenting a legitimate personal injury case to them for a seriously and legitimately injured victim. Unfortunately, juries have to wonder whether my client, and perhaps even I, am trying to pull the wool over their eyes. And a lot of it is the fault of scammers like these guys.