Central New York Injury Lawyer Blog

Some things we think we know, even things we feel certain are true, turn out not to be, on closer examination, false. I have come across a recent example of this. I do not believe I have been alone in having assumed, all my life, that it is safer to live in the country than in a big city. Haven’t you, too, always assumed life up here in peaceful Central New York is safer than in those dangerous big cities like New York?

Well, your assumption (and mine) was wrong! A recent study shows that cities are in fact safer than the country. If you think about it, I’ll bet you can guess why. Here’s a hint: It has to do mostly with cars and guns.

Give up?

The jury probably did the right thing in the George Zimmerman case. Given the absence of good evidence about what happened between him and Travon Martin during those last five minutes, the defense established reasonable doubt about whether a crime, under Florida law, had been committed.

That doesn’t mean Mr. Zimmerman is innocent (just not guilty “beyond a reasonable doubt”) and it doesn’t mean he was right for tailing a young man simply because he was black.

But what does this have to do with my Central New York personal injury cases? A lot, actually. Every time we represent an African American in a Central New York courtroom, we have to wonder — will the jury treat him or her fairly? Will the jury harbor prejudices?

Twenty eight years ago a smart, hard-working mother-of-two from Elbridge, NY — Ellen Williams — sent a resume and cover letter into the law offices of Lee S. and George M. Michaels (our predecessor firm) . Her two daughters were now old enough so she felt she could go back to work. She had just graduated with an associate’s degree in paralegal studies from Cayuga Community College in Auburn, NY. Now she wanted to realize her career goal – a job as a paralegal at a local law firm.

Meanwhile, Lee S. Michaels (our senior partner) was on the hunt for a smart, ambitious paralegal. His personal injury practice was growing by leaps and bounds. He wasn’t finding the time to draft all his own pleadings, review and summarize the hundreds of pages of medical records that landed on his desk every month, set up and calendar his depositions, and reach out to his clients for additional information he might need.

Lee received Ellen’s application, met her, and hired her on the spot.

Everyone loves a fighter. Someone who, when faced with great tragedy, hardship, or injustice, doesn’t just lie down and give up, but shoulders on and fights back. That’s why the story of Adrianne Haslet, a Boston Marathon bombing victim, is so compelling. The bomb blast blew off her left foot – a devastating loss — especially since she is a ballroom dance instructor.

But Adrianne is a fighter. She told the Boston Herald, “I absolutely want to dance again!” Do you doubt her?! She elaborated, “I just want people to know that you can come out of a situation that might seem like the end of the world and come out stronger.”

But why is Adrianne featured in my New York personal injury lawyer blog? Because Adrianne would make a perfect personal injury client. We all love fighters, and juries are no different. That’s why personal injury victims who fight back from an injury, who try to rehabilitate themselves, who try to remake their lives, fare better in Court than those who wallow in misery and self-pity.