Personal Injury in Uniondale
Licatesi Law Group, LLP
Over 40 years of experience with a track record of recovering more than $100 million in compensation for clients
Overview
Licatesi Law Group offers personal injury representation across New York, with over 40 years of experience and a track record of recovering more than $100 million in compensation for clients.
Practice Areas
The firm handles a wide range of personal injury cases, including:
Auto Accidents
- • Represents motorists, passengers, and pedestrians
- • Resolves no-fault insurance claims
- • Serves five boroughs and Long Island
Construction Accidents
- • Pursue claims beyond workers' compensation
- • Sue for negligence in specific circumstances
- • Represent workers injured due to safety violations
Other Practice Areas
Key Approach
"The key to any recovery is to prove that a defendant was liable, meaning legally responsible for the harm."
Why Choose Licatesi Law Group
40+ Years of Experience
Decades of proven legal expertise
$100+ Million Recovered
Track record of successful settlements
Aggressive Representation
Diligent advocacy for our clients
Comprehensive Services
Full range of personal injury cases
Personal Injury Statistics in New York
Annual injury-related emergency visits in NYC hospitals
Auto accident injuries annually in NYC and Long Island
Typical compensation range for serious personal injury cases
Most Common Personal Injury Accident Types in NY
Motor Vehicle Accidents (40%)
Car, truck, motorcycle, bus, and pedestrian accidents on NYC streets and Long Island highways
Slip, Trip & Fall Accidents (25%)
Premises liability on sidewalks, stairs, stores, restaurants, and apartment buildings
Construction & Workplace Accidents (15%)
Falls from heights, scaffold collapses, machinery accidents under NY Labor Law §240/241
Medical Malpractice (10%)
Surgical errors, misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, medication errors at NYC hospitals
Dog Bites & Animal Attacks (5%)
Dangerous dog attacks in NYC parks, apartments, and public spaces
Other Negligence Claims (5%)
Defective products, assault (negligent security), nursing home abuse, recreational accidents
Types of Personal Injury Cases & Injuries We Handle
Catastrophic Injuries (Life-Changing)
The most severe personal injuries resulting in permanent disability, requiring lifetime care, and justifying multi-million dollar compensation:
- •Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
Closed head injuries, skull fractures, brain bleeds, diffuse axonal injury, concussions with lasting cognitive deficits. Typical compensation: $1M-$20M depending on severity and permanence.
- •Spinal Cord Injuries
Complete or incomplete paralysis (quadriplegia/paraplegia), herniated discs requiring surgery, compression fractures, cauda equina syndrome. Typical compensation: $2M-$15M+ for paralysis cases.
- •Amputations & Loss of Limb
Traumatic amputation at accident scene or surgical amputation due to infection/complications. Arms, legs, fingers, toes. Typical compensation: $1M-$10M depending on limb and function loss.
- •Severe Burns
Third-degree burns, disfiguring scarring, burn contractures requiring skin grafts and reconstructive surgery. Typical compensation: $500K-$5M depending on body surface area burned.
- •Loss of Vision or Hearing
Permanent blindness (one or both eyes), retinal detachment, traumatic cataracts, ruptured eardrums, total hearing loss. Typical compensation: $800K-$8M.
Serious Injuries (Significant Impact)
Injuries that significantly impact your life, may require surgery, cause permanent partial disability, and justify substantial compensation:
- •Fractures & Broken Bones
Compound fractures, multiple fractures, fractures requiring surgical plates/screws, hip fractures in elderly, pelvic fractures, femur fractures. Typical compensation: $100K-$2M.
- •Internal Injuries & Organ Damage
Ruptured spleen, liver laceration, punctured lung, internal bleeding, kidney damage requiring dialysis. Typical compensation: $200K-$3M.
- •Joint Injuries & Permanent Limitations
Torn rotator cuff, ACL/meniscus tears, labral tears, joint replacements (hip, knee, shoulder), permanent range of motion loss. Typical compensation: $150K-$1.5M.
- •Facial Injuries & Disfigurement
Facial fractures (orbital, maxillary, mandibular), jaw injuries requiring wiring, permanent scarring, dental injuries requiring implants. Typical compensation: $100K-$1M.
- •Back & Neck Injuries
Herniated/bulging discs requiring surgery (microdiscectomy, fusion), spinal stenosis, radiculopathy (nerve impingement), chronic pain. Typical compensation: $150K-$2M.
Moderate Injuries (Significant Medical Treatment)
Injuries requiring substantial medical treatment, causing temporary disability, and justifying significant compensation:
- •Soft Tissue Injuries
Whiplash, muscle strains/sprains, ligament tears, contusions requiring physical therapy for 6+ months. Typical compensation: $25K-$200K.
- •Lacerations & Scarring
Deep cuts requiring stitches, permanent visible scarring (especially on face/exposed areas), keloid scarring. Typical compensation: $15K-$150K.
- •Psychological & Emotional Injuries
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, insomnia, phobias (driving, elevators, dogs) resulting from accident trauma. Typical compensation: $20K-$300K.
New York Personal Injury Law: What You Need to Know
Pure Comparative Negligence Rule (CPLR §1411)
New York follows a "pure comparative negligence" rule, which means you can recover compensation even if you were partially at fault for the accident—but your recovery will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
Example 1: You're in a car accident and suffer $100,000 in damages. The jury finds you were 30% at fault (speeding) and the other driver was 70% at fault (ran red light). You recover: $100,000 × 70% = $70,000.
Example 2: You slip on ice outside a store and suffer $50,000 in damages. The jury finds you were 60% at fault (wearing inappropriate shoes) and the store was 40% at fault (didn't salt). You still recover: $50,000 × 40% = $20,000.
Key Point: In most states, if you're 51%+ at fault you recover nothing. New York is more favorable—you can recover even at 99% fault (though your recovery is only 1% of damages). Insurance companies will aggressively argue you're at fault to reduce their payment. We fight to minimize your comparative negligence and maximize your recovery.
Statute of Limitations: Strict Deadlines to File Lawsuit
You must file a personal injury lawsuit within specific time limits or permanently lose your right to sue:
- •General Personal Injury: 3 Years
Car accidents, slip and fall, dog bites, most negligence claims (CPLR §214)
- •Medical Malpractice: 2.5 Years
From date of malpractice OR from end of continuous treatment (CPLR §214-a)
- •Wrongful Death: 2 Years
From date of death (not date of injury if different) (EPTL §5-4.1)
- •Government Entities: 90 Days for Notice of Claim
Accidents on NYC property, MTA, NYCHA, public schools require Notice of Claim within 90 days, then 1 year 90 days to file lawsuit (GML §50-e)
CRITICAL: If you miss the statute of limitations by even one day, your case is dismissed—no matter how strong it is. There are limited exceptions for minors (clock doesn't start until age 18) and cases involving discovery of injury. Contact an attorney immediately after any injury to preserve your rights.
New York No-Fault Insurance System (For Auto Accidents)
New York requires all drivers to carry no-fault insurance, which covers your medical bills and lost wages up to $50,000 regardless of who caused the accident. However, there are strict rules about when you can sue for pain and suffering:
No-Fault Benefits (Automatic): Up to $50,000 in medical expenses and lost wages, no lawsuit required, your own insurance pays regardless of fault.
Lawsuit for Pain & Suffering (Requires "Serious Injury"): You can only sue the at-fault driver for pain and suffering if you meet the "serious injury threshold" under Insurance Law §5102(d).
Serious Injury Threshold Categories (Insurance Law §5102(d)):
- • Death
- • Dismemberment
- • Significant disfigurement
- • Fracture
- • Loss of a fetus
- • Permanent loss of use of a body organ, member, function or system
- • Permanent consequential limitation of use of a body organ or member
- • Significant limitation of use of a body function or system
- • Medically determined injury or impairment of a non-permanent nature which prevents substantially all of the material acts which constitute such person's usual and customary daily activities for not less than 90 days during the 180 days immediately following the occurrence of the injury or impairment (90/180 rule)
Proving Serious Injury: Insurance companies routinely try to dismiss auto accident cases by claiming you don't meet the serious injury threshold. We use detailed medical records, objective MRI/CT findings, expert physician affidavits, and functional limitation evidence to prove your injury is serious under NY law.
Joint and Several Liability (CPLR §1601)
When multiple parties are responsible for your injury, New York law allows you to recover your full compensation from any defendant who is more than 50% at fault—even if other defendants can't pay.
Example: You're injured in a construction accident where both the general contractor (70% fault) and a subcontractor (30% fault) were negligent. The subcontractor is uninsured and bankrupt. You can recover 100% of your damages from the general contractor, who is liable for the full amount since they were more than 50% at fault.
What Compensation Can I Recover in a Personal Injury Case?
Economic Damages (Financial Losses)
Specific financial losses with receipts, bills, and documentation:
- ✓Past Medical Expenses
Emergency room, hospitalization, surgery, medications, physical therapy, medical equipment
- ✓Future Medical Expenses
Ongoing treatment, future surgeries, lifetime care needs (calculated by medical economists)
- ✓Past Lost Wages
Income lost while unable to work (supported by pay stubs, tax returns, employer letters)
- ✓Future Lost Earning Capacity
Reduced ability to earn income over your remaining work life (vocational experts calculate present value)
- ✓Property Damage
Vehicle damage, personal belongings destroyed in accident
- ✓Out-of-Pocket Expenses
Transportation to medical appointments, home modifications (wheelchair ramps), assistive devices
Non-Economic Damages (Personal Losses)
Personal suffering and life impact without specific dollar value (jury decides):
- ✓Pain and Suffering
Physical pain, discomfort, chronic pain experienced past and future
- ✓Emotional Distress
Mental anguish, anxiety, depression, PTSD, fear, humiliation
- ✓Loss of Enjoyment of Life
Activities you can no longer do (sports, hobbies, travel, playing with children)
- ✓Permanent Disability / Disfigurement
Living with permanent physical limitations, scarring, amputation, paralysis
- ✓Loss of Consortium
Impact on relationship with spouse (loss of companionship, intimacy, support) - separate claim for spouse
Pain & Suffering Multiplier: Non-economic damages often equal 2-5× your medical expenses depending on injury severity. Example: $200K in medical bills × 3 multiplier = $600K in pain and suffering.
Punitive Damages (Rare in New York)
New York law allows punitive damages only in cases involving extremely reckless or intentional conduct—not ordinary negligence. Examples include drunk driving, assault, or willful disregard for safety.
Punitive damages are designed to punish the defendant and deter similar conduct. They're awarded in addition to compensatory damages but are relatively uncommon in personal injury cases. We pursue punitive damages when defendant conduct justifies it (e.g., repeat DWI offender, knowing safety violation).
What Factors Determine My Case Value?
- •Injury Severity: Permanent vs. temporary, catastrophic vs. moderate
- •Liability Strength: Clear fault vs. disputed fault (comparative negligence)
- •Medical Treatment: Type, duration, objective findings (MRI, X-rays)
- •Lost Income: Your salary, age, work-life expectancy
- •Insurance Coverage: Defendant's policy limits (we identify all available coverage)
- •Jurisdiction: NYC/Bronx juries tend to award higher verdicts than rural counties
- •Plaintiff Sympathy: How sympathetic you are as a victim (age, occupation, family)
- •Trial Readiness: Cases with trial-ready evidence settle for more
How We Handle Your Personal Injury Case
From your first call to final recovery, we guide you through every step with experience and dedication.
Free Consultation - 24/7
Contact us any time at (516) 227-2662. During your free consultation, we'll listen to your story, review the facts of your accident, explain your legal rights and options, and answer all your questions. There's no obligation and no upfront fees.
Case Investigation
Once you hire us, we immediately begin investigating your case. We gather police reports, medical records, and accident scene evidence. We interview witnesses, consult with medical experts, and identify all liable parties and insurance coverage. We take the burden off your shoulders so you can focus on recovery.
Building Your Case
We work with accident reconstructionists, medical specialists, economists, and other experts to build the strongest possible case. We document every aspect of your injuries and losses—medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, future care needs, and impact on your quality of life. We calculate the full value of your claim, including future damages.
Filing Your Claim
We file insurance claims and, if necessary, file a lawsuit before the statute of limitations expires. We handle all paperwork, legal filings, and court deadlines. For government entity cases, we ensure Notice of Claim requirements are met within strict 90-day deadlines.
Aggressive Negotiation
We present your case to insurance companies and defense attorneys with full documentation of liability and damages. We negotiate aggressively for maximum compensation. With over $100 million recovered for clients, we know what your case is worth and won't accept lowball offers. We keep you informed throughout negotiations and you make the final decision on any settlement.
Trial Preparation (If Needed)
If negotiations don't yield fair compensation, we're fully prepared to take your case to trial. We prepare compelling evidence presentations, depose witnesses, retain expert witnesses, and develop trial strategy. Insurance companies know we're trial-ready lawyers—not "settlement mills"—and this strengthens our negotiating position.
Recovery & Compensation
Whether through settlement or trial verdict, we fight to secure maximum compensation for your injuries. We handle all final paperwork, resolve medical liens, and ensure you receive your settlement funds promptly. Our contingency fee structure means you pay nothing unless we win your case.
No Fees Unless We Win • Free Consultation • 40+ Years Experience