On July 23, 2007, a man was sitting at the traffic control light located at Greenwich Street and Jerusalem Avenue in Nassau County, New York when another vehicle hit his. The other vehicle made contact with his vehicle in a same direction side swipe manner. As the vehicle was driving past his in the same direction, it swerved and the offending vehicle swept up the passenger side of the man’s car from the rear passenger side area to the front. The man filed a personal injury and 90/180 case against the driver of the other vehicle.
In order for a person to claim a serious person injury under the auspices of the New York Insurance Law, they must be able to prove that they suffered an injury that was invasive enough to alter their normal everyday lifestyle. In order to make that statement, the injured person must be able to demonstrate through medical records that they have sustained either a permanent loss of use, or partial percentage loss of use of a member of their body.
Alternatively, they can show a brain injury or spinal injury that is severe enough to have altered their lives and receives treatment. They may also file a 90/180 claim that contends that although they recovered from their injuries, they were incapacitated by them for 90 out of the 180 days that immediately followed the accident. It is important that the injured person is able to demonstrate that they have been continually under the care of a doctor from the time of the accident until the time that they filed their suit. The court has been known to dismiss a gap in treatment for legitimate reasons if it can be properly documented.
In this case, the driver of the other car filed a motion for summary judgment asking the court to dismiss the case. The other driver contends that the man did not demonstrate proper documentation showing that he had sustained a serious spinal injury under the guidelines of the New York Insurance Law § 5102(d). While he submitted several test results, they were missing original signatures and failed to have sworn doctor testimony upholding them. Further, the driver of the other car demonstrated that the man claims to have been disabled by the accident, however, there is evidence that he took a job at UPS four months following the accident date. Since that time, the man has not been seen by a medical professional for any of his injuries. Because, the other driver contends that the man has not proven his case under the statute as either permanent, or as a 90/180, the man asks the court to free him from liability and dismiss this case as frivolous.
The court reviewed the case and examined all records associated with it. The court is reluctant to grant summary judgment dismissing a case because New York Law considers that a person has a right to argue their case in court. When there is even the slightest chance that there may be arguable points of fact, then the case will not issue a summary judgment and will forward the case to court for trial. In this case, although the man had provided doctor’s letters, they were not sworn documents. The primary test result that he was depending on to make his case, was not signed or properly admitted. Further, the fact that the man had obtained employment within four months of suffering his injury and stopped all medical treatment for a period of two years before filing this claim is suspect. The man provided no explanation for his failure to obtain treatment for two years following the accident. With these facts in mind, the court approved the other driver’s request for summary judgment and dismissed the case against him.
At Stephen Bilkis & Associates with its spinal injury Lawyers, have convenient offices throughout New York and Metropolitan area. Do not lose monetary compensation. Our brain injury lawyers can provide you with advice to guide you through difficult situations. Without a car accident attorney, you could lose precious compensation to help your family.