Few people want to be involved with the court system. But sometimes, whether you have been injured because of someone’s negligence or you have a family law dispute, court is unavoidable. Whichever side of these issues you find yourself on, you know the importance of having skilled counsel representing you.

Find out how The Saul Law Firm, LLP can serve your personal injury or family law matter. From the mediation room to the court room, we are determined advocates. Our firm represents Brooklyn clients with the tenacity, professionalism, and legal experience they deserve.

Personal Injury Lawyers You Can Trust

When individuals, businesses, and government entities negligently or intentionally inflict physical, mental, and emotional harm on others, the victims can file a personal injury lawsuit. These actions are designed to seek damages which compensate the victims and, in some cases, punish the at-fault parties. We represent clients in numerous such matters.

Automobile and Motor Vehicle Accidents

Car, truck, and other vehicular accidents leave victims with significant medical bills, lost income, and financial and personal losses. We have effectively advocated for Brooklyn victims in these and other types of cases:

  • Car Accidents: Common causes include drunk driving, distracted driving, speeding, and sometimes defects with the automobile or its parts.
  • Truck Accidents: These often cause catastrophic injuries due to the size, weight, and speed of the truck.
  • Motorcycle Accidents: One of the challenges to winning compensation is overcoming jury and insurance bias against riders, and we understand how to do it.
  • Pedestrian Accidents: These include hit-and-run accidents and others involving collisions while crossing the street or walking down sidewalks.
  • Bicycle Accidents: Everyone who rides a bicycle should be able to do so without fear that a driver will strike them, so we hold irresponsible motorists accountable.
  • Rideshare Accidents: We help clients navigate the insurance complexities that come with accidents involving Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare companies.

Premises Liability

Property owners and other responsible parties in Brooklyn (e.g. landlords) have a legal obligation to keep their premises safe from reasonably foreseeable hazards. Guests and visitors who get injured can take legal action. These cases typically involve:

  • Slips, Trips, and Falls: Icy and slick surfaces, obstructions across walking paths (e.g. raised slabs of sidewalk), and similar hazards pose risks for pedestrians, customers, and guests.
  • Negligent Security: Owners should take reasonable steps to keep their premises safe, especially if a property has a history of criminal activity.
  • Dog Bites: Allowing a dog to bite or attack people can make the dog’s owner liable for the victim’s medical bills and other damages.
  • Swimming Pool Accidents: if someone owns a swimming pool in Brooklyn, including a private homeowner, they must do certain things to prevent accidents and drownings.

Workplace and Construction Site Accidents

Injured employees have the right to file for workers’ compensation, but they may also have third-party claims against property owners, contractors, and others who played a role in their accident. We assist victims with the following:

  • Construction Site Accidents: Contractors who violate OSHA rules create an unsafe environment where accidents become very likely.
  • Industrial Accidents: These may involve heavy machinery or toxic substances that can cause victims to sustain injuries and develop diseases.
  • Slips, Trips, and Falls: When these occur in the workplace, they may point to negligence on the part of the property owner and open the door to a lawsuit.

Wrongful Death

Victims who lose their lives in an accident leave grieving survivors behind who must cope with the financial burden of their loss. Filing a wrongful death lawsuit allows the decedent’s personal representative to seek damages from the at-fault party, including:

  • Funeral, burial, and cremation expenses
  • The decedent’s final medical expenses
  • The decedent’s pain and suffering before death
  • The decedent’s lost wages and future lost earnings
  • Loss of inheritance due to the deceased’s untimely death
  • Loss of companionship, parental care, and guidance

Representing Brooklyn Clients in Family Law Matters

Family law cases are some of the most emotionally challenging, but the outcome may affect a person’s parental relationship, finances, and property for years to come. From child custody and spousal support to separation and domestic violence claims, we have you covered.

Legal Separation and Divorce

When spouses separate, and later divorce, it’s important that they have trusted legal counsel watching out for them at each stage. We are ready to help you with:

  • Separation Agreements: To legally separate from your spouse, the two of you must come up with a separation agreement to handle custody, marital property division, and more.
  • Uncontested and Contested Divorce: Whether you and your spouse can settle the issues arising from your issue, or a judge has to decide them, we are here for you.
  • High-Asset Divorce: Spouses who have family businesses, property outside New York, and unusual assets face unique challenges with which we can assist.
  • Mediation: This form of alternative dispute resolution is the best way to settle your divorce, assuming you and your spouse are open and honest with each other, and we can represent you during mediation to protect your rights and interests, or we can mediate the disputes between yourself and your spouse. 

Child Custody and Visitation

Brooklyn custody and visitation judges are required to give primary consideration to the child’s best interests. How the judge perceives the parental fitness of both parties will play an important role in the outcome of these cases. Let our attorneys help with:

  • Custody Disputes: These involve both physical custody (which parent the child lives with) and legal custody (decision-making authority over major issues affecting the child).
  • Visitation and Parenting Plans: The parent who is not awarded primary custody will typically have visitation according to a parenting plan.
  • Parental Relocation: Whether you are the custodial parent wanting to move or the non-custodial parent who opposes relocation, we can advocate for you.
  • Modification: Custody, visitation, and parenting plans are always subject to modification if there has been a substantial change in circumstances.
  • Contempt and Enforcement: Courts have various ways to enforce their orders, and we represent parents on both sides of contempt actions.

Child and Spousal Support

Whether you are the parent or spouse who needs support, or the one from whom it is requested, you need an experienced attorney looking out for you. Contact us if you have a case that involves:

  • Child Support: Most child support amounts are calculated according to state guidelines that take income, the number of children, and related factors into consideration.
  • Spousal Support: Judges will evaluate the spouses’ incomes, ages, length of the marriage, and more to determine whether spousal support (alimony or maintenance) should be paid, and in what amount.
  • Modification: Child and spousal support can sometimes be modified, so be sure to consult a knowledgeable Brooklyn family lawyer.
  • Contempt: Any party that fails to pay spousal or child support can be held in contempt, and judges will use these proceedings to enforce their orders.

Property Division and Asset Protection

Spouses must split their marital property and debts, and in New York, they do so according to equitable distribution principles. “Equitable” means fair, not necessarily equal, and courts use specific criteria to decide what an equitable outcome will be. These cases often concern division of the following marital assets:

  • The former marital residence
  • Other real property such as vacation homes
  • Vehicles and personal property
  • The family business
  • Investments and bank accounts
  • Retirement accounts
  • Credit card debts

We handle all aspects of equitable distribution, from property and debt classification (as marital or separate) to valuation and distribution. Our objective is to help you gain the most amount of marital property and to pay the least amount of marital debt.

Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements

These marital contracts allow engaged (prenuptial) and already married (postnuptial) couples to define and protect their respective rights and interests.

  • Prenuptial Agreement: Dictates, among other matters, how property division and spousal support will be handled in the event of a later divorce.
  • Postnuptial Agreement: The major difference between this and the prenuptial is that it is signed after the marriage begins.

Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is an unfortunate reality of many relationships. But anyone who is accused of it also deserves the right to defend themselves. Our firm can assist you with:

  • Orders of protection (restraining orders)
  • Emergency court proceedings
  • Protecting the rights of victims and their children

Contact Our Brooklyn Personal Injury & Family Law Attorneys

The complexities of personal injury and family law demand experienced legal representation ready to fight for you each step of the way. Count on The Saul Law Firm, LLP. You can connect with us online or give us a call to schedule your initial consultation today.

Frequently Asked Questions About New York Personal Injury and Family Law

Will my family law matter settle?

Most family law cases can settle in either mediation or through informal negotiations between the parties. However, we never assume that a case will settle, which means we will prepare for trial as well.

What categories of damages can I ask for in a personal injury lawsuit?

There are two main categories of damages that most victims seek in personal injury matters: economic and non-economic (which are together called compensatory damages). Economic damages include medical bills, lost income, lost earning capacity, and property damage. Non-economic is for more subjective losses like pain and suffering.

Some cases are eligible for punitive damages, which are intended to punish especially wrongful conduct and deter future instances of it. Your attorney will claim these if your case qualifies.

Which factors will affect my divorce timeline?

Several factors will impact the duration of divorce proceedings, including whether the spouses are amicable, whether they have children, the likely existence of any hidden assets, the complexity of the marital property, and the quality of legal counsel they retain. We will work hard to expedite your case while working to protect your rights and interests.

What is the deadline to file a personal injury lawsuit?

Most personal injury cases are subject to a three year deadline to file, known as the statute of limitations, which starts to run from the day of the accident. There are some variations, however, and wrongful death lawsuits have a two-year statute of limitations. It is strongly advised that you take action long before the deadline.