Being in an accident can severely sideline a victim and cause them to incur major financial and medical losses. In addition to hospital bills and lost time from work, the victim may experience intense pain and suffering, decreased quality of life, and more. In some of the most serious cases, the victim is permanently unable to return to work due to their injuries.
Family law matters are also among the most personal types of cases due to their complex emotional components. Parents must decide issues of child custody and child support when they separate or divorce. Spouses must also resolve alimony and determine how they will divide their marital assets and debts.
At The Saul Law Firm, LLP, we understand that the outcome of a personal injury or family law case can affect an individual’s family, finances, and well-being for years. That’s why we work hard every day to deliver quality legal services that residents of Long Island and Nassau County deserve. Let us demonstrate how we can serve you and your family’s most pressing legal matters today.
Advocating for the Rights of Personal Injury Victims
Individuals who negligently or intentionally harm others can be held responsible for the victim’s damages. We work on behalf of victims to seek the most amount of compensation available, in numerous different types of personal injury claims.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Vehicular accidents can result in major medical bills, lost time from work, pain and suffering, and other losses. We represent victims in the following types of cases:
- Car Accidents: In addition to drivers, for instance in drunk driving wrecks, other parties such as car makers and repair shops can be held liable.
- Truck Accidents: The size and weight of trucks make these accidents catastrophic, with blame usually being pinned on trucking and cargo companies.
- Motorcycle Accidents: Motorcyclists don’t have the protective frames that automobiles have, leaving them especially vulnerable to serious injuries and even death.
- Pedestrian Accidents: If you or a loved one have been struck by a vehicle while walking on a sidewalk, walking in a parking lot or crossing a street in Long Island, we can help you hold the driver accountable.
- Bicycle Accidents: Bicyclists have the right to travel on New York roads, and motorists must be mindful of their presence and drive safely around them to prevent injury.
- Rideshare Accidents: Wrecks involving Uber and Lyft vehicles involve different considerations with respect to insurance, but we can help you recover compensation.
Premises Liability
Property owners, managers, and other possessors of land owe a duty to keep their premises free of unreasonable hazards or to at least warn others about them. We help victims in these types of premises liability matters:
- Slips, Trips, and Falls: If you have slipped, tripped, or fallen due to a slick or icy surface, uneven stairs, damaged walkway or other conditions, we’re here to represent you.
- Negligent Security: When property possessors do not take reasonable steps to protect their guests from criminal activity, a victim can potentially file a lawsuit against them.
- Dog Bites: Owners of dogs must take reasonable action to prevent dog bites and other attacks or they could be liable for the victim’s medical bills and other damages.
- Swimming Pool Accidents: Failure to secure a swimming pool and surrounding area could result in a downing or a slip and fall, and lead to a legal case.
New York Workplace and Construction Site Accidents
While injured workers have the right to file a workers’ compensation claim against their employers in most cases, they may also have a separate case against a third party like the property owner. If you’ve been injured in any of the following, count on us:
- Construction Site Accidents: Falling tools and objects, malfunctioning machinery, and other worksite hazards are avoidable if safety rules are followed.
- Industrial Accidents: OSHA and other violations may cause accidents in industrial areas, especially those involving chemicals and equipment failures.
- Slips, Trips, and Falls: If you slipped, tripped, or fell on the job in Long Island or Nassau County and it was due to negligence, you could receive compensation for your injuries.
Wrongful Death
Some personal injuries are so severe that they result in the loss of life. Wrongful death cases are like an extension of personal injury law. Eligible survivors have the right to seek justice and compensation for:
- Funeral, cremation, and burial expenses
- The final medical expenses that the deceased incurred
- The deceased’s pain and suffering before death
- The deceased’s lost wages and future lost income
- Decreases in inheritance because of the victim’s untimely death
- Loss of companionship, parental guidance, and care
Family Law Representation in Long Island and Nassau County
A family law case will affect some of the most precious individuals in your life, not to mention your finances and property. Whether you are the plaintiff or defendant in one of these matters, we are ready to serve you.
Legal Separation and Divorce
Separation and divorce will impact the legal rights and interests of both spouses. If you are just now separating from your spouse or the marriage is coming to an end, we can assist you with:
- Separation Agreements: Spouses who wish to legally separate must enter into a written Separation Agreement that addresses child custody, property and debt division, and more.
- Uncontested and Contested Divorce: Whether you and your spouse can agree on the terms under which your marriage will end or the judge has to decide matters, we can represent you.
- High-Asset Divorce: Complex assets that are not easily divided include family businesses, rare art collections, pensions, cryptocurrency, property in other states, and other unique items.
- Mediation: We represent clients during the mediation process, saving them time and money and helping them negotiate a written agreement that they can live with.
Child Custody and Visitation
Emotions often run high in custody and visitation matters, so you need focused and dedicated legal counsel to protect your parental rights and interests. New York courts are required to give priority to the best interests of the child. With that in mind, our firm can represent you regarding:
- Custody Disputes: Child custody involves both physical custody (with whom the child lives and spends time) and legal custody (decision-making authority for significant issues).
- Visitation and Parenting Plans: The parent who does not have primary custody is usually awarded visitation rights according to a parenting plan.
- Parental Relocation: If the custodial parent wants to relocate from Long Island or Nassau County, but the other parent disagrees with the move, the court may need to step in.
- Modification: Child custody, visitation, and parenting plans are always subject to future modification if there’s been a significant change in circumstances.
- Contempt and Enforcement: We help parents on either side of a child custody or visitation dispute enforce their rights, often through contempt proceedings.
Child and Spousal Support
Parents who leave each other, and spouses who divorce, often experience financial difficulties without the income of the other party. Let our team help you with:
- Child Support: The amount of monthly child support is typically calculated according to state guidelines which take into account the parents’ incomes, the child’s expenses, and other factors.
- Spousal Support: A judge will consider various criteria, such as income and the length of the marriage, to determine whether and how much in alimony (also called maintenance in New York State) one spouse will have to pay another.
- Modification: Parties can modify child support and alimony under different circumstances, and we represent those in favor of and opposed to modification requests.
- Contempt: If a parent or spouse is not paying child support or alimony, it may be necessary to initiate contempt proceedings to enforce the Court Order.
Property Division and Asset Protection
Spouses who live in Long Island and Nassau County must divide their marital property and debts during divorce. New York follows equitable distribution principles, which means that marital assets and liabilities are divided fairly (not necessarily equally). The spouses therefore must decide, or have the court decide, who will end up with such property and debts as:
- The marital residence
- Vacation homes and other real property
- Automobiles
- The family business
- Stocks, bonds, and other investments
- Pensions, 401(k)s, IRAs, and other retirement accounts
- Checking and savings accounts
- Credit card and other debts
Our firm works with spouses to help them determine which items are marital, what their values or amounts are, and who will receive which asset or be responsible for which debt.
Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements
Although nobody gets married believing they will one day divorce, these contracts help soon-to-be and already married couples plan for and protect their futures:
- Prenuptial Agreement: Engaged couples may enter into a prenuptial agreement before marriage to dictate spousal support and property division in the event of divorce, along with other matters.
- Postnuptial Agreement: Signed after the marriage has already begun, the postnuptial agreement addresses most of the same issues that prenuptial agreements do.
Domestic Violence
Courts can enter orders that protect victims from domestic violence. Whether you or someone you love are being victimized, our legal team is ready to help you with:
- Orders of Protection (restraining orders)
- Emergency court proceedings
- Protecting the rights of victims and their children
Contact Our Nassau County Personal Injury & Family Law Attorneys
Nobody wants to have to deal with personal injury or family law matters, but when they arise in someone’s life, it’s time to retain serious legal counsel. For individuals and families in Long Island and Nassau County, the Saul Law Firm, LLP is ready to work for your best interests. Reach out to us today to learn more.