Frequently Asked Questions

 

143 Pike Street
Port Jervis, NY 12771
Tel. (845) 856-5335
vern@vernlazaroff.com

Welcome to the law offices of Vern Lazaroff.

Since my admittance to practice over 20 years ago, I have represented people who have experienced serious personal injury, the wrongful death of a family member, medical malpractice, unjust criminal charges or the violation of their civil rights.

I have represent people who have suffered injuries at the workplace, during recreational activities, or in automobile, trucking, railroad or aviation accidents. I take legal action based on products liability for injury or loss caused by defective products - equipment, toys, medical prostheses, pharmaceuticals, household products, etc. I represent people who are the victims of toxic exposures (poisoning of the air, water, soil, workplace, etc.), employment discrimination, and bad faith execution of contracts by insurance companies, business entities, and service providers.

Personal injury law is also known as tort law. A tort is described as "a civil wrong or wrongful act, whether intentional or accidental, from which injury occurs to another. Torts include all negligence cases as well as intentional wrongs which result in harm." Torts fall under three categories:

1. Intentional torts - purposely inflicting injury.
2. Negligent torts - causing an accident that results in injury.
3. Strict liability torts - manufacturing, marketing or selling defective products that result in injury.

The most common grounds for a civil lawsuit involve negligence. These include motor vehicle accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, swimming and diving accidents, boating accidents and premises liability (slip and fall) accidents. When an accident occurs due to negligence, the injured party may file a claim against the negligent party to recover all their damages. Damages generally include current and future medical expenses, property damage, pain and suffering, current and future loss of income, loss of enjoyment and in certain cases, punitive damages.

In order to prove negligence, you must support your claim with the following 3 facts:

1. Negligence - The other party was negligent.
2. Causation - Their negligence caused the accident.
3. Damages - You suffered damages as a result of the accident.

It is also imperative that you file your claim within the time allotted by your state. The New York statute of limitations for negligent tort cases is three years. Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations for negligent tort cases is two years.

I believe that in order to represent my clients in the best possible manner, an understanding of the human anatomy and how it responds to an injury is a must. Therefore, through experience and education, I am able to expertly evaluate medical injuries and pursue personal injury claims on behalf of the injured plaintiff.

While proving a physical, emotional, or cognitive injury can be difficult, my experience enables me to undertake difficult cases and prevail, convincing skeptics of the merits of a claim via credible, trustworthy evidence and objective test findings. I am committed to protecting my client's rights and I have repeatedly demonstrated my ability to succeed in the most challenging and complex personal injury cases.

I am proud of my legacy of excellence – my office employs a highly effective and experienced team of attorneys, paralegals and support staff.  I provide high-quality legal expertise, resources and support representing ordinary people who may have limited or no financial means to devote to the cost of litigation. If we do not win a monetary award for our client, we charge nothing for our services.  

You can count on my office for top-notch legal skills and my commitment to making the justice system work for you. If you have legal concerns and would like to benefit from the support of a strong team of lawyers, please call our office today at 845-856-5335 in New York or 570-686-2824 in Pennsylvania.