Rappaport, Glass, Greene, & Levine Blog

Don’t Be a Victim of Insurance Companies’ “Sneaky” Tactics

• Denying claims
• Delaying claims
• Using confusing contracts
• Basing decisions on credit scores
• Abandoning sick policyholders
• Dropping coverage for a mere phone call
  

Labels: Insurance company tactics New York denying claims New York insurance claim denial New York insurance lawyer

5 Simple Steps To Deal With Your Insurance Carrier

Here are some tips you can use in dealing with insurance companies:

READ YOUR POLICY CAREFULLY: You should know exactly what is covered and how to appeal a denial by your insurance company.

BE VERY CAREFUL FILLING OUT FORMS: Even if you make an honest mistake your insurance company may seize on that as a reason to retroactively deny your coverage.

DO NOT CASH A PREMIUM REFUND CHECK: If your insurance company rescinds your insurance they may send you a refund for the premiums you paid. Cashing it may be interpreted as accepting their decision.

PUT EVERYTHING IN WRITING: Calling your insurance company is likely to be a frustrating experience, and you will not be able to prove anything that a company representative tells you over the phone. Keep records of all bills and correspondence.

CONTACT YOUR STATE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT: They may be able to help you. But they will not represent you in a private matter, so if all else fails you may need to consult with an attorney.

AND MOST OF ALL, DO NOT GIVE UP: Insurance companies count on you giving up. Fight for your rights.

Labels: Bad faith insurance bad insurance Rappaport Glass Greene and Levine rapplaw Worst insurance

Real Insurance Ratings

For those of you who are looking for impartial (some would say cold blooded) rational analysis of insurance company performance, take a good look at how AM Best does business.

AM Best is an information provider that provides ratings and analysis about insurance companies, and the analysis is not  based on just the profitability of the companies, but rather their ability and willingness to promptly and fully pay claims.

This seems to be one of the better was to hunt for a good insurance policy.

www.ambest.com

Labels: Bad faith insurance, bad insurance,, Medical malpractice insurers, New york attorneys New York injury, Rappaport Glass Greene and Levine, rapplaw,

Cerebral Palsy Isn’t the Only Type of New York Birth Injury

Labels: Brachial plexus injury Cerebral palsy Doctor negligence Facial paralysis Long Island birth injury lawyer New York birth injury New York Medical Malpractice

Are You Going to be a Parent? You Need to Know About Perinatal Asphyxia

Labels: Long Island medical negligence Manhattan medical malpractice New York birth injury New york birth injury lawyer perinatal asphyxia

Things to Consider if your Child has Suffered Shoulder Dystocia

Labels: birth injury birth trauma Long Island medical malpractice Manhattan medical negligence New york birth injury lawyer shoulder dystocia

Did Your Infant Suffer Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy?

Certain medical mistakes are unacceptable, especially if they result in serious harm to infants.  Birth injuries unfortunately happen in even the best of hospitals and by the most respected doctors.  When an infant suffers from a birth injury, such as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, it is sometimes difficult to understand what caused it.  If you are not experienced in the medical industry, it can be difficult to identify when a medical error caused birth injury.  That is why you should contact an experienced New York birth injury attorney if your newborn has suffered hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy is a type of injury where the brain does not receive enough oxygen, but is not completely deprived.  This oxygen deprivation can lead to permanent brain damage and even death.  Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy has been linked to developmental delay, mental retardation and cerebral palsy.

Doctors and hospitals can be responsible in some hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy cases.  For example, if a doctor delayed a C-section or did not respond in an appropriate amount of time to a serious complication, he or she could be considered negligent.  Sometimes the fetal heartbeat is misread or misinterpreted, which is also a preventable medical mistake that can cause hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.

Contact Rappaport, Glass, Greene & Levine at (800) 734-9445 if your baby suffered a birth injury in New York.  We will be able to review your case to determine if there was a preventable medical mistake that led to your child’s injuries.

The article, “Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy Caused By Hospital or Doctor Error,” has more information on this topic.

Labels: birth injury doctor error Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy medical error medical mistake

Burn Injuries Can be Fatal

Labels: burn injury Manhattan accident lawyer Manhattan auto accident Manhattan car accident New York injury lawyer

New York Burn Injuries can Lead to Serious Health Complications

A New York burn injury often brings excruciating pain for the victim and can lead to both physical and emotional scarring.  Accidents that cause burn injuries are traumatic and cause the victims to be faced with a long and painful recovery, in addition to the risk of serious complications.

Infection is one of the most common health complications associated with burns.  When the skin is burned, it leaves what is called eschar, which provides a moist environment that is prone to the development of infection and toxins.  Children often suffer from post-burn seizures due to electrolyte imbalance.  Burns are also susceptible to tetanus, a disease that can create prolonged contraction of skeletal muscle fibers.

Burn victims are also at risk of developing acute gastrointestinal ulcers, which are defined as small, circumscribed lesions within the stomach lining.  Even though these ulcers are treatable, patients are still forced to deal with the pain.

A New York burn victim sometimes goes through mental pain as well as physical.  Dealing with disfigurement and scarring can be difficult for the victim.  If you have sustained a burn injury in a car accident, work-related accident or other tragic event, you may be able to recover compensation if negligence was involved.  If you were injured by a defective product, you could have a case against the manufacturer or other responsible party.  Contact a New York burn injury attorney today at Rappaport, Glass, Greene & Levine today at (800) 734-9445.

Labels: New York burn injuries New York burn injury attorney New York burn victim NY burn injury

Child Sexual Abuse Takes a Toll on the Victims

Child molestation is an insidious crime that affects young victims for years.  Some victims experience severe emotional effects for the rest of their lives.

Children who are victims of abuse can develop sexually transmitted diseases, feelings of hopelessness, suicidal thoughts and trouble handling other areas of their lives, such as schoolwork.  In addition to the immediate physical and emotional toll that molestation has on a child, it is difficult to determine the extent of emotional damage that will follow them over the years.  There is no way of knowing what the long-term effects will be on the children’s bodies and minds.

Some children do not exhibit any outward signs of physical or mental abuse.  One clinical social worker who is employed at a children’s hospital said that these children do not necessarily appear sad or pathetic.  In fact, they look fine.

Victims of child sexual abuse often suffer emotional trauma, which can lead to severe depression, substance abuse suicidal tendencies, uncontrollable anger and other types of abusive behavior.

Perpetrators of child abuse can be held accountable for their actions.  If your child has been the victim of abuse, contact the law firm of Rappaport, Glass, Greene and Levine at 800.734.9445 or 212.921.5200.

Labels: child abuse child molestation child sexual abuse mental abuse

Parents Need to Recognize the Warning Signs of Child Abuse

Childhood should be a carefree time – a time to play and learn.  However, for many children it is a dark and scary time in their lives, as they find themselves victims of child abuse.  As a parent, you need to be aware of the warning signs of child abuse and molestation, so that you can protect your child.

Child abuse is often difficult to recognize, as many abusers are good at hiding the evidence and manipulating the child.  Abusers are often those who are closest to the family and may include priests, caregivers, teachers, coaches and relatives.  These are people your family has trusted and they should be held accountable for their horrific actions against your child.

According to the Child Welfare Information Gateway, the first step in helping an abused child is to recognize the signs of child abuse.  It is important to note that one sign does not necessarily mean your child is being abused, so you need to evaluate the entire situation.

Warning signs of physical abuse of a child include unexplained injuries, such as burns, broken bones, bites, bruises and black eyes.  If your child is the victim of physical abuse he or she may also cry around a certain adult or make comments regarding injuries caused by an adult.

The signs of molestation or sexual abuse are a little different than physical abuse.  A child who is being molested may have trouble walking or sitting, wet the bed, experience a change in appetite, refuse to participate in physical activities, have nightmares or run away from home.  If a child has an unusual or advanced knowledge of sexual activities, it can also be an indication of sexual abuse.

If you discover that your child has been abused, you can go after the abuser for compensation for pain and suffering and other emotional scars.  Contact Rappaport, Glass, Greene & Levine for expert legal advice at (800) 734-9445.

The article, “Know the Signs of Child Abuse,” has more information on this topic. 

Labels: child abuse molestation physical abuse sexual abuse

Tips to Prevent Scaffold Accidents in New York

Labels: New York construction accident New York construction accident lawyer Scaffold accident Scaffolding accident

Don’t Become a Victim of a New York Construction Fall

Labels: Construction fall Manhattan accident attorneys New York construction accident New York construction accident attorney

A Construction Accident Can Cause a Traumatic Amputation

Labels: New York construction accident New York construction accident attorney New York work injury traumatic amputation

An Arm Injury From a New York Construction Accident is Painful and Debilitating

Labels: Arm injury New York construction accident New York construction accident attorney

Have You Been Injured in One of These Types of Construction Accidents?

Labels: New York construction accident New York construction accident attorney New York crane accident New York electrical accident New York scaffolding accident

Construction Workers Often Hurt in Electrical Accidents

Labels: electric shock electrocution New York construction accident New York construction accident attorney New York electrical accident

Construction Workers Often Hurt in Electrical Accidents

Labels: electric shock electrocution New York construction accident New York construction accident attorney New York electrical accident

New York Crane Accidents Cause Serious Injuries & Death

As construction has continued in New York over the last few years, so have the number of crane accidents.  One of the most known cases occurred on Manhattan’s east side, killing seven people.  In just one year, a total of nine people were killed as a result of New York crane collapses.  These construction accidents are catastrophic and often leave the victims and their family members wondering who was to blame.

It can be difficult trying to determine fault in a New York crane accident.  On construction sites, there are many different parties involved, such as contractors, sub-contractors, suppliers, hired workers and in an in-direct way, manufacturers.  Often times, there are many contributing factors in a crane collapse, which is why it is so challenging trying to place blame.  For example, a subcontractor may have been hired who had a poor safety record or a component on the crane may have been defective.

By reviewing the case, gathering evidence and consulting with appropriate industry experts, an experienced New York construction accident lawyer can determine who should be held accountable in a crane accident.  If you or someone you love has been injured in a construction accident in New York, contact the law office of Rappaport, Glass, Greene & Levine, LLP at 800-734-9445 for legal advice.

Labels: Crane collapse New York construction accident New York construction accident attorney New York crane accident

Things Falling off of Skyscrapers

A falling pane of glass is dangerous from any height, but at several stories the consequences are magnified.

New Yorkers figured this out when a pane of glass fell several stories on August 17th and hit the sidewalk.

It is a minor miracle that only six pedestrians were slightly injured.

Since we believe that accidents don't happen as much as they are caused, we think there needs to be some investigation as to the safety of the rest of the glass in that building. We also think that anyone who washes those windows need to be interviewed, and the people responsible for the installation and maintenance (no matter how long ago it took place) need to be interviewed as well.

It could be that the whole thing truly was a freak accident, but in our experience as  New York injury lawyers, those "out of the blue" accidents are exceedingly rare.

Labels: New York Accident Attorney, new york accident lawyer, New york attorneys, New York construction accident, New York injury plate glass crash, Rappaport Glass Greene and Levine,

Britax Strollers Put Babies at Risk in New York

Labels: Britax stroller defective stroller Long Island personal injury attorney Recalled stroller

Toyota’s Recalls Affect Manufacturer’s Reputation in New York

Labels: Defective Toyota NY Forest Hills car accident New York Toyota accident Toyota recall

Parents Beware - Over a Million Graco Strollers Recalled

Labels: defective product defective stroller Graco stroller New York defective stroller lawyer stroller recall

Toyota Stops Production on Some Models Due to Auto Defect

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What if Your Baby’s Stroller Isn’t Safe?

Labels: defective childrens product Defective strollers Maclaren stroller New York injury lawyer