At Valerio & Kufta, Get Better isn't just a slogan, it's our creed. We believe in helping those who need help. Whether it be a person who is seriously injured in an accident, a promising student who can't afford a college education, or people who, through no fault of their own, have fallen on hard times.

We feel fortunate to have achieved enough success in our chosen field to be able to help many of those in need across our community Get Better. I hope that as you read on you will see how, in everything we do at Valerio & Kufta, we’re working to help people Get Better.

What types of personal injury cases do you handle?
We handle all types of accident suits, but we only represent people who have been seriously injured. We do not represent people who have had only minor injuries.

Most of our cases involve: (1) construction workers injured on construction site accidents, either from falling, being hit by falling objects, or in other ways, (2) people who have been injured by machines or other products - these are called product liability cases, and (3) people injured in car accidents.

We also represent people injured in many other ways, too numerous to mention here.

If I get hurt on the job, can I sue my employer?
If you are injured on the job you cannot sue your employer. If the only people at fault in causing your injury are yourself, a co-employee or your employer, you cannot do anything other than collect Worker's Compensation benefits. However, if someone else was partially or totally responsible for your accident, you can bring a claim against that person or company's insurance company.

For example: if you are traveling while on your job and are injured in an automobile accident, you can bring a claim against the other driver if that person caused the accident, even though your are collecting Worker's Compensation benefits.

If you are injured while working on a construction site, you may be able to sue the owner or the general contractor since the law says they are responsible for safety on construction sites.

If you are injured while working with a piece of machinery, you can sue the manufacturer, if the machine was defective, and that caused your accident.

Our best advice is, if you suffer any serious injury, whether it is on the job or not, call us. We will explain all of your rights to you, without cost or obligation. The laws regarding every type of possible accident that can occur are too complicated to explain in this limited space.

How long do I have to sue?
In New York State, personal injury cases stemming from accidents must be started within 3 years from the date of the accident. However, if you are a minor (i.e. under 18 years of age), you have until your twenty-first birthday. If the lawsuit is against a municipality (i.e. town, village, county, state, or any of their employees), you must file a formal legal document called a Notice of Claim within 90 days of the accident and then start a lawsuit within 1 year and 90 days after the accident.

I fell on someone else's property, can I sue?
Where you fell has nothing to do with whether or not you can sue. Whether you can sue depends upon whether the person you sue did anything wrong that caused you to fall, not whether they own the property.

I was involved in an automobile accident and was injured, can I sue?
In a New York State motor vehicle accident, you cannot sue for your personal injuries and pain unless you have suffered a "serious injury". Instead, you can collect your lost wages and medical expenses under your own No-Fault insurance policy, provided that you notify your insurance company, in writing, within 30 days after your accident.

If you have a "serious injury" which basically means a lifelong permanent injury, or a broken bone, or a significantly disfiguring scar, or an injury that pretty much prevents you from doing anything for 90 days out of the first 180 days following your accident, you may bring a lawsuit for your pain and suffering against the person who was at fault in causing your accident.

Do you handle any other types of cases?
We don't. But, over the years, we have established relationships with many lawyers locally and throughout the country, who handle all types of legal matters. Because of these relationships, we are in the ideal position to help you with all of your legal needs from traffic tickets to wills.

If you ever need a lawyer for anything, call us first. We will never charge you for talking with us. If we can't help you ourselves, we will put you in touch with a qualified, competent lawyer who can.

The information in this site should not be considered as or relied upon as legal advice. Any use of the information contained in this site does not constitute an attorney-client relationship. The content of this site is intended for informational purposes only and not as a substitute for personal consultation with an attorney.