Choosing an attorney: Know what to expect.

If you are looking to hire an attorney, there must be something important happening in your life. That’s why choosing the right attorney is incredibly important. You must find someone competent, experienced in the area that you need help in, and with whom you can personally connect and build trust

The best way to start your search is to get referrals from friends, Family and personal acquaintances. Once you have a name and number, call to schedule a consultation. Initial consultations are often free. When you meet, the attorney will want to know all about your case. There are also several things you will want to know about the attorney before making a hiring decision. To know what to ask about in your initial consultation, you need to know what to expect from an attorney. You should be able to expect the following if you have a good attorney.

Choosing an attorney. Know what to expect.

• The attorney you will hire to represent you should be experienced and knowledgeable in the area(s) of law relevant to your case

• No attorney can see the future, but they should be able to Estimate, based on experience, potential time frames, possible awards, and the relative Strength of your case

• Your attorney should clearly state their fee structure. Most charge hourly flat or contingency fee. They should also be able to explain other costs that may come up during the process

• If an attorney takes your case, they should be willing to go to trial and have the experience needed to win

• A good attorney will keep you informed about the progress of your case. Ask how they will do this for you.

• You should know who exactly you will be working on your case- the attorney you are meeting with or someone else at the firm. You should meet with whoever will be representing you.

    

• Your attorney should be willing to pay personal attention to your case and respond to any phone calls and e-mails in a timely manner.    

•  Any attorney who wishes to represent you should be willing to promise to  respect your privacy and keep your information confidential.  

•  Every attorney  should be keeping up- to- date with changes in the law by actively continuing their education

• Your attorney isn’t the only one who will have responsibilities, you do too. Your attorney should be able to tell you what these responsibilities may be

Robert Michaels, his dog allegedly killed by Matthew Johnstone, hit-and-run driver in OLD BETHPAGE

OLD BETHPAGE - A man has died after being hit by a car in Old Bethpage.

The incident happened at Round Swamp Road and Fairway Drive around 12:30 a.m. today.

Robert Michaels, 42, was walking his dog around 12:27 a.m. on Round Swamp Road in Old Bethpage when he was struck by a 2013 Dodge Avenger, police said.

The driver, identified as 37-year-old Matthew Johnstone, allegedly fled without stopping, but later returned to the scene where he was placed under arrest, police said,

The North Massapequa man is charged with leaving the scene of an incident.

Dog Saves PREGNANT WOMAN and Her Baby

Have you ever wondered if it is safe to have a dog around babies or pregnant woman?  Check out this story...

A North Merrick dog is being heralded for helping to save the life of a pregnant woman and her premature daughter.  The hero is a 1-year-old goldendoodle named Louie.

Janelle Giannetta was annoyed with her dog Louie after he playfully jumped on her and accidentally scratched her face.  Just a few hours later the puppy was out of the doghouse after saving her life.

Giannetta, 26 weeks pregnant with her first child, said she was not feeling well and went upstairs in her North Merrick home to take a nap.  Her husband, Richard Giannetta, 33, stayed downstairs to clean up for a family birthday party later that day.

Shortly after, the dog (who is not known as a barker) began barking incessantly. 

In the upstairs bedroom he found the 75-pound dog standing on the bed barking at his wife. Janelle was having a seizure, her tongue was rolled back and she had a ring of white foam around her mouth.

Richard immediately called 911 and said he had a hard time getting the protective Louie away from his wife.

"I had to lock him in another room," said Richard.

Janelle was rushed to Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, where she was quickly diagnosed with eclampsia.  Eclampsia, which affects about 1 in 2,000 pregnant women, is a potentially deadly condition in which the mother develops very high blood pressure, causing seizures and potentially a stroke. Janelle, who had seen her doctor that day, said she had shown no signs of pre-eclampsia, marked by high blood pressure and high protein in the urine.

Dr. Peter Hong, chief of NUMC's high risk pregnancy service, said Janelle's blood pressure was "very, very elevated -- severe enough to cause a stroke."

The only "cure" for the condition is to deliver the baby, he said, so the decision was made to perform a Caesarean section. Charlotte Marie was born around 2:25 a.m. weighing a mere 1 pound 7 ounces.

The baby is in the neonatal intensive care unit, where she is expected to stay until July -- her scheduled due date. 

Both Richard and Janelle were so thankful for the emergency medical technicians and the hospital for their quick action. But Doctor Hong credited Louie.

"In my opinion, the dog is the real hero," Hong said. "If not for the dog's barking, she could have had one seizure after another, after another . . . and she would have gotten care a lot later, and that would have made my job much harder."

Pedestrain Killed after being hit by Car in Baldwin

Two pedestrians on different parts of long island were hit by vehicles earlier. 

Evelyn Ramos-Coto, 33, was violently hit by a car while she was in the crosswalk on Grand Avenue, police said.  Evelyn was still conscious as EMT staff took her from the accident scene but later died at the hospital shortly after the accident.
 
The accident took place as she walked across the southbound left lane of Grand Avenue, at Lorenz Avenue. She was hit by a southbound 2001 Ford driven by a 37-year-old man, police said.

"The vehicle was impounded for brake and safety checks," police said. "Detectives report no apparent criminality at this time."

In Suffolk County, a teen boy is in serious condition after he was hit by a sport utility vehicle in West Babylon, police said.

The pedestrian/car accident took place on Straight Path near 12th Street in West Babylon, and the victim was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip with serious injuries, police said.


If you or someone you know has been injured as a pedestrian hit by a car call the experienced Injury Lawyers at Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-669-4878

Fence Built to increase safety on Hempstead Turnpike

On what is considered one of Nassau Counties most dangerous stretches of road for pedestrians, a physical barrier is being installed to discourage people from midblock crossings.

Located across from Nassau University Medical Center, the 4 feet high fence is located on the traffic median in an area heavily trafficked by vehicles and pedestrians.

The median fencing is part of a multimillion-dollar safety upgrade of the turnpike throughout Nassau County.  The improvements were supposed to be done in the fall, but state officials said that superstorm Sandy cleanup and cold weather delayed the work.

The safety plan was accepted once an investigation of police accident reports from 2005 through 2010 found that people on foot were killed an average of more than five times a year on the road's 16 miles through Nassau. Thirty-two people were killed and at least 427 injured in 457 pedestrian incidents on the road over the six years studied.

Nearly Seventy percent of the pedestrians killed on the turnpike from 2005 through 2010 were not at an intersection when they were hit by a car.

The Tri-State Transportation Campaign, a transportation advocacy group, has named 

Hempstead Turnpike in Nassau County has been named the most dangerous road for pedestrians in the metropolitan region four times since 2008 by the Tri-State Transportation Campaign.

As recent as this past thursday a pedestrian was critically injured after being hit by a car on the turnpike near Uniondale Avenue.

If you or someone you know has been injured after being hit by a car call the experienced personal injury lawyers at Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-669-4878.