Lessons learned from the 9/11 responder settlements

By Dean I Weitzman, Esq. on June 28th, 2010

The Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on America happened almost nine long years ago and still the suffering goes on.

Only now are legal settlements nearing for many of the first responders who were injured when they dove into carnage of the World Trade Center towers that day and in the months to follow, recovering the remains of the almost 3,000 victims of the tragedy.

Finally, after a seven-year-long legal fight, a federal judge in New York last week approved a settlement deal, according to a story in The New York Times. Now, at least 95 percent of the 10,000 affected workers, which includes firefighters, police officers, building janitors and volunteers, must agree to the settlement deal by Sept. 30 for it to be finalized, according to the story.

This case spotlights the long legal road that plaintiffs often have to follow in such incidents.

It’s also a great reminder that if you are involved in a legal case where you suffer injuries and monetary losses that it’s imperative for your rights to be represented by a legal team that has your interests at heart.

Whether you suffer from injuries in the workplace, on a cruise ship, in a motor vehicle accident, a train, plane or bus crash, due to medical malpractice or any other kind of injury, you need to be sure that you get the best legal advice and representation that you can find.

The right attorney can help you minimize your mental anguish as your case is pursued through the legal system.

You want to work with an attorney who keeps you informed about your case every single step of the way.

You want to work with a lawyer who tells you every detail about the status of your case, from discussions with the defendants to settlement offers, medical reports and every other facet of your situation.

You want a legal team which you can trust and confide in and openly discuss your case and its status, whenever you need to talk.

And you certainly want to have easy access to discuss your case on your own schedule, with a lawyer who is there to listen and support you.

At MyPhillyLawyer, that is our pledge to you.

We will stand by you as long as it takes, and work through your case with you as a team.

The long legal fights that have involved the first responders from the World Trade Center site stand as a difficult reminder about how long complex legal cases can take to settle.

Similar situations will likely come out of the oil spill debacle in the Gulf of Mexico, where legal cases are sure to drag on for many years as plaintiffs seek damages for injuries, their livelihoods and their properties from BP and others.

If you or your family ever find yourselves in such a situation where you have suffered injuries or damages, remember to pay heed to several key first steps:

*Don’t sign anything. Don’t release your rights to anyone else until you have had a chance to talk with your lawyer.

*Don’t make any statements. Be sure you call your attorney and first discuss with him what happened and how you were injured. Let your attorney deal with everyone else.

*See your doctor and seek medical attention immediately for any injury that you suffer.

Try to maintain records of your injury case, from cell phone photos to a diagram of the accident scene to witness accounts and police incident reports, if available.

Your case is a team effort between you and your lawyer.

Be sure you select a law firm that gives you the confidence to go into your legal fight together, united, with ultimate victory as our collective goal, so that you and your family receive the monetary award that you deserve.

When losing isn’t an option, give the legal team at MyPhillyLawyer a call.

Whatever your needs, MyPhillyLawyer is waiting here to help you to ensure that you have the strongest team that you can put together.

You have our pledge on that.