Our client was involved in a car accident in May of 2012 when an 18-wheeler rear-ended them on the Long Island Expressway. From the collision, they suffered a severe concussion and injuries to their neck and back. At the time of the accident, they worked as a social worker and due to their injuries, they were disabled and could not return to work. Initially, their insurance company paid their lost wages for the time they missed from work. However, in August 2012 they stopped paying because they alleged they had not filled out or submitted the proper documentation.

When the insurance company stopped paying their lost wages, they were placed in a difficult situation as they had no income to pay their bills. Faced with eviction from their landlord, they were forced to attempt to return to work despite the severe pain they were in. Unfortunately, their employer at the time of the accident had filled their position while they were on disability and could not rehire them. Our client was lucky to find a position with a new employer but was only able to work one month before they had to resign as their injuries made working unbearable.

Around this time in December of 2012 the insurance company sent them for an independent medical exam (IME), which determined that they were no longer disabled and their injuries had resolved. Based on this exam the insurance company stopped paying for medical treatment under no-fault.

As our client’s injuries from the accident were still causing them intense pain, they had to use their private health insurance for all the medical treatment they received. Over the next year and a half, the bills for this treatment totaled nearly $10,000.00.

Until they were approved for Social Security Disability in March of 2013, our client had no income at all as they were disabled and they went into substantial debt as they had no other way to pay their bills and living expenses.

In 2014, the client’s case against the 18-wheeler that hit them settled and they received a substantial sum. However, the settlement amount was reduced by nearly $10,000.00 as their private health plan was ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act) based. This means that in the event of a settlement, the ERISA plan was entitled to get all the money they paid for medical treatment back. 

This is when the client was referred to our office to pursue their insurance company for the $10,000.00 that our client was now out of pocket. Had their insurance company not stopped paying for medical treatment based on the IME, these medical costs would have been covered. At a hearing, a no-fault arbitrator determined that our client’s injuries had not resolved at the time of the IME, and therefore the insurance company had to pay our client back for the full $10,000 lien they paid out of their personal injury proceeds.

Further, our client also had a claim for the wages that the insurance company improperly stopped paying. After a long and intense legal battle with the insurance company over the course of 3 years, we were able to secure approximately $30,000.00 in wages for the time our client was disabled from August 2012 to November 2013.

Car accidents can change someone’s life forever. In this case, our client lost 2 jobs, was forced to move, went into tens of thousands of dollars of debt, and still has residual physical pain from the accident even today. No-fault coverage is supposed to ensure that you can pay your bills and get the care you need in the event of an accident. It is one of the reasons you pay your auto insurance premium every month. The case above shows that sometimes your insurance company cares more about profits than you. When this happens, our firm fights to get the no-fault benefits you are entitled to under your auto insurance policy.

Total recovery to the client after their personal injury case settled:  $40,000.00

What Our Clients Are Saying

Excellent5.0 Based on 352 reviews from review us onsorivel gulottasorivel gulotta ★★★★★ Thank you Lauren for all of your help! You are always ready for any challenge and willing to answer any questions. Always professional, informative and kind. Will highly recommend!Janet SimoneJanet Simone ★★★★☆ TonaLaw did a great job in handling my case! I highly recommend them and would use them again if needed.Elizabeth SanchezElizabeth Sanchez ★★★★★ Definitely recommend this law firm. Great communication and walked me throughout the whole process. Very satisfied.Laurea MartinezLaurea Martinez ★★★★★ My twins and I had a bad car accident that turned our lives upside down. I was in and out of surgeries and PT to get fix. But let me tell you, TONA Law and the staff took such a stressful situations out and made everything an easy process for us! My lawyer Jeff along with Jayda and Lauren were open for communication, even if it meant answering e-mails or silly questions after hours. I highly recommended Tona Law if you are looking for a competent lawyer to fight for you! Do yourself a favor and get that “accident nuts” out of your head and give them a call. God sent!Thanks Tona Law!Joseph DadaboJoseph Dadabo ★★★★★ Tonalaw is great Lauren and Robin are such awesome people thank you guys for your helpKatelyn MccormickKatelyn Mccormick ★★★★★ I have know Lauren for years, she is a very professional and caring person, anyone working with her would be in good hands.joanne lursenjoanne lursen ★★★★★ Lauren is very knowledgeable in her field and focuses on getting the job done, producing the best results, and willing to going the extra mile.Brooke BirkeyBrooke Birkey ★★★★★ If you contact Tona Law Firm after an accident, you will be delighted to work with their team of professionals. They are caring, easy to talk to, and know how to get you quickly on the road to your best results. If you've been seriously injured in New York and you're looking for a great experience, look no further than Tona Law.jeanette devinejeanette devine ★★★★★ Lauren work ethics are exceptional. She is always extremely helpful with any questions. Tona law is very lucky to have her as part of the team.NicoleNicole ★★★★★ I have nothing but wonderful things to say about Tona Law. I highly recommend them. Dianna is amazing. She is personable, knowledgeable and extremely reliable and impressive. Thank you to the entire staff.Mike manasMike manas ★★★★★ Lauren was such a pleasure to work with! Super informative and helpful.Melanie RasmussenMelanie Rasmussen ★★★★★ I highly recommend Jeffrey Donato, personal injury attorney with TonaLaw! I've used Jeff personally, when we needed advice with two situations. He's professional, highly knowledgeable, compassionate, and responsive. I totally trust him.Educated MomEducated Mom ★★★★★ I would highly recommend Tona Law. Diana and her team are fantastic!Amazing AngelsAmazing Angels ★★★★★ They’re great team of lawyers and they really care about their clientsKaram BasraKaram Basra ★★★★★ Tona Law answered all my questions thoroughly, talked to me like I was a person and not just another case, and were dedicated to helping me solve my legal issues. Thanks to Dianna Kost and everyone on the team!Christine RoeChristine Roe ★★★★★ I would trust this firm with any matter you may have. Amazing people with great values. Plus the marketing team is killing it!anthony scottianthony scotti ★★★★★ JohnJohn ★★★★★ I have known Lauren for years. She takes pride in her work and is professional. Your in good hands with her and Tona lawErica CharleneErica Charlene ★★★★★ I have known Lauren for over 20 years, she takes pride in her work, is professional, and dedicated to helping clients. You're in good hands with Lauren on your side.emily rosenemily rosen ★★★★★ If you’re looking for superior lawyering, call tona law. I would highly recommend Dianna and her team for all your legal matters.Teresa DesimoneTeresa Desimone ★★★★★ I called Tona Law not knowing what to expect after my car accident. They were very kind and patient, made me feel very comfortable about the process while still undergoing surgeries. I know it isn't much, but when I came home from the hospital my husband showed me a little get well package that they sent. It made me feel like they cared that they went that extra step. Lauren and Jayda answered every question I had in a timely manner and if they weren't sure, one of the lawyers would call and would further explain it until I understood. Healing is already a stressful time, Tona Law made it a little bit easier. Thank you to everyone who helped.Bernhard SengstockBernhard Sengstock ★★★★★ Great people! So happy to know that they can be trusted! Will recommend! 😊👍Jeff HJeff H ★★★★★ Great experience with Tona Law. Very professional and responsive.Gisselle SortoGisselle Sorto ★★★★★ I had the pleasure of speaking with Mrs. Dianna Kost who initially referred me to TonaLaw, she was kind and very helpful! I know at TonaLaw my voice will be heard and all my questions will be answered and I will always come across a polite knowledgeable staff member. That is why TonaLaw is my ONLY choice for any Personal Injury Case I have and why I not only will recommend them to my family and friends but my patients as well. So if you are questioning which firm to pick among the the hundreds you'll find on google you might as well stop your search here and give them a call to see for yourself!Luz TursoLuz Turso ★★★★★ Dianna is honest, helpful, and exceptionally kind. It helps knowing that Tonalaw has spanish speaking attorneys and staff that accommodate the latin clientele.js_loader