The 76-year-old satirical cartoonist who often targeted the upper classes was killed after his vehicle was broadsided at an intersection in Lexington, Kentucky.
Longtime friend and editor Lewis Lampham recalled that Mr. Hamilton had a very distinctive artistic style and a “particular beat” that included “the preppy world, the world of Ralph Lauren, [and] the Protestant WASP establishment.” Mr. Hamilton, who was first rejected as an artist at age 12 by the Saturday Evening Post, once said that he concentrated on this area because he was “near money, but far enough away that I couldn’t quite get my fingers around it.”
The son of Alexander Hamilton and the former Ellen Ballantine is survived by his wife Lucy, daughter Alexandra, son Gilliam, and two grandchildren.
Serious Injury
New York is a no-fault auto insurance state, so people who are involved in non-serious crashes that involve little or no personal injury may generally file claims for economic losses with their own insurance companies. Typically, a company cannot increase premiums based on such claims.
But as a rule of thumb, if first responders arrived on scene, the crash probably involved a serious injury under the New York Insurance Law. This rule of thumb applies even if no one went to the hospital, because brain injuries, soft tissue injuries, and other conditions may not be readily apparent to either emergency responders or the victims themselves. Nevertheless, these injuries usually do not get better without ongoing and aggressive professional care.
Article 51 defines “serious injury” in rather broad terms. It specifically includes:
- Fractures: For these injuries to heal properly, the arm, leg, or other area must be completely immobilized for quite some time; furthermore, the victim must often undergo multiple surgeries and extensive physical rehabilitation.
- Loss of Use: The paralysis of a hand, finger, foot, or other muscle may be either temporary or permanent.
- Scarring: Any visible scar on a visible area of the body is normally considered to be a serious injury.
- 90/180 Rule: This rule applies to any injury that impairs daily activities for at least 90 days in the 180 days following the crash. The days do not have to be consecutive, because many recovering victims have good days and bad days.
- Wrongful Death: Whether it occurs directly after the crash or at a much later time, this injury is without a doubt the most serious of them all.
These victims are entitled to additional damages for their pain and suffering, emotional distress, and other noneconomic losses. Punitive damages are also available, in some cases.
Most crashes involve a serious injury. For a free consultation with attorneys who fight for the compensation you and your family need, contact our office. We do not charge upfront legal fees in personal injury cases.
