Juana Vasquez
"I had just left my office at the mental health hospital where I worked on Ward's Island. It was nighttime and I was headed for the bus stop, which had been moved farther from my building and closer to a baseball field. There were no lights, it was very dark, and the pavement leading to the bus stop was uneven. I fell in a crack and severely injured my ankle. I filed a lawsuit against the pavement construction company about 10 days after the accident, and three months later I was laid off from my job. I continued collecting my salary for a brief period, but when that ended I survived for several months with no money coming in. I lived on Welfare and cleaned city streets for the sanitation department. I finally got my first check from Workers' Compensation, which wasn't very much money.
I was referred to Raphaelson & Levine by my Workers' Compensation attorney. From my very first conversation with them, they were very respectful and concerned about me. I never had to wait long when I called or when I went to their office to speak with Andrew Levine, my lawyer. Everyone was very professional. Whenever I felt depressed or angry, I would call Gina, who worked with Mr. Levine on my case. She was like a therapist. She should be a social worker. She and Mr. Levine and others at the firm were like family to me. I could tell them things I didn't want to tell my family for fear they would worry about me.
I couldn't believe how much money I got in the settlement. I said, 'Thank you Jesus.' What I had to struggle with was terrible. I don't know what I would have done without the help of my friends at Raphaelson & Levine. God bless them!"
