Roth & Roth provides guidance to New York drivers, passengers, and pedestrians harmed in local car accidents. Our team has a strong reputation that encompasses many areas of personal injury law — including motor vehicle accidents.
Whether you're dealing with difficult insurance representatives, negligent drivers, or anyone else who stands in the way of recovering the damages you deserve, assertive legal representation is crucial. That's exactly what we provide at Roth & Roth. We will do whatever it takes to ensure that you receive the full compensation to which you're entitled.
There is no substitute for strong legal representation after a car accident. You'll never regret having our legal team in your corner.
Roth & Roth has been successfully representing individuals and families throughout the State of New York for over 25 years. If you or someone you know was injured or killed in New York due to someone else's wrongdoing, contact us to discuss your options. Initial consultations are always free and we never get paid unless and until you do.
A variety of situations can increase the likelihood of getting into a car accident in New York. Some issues — such as weather conditions, traffic, or even vehicle defects — are beyond the drivers' control. Often, however, negligence is at play. This may take the following forms:
It’s not a good idea to discuss your car accident directly with at-fault drivers' insurance companies. Unfortunately, these providers are notorious for lowballing victims. Instead, meet with a New York City car accident attorney, who can deal with these insurance companies on your behalf.
Not only will this approach improve your likelihood of securing a desirable outcome, but it will also save you a lot of time and stress.
It is extremely important that you do not sign any documents or give a recorded statement without first speaking with an attorney.
Victims of negligence-based car accidents can collect many types of damages. When obtained through the personal injury process, these typically fall into one of two main categories: compensatory or punitive.
Common examples of compensatory damages include:
In certain cases involving drunk driving, malicious intent, or gross recklessness, punitive damages may also be recoverable. These aim to deliver greater accountability and to punish a defendant for their behavior.
The State of New York mandates a separate form of insurance that comes into play when uninsured drivers are involved in motor vehicle accidents. This coverage also applies to hit-and-run crashes.
Mandatory requirements for this particular form of insurance only cover bodily injuries, and not damage to the vehicle or other property. However, passengers harmed in car accidents will likely be covered, as will those who unknowingly ride alongside uninsured drivers.
Registered motor vehicles in New York should cover, at a minimum:
In New York, insured drivers and passengers are reimbursed by the insurance carrier for the vehicle they were in at the time of the accident regardless of who was actually at fault for a given accident. This type of coverage that covers first-party benefits is known as No-Fault in New York and Personal Injury Protection (PIP) in other states like New Jersey. No-Fault benefits cover a portion of the car collision-related medical bills, household help, transportation to medical appointments, and lost wages.
The goal of this initiative is to restore the general health and productivity of those injured in car accidents as quickly as possible. As such, only claimants with serious injuries can file car accident lawsuits in New York.
No-Fault mandates that a threshold level of injuries be sustained as a result of the car accident in order to sustain a third-party lawsuit against the culpable motor vehicle owner and operator. Lawsuits can only be brought for motor vehicle accidents if the ensuing injury meets a statutory standard of serious injury.
Serious injuries are defined as follows in Article 51 of the New York Consolidated Laws section on Insurance Law:
In addition to these impairments, Article 51 explains that the following situation qualifies as serious: a non-permanent injury that prevents the victim from resuming "usual and customary" activities for at least 90 of the 180 days immediately following the accident.
Knowing how to identify and deal with the insurance carrier, getting all of the required proof, and knowing how to present it is an essential part of successfully resolving a claim for personal injuries arising from a car accident. This is why it’s important to work with a skilled New York car accident lawyer who can provide thorough documentation of your injuries and argue your case on your behalf.
While most drivers can obtain No-Fault damages even if they played a role in the crash or their injuries seem minor, a few exceptions exist:
New York is one of just a few states to operate under a comparative fault approach to personal injury claims. This terminology can sometimes be confusing, as New York is also a No-fault state in regard to insurance.
Comparative fault, also known as shared fault, is a claimant-friendly rule that ensures that the plaintiff receives damages, even when he or she is presumed at least partially at fault. Whether the Defendant driver is 100% or 10% responsible the driver must pay his proportional share of the fault.
Pure comparative fault should not be confused with its modified counterpart, which is used in many other states. Under a system of modified comparative fault, the claimant is ineligible for damages if deemed over 50 percent to blame for the car accident.
Conversely, pure comparative fault may allow the person primarily responsible for the crash to still collect some damages. These will be offset by the far greater damages awarded to the person deemed at fault to a lesser degree.
An application for No-Fault benefits must be filed within 30 days. In accidents where the defendant is a municipality, a Notice of Claim must be served within 90 days, and a lawsuit commenced within one year and 90 days. For most other car accidents that take place in New York, the claimant is allowed to initiate a lawsuit within three years of the crash's date. This is called the statute of limitations.
Section 214 of the New York Civil Practice Laws & Rules clarifies that a three-year statute of limitations applies to anybody (including drivers, passengers, bicyclists, and pedestrians) injured in a car accident. This echoes the general statute of limitations for personal injury in New York.
Similarly, the 3-year statute of limitations also applies to collecting compensation for damages sustained by the car or other property as a result of the collision.
The one exception to New York's three-year car accident statute of limitations is in cases involving wrongful death. In New York, wrongful death cases must be filed within just two years of the date on which the deceased individual passed away. Keep in mind that this date may differ from the date of the accident that led to the person's death.
As stated above No-Fault claim must be filed within a mere 30 days of the accident. Known as the Application for Motor Vehicle No-Fault Benefits, this must be promptly submitted to the No-Fault insurance carrier. Failure to meet this deadline could jeopardize your ability to secure compensation for medical treatment, household help, transportation costs to medical appointments, and lost wages.
The likelihood of a car accident case going to trial largely depends on whether the resulting injuries are deemed serious enough to meet the statutory serious injury threshold. Cases involving mild or moderate injuries are often resolved, but frequently that is up to how reasonable the defendant or its insurance company is.
Even if injuries stemming from a car accident are serious enough to meet the statutory serious injury threshold requirement, there's no guarantee that these cases will go to trial. In many situations, such cases are resolved or settled but the case must be prepared for trial in order to maximize its value. Many cases settle on the eve of trial.
This is why it's important to work with a trial-ready attorney, as litigation always remains a possibility. Courtroom appearances are most likely when there is disagreement as to who was at fault for the accident, the extent of the fault, and whether there is enough proof to sustain the burden of establishing a serious injury under the statutory threshold.
An experienced New York City car accident lawyer can assist with numerous components of your case. The attorneys will file the no-fault application, determine the owners of the vehicles, ascertain the insurance coverage for all the vehicles involved and make all the timely filings, file suit, attend all court appearances, meet with the client to prepare for depositions and medical appointments required by the defendant, as well as take the case to trial. Without an assertive lawyer on your side, you could easily be bullied by insurance companies into accepting compensation that is unacceptably low.
To help argue your case, your lawyer will gather extensive evidence that might otherwise be difficult for you to obtain on your own. This could include police reports, video footage, witness statements, or medical records. All these must be analyzed thoroughly to clarify fault and causation.
In the midst of all this, your experienced car accident lawyer should be cognizant of all relevant filing deadlines. If you are injured in a car accident you must have competent representation by a firm that handles all aspects of the case from beginning through trial and possibly appeal. It's imperative that you work with a proactive car accident lawyer who continually demonstrates attention to detail.
Strong representation can make a world of difference in the aftermath of a motor vehicle accident. During this sensitive time, it's crucial that you work with the best legal team available. After all, your New York City car accident attorney could determine whether you emerge with considerable compensation or whether you come up short. You need an assertive advocate who will fight to protect your best interests.
With Roth & Roth on your side, you can feel confident that your case will rest in the most capable hands. Our New York City car accident lawyers know what it takes to resolve complex cases, even if you hold some degree of fault. Empathetic and non-judgmental, we provide the kind-hearted support you need during this stressful time.
Don't let insurance representatives or negligent drivers get away with irresponsible or unethical behavior. With a solid advocate in your corner, you can obtain both the justice and the damages you deserve. Look to Roth & Roth for help every step of the way.
Ready to get started? Don't hesitate to contact our team of New York car accident lawyers. We are ready to discuss your case and get you on the path to a positive outcome.
Reach out today to learn more about our legal approach and our personal injury services. We never get paid unless and until you do; it costs nothing to speak with us.