Two cars stopped at the side of the highway, the right one with a destroyed front, representing the need for a New York car accident lawyer.Whether you’re navigating the FDR Drive during rush hour or crossing an intersection in Brooklyn, the aftermath of a collision brings immediate challenges that can overwhelm even the most prepared individuals. In these moments, working with an experienced New York car accident lawyer from Seraj Law ensures you have someone to protect your rights and guide you through the complex recovery process. 

Why Hire a New York Car Accident Attorney?

Accident victims face mounting medical bills that arrive long before insurance companies respond to claims. Lost income compounds the financial pressure when injuries prevent you from working.

Meanwhile, insurance adjusters, who are trained to minimize payouts, contact you when you’re most vulnerable, pushing for quick settlements that rarely reflect the true value of your claim. A skilled NYC car accident attorney protects your rights, counters insurer tactics, and helps you pursue compensation you deserve.

  • Protects you from insurance tactics: New York personal injury lawyers understand adjusters’ strategies and negotiate fair settlements.
  • Builds a strong liability case: Using traffic camera footage, accident reports, and witness testimony to prove fault.
  • Helps pursue full compensation: Accounts for medical bills, future care costs, lost wages, and reduced earning capacity.
  • Handles complex legal procedures: Navigates New York’s specific insurance laws and court systems.
  • Offers borough-specific expertise: Experience with Manhattan, Queens, Bronx, and Brooklyn courts ensures local insights that matter.

Common Causes of Car Accidents in NYC

From distracted drivers to crumbling infrastructure, multiple factors contribute to the city’s high crash rates. According to NYC’s Vision Zero data, more than 100,000 motor vehicle collisions occur annually, causing tens of thousands of injuries and hundreds of fatalities.

Understanding the most common causes helps explain why accidents are so frequent – and how attorneys use these patterns to strengthen claims.

  • Distracted driving: Cell phone use, navigation apps, and eating behind the wheel cause thousands of preventable collisions each year.
  • Speeding and reckless driving: Lane weaving, tailgating, and unsafe following distances, particularly on highways like the Belt Parkway and Major Deegan Expressway, lead to multi-vehicle crashes.
  • Drunk and drugged driving: Impaired driving spikes on weekend nights, especially in entertainment districts across Manhattan and the outer boroughs.
  • Infrastructure hazards: Potholes, confusing construction zones, poor lighting, and malfunctioning signals increase accident risks.
  • Vehicle defects: Faulty brakes, tire blowouts, and other mechanical failures contribute to dangerous situations.
  • Accident hotspots: Certain intersections and corridors appear repeatedly in crash data, evidence that attorneys leverage to prove negligence.

Types of Car Accident Cases We Handle

At Seraj Law, we represent clients in every kind of motor vehicle accident case. Each type of crash presents its own legal and medical challenges, requiring tailored strategies to prove liability and secure fair compensation.

Rear-End Collisions

Common in stop-and-go traffic on roads like the Cross Bronx Expressway and Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, rear-end accidents may look simple but often involve disputed fault and detailed injury documentation.

Side-Impact (T-Bone) Crashes

Often occurring at intersections when drivers run red lights or fail to yield, side-impact crashes cause severe injuries due to the limited protection along vehicle sides. These cases frequently require extensive medical evidence and expert testimony.

Head-On Collisions

Less common in NYC than in suburban areas, head-on crashes are among the most devastating. Wrong-way drivers on one-way streets or highway ramps create catastrophic injuries that demand aggressive representation.

Multi-Vehicle Pileups

Pileups complicate liability, with multiple drivers and insurers involved. Resolving these cases typically requires thorough investigation, accident reconstruction experts, and careful coordination of claims.

Pedestrian and Cyclist Accidents

With walking and biking as major modes of transportation in NYC, pedestrians and cyclists are especially vulnerable. These cases require attorneys familiar with the special protections New York law provides to injured road users.

Fatal Accidents and Wrongful Death Claims

When crashes result in loss of life, wrongful death claims must be handled with both compassion and precision. These cases differ from typical injury claims, involving distinct legal standards and careful calculation of damages for grieving families.

What to Do After a Car Accident in New York

Your actions immediately following an accident significantly impact your legal claim.

  • Ensure safety and call 911: Move to a secure location if possible and request police assistance, even for minor accidents.
  • Seek medical attention right away: Some injuries (like whiplash or internal bleeding) don’t show symptoms immediately. Medical records also link your injuries directly to the accident.
  • Gather evidence at the scene: Take photos of vehicle damage, skid marks, traffic lights, weather conditions, and visible injuries. Collect witness names and contact information.
  • File required accident reports: If police don’t respond, New York law requires filing Form MV-104 within 10 days for accidents involving injury, death, or over $1,000 in property damage.
  • Contact an attorney before speaking to insurers: Insurance adjusters often call quickly to secure statements that reduce payouts. A lawyer protects your rights and ensures all legal requirements are met.

New York’s Car Accident Laws

Understanding New York’s car accident laws is essential for anyone injured in a crash. From the no-fault system to strict filing deadlines, these rules determine how and when you can recover compensation.

No-Fault Insurance System

New York requires Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage, which pays medical bills and lost wages regardless of fault. Standard policies cover up to $50,000, but this is often insufficient for severe injuries requiring surgeries, long-term care, or disability accommodations.

Serious Injury Threshold

To sue outside of no-fault, you must meet New York’s serious injury threshold. Qualifying injuries include:

  • Death, dismemberment, or significant disfigurement
  • Fractures or permanent loss of use of a body part
  • Permanent or significant limitations on organ or body function
  • Medically proven injuries preventing normal activity for 90 out of 180 days after the accident

For example, a herniated disc with documented spinal limitations may qualify, while minor soft tissue injuries that heal quickly usually do not.

Statute of Limitations

Strict deadlines apply to accident claims:

  • Personal injury: 3 years from the accident date
  • Wrongful death: 2 years from the date of death
  • Municipal claims: 90 days to file a notice of claim if a city vehicle or road defect is involved

Missing these deadlines can permanently bar recovery.

Comparative Negligence

New York follows pure comparative negligence, meaning you can still recover damages even if you’re mostly at fault. However, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of responsibility. For instance, if you’re 30% at fault in a $100,000 case, your recovery would be $70,000.

Compensation You May Be Entitled To

Car accident victims in New York may qualify for several types of compensation depending on the severity of their injuries and the circumstances of the crash. These damages cover both financial losses and the personal impact of an accident, ensuring victims and their families receive justice and support.

Economic Damages

These form the core of most claims. They include:

  • Medical expenses such as emergency care, surgeries, medication, rehabilitation, and long-term treatment needs.
  • Lost income during recovery and diminished earning capacity if you cannot return to your prior occupation.
  • Rehabilitation costs, including physical and occupational therapy, counseling, and adaptive equipment.

Non-Economic Damages

These address the human toll of an accident beyond financial loss:

  • Pain and suffering from physical injuries and lasting discomfort.
  • Emotional distress, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD, after a traumatic crash.
  • Loss of enjoyment of life when injuries prevent you from engaging in activities you once loved.

Punitive Damages

Though rare, these apply in cases involving gross negligence or intentional misconduct. Examples include drunk drivers with prior convictions or commercial drivers who knowingly violate safety laws.

Punitive damages serve to punish reckless behavior and deter future misconduct.

Choose Our New York Car Accident Law Firm for Your Case

When you’ve been injured in a car accident, the law firm you choose can make all the difference. Our team at Seraj Law combines deep knowledge of New York’s traffic laws, experience handling cases in NYC courts, and a dedication to pursuing fair compensation for our clients.

We don’t let insurance companies dictate the value of your case – we fight for what you truly deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation and let us help you take the first step toward justice, recovery, and peace of mind.

New York Car Accident FAQ

Do I really need a lawyer after a car accident in NYC?

While not legally required, representation significantly improves outcomes. Insurance companies employ teams of adjusters and attorneys to minimize payouts.

Statistics show that represented claimants receive substantially higher settlements than those negotiating alone. Additionally, attorneys handle complex paperwork, deadlines, and negotiations while you focus on recovery.

How long does a car accident case take in New York?

Timeline varies based on injury severity, liability disputes, and court schedules.

Simple cases with clear liability might settle within months. Complex cases involving severe injuries or disputed fault can take one to three years, especially if a trial becomes necessary.

Your attorney should provide realistic timeline estimates based on case specifics.

How much does a New York car accident lawyer cost?

The contingency fee model makes quality legal representation accessible regardless of financial situation. Seraj Law advances all case costs and only collects fees if we secure compensation through a settlement or trial verdict.

This arrangement aligns attorney and client interests; we only succeed when you do. It contrasts sharply with hourly billing or flat fees, which rarely apply in personal injury cases and would place a financial burden on injured victims when they’re least able to afford it.

Seraj law

423 New Karner Rd, Suite 6, Albany, NY 12205

Google
5
Star Star Star Star Star

Take the First Step – Request a Consultation