Car Accident Lawyers in NYC

Our Car Accident Attorneys in New York City Have Secured Millions for Injured Clients

Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death in the United States. Few people get behind the wheel intending to use their vehicles as weapons—however, auto accidents remain a large contributor to catastrophic and fatal injuries. When another driver acts with negligence, recklessness, or intentional malice, you need a New York City personal injury lawyer.

Our experienced team of New York car accident attorneys at Douglas & London can help you determine what happened before a crash, build a case, and achieve the best possible results. Insurance companies are notoriously difficult to deal with. We are here to make the process easier, so your family can focus on the road ahead. Call us to schedule a meeting with an experienced attorney.

Statistics on New York City car accidents

In a city of nearly 2 million registered vehicles, it’s not surprising that the services of a New York City car accident lawyer are often needed. According to NYPD statistics, as of October 2020, 9,487 accidents were reported citywide, involving:

• Motorists – 1,827 injured, 7 killed
• Passengers – 1,188 injured, 4 killed
• Cyclists – 587 injured, 1 killed
• Pedestrians – 629 injured, 12 killed.

Passenger vehicles and SUVs were overwhelmingly involved in the collisions, but hundreds of accidents included buses, taxis, semi-trucks, transport vans, bicycles, and motorcycles.

Common causes of Car Accidents

The 10 most common causes of a car crash in NYC include largely preventable errors, such as:

• • Driver inattention/distraction (2,718)
  • Following too closely (723)
  • Failure to yield right-of-way (690)
  • Passing or improper lane usage (388)
  • Passing too closely (347)
  • Unsafe speed (341)
  • Traffic control disregard (309)
  • Backing unsafely (293)
  • Unsafe lane changing (218)
  • Improper turn (203)

Common types of car accidents and car accident injuries

• Head-On Collisions – a forceful collision of two vehicles moving directly toward each other in opposite directions, which may cause face and head trauma, traumatic brain injuries, neck injuries, spinal cord damage, internal injuries, fractures, and lower extremity ligament tears.

• Rear-End Collisions – a collision where one vehicle hits another from directly behind, causing whiplash injuries of the neck at low speeds and, at high speeds, catastrophic injuries like spinal cord paralysis, head and brain trauma, facial disfigurement. It also includes wrist and arm fractures and seat belt related internal injuries.

• Sideswipe Crashes – a vehicle traveling in the same direction as another collides side-to-side, potentially causing the impacted driver to lose control of their vehicle and impact other drivers, barriers, or pedestrians. These accidents can lead to internal organ perforation, spinal cord damage, hip fractures, and shoulder injuries, mainly when the driver impacts another vehicle or roadside object such as a traffic light or road barrier.

• Rollover Accidents – a jarring collision that causes the vehicle to flip upside-down, crushing or collapsing the roof and causing head and traumatic brain injuries, permanent paralysis (quadriplegia or paraplegia), and severe whiplash.

• Intersection Accidents – a collision that commonly occurs when a car is turning left at an intersection and is struck in the side by a car traveling the opposite direction, commonly resulting in head and brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and whiplash due to violent lateral acceleration upon impact.

How no-fault insurance factors into New York City car accident claims

New York is considered a no-fault accident state, which means that your own insurance company should cover the cost of your medical bills without requiring any proof of financial liability. This system allows for faster reimbursement of claims because the parties do not have to prove fault to collect.

New York drivers must register their vehicles with the state and prove financial responsibility by demonstrating they can pay out-of-pocket or purchase a no-fault insurance policy with at least the minimum requirements. A typical no-fault policy must carry $25,000 for bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident, $50,000 per person, and $100,000 per accident for death, as well as $10,000 for property damage.

No-fault insurance can cover the expense of the ambulance ride, x-rays, surgeries, nursing care, rehabilitation, physical therapy, medication, prosthetics, dental bills, mental health counseling, and lost wages up to 80% of the victim’s salary. It should also cover other reasonable and necessary expenses such as transportation costs or household services. Funeral and burial expenses may be included in the event of a fatality.

Exceptions to coverage include motorcyclists, people who were driving under the influence or committing a felony crime at the time, and the uninsured. Victims must notify their insurer within 30 days of the accident to receive coverage. Even then, there is no guarantee all expenses will be covered. It helps to have a New York City car accident lawyer acting as an advocate for you.

Potential compensation

A bodily injury claim is different from a no-fault claim. If you were severely injured in an accident through little to no fault of your own, you are entitled to pursue a lawsuit to compensate you for medical expenses, lost wages, and future lost earning capacity. Compensation for a car accident can also include home modifications, property damage, physical pain, loss of enjoyment in life, emotional trauma, and pain and suffering. At Douglas and London, we have pursued cases worth $899,999 and higher.

What to Do Following a Car Accident That Wasn’t Your Fault

Waiting for the police to arrive can feel inconvenient or unnecessary but think of it this way: that’s one more person who can testify as to what happened. Even if you can drive away after the collision, it’s a good idea to seek immediate medical attention with your primary care physician, if not the ER or urgent care clinic. Symptoms like whiplash or traumatic brain injury can appear subtly and worsen in the days or weeks after the accident. A medical professional’s testimony serves as key evidence should you decide to file a lawsuit down the road.

Here at Douglas and London, our New York City auto accident attorneys will want to begin work on your case as early as possible, collecting crucial information and evidence when it is fresh. If you can obtain evidence from your car accident such as the names, addresses, and phone numbers of the other driver, passengers, and witnesses who saw what happened, those details will help expedite our discovery process.

As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words, and even more so in the courtroom. If you are not too badly injured, snap photos of the overall scene, including all vehicle locations, property damage, nearby signage, obstructions, wreckage, skid marks, and physical injuries.

New York law requires you to report a traffic accident that results in injury, death, or property damage exceeding $1,000 within ten days of the accident. Failure to do so could result in the suspension of your driver’s license. Likewise, most auto insurers contractually require motorists to report their accidents as soon as possible, so they can begin investigating the claim. Failure to report your collision could result in denial of compensation. If you were involved in an accident with an Uber or Lyft driver, or an accident with a taxi driver, you would need to report the crash to the appropriate agency.

Remember, anything you say can and will be used in a court of law against you, so avoid speaking to the other driver or insurance representatives without a legal representative present. Douglas and London will ensure that you are a cooperative witness without incriminating yourself. Something as seemingly innocuous as saying you are “good” when the insurer asks how you’re doing can be enough to minimize or delegitimatize your injury claim.

Trust Your Case to Douglas & London

We work with hundreds of NYC car accident victims each year and know how stressful it can be. Not only are you left without reliable transportation, but you have physical limitations and a recovery to manage. The bills pile up when you cannot work and earn money to pay them off. The insurance company acts like your friend, but when you need them to process fair and timely payments for your medical bills, there could be all types of delays.

Our personal injury attorneys have helped injured parties collect over $4 billion in compensation over the past two decades. Motor vehicle collisions are one of our most common case types. We seek recovery for medical bills, lost wages, loss of future working capacity, pain and suffering, and diminished quality of life. If you have lost a loved one, we seek wrongful death compensation that helps replace the sudden loss of income while also providing money to cover unanticipated funeral and burial costs.

Money isn’t the first thought on your mind at a time like this– but in the long run, your financial wellbeing will allow you to recover at a more comfortable pace. At Douglas and London, we only get paid for a successful settlement or jury verdict, so it’s in our best interest to look out for your best interest.

Contact Us for a free consultation

If you or a loved one was injured in a car accident, contact our New York offices online or call us. It costs nothing to consult with a personal injury attorney regarding your legal options.