Car Accident Frequently Asked Questions

What Happens in a Rear-End Accident?

For most people, a head-on auto collision is the worst type of car crash imaginable. However, your odds of suffering serious injury...

Who is at Fault in a Rear-End Collision in New York?

What Happens When a Car Is T-Boned?

When a vehicle is struck broadside — commonly known as a T-bone accident — the consequences are often devastating. Formally referred to...

Who Is at Fault in a T-Bone Accident?

Identifying fault in a T-bone accident is often complex. Because these collisions are often catastrophic, and in many cases fatal, proving the...

What Should I Do After a Hit and Run Accident?

After a hit and run, the first thing to do is to call the police, then write down as much information as...

Does Car Insurance Cover Me if I Hit a Pedestrian in New York City?

Due to the enormous size difference between a motor vehicle and a pedestrian, the potential for severe injuries is significant when the...

What Should I Do If I’m in an Accident with a Truck?

Collisions between cars and trucks often involve serious injuries or fatalities. If you are physically able, call the police and document the...

Do I Need a Lawyer If I Was Rear Ended?

It’s always a good idea to talk to one of our New York City car accident lawyers after a car wreck. This...

Backing Up Car Accident: Who Is At Fault?

When a driver backs into a vehicle parked in a lot or on the street, they are at fault. However, not all...

Can I Sue if I was a Passenger in a Car Accident?

If you have suffered injuries in a car accident, you have the right to bring a civil lawsuit against the negligent party...

Who Is at Fault in a Car Accident When Changing Lanes?

Improper lane changes account for thousands of fatalities and serious injuries each year. Also known as sideswipe accidents— who is fault depends...

Is Hit and Run Worse Than a DUI?

Driving under the influence can carry significant criminal penalties in New York. For some, those penalties can have a life-altering impact. Drivers...

Who Is at Fault in a Multi-Car Accident?

Determining fault in a multi-car accident is complex. Multiple parties may prove liable, and only a complete analysis based on the evidence...

Is Leaving the Scene of an Accident the Same as a Hit and Run?

It’s very important to remain at the scene of an accident until law enforcement arrives. The only exceptions to this rule are...

Will Car Insurance Pay If I Hit a Pedestrian With My Car?

Pedestrian accidents involving motor vehicles account for a large share of traffic deaths in New York. Last year, 114 pedestrians were killed...

Are Pain and Suffering Always Awarded After a Car Accident?

A car accident often takes a toll in many ways— physically, financially, and even emotionally. Unfortunately, in New York, not all accidents,...

How Much Will I Get for Pain and Suffering From a Car Accident?

The amount of damages that you would receive after a collision depends on several factors. And while there is no set number,...

Can I Claim Lost Wages After a Car Accident?

A car accident can be devastating. That’s why most policies include provisions for lost wages or other sources of income. Getting the...

Is Pain and Suffering Awarded After a Minor Car Accident?

In most states, someone injured in a car accident due to another person’s fault is entitled to recover compensation, which includes physical...

Can I File a Claim for Loss of Consciousness?

Your ability to file a lawsuit seeking compensation after a car accident depends upon a doctor’s ability to diagnose injury and your...

What Happens if I Lose My Job Due to a Car Accident?

The injuries you suffer in a car accident can prevent you from performing the regular duties of your job. In many situations,...

Can I Get Punitive Damages After a Car Accident?

Punitive damages are not awarded to reimburse losses suffered by an injured party in an accident. Instead, the courts use them primarily...

What is the 90/180 Day Rule in New York?

If you are injured in a car accident in New York, the compensation available under your no-fault policy may not be enough...

Can I Sue for Emotional Distress From a Car Accident?

The short answer is that you CAN sue for emotional distress after your involvement in a car accident. From a legal standpoint,...

What is the Average Payout for a Whiplash Injury in a Car Accident?

Whiplash is one of the most common injuries in a car accident– so it’s no surprise that many people ask about the...

Does Pain and Suffering Include Emotional Distress?

Yes, “pain and suffering” in a personal injury lawsuit does broadly cover damages such as emotional distress. In some instances, however, “emotional...

Who Pays for My Vehicle Damage After an Accident in New York?

New York is a “no-fault” insurance state, but those laws apply only to injuries in a car accident and not to claims...

How are Lost Wages Calculated in New York?

After a serious car accident due to another driver’s negligence, many people are unable to work. In New York, calculating lost wages...

Who Will Pay My Medical Bills After a Car Accident in New York?

New York is a “no-fault” car accident state. Most of the time, your insurance will cover the cost of your injuries. If...

How Do I Know If My Car Accident Case Is Worth Anything?

Every car accident claim is unique. Just because one individual received a particular amount in a collision that seems similar to yours–...

Will My Car Insurance Pay My Medical Bills After an Accident?

New York is a no-fault state, which means that each driver’s own insurance pays for their accident-related medical care up to the...

Can You Sue for PTSD After a Car Accident?

Car accidents often cause devastating bodily injuries. Broken bones and soft tissue damage can take weeks or months to heal, while some...

Can Social Media Posts Affect My Car Accident Claim?

After a car accident, you may want to let friends and family know what happened and how you’re feeling. However, avoid using...

Can car insurance companies request medical records?

Auto insurance companies often request an accident victim’s medical records before agreeing to pay on a claim. They may do this for...

How Do You Prove Emotional Distress After a Car Accident?

How do you prove emotional distress after a car accident? Like any type of injury, proving emotional distress requires evidence. Evidence is...

Should I Release My Medical Records to an Insurance Company?

You were hurt in a vehicle accident and have been contacted by the insurance adjuster, asking for your medical records. You need...

Is Apologizing After A Car Accident Admitting Fault?

Apologizing after a car wreck may seem like the right thing to do. However, it can backfire. Never say, “I’m sorry” until...

Do I Need a Police Report After a Car Accident?

Yes, a police report can help your personal injury lawyer to obtain for you the compensation you deserve. It can also protect...

What Information Do I Need After a Car Accident?

So much happens in the aftermath of a car accident, but getting certain information from the other driver is critical. Of course,...

Can Vehicle Damage Determine Fault in a Car Accident?

Vehicle damage after a car accident provides important information, which can certainly help when determining fault. It may not prove fault entirely...

Can a Car Accident Cause a Traumatic Brain Injury?

Car accidents can cause a traumatic brain injury (TBI), and in fact, they are a leading cause of them in the United...

What if my accident injuries don’t show up right away?

After a car accident, your priority should be to ensure you and your passengers are safe. If anyone in your vehicle has...

Can I Sue for a Concussion from a Car Accident in New York?

When you suffer an injury in a New York car accident through no fault of your own, you are entitled to seek...

What is a Soft Tissue Injury in a Car Accident?

Car accident injuries can run the gamut from minor bumps and cuts to fractured bones and loss of limb. The impact of...

Can You Sue for PTSD After a Car Accident?

Car accidents often cause devastating bodily injuries. Broken bones and soft tissue damage can take weeks or months to heal, while some...

What Kinds of Injuries Happen in Car Wrecks?

Car wreck injuries run the gamut from minor to catastrophic. Because New York is a no-fault state when it comes to auto...

How Do I Overcome Driving Anxiety After an Accident?

You can take things slowly. Start with short, easy drives, preferably in the company of a supportive traveling companion. You can also...

What Should I Do if My Neck Hurts After a Car Accident?

It’s common to experience neck pain, often referred to as “whiplash,” after a car accident. The first step you should take is...

Should I See a Chiropractor After a Car Accident?

Chiropractic care is an effective way to treat many forms of back and neck pain, including injuries caused by car accidents. But...

What Should I Expect Physically After a Car Accident?

The answer depends on the type of accident and its severity. Typical injuries include head trauma, back and neck pain, and nerve...

What Counts as a Serious Injury in a Car Accident?

Death, dismemberment, disfigurement, or loss of a fetus– New York considers these injuries to be most severe. You are also considered seriously...

What Types of Injuries are Associated with T-Bone Accidents?

A car’s side panels and doors generally provide less protection and have a smaller crumple zone than the front and rear of...

What Happens If You’re Paralyzed in a Car Accident?

According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, traffic accidents are responsible for nearly 40 percent of all paralysis cases. The...

I’ve Been Injured in a Car Accident, What Do I Do?

If you’re reading this, you’ve probably left the scene of the accident already. Ideally, you would have taken detailed notes, as well...

Should I See a Doctor After a Car Accident?

Seeing a doctor after a car accident is critical, even if you do not think you were injured. Some injuries are not...

Are unlicensed drivers covered by insurance?

Auto insurance is essential, both for the driver’s sake and for the protection of accident victims. But coverage terms can vary from...

Should I Sign a Release of All Claims Form?

If you have a pen in hand paused over the signature box on a “release of all claims” form, do not sign...

Can I Keep My Car if it’s Totaled?

For New York City drivers, having a car declared totaled can be extremely stressful, whether the accident happened on a crowded Manhattan...

What Does a Claims Adjuster Do?

Claims adjusters work for auto insurance companies to investigate accidents and determine the extent of the insurer’s liability. They may inspect accident...

Can You Keep the Money from a Car Insurance Claim and Not Repair Your Car?

Navigating a car insurance claim in New York City can feel overwhelming, especially after an accident on congested streets, busy avenues, or...

What Happens if Your Car Gets Totaled and You Still Owe Money?

The property damage in a motor vehicle accident is bad enough, but to add insult to injury, you’re still most likely responsible...

Does My Health Insurance Cover Car Accidents?

Yes, health insurers do cover car accident claims– but how and when your health insurance policy kicks in depends on several factors....

What is an Umbrella Policy?

Auto and homeowner insurance policies typically have liability caps that limit the amount the insurer is obligated to pay. In more serious...

Do I Have to File an Insurance Claim After an Accident?

You do not always have to file an insurance claim after an accident, but it depends on the extent of damage. Drivers...

What Is GAP Insurance?

If you have recently purchased a new or used vehicle, you were likely offered an opportunity to purchase Guaranteed Asset Protection or...

Do I Have to Pay My Health Insurance Back After a Car Accident?

If you were seriously injured in a car accident, received medical treatment, filed a personal injury lawsuit, and obtained a settlement, your...

What is Loss of Use Auto Insurance?

A loss of use auto insurance claim provides reimbursement for a rental vehicle following an accident. Most policies include this important coverage,...

How do you file a car insurance claim?

Being deprived of an automobile for even a few days can have a major impact on our quality of our lives. Auto...

What is No-Fault Insurance in New York?

Twelve states (including New York) and Puerto Rico have passed laws that require drivers to carry “no-fault” auto insurance on their vehicles....

How Long Does It Take to Fix a Car After an Accident?

How long it takes to fix a car after an accident depends not only on the nature of the damage but the...

What is Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Insurance?

Personal injury protection, or PIP insurance, is a mandatory component of the no-fault auto insurance that all New Yorkers are required to...

If a Drunk Driver Damaged My Car, Will My Auto Insurance Pay?

When it comes to car accidents, New York is a no-fault state. Insurance companies reimburse motorists for injuries regardless of who was...

What is Supplemental Underinsured Motorist (SUM) Coverage?

New York drivers are required to carry automobile insurance to protect others on the road who may be injured due to their...

What Should I Do If My Insurance Claim is Denied?

Insurance claim denials are not the end of the road following a car accident. By state law, the insurance company must handle...

Should I Call My Insurance After a Fender Bender?

You can best protect your rights by always notifying your insurer of an accident, even one that appears minor. You likely have...

Will Insurance Pay For A Totaled Car?

Next to treating injuries, replacing a vehicle is among the chief concerns following an auto accident. We rely so much on our...

Should I File a Claim with My Insurance or Theirs?

After a car accident, you should notify your insurance company and file a claim, and not deal with the other driver’s insurer....

Will My Car Insurance Cover My Crash if I Was DUI?

If you set your home ablaze, it’s clear you’re intentionally committing a crime. But, DUI is a gray area. While it is...

Should I Give My Insurance Company a Recorded Statement?

Following a car accident, an insurance company may ask you to provide a recorded statement. If this insurance company is the other...

Do I Need a Lawyer Before Talking to a Claims Adjuster?

After an accident, you can count on fielding phone calls from a variety of insurance adjusters. Your own insurance carrier will want...

What Happens if You Get into a Car Accident Without Insurance in New York?

Driving without auto insurance is a serious crime throughout New York State. Maintaining coverage on your vehicle is one of the responsibilities...

What is the Statute of Limitations on a Car Accident in New York?

The statute of limitations for filing an accident-related lawsuit in New York is normally three years. The sole exception to this rule...

What Do You Do When You Are Hit by a Drunk Driver

Impaired drivers cause some of the more serious car accidents in the United States every year. If you are in an accident...

Do I Have to Go to Court for a Car Accident?

Most car accident cases settle outside court, but there are certain situations where you may need to appear before a judge. Working...

What Should You Do After a Car Accident?

Obviously, the first step, after a collision, is to check yourself and your passengers for signs of injury. After that, you should...

Do I Have to Go to Court For a Ticket?

Whether you are required to appear in traffic court depends on the specific circumstances of your ticket. The good news is that...

What to Do If a Drunk Driver Is Behind You

When drivers operate a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they put everyone at risk. From pedestrians to other...

Do I Have to Report a Minor Car Accident in New York?

Fender benders, rear-end collisions, and low-speed sideswipes are common occurrences in New York, especially during peak traffic hours. If the crash was...

When Should I Get an Attorney After a Car Accident?

It’s never too soon after an auto crash to talk to our skilled New York City car accident lawyers. The quicker you...

How Long Do You Have to Report a Car Accident in New York?

There are many procedures to follow and forms to fill out after a car accident in New York. One of the first...

Why Do I Need to Contact an Attorney After an Accident?

There are many reasons why it’s a good idea to contact a personal injury attorney after a motor vehicle accident. They can...

What Do I Do After an Accident If the Other Driver Won’t Cooperate?

New York’s insurance system is designed to protect injured parties regardless of who is at fault, but what happens if you were...

Should I Sue a Friend or Family Member After an Accident?

Suing a friend or family member to recover damages for the injuries you suffered in a car accident might seem like a...

What Do I Do if I Hit an Animal in New York?

New York state law requires motorists who hit an animal to stop, contact either the owner or the police, and file a...

Are Parents Liable for Car Accidents Caused by Their Children?

In New York, parents are not generally liable for a child’s actions unless the parents themselves acted negligently. However, when parents own...

What Happens if Someone Leaves the Scene of an Accident?

All drivers must alert emergency services when they are in an accident resulting in property damage worth more than $1,000 and/or a...

Can Bad Weather Affect Car Accident Liability in New York?

There is no question bad weather can play a role in car accidents. Still, that does not excuse what may prove unreasonable...

What Happens If You Crash a Rental Car?

If you get into an accident with a rental car, what happens next depends on the type of auto insurance coverage you...

Can I Sue A Business if Their Employee Injured Me in a Car Accident?

When another driver causes an accident that results in your injury, it is common knowledge that you are entitled to pursue legal...

What Happens When You Get into an Accident in Another State?

Car accidents are scary enough when they happen in your hometown. But what happens when you’re hurt in a crash while driving...

What Happens If I Get Hit by an Uninsured Driver?

Roughly 6% of the drivers in New York are uninsured. If you get hit by one of them, you will need to...

What if Someone Else Gets in an Accident in My Car?

In “no-fault” New York State, auto insurance policies are attached to the vehicles, not the drivers. So, if you’ve let a friend...

What Happens If I Get Into a Car Accident With an Out of State Driver?

New York insurance laws are designed to protect motorists who are injured in a car accident. These laws include no-fault provisions and...

What is Comparative Fault?

Comparative fault is a legal term for allocating the percentage of fault between parties who share responsibility for an accident. It is...

What Happens if I Get Into an Accident in a Taxi?

Were you involved in an accident as a passenger in one of New York City’s taxi cabs? Like any motor vehicle collision,...

What Do I Do After a Car Accident That Wasn’t My Fault?

The one hard and fast rule to follow after any auto collision is to take care of yourself and, if necessary, any...

What Happens if I’m Injured in a Rideshare Accident in New York?

Passengers who use ridesharing services such as Uber or Lyft are covered by the respective company’s insurance. Schedule an appointment with the...

Are Car Accident Settlements Taxable in New York?

If you are injured in a car accident, the odds are good you are facing some financial strain. Medical bills from a...

Should I Accept a Check From the At-Fault Driver or Their Insurance

You are on the road with places to go when out of nowhere, you are involved in an accident. That moment changes...

Can I Get a Settlement in a Hit and Run?

Fleeing the scene of a car accident is never a good idea, no matter if it’s a minor scrape or a serious...

Should I Accept a Settlement Offer From an Auto Insurance Company?

A few days after a car accident, it is likely you will hear from the auto insurance company with a settlement offer....

Can I Still Sue If I Settled With the Insurance Company?

After your car accident, when you agreed to a settlement with your insurance company, you signed a release form or liability waiver....

Should I Accept My Insurance Company’s First Offer?

After a serious car accident, if you cannot work, it is tempting to accept the insurance company’s first offer. That is never...

Do I Need a Lawyer if the Insurance Company Offered Me a Settlement?

An insurance company’s initial settlement offer is always low. Insurance adjusters know that many car accident victims have no idea of a...