Auto accidents are an unfortunate fact of life for many New Yorkers, especially those who traverse the tangled streets of the Big Apple. If you’re ever involved in a car accident, you need to have the right legal team on your or your loved one’s side to secure a successful lawsuit outcome and maximize compensation for car accident injuries.
From Brooklyn to the Bronx, Manhattan to Queens, there are dozens of qualified personal injury law firms that could handle your car accident case. However, Schwartzapfel Lawyers P.C. stands above them all. Why?
Today, let’s break down why you should choose Schwartzapfel Lawyers and how they always fight for you. Or, if you’d prefer to speak with one of our elite car accident attorneys directly, you can reach us at 1-516-342-2200. Your consultation will be free and the advice provided to you invaluable in protecting your financial future.
Car Accidents in NYC
Sadly, car accidents are incredibly common in New York City and throughout the Empire State. According to January 2022 official city statistics, there were approximately 7,700 motor vehicle collisions in this month alone. This is on track for similar months throughout each year, with motor vehicle accidents increasing in the winter months (presumably due to elements like inclement weather).
In any event, drivers have to be very careful on New York City’s roadways. Even if you’re being careful, other drivers may not be paying attention and could cause an auto accident. There’s always the risk of accidents due to distracted driving or drunk driving.
In most cases, drivers are protected by no-fault insurance clauses. As a no-fault insurance state, every driver in New York City has to have car insurance. The insurance then foots the bill for any damages or injuries that may occur because of an accident up to a certain monetary amount.
Still, auto accident injuries or damages can be severe and exorbitant. Victims may need to file a lawsuit against a negligent or at-fault party to recover compensation and stabilize their finances. When the time comes to file a lawsuit, car accident victims should contact skilled car accident lawyers.
What To Do After a Car Accident
Of course, calling an auto accident lawyer is not the first step to recovering from a car crash. Instead, victims should follow the below steps in sequence.
Contact Emergency Services
First, those involved in a car accident should contact emergency services right away. Someone could be injured, or there could be hazards in the accident’s local environment. Emergency services can ensure that everyone is safe and healthy or take people to a hospital if necessary.
Ensure that anyone injured receives the necessary medical attention and that everyone involved is checked. Take the information of any first responders at the scene, as well as the information of those involved and any witnesses.
Contact Legal Help
After receiving medical care, you should speak to a legal specialist. The right NYC car accident attorneys can:
- Help you gather the right evidence for a lawsuit
- Advise you about the likelihood of a lawsuit winning
Fortunately, Schwartzapfel Lawyers P.C. is just a phone call away. By dialing 1-516-342-2200, you will be able to speak with a reliable personal injury lawyer, 24/7, at no charge.
Contact Insurance
If you’re injured due to a car accident, wait until after speaking to a lawyer before contacting your own insurance company. Your insurance company will tell you how much of your medical bills or other damages are covered by your Personal Injury Protection or PIP insurance.
Additionally, both your insurance company and the company of the other involved party may need to contact each other to exchange key information. Your lawyer can help you figure out the best way to handle these communications.
New York Auto Accident Lawsuits
In New York City and the rest of the state, drivers cannot typically sue each other for auto accidents. That’s because New York is a no-fault” state. That means the state government automatically assumes that neither motorist is at fault for a car accident.
The no-fault insurance laws were first passed many years ago. They were intended to make insurance claims and accident recovery easier and more streamlined for victims. Unfortunately, these laws actually make things complex for accident victims if their insurance policies don’t cover their full medical bills or other financial damages.
No-Fault Lawsuits – Can You Get Compensation?
Yes, but only under certain circumstances.
According to New York insurance rules, PIP insurance coverage pays for:
- Up to 80% of lost work income or up to $2,000 per month for up to a total of three years from the accident date
- The necessary and reasonable” accident-related medical bills up to $25 per day for up to a year after the accident. This financial compensation can be awarded over time or at once depending on the victim’s needs
- Up to $50,000 total depending on complete listed damages
- Another $2,000 in death benefits to the estate or family of an individual killed in a car accident
Furthermore, PIP insurance applies to car drivers or anyone else driving the affected vehicle, passengers riding in the car, or pedestrians hit by the car.
It’s easy to see that many auto accidents could incur medical bills higher than what insurance covers. Under these circumstances, victims may be on the hook for high medical bills to cover the cost of surgeries, physical therapy, pain medication, and more.
Fortunately, New York’s no-fault laws allow for circumstances in which victims can sue negligent or at-fault parties for accidents. Specifically, you can sue someone for a car accident when you:
- Have experienced a significant disfigurement, bone fracture, permanent limitation of use for a body organ, member, function, or system
- Have a substantially full disability for at least 90 days
Under these conditions, New York law classifies your injuries as serious.” You are no longer limited to no-fault car accident claims under your insurance policy. Then you can hold the at-fault party responsible for the accident and file an auto accident or personal injury lawsuit.
With these lawsuits, you can pursue compensation for:
- Pain and suffering
- Noneconomic damages (which are normally not available for no-fault claims)
- Past and future medical expenses beyond what is covered by PIP insurance
- Loss of income because of your auto accident injuries
- Loss of ability (if your injuries include some level of paralysis)
Why Can a Legal Team Still Help?
But while auto accident lawsuits are possible under New York State law, they are far from guaranteed successes. Having the right legal team on your side can go a long way toward ensuring that you maximize your compensation and can pay for your medical bills in a manageable way.
That’s why you should contact Schwartzapfel Lawyers today by phone at 1-516-342-2200 or online for a free consultation!
How Can NYC Car Accident Lawyers Help?
Auto accident lawyers are knowledgeable legal professionals who know the ins and outs of New York state and auto accident law. They may be able to help your auto accident case (and other personal injury cases) in a variety of ways.
File Paperwork
First, car accident lawyers can ensure that all paperwork is filed on time and in the right order. For example, you need to make sure your lawsuit is filed before certain statutes of limitations expire, which would, in effect, bar your claim and stop you from recovering damages. Skilled auto accident lawyers can take care of this for you so that you can focus on what’s most important: recovering from your accident.
Gather Evidence
Additionally, auto accident attorneys can gather evidence on your behalf. Key evidence will be necessary to prove your case to a court or judge, including police reports, the testimony of medical professionals, doctors’ records and notes, and so on.
With personal injury attorneys working the case with you, you won’t need to do all the legwork and get this information yourself. Instead, your team knows where to look and who to contact – they can tackle it for you.
Present a Strong Case
Perhaps most importantly, car accident attorneys can present your case persuasively to the court. In this way, they will boost the likelihood of your case turning out enough compensation to pay for your medical bills and then some.
It can be tough, if not impossible, to represent yourself alone, especially if you are recovering from major auto accident injuries. But with the right legal firm behind you, you won’t have to go through the process alone.
How Schwartzapfel Lawyers P.C. Can Help
Schwartzapfel Lawyers is more than just a standard New York City law firm. Our team is comprised of award-winning trial lawyers who have achieved up to 99% client satisfaction over our many years of service.
More than that, we are knowledgeable in all types of personal injury law and have helped clients just like you win contested car, truck, and motorcycle accident lawsuits. With a long history of legal successes under our collective belt, we’re well-equipped and ready to help with your lawsuit as well.
Some New York City car accident lawyers will only take catastrophic injury cases, but we’re not like that. We have years of experience and can provide the legal advice you need.
More specifically, Schwartzapfel Lawyers P.C. may be able to help you:
- Acquire the maximum compensation possible for your case
- Pay for your medical bills or noneconomic damages
- Secure compensation payouts of thousands or potentially even millions of dollars
More importantly, Schwartzapfel Lawyers operates on a contingency fee basis so you never need to worry about not being able to afford our services. We work hard for each of our clients and only take out a fee if you receive a payout from the at-fault party for your auto accident. In short: We don’t get paid unless you get paid.
Given all these factors, we’re the best people to contact if you have an upcoming auto accident lawsuit or want to press charges against the party responsible for your accident. Although we are New York City car accident attorneys, we can also assist with all manner of personal injury claims, including wrongful death and traumatic brain injury (TBI) cases, slip, trip, and fall accidents, and more!
Contact Schwartzapfel Lawyers P.C. Today!
No one should have to shoulder the burdens of a car accident lawsuit alone. At Schwartzapfel Lawyers, it is our honor and privilege to fight for you every step of the way. Contact our law office today for more information or a free case evaluation!
Sources:
Schwartzapfel Lawyers P.C. | Fighting For You™™
Jan 2022 Motor Vehicle Collision Report | Police Department City of New York
New York No-Fault Car Insurance | Nolo
5 Things to Know About New York’s Serious Injury Threshold | NYSBA.org
