A car accident lawyer investigates the crash, gathers evidence, communicates with insurance companies, calculates damages, and helps injured people pursue financial recovery in New York.
Many crashes leave more behind than damaged vehicles. People often face medical bills, missed work, pain, insurance delays, and questions about fault all at once. Our Long Island car accident lawyer handles the legal and insurance side of the case so clients can focus on receiving treatment.
New York accident claims can become complicated when several insurance policies apply, when the crash involves a rideshare driver, or when the at-fault driver has little or no insurance coverage. Lawyers also help with hit-and-run claims, uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) claims, and disputes involving serious injuries under New York’s no-fault system.
How a Car Accident Lawyer Helps After a Crash
An auto crash attorney handles many parts of a claim from beginning to end. Some people contact a lawyer within days of the crash. Others reach out for help when the insurance company delays payment or offers less than expected.
When we handle claims for crashes, we help by:
- Investigating how the crash happened and gathering evidence
- Collecting police reports and medical records
- Speaking with witnesses and reviewing photos and video footage
- Communicating with insurance adjusters
- Calculating damages tied to the injury
- Negotiating settlement offers
- Filing a lawsuit when necessary
Many injured people do not realize how much evidence can disappear after a crash. Video footage may get erased, and people who saw the collision may not remember the details as time passes.
People can also get damaged vehicles repaired or destroyed before there’s time to inspect them. An attorney working on behalf of their client can move quickly to preserve evidence from the crash.
New York’s No-Fault Insurance System and PIP Benefits
Most drivers in New York must have Personal Injury Protection (PIP) because the state follows a no-fault system for car accident claims. PIP coverage helps pay for certain losses, no matter who’s responsible for the crash.
Under New York Insurance Law § 5102 and § 5103, PIP benefits can help cover:
- Medical expenses
- A portion of lost wages
- Certain transportation expenses
- Some household help costs
PIP coverage usually does not pay for pain and suffering damages. A lawyer helps make sure the injured person files the proper paperwork and meets insurance deadlines. In New York, injured people generally must file a no-fault application within 30 days of the crash.
Some injured people run into problems with the insurance company shortly after filing a claim. The insurer may question the medical treatment you received, challenge your account of when the injury happened, or claim that you submitted required forms that were incomplete.
An attorney can gather records and other evidence to challenge those decisions.
When Can You File a Lawsuit After a Crash in New York?
Certain car accident injuries allow a person to seek recovery outside of the no-fault system. This means they can file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver. Certain injuries qualify as “serious injuries” under state law.
What Is Considered a Serious Injury?
A serious injury may involve a broken bone, permanent damage, major scarring, or the loss of use of a body part. The law may also apply when injuries keep someone from performing many of their usual daily activities for at least 90 days of the first 180 days after the crash.
Our auto crash attorney will review medical records, treatment history, imaging test results, and other proof to determine if a client’s injury meets New York’s serious injury threshold. If it does, the person can pursue damages not covered under PIP.
These include pain and suffering, future medical expenses, lost income, reduced earning ability, and the emotional effects tied to the crash and recovery process.
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How Our Car Accident Lawyer Handles Insurance Companies
It is common for adjusters to ask questions about a crash. They may want more information about your medical treatment or disagree about who’s at fault. They also could offer a settlement before the full cost of your injuries and damages becomes clear.
Insurance companies sometimes try to lower the value of a claim or deny it altogether. Car accident lawyers communicate with insurance companies directly to protect the claim’s value. They also gather evidence to make the strongest case possible about how much the client should recover.
How Long Do You Have to Sue for Damages in New York?
Some car accident claims settle through insurance negotiations. Others require a lawsuit when the insurance company disputes liability or the value of the damages. Under NY CPLR § 214(5), New York law generally gives injured people three years to file most car accident lawsuits.
A two-year deadline applies to wrongful death actions under NY EPT § 5-4.1. Cases involving city vehicles or government agencies can involve earlier filing deadlines and special notice rules. If you wait too long to take action, it can make it harder to recover evidence connected to the crash.
Levine And Wiss Handles Difficult Car Accident Claims
Serious crashes can bring various legal challenges for injured people. Levine And Wiss helps them manage issues that arise after an accident. We handle cases involving PIP disputes, rideshare collisions, hit-and-run crashes, uninsured drivers, and serious injury claims across Long Island and throughout New York.
Our Long Island personal injury lawyers have recovered hundreds of millions for clients and served thousands of injured people over 15 years in business. We bring more than 100 years of combined experience to the cases we handle and work with clients directly.
Our in-house investigators, paralegals, and staff help move cases forward under partner supervision. We stay in contact with our clients, return calls, and remain available 24/7 after a crash. Call Levine And Wiss today to learn more about what a car accident lawyer does and how we can help. Your consultation is free.
