New York City Car Accident Lawyer 

A New York City car accident can have far-reaching physical, emotional, and financial consequences. Rebuilding your life can take time and money and is challenging when you are coping with significant injuries. 

At Harford, P.C., founding attorney Scott A. Harford has intimate knowledge of the New York insurance industry. As a former defense lawyer for big insurers and Fortune 500 companies, he knows what it takes to go head-to-head with New York insurers to get you the compensation you deserve. 

If a careless driver has injured you in an accident, contact a New York City car accident lawyer with Harford, P.C., today. We offer a free, no-obligation case evaluation to help get you started on getting the justice you deserve. 

Benefits of Hiring an Attorney for Your Car Accident Claim

One of the more significant benefits of hiring a New York City car accident lawyer is the peace of mind it can provide to you and your family. An attorney can handle all the details of your accident claim, removing the stress and burden from your shoulders and allowing you to heal in peace. 

At Harford, P.C., we offer responsive legal representation and can help you by: 

• Thoroughly investigating the cause of the car wreck
• Identifying all parties who could be liable
• Managing communication between you and your insurance company 
• Gathering and preserving evidence 
• Building a robust claim
• Negotiating for a full and fair compensation amount
• Preparing your case for court when necessary

What Should You Do After a Car Accident?

In the immediate aftermath of a New York City car accident, try to remain calm and contact law enforcement. Exchange information with the other driver and document the scene as thoroughly as possible with pictures and videos. Ask witnesses at the scene for their contact information. Always seek medical treatment for your injuries as soon as possible.

In the days and weeks after the auto wreck, consider taking the following steps to protect yourself and strengthen your claim: 

• Contact a car accident law firm in New York
• Contact your insurance company
• Retain all records of your medical and other accident-related expenses
• Keep all follow-up medical appointments 
• Avoid posting on social media platforms 

How We Investigate NYC Car Accident Cases

When you hire Harford, P.C., after an accident, we get to work immediately. It starts with our legal team discovering and collecting valuable evidence. That means tracking down documents and information that can establish what occurred and who is liable for causing the crash. These include:

• Police reports
• Medical records
• Photographs
• Video surveillance
• Witness statements

We don’t stop until we have the information necessary to build a compelling claim and help you recover maximum compensation. 

What Compensation Could You Recover in a New York Car Accident Claim?

The value of a New York motor vehicle accident varies with the details of each case. Numerous factors impact a claim’s total value, including the cause of the crash and the severity of a person’s car accident injuries. 

A knowledgeable attorney can assess the overall value of your car accident claim. In most situations, an injured accident victim can seek compensation for: 

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Loss of future earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Property damage and vehicle repair/replacement

Who Could Be Held Liable for a Car Wreck in New York City?

Establishing liability for a New York City car accident is essential when you’re seeking compensation. While it is easy to point the finger at the other driver, other people could be held liable for a car wreck. 

One or more of the following parties may be responsible, including:

• The other driver 
• The other driver’s employer, if they were on the clock when they hit you
• A car or parts manufacturer 
• A government entity 

Unraveling liability can be complicated, so you need an experienced New York car accident attorney to help you with your car accident case. 

Could You Recover Compensation if You’re Partly to Blame for a New York Car Accident?

Yes. Technically, you can recover partial compensation if you share the blame for causing a New York City car accident. If you file a lawsuit seeking compensation for your injuries against an at-fault driver, the court reviews the case and establishes liability for the crash. 

If the court determines your actions are partially to blame for the crash, you can still recover money for your financial losses because New York subscribes to the pure comparative fault rule. The pure comparative fault law dictates that your compensation will be reduced by the same percentage as your share of fault for contributing to the accident. 

Even if you are predominantly responsible for causing an accident, you can recover some compensation for your losses under pure comparative fault. However, if an individual is at fault for causing a collision, they can recover some compensation, but they are also on the hook for the other driver’s losses. 

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

Depending on the circumstances of your case and the severity of your injuries, a personal injury lawsuit may be the best option for recovering maximum compensation for your financial losses and medical expenses. However, you have limited time to file a car accident lawsuit. New York law gives you three years to file a lawsuit seeking compensation from the accident date. 

Although pursuing a lawsuit for compensation can feel overwhelming, do not procrastinate. Discuss your situation with an experienced New York car accident lawyer as soon as possible. If you do not file a lawsuit before the legal deadline, the court can dismiss your case, leaving you with few, if any, options for recovering car accident compensation.

How Does the No-Fault Insurance System in New York Work?

New York follows a unique car insurance system used in only a handful of other jurisdictions across the United States. It is the no-fault car insurance system. Under the no-fault car insurance model, when a driver gets injured in a car accident, they file a compensation claim with their own insurance company first. In traditional at-fault states, the opposite would occur, and the injured individual would file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. 

Under New York’s no-fault insurance rules, all motorists must carry minimum liability insurance, uninsured motorist insurance, and personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. PIP insurance coverage is the “no-fault” coverage of the New York car insurance system. Your PIP policy typically covers the following after a New York City car crash: 

• Payment for reasonable and necessary medical expenses related to the auto accident 
• Up to 80 percent of lost wages
• Necessary expenses like household help and transportation to medical appointments

In a no-fault insurance system, you file a car accident claim under your PIP coverage with your insurer. This policy should cover your reasonable medical expenses up to your policy limits. However, if your medical expenses exceed your coverage limits, you may need to consider other avenues for pursuing compensation. In New York, you can step outside of the no-fault system and file a personal injury lawsuit seeking compensation for your medical expenses if you exhaust your PIP coverage, and for additional financial losses if your injuries meet New York’s serious injury threshold requirements. Those requirements include broken bones, permanent loss of a body system or member, and loss of an unborn child.