What Should I Do if I’m Injured in a Car Accident in New York?

If you get injured in a car accident in New York, you should call the police, gather evidence, seek medical attention, and contact a New York car accident lawyer to ensure you get all the money you’re entitled to.

The order in which you do those things will depend on the severity of your injuries. If you suffer from serious injuries, for example, you may not be able to get out of the car to take pictures of the wreckage for evidence.

Understanding Your Legal Rights

At Morelli Law Firm, our lawyers want everyone to be aware of their rights after being injured.

Here are some things you should know about your rights under New York’s no-fault insurance laws.

New York’s No-Fault Insurance Law

All drivers in New York are required to carry at least $50,000 of no–fault insurance coverage (also referred to as Personal Injury Protection or PIP). 

Usually, you will use that insurance coverage to get paid for vehicle repairs and medical bills regardless of who was responsible for the crash.

Exceptions to No-Fault

Fortunately, there are two exceptions to the no-fault rules that allow you to go after the responsible driver’s insurance:

• If your economic damages total more than $50,000
• If you suffer non-economic damages (like pain and suffering) as a result of a serious injury

What Is the “Serious Injury Threshold” in New York?

Examples of serious injuries that let you file a third-party liability claim include:

• Spinal cord injury
• Traumatic brain injury
• Severe burns
• Fractures
• Permanent disfigurement
• Permanent loss of a vital bodily function
• Death

Steps to Take After a Car Accident

After being injured in a car accident in New York, following these steps helps you obey the law, recover from your injuries, and have a chance at recovering all the money you’re entitled to for your injuries.

Do these things in the order that makes the most sense at the time and prioritize medical care for serious injuries.

Call the Police

In any accident involving injuries or more than $1,000 of damage, state law requires you to call the police and file a motorist crash (accident) report.

Calling 911 can dispatch both police officers and ambulances if you’re injured.

Seek Medical Attention

You should always get medical attention as soon as you can after a car accident, even if you feel OK, because:

• The adrenaline coursing through your system may mask serious and even potentially fatal injuries such as internal bleeding
• Some injuries, such as soft tissue damage, don’t display symptoms right away
• The medical records help to prove that you were injured in the accident and provide crucial evidence

Gather Evidence

If you can, get out of your vehicle after the crash and take pictures of the accident scene. Also, get the contact information of any witnesses and the other driver.

If you were too seriously injured to gather evidence at the time of the accident, our experienced attorneys can gather it later.

Contact a New York Car Accident Lawyer

Your insurance company wants to pay you as little as possible because that’s how they make their profits.

A New York car crash lawyer from Morelli Law Firm can negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf and help you file a third-party claim against the other driver if you qualify.

One thing you should know about us is that we don’t shy away from taking cases to trial. While some firms fear the courtroom, we live for it.

How a New York Car Accident Attorney Can Help You

There are many ways a New York car accident attorney can help you:

• Make sure you understand your rights and how much money you may be entitled to
• Collect and protect evidence to help strengthen your case
• Negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf
• Get you maximum compensation, either through a settlement from your insurance company or through a lawsuit against the other driver’s insurance

How Much does a Car Crash Lawyer in New York Cost?

At Morelli Law Firm, we don’t want to add to your financial stress during this difficult time, so we work on a contingency fee basis.

We’ll take a percentage of the money we get for you, and we won’t ask for a single dollar until then.

If we don’t get you money, you never owe us a penny.

Schedule a Free Consultation With a New York Car Accident Lawyer

Don’t let your insurance company bully you into a settlement that doesn’t cover all your medical expenses after an accident.

Schedule a free consultation with a New York car accident lawyer from Morelli Law Firm to get all the compensation you’re entitled to after being injured in a car accident that wasn’t your fault.

We’ve recovered over $1 billion for our clients, so contact us today and let us help you.