A car accident happens within seconds, but the injury will be present for the duration of your life. You are driving to work or to run an errand, and before you can say anything, you are involved in a car accident. This leaves you attempting to make sense out of agony, medical bills, and what you are going to do. Horrified, one of the first things that may come to mind is: Do I need a car accident injury lawyer in New York to act on my behalf?
The short answer: yes. Good sense, negotiating skills, and a good understanding of the law are what are going to get you out of the rubble of an accident in a large state like New York.
If you are negotiating with stubborn insurance firms or figuring out what payout you are entitled to by law, your skilled injury claim lawyer in New York can represent you. This will help you and result in an equitable settlement.
This is a step-by-step description of getting a car accident injury lawyer in New York, how things operate with the process, and what to look out for in your case.
Why You Need a Car Accident Injury Lawyer in New York?
New York is a highly populated state, and car accidents are too common. This is especially true in big cities such as New York City. The motorists are confronted daily with gridlocked traffic, rude motorists, and confusing intersections.
If you are involved in a car accident, you may believe you can deal with it on your own, but actually, it becomes even more complicated with things like:
- Car insurance companies lowball and negotiate.
- Your hospital fees may have to be paid before you get compensation.
- You may never get to find out what the final cost of your injury is until the end.
- New York enforces strict compliance with court forms and timelines.
Your own injury claim lawyer in New York is your advocate. Their chief duty is to guard your rights, assist you in making a claim, and negotiate on your behalf so you receive the highest possible award you are entitled to.
Learn New York’s No-Fault Insurance System:
New York operates a no-fault insurance policy law. This means payment for your medical expenses and loss is covered with or without fault in the car accident under this law.
The system is very simple, but with some drawbacks:
- No-fault claims will pay only basic economic losses, which are primarily medical expenses and lost wages to some extent.
- Unless your injury qualifies as “serious” under New York law, you will not recover for pain and suffering.
- To be able to recover, in addition to this, you must prove that your injuries are at such severe levels.
This is why it is crucial to hire an injury claim lawyer in New York. They know what qualifies as the bare minimum definition of “serious injuries” and can help you construct a case in which you might be able to fit into the no-fault threshold.
Most Common Causes of New York Car Accidents:
In trying to better comprehend your situation, it is helpful to know what tends to cause New York car accidents most frequently.
Some of the most frequent causes of car accidents include:
- GPS and texting are impaired driving.
- Racing on heavy-traffic highways such as the Long Island Expressway.
- Road rage driving in heavy city traffic.
- Impaired or inebriated driving.
- Inclement weather such as snow, rain, or ice.
You must remember what occurred in your situation since this is a crucial aspect of establishing fault and receiving an adequate settlement.
The Role of a Car Accident Injury Lawyer in New York:
It is overwhelming if it is your first visit to a car accident injury lawyer in New York, but this is the normal thing that they are going to do for you:
- Investigate the wreck: Review police reports, witness accounts, and traffic camera footage.
- Document organization: Complete necessary documents so that you will not fall behind on the deadline, like New York’s statute of limitations.
- Getting professionals: Hire physicians, accident reconstructionists, and economists to help you create as strong a case as possible.
- Resolution of conflict: Fight lowball settlements and demand to be paid in full for what you need.
- Have your case heard by a judge or jury, and if that doesn’t pan out, they will get your case in front of a judge or jury.
Technically, they would want to relieve that burden from your shoulders so you can heal.
How Much Will My Car Accident Claim Pay?
The common question the car accident victims ask is: How much can I actually be paid?
The response is that your award or settlement value hinges on a universe of factors like the severity of the injuries, fault in the wreck, and the degree of permanent effect on your life. The damages fall roughly into two broad categories:
- Economic damages: Medical fees, lost wages, rehabilitation costs, and property damage.
- Non-economic damages: Pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Your seasoned workplace injury lawyer in New York will put a price tag on what the real cost of your injuries is.
How to Pick the Right Car Accident Injury Lawyer in New York?
When you start searching, you should be able to find a decent number of car accident injury lawyers in New York. How do you know who you need to hire?
Here are some tips:
- Experience is everything: Ensure that they deal exclusively with car accident cases, not a jack-of-all-trades lawyer.
- Success rate: Ask how many verdicts and settlements they won in case of an accident.
- Communication: Choose the one who is ready to listen to you and explain everything in simple language.
- Availability: You require a lawyer who puts your top priority first, not another face in a folder.
- Reviews and reputation: Consider word of mouth and internet reviews.
Keep in mind, it is about having faith. You are going to be handing over to the workplace injury lawyer in New York personal information and relying on them in your most vulnerable moment in life.
What to Do Right After a Car Collision?
Even before a car accident injury lawyer in New York shows up at the scene, what happens when the collision occurs matters.
Here is what to do if at all feasible:
- Take yourself and all individuals involved to a secure location and call 911 immediately.
- If possible, move over to avoid further collisions.
- Gather information: insurance, license plate numbers, and names of drivers.
- Take pictures and record the accident scene.
- Get the name and phone number of witnesses.
- Get immediate medical attention—irrespective of whether you are injured or not.
- Notify your insurance provider at once and report an incident, but not an accident.
- Call a car accident injury lawyer in New York.k They will help you gather evidence that you will require to advance your case so that you may be able to claim at one point or another in the future.
The Emotional Aftermath
It is easy to think of just physical harm after an accident, but victims feel the impact of emotional distress as well. Insomnia, driving phobia, or nightmares are not-so-rare occurrences.
A compassionate workplace injury lawyer in New York will hear out such concerns and be cognizant of emotional distress, where you deserve rightful compensation. They will make sure you are made aware that your healing isn’t all about the body—it is mental and emotional too.
Get Help!
A car accident is likely the most traumatic event that you will ever encounter. With concealed medical expenses and mental anguish, it breaks your heart. You, however, don’t need to go through it alone.
An experienced car accident injury lawyer in New York provides you with someone in your corner—someone who will fight tooth and nail for what you deserve in justice and compensation.
At Gehi and Associates, our preoccupation is your best interest and your career growth. Let us fight for you and build your life step by step.
Connect with us today!
FAQs:
- When do I use the services of a car accident injury lawyer in New York after the accident?
You must use the services of a lawyer shortly after the accident so that your rights are protected and time is not lost.
- How much will a car accident injury lawyer in New York going to cost?
They are mostly on a contingency fee, i.e., they won’t accept your money if you lose the case.
- What happens if I was partly responsible for the accident?
New York is a comparative negligence state, and therefore, you can recover damages even if you are partially responsible.
- How long do I have to file a claim?
New York statute of limitations for personal injury is generally three years from the date of the accident.
- Can I negotiate the insurance claim myself without hiring a car accident injury lawyer in New York?
You can try to, but insurers short-pay claims whenever it serves their interests. A lawyer allows you to recover as much reasonable damages as you are legally entitled to.
More FAQs:
- What is a “serious injury” under New York law?
Disfiguration, breakage, loss of use permanently of a body part, or severe disability are usually enumerated.
- Will my case be tried?
Most cases are advised and settle without a suit, but in the remote chance that negotiations will not succeed, your lawyer can recommend filing an action.
- What is the best evidence to use in a car accident case?
Photographs, medical bills, witness testimony, and the police report are all very useful sources of evidence.
- How long does a New York car accident claim last?
It depends, but most take several months to over one year.
- Can emotional distress be recovered from?
Yes, loss of enjoyment of life and emotional distress damages can usually be tacked on to your claim.
