New York Car Accident Lawyer – NYC – The Platta Law Firm

Put yourself in the best position to win your car accident claim. Call our law office in New York City at 212-514-5100 to get started with a free case evaluation. Our team is standing by to answer 24/7/365.

Why You Should Hire Our NYC Personal Injury Lawyers After a Car Crash

There are a lot of reasons it makes sense to hire a personal injury lawyer in NYC after getting into a car accident.

• You’re more likely to win your personal injury case when you hire a lawyer.
• Hiring a lawyer levels the playing field against tricky insurance companies.
• Fighting an insurance company will demand time you need to get better.
• You’re more likely to get more money – up to 3.5 times as much compared to those who handle claims on their own.

It’s not just about hiring an attorney – it’s about hiring the NYC Car Accident Lawyer that’s best suited to handle your specific case. That’s why The Platta Law Firm should be your first call after you or a loved one is hurt in a motor vehicle accident.

• You pay nothing unless we win.
• Our client satisfaction is second to none.
• Collectively, our attorneys have more than 130 years of experience.
• We’ve helped injury victims and families in NYC win $100 Million+.
• Our team genuinely cares about each and every client we represent.
• Our team includes SuperLawyers who are recognized by prestigious organizations, like the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys and Lawyers of Distinction.

Take this opportunity to concentrate on your recovery. Let our top-rated trial attorneys near you in NYC handle your personal injury claim or lawsuit. Our team is standing by to take your call, so contact us at 212-514-5100 to get started with a free consultation now.

NYC Car Accident Statistics (Updated for 2021)

More than 8 million people call New York City home. Thousands more travel into the Big Apple every day to work, vacation, and sightsee. With so many people traveling in such a concentrated area, it’s no surprise that NYC has some of the worst traffic congestion in the world. It’s also no surprise that car accidents are incredibly common here. According to NYPD crash data, there were a total of 100,834 auto accidents citywide in 2021. Where in NYC did these accidents happen? Source

More than 40 percent of all traffic accidents in NYC result in an injury or death. In 2021, 42,909 people were hurt in traffic accidents citywide. Another 247 were killed in fatal crashes. That means that in an average day in the Big Apple:

• There are about 276 auto accidents
• 117 people suffer injuries in a crash.

And there’s roughly one fatal accident every 1.4 days.

What Causes Most Car Accidents in New York City?

Almost anything can contribute to a car wreck in New York City, New York. However, there are some factors that repeatedly contribute to collisions in the city.

Distracted Driving

Texting and driving and other types of driver distraction are on the rise across the nation. It’s particularly dangerous in a congested city like New York. In 2021, driver distraction was a contributing factor in at least 19,645 collisions. Driver inattention is particularly problematic at intersections. 85 percent of all distracted driving accidents recorded happened at a crossroads.

Tailgating

It’s easy to follow another vehicle too closely if you’re in a rush or eager to beat a red light. However, it’s also incredibly dangerous. Following too closely was a factor in at least 6,917 wrecks in 2021.

Failure to Yield the Right of Way

Consider all of the different vehicles sharing the road in New York – cars, bikes, e-scooters, motorcyclists, buses, and trucks. And don’t forget about pedestrians. If someone isn’t familiar with local traffic laws or doesn’t know who has the right of way (and when), accidents are bound to happen. In 2021, failure to yield was a factor in at least 6,855 different wrecks (where factors were recorded).

Speeding

Speeding increases the risk of accidents – particularly fatal crashes – by a lot. According to the NYPD, there were at least 3,454 speed-related accidents in 2021.

Drugs and Alcohol

Drunk driving is a factor in far too many traffic accidents in New York. Car accident statistics reveal that drugs and alcohol were relevant in at least 1,351 crashes. That’s between 3 and 4 drunk driving crashes a day. Other leading causes of car accidents in New York include:

• Fatigued driving
• Inexperienced drivers
• Unsafe turns
• Unsafe lane changes
• Road rage
• Passenger distraction
• Vehicle malfunction or defect
• Hazardous road conditions
• Road defects
• Limited visibility

Our legal team will carefully review your crash from every possible angle to identify precisely why it happened. The more we understand about the cause(s), the better situated we’ll be to pursue damages from all liable parties.

How Much Money Can I Win If I File a Car Accident Case?

If you get hurt in a car crash because someone else is negligent, you might have a legitimate personal injury case on your hands. If you do, you might wonder what your car accident case is worth. In truth, every situation is different – so the value of every case is different. Some of the most critical factors that will affect the value of your auto accident claim include:

• What types of injuries did you suffer in the crash?
• What are your current medical bills?
• What are the projected costs of medical care in the future?
• How much income have you lost out on because of the collision?
• Will your ability to work and earn an income be affected long-term?
• How has the trauma of being involved in a wreck affected you?
• Are you being blamed by insurance companies or other parties?
• Did you take steps to mitigate your injuries?
• Are you expected to make a full recovery or is it possible you’ll be diagnosed with a permanent disability?

Here’s a general rule of thumb: your case will typically be worth more when your injuries are severe. According to the National Safety Council, the average comprehensive cost of a car accident in 2019 was:

• $51,000 when no injury was observed
• $155,000 for victims with possible injuries
• $336,000 for crash victims who suffered evident injuries, and
• $1,219,000 when a victim sustained a disabling injury.

And for fatal accidents, the average cost was roughly $11,148,000. This factors in things like the cost of medical treatment, loss of income and benefits, property damage, and pain and suffering. Depending on the severity of your injuries, your financial costs, and the pain and suffering you’ve endured, your car accident case could be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars (or more). The Platta Law Firm can help you get a better idea and, if you decide to file a claim, fight to get you every cent you deserve.

What Happens If I Share Responsibility For a Car Accident in New York?

Sharing some of the responsibility for a motor vehicle accident in NYC won’t prevent you from recovering compensation. In fact, fault won’t even be a factor when you file a claim to recover benefits from your own insurance provider. New York has no-fault insurance laws, which means that you have to seek benefits from your insurance company first, regardless of who caused your accident. However, sharing fault will impact your ability to recover compensation from a negligent third party (or their insurance company).

Under New York’s pure comparative fault system, your damages will be reduced in direct proportion to your share of the blame. Expect others to try to blame you. The more fault you’re assigned, the less money you’ll be able to get. If you don’t fight back you could watch well-deserved compensation disappear.

The Platta Law Firm will be ready for these often baseless allegations. Our New York car accident attorneys will stand up and ensure that no more fault is assigned to you than is appropriate. Best case scenario, we’re able to completely disprove any claims that you’re to blame.

How Does New York’s No-Fault Insurance Law Affect My Right to File a Lawsuit?

Under New York’s no-fault rule, your insurance benefits will be your primary source of compensation after an accident. You have to purchase and carry a certain level of coverage before you can legally operate your vehicle in the state. Also known as Personal Injury Protection (PIP), its minimum coverage requirements include:

• Property damage: $10,000 (per accident)
• Bodily injury: $25,000 (per person); $50,000 (per accident)
• Death: $50,000 (per person); $100,000 (per accident)

PIP benefits cover the driver, passenger, and pedestrians struck by the car. Here’s a breakdown of what your PIP benefits will take care of after a crash:

• Medical bills
• 80 percent of your lost wages (up to $2,000 for three years)
• $25 per day or necessary and reasonable expenses

What happens if you exhaust your insurance benefits but still have accident-related costs? If you have what’s defined as a serious injury then you can file a lawsuit against a negligent third party (or their insurer). A serious injury, or threshold injury, is defined as one that results in death, dismemberment, significant disfigurement, fracture, loss of the use of an organ or system function, or other catastrophic injury. By filing a lawsuit, you open up the opportunity to recover compensation that reflects the true costs and suffering you’ve experienced.

Don’t Underestimate the Seriousness of Your Car Accident Injury

Any collision – even one that occurs at speeds as low as 10 MPH – can cause serious injuries. Of course, the higher the rate of speed, the more catastrophic the resulting injuries tend to be. The Platta Law Firm can help you seek maximum damages for all of your car crash injuries. Contact our New York car accident lawyers for help if you’ve been a wreck and suffered:

Following a fatal car accident in New York, surviving family members may have the right to file a wrongful death action. Our attorneys will be there to help you navigate this difficult time.

What Should I Do After I’m In a Car Accident in New York City?

You should know that the decisions you make after a crash are important. Even small things that might not seem all that important could be really important down the line. So, keep these “do’s” and “don’ts” in mind if you’re in a car accident in NYC:

• Call 911 to report the accident
• Alert other drivers so that they’ll know to slow down when approaching
• Exchange contact information and insurance information with other drivers
• Write down the names and numbers of any witnesses
• Take pictures of the scene, property damage, and injuries
• Seek medical attention as soon as you can
• Decline to provide a recorded statement to an insurance provider
• Resist the urge to accept an insurance company’s first settlement offer
• Direct all conversations and communications to your attorney
• Stay safe, but stay near the scene (leaving can be considered a hit and run)

The Platta Law Firm will be there to answer your call after a wreck in New York City. We represent clients in Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and surrounding areas. Give our law office a call at 212-514-5100 to get started with a free consultation right away.

We Represent Clients in All Types of Car Accident Cases

One factor that’s important to keep in mind when choosing an attorney is the type of crash you’ve been in. The way you need to approach a case involving a rear-end collision is different from how you’d handle a hit and run. You’ll want an attorney who is familiar with many different types of wrecks so that they can apply their knowledge to your case. At The Platta Law Firm, our attorneys in NYC have experience handling all different types of accidents, including:

Put decades of experience handling car accident insurance claims and lawsuits in your corner. Get a team that’s won tens of millions of dollars in life-altering financial awards. We’re standing by to take your call right now.

When Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Car Accident in NYC?

The typical statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits in New York is three years. If you lose a family member in a fatal crash, then you’ll have just two years to file a lawsuit against negligent parties. There are times when the statute of limitations can be different.

For instance, cases involving the government are subject to special rules and procedures. You’ll have just 90 days to file a notice of claim with the city or state of New York. Other times the time limit might be extended. This could be the case if a victim is a minor at the time of the accident, if a defendant can’t be located, or if an injury isn’t discovered right away (despite reasonable efforts). This is called tolling – and it simply pauses the statute of limitations until the case can move forward.

Do not let time go by without taking action. Once the deadline comes and goes you’ll lose the right to file a lawsuit and fight for the money you deserve. The best way to protect yourself and your rights is by calling The Platta Law Firm for help as soon as you can after an accident. Let our NYC car accident attorneys give your case the prompt attention it deserves. You take the days, weeks, and months after your wreck to get better.

What does it Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer After a Car Accident?

It doesn’t cost anything at first. That’s because personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. Attorney fees (and reimbursement of case-related expenses) is entirely dependent on how a case is resolved. Your New York car accident attorney will only get paid if they win your case.

No win, no fee. That’s a promise. Typically, a car accident attorney’s fee in New York City is somewhere between 33 percent and 40 percent of the amount of money that’s recovered. This percentage can be calculated before or after case-related expenses (e.g., administrative costs, expert fees) are deducted. Always speak to your lawyer about their fee structure and what you can expect.

At The Platta Law Firm, we’re committed to being transparent at every stage of the attorney-client relationship. We’ll go over our fees with you in detail and answer any questions you have. To learn more, don’t hesitate to call our law office in Manhattan right now.

Schedule a Free Consultation With a Respected NYC Car Accident Lawyer

Were you recently involved in a car accident in New York City, NY? Did the crash happen because of someone else’s negligence? Speak with a qualified NYC car accident lawyer at The Platta Law Firm for immediate assistance. You may have the right to recover compensation. Our law office will fight to maximize your financial recovery for your medical expenses, loss of income, and anguish.

Put 130+ years of experience in your corner. Benefit from a legal team that’s won tens of millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts. Call our law office at 212-514-5100 to arrange your free consultation. We’re standing by to answer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.