Midtown, NY (November 1, 2026) – A 24-year-old driver and a 21-year-old passenger, both men, were taken to Bellevue Hospital with minor injuries after a Toyota Prius crashed into a commercial building at West 31st Street and Dyer Avenue, according to police.
The crash happened at about 2:08 a.m. on November 1. Police said the driver failed to navigate the roadway and hit the building at 450 W. 31st St. The impact damaged the scaffolding surrounding the building.
No arrests have been made, and the investigation is ongoing, according to police.
This is a developing story. Details may change as the investigation continues.
What to Do After a Midtown Car Crash Into a Building
The NYPD’s September 2026 collision report counted 1,169 passengers injured in New York City crashes that month. Passengers have claims of their own, and the steps below apply to the driver and the passenger in this crash.
- Get checked, even if the injuries seem minor. Police described both injuries as minor, but head, neck, and back symptoms can appear hours or days later. Keep every hospital record.
- Protect the evidence. Ask police for the crash report number, photograph the Prius, the building, and the scaffolding, and ask that the car not be scrapped yet, since its event data recorder can show speed and braking.
- Start the no-fault claim and learn who may be liable. New York requires written notice to the no-fault insurer within 30 days of the crash, which is December 1, 2026 (11 NYCRR 65-1.1). A passenger may also have a claim against the driver and the policy covering the Prius, and no one should give an insurer a recorded statement before getting advice.
- Watch the government notice window. If the investigation finds a roadway problem that a city agency was responsible for, a notice of claim is due within 90 days, which is January 30, 2027 (Gen. Mun. Law § 50-e).
- Know the filing deadline. The general deadline to sue is three years, which is November 1, 2029 (CPLR § 214). If fault is shared, New York’s motor vehicle rule bars recovery only when the claimant’s fault equals or exceeds the combined fault of the defendants (CPLR § 1411(b)).
What Our Manhattan Car Accident Lawyers Do for You
Frekhtman & Associates takes the insurer calls, the no-fault paperwork, and the evidence gathering off your plate while you heal. Our Manhattan car accident lawyers are led by founding attorney Arkady Frekhtman and serve injured people across New York City.
We look at how the crash happened, which insurance policies apply, and who may be responsible, and we take the claim to trial when an offer falls short.
What Manhattan crash victims get with Frekhtman & Associates after a car accident:
- $900M+ recovered for injured New York clients across more than 25 years of practice
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- Free 24/7 consultations, including home and hospital visits for clients unable to travel
- Personal callbacks from founding attorney Arkady Frekhtman
- Russian-language services available
- Zero fees unless we win your case
- Manhattan office at 30 Broad St, serving families across the borough
Our Manhattan office is at 30 Broad St, Suite 1461, New York, NY 10004. Call 866-821-0718, ask about a home or hospital visit, or use our contact form.
