New York City Car Accident Lawyer
How can Frekhtman & Associates help you legally during your difficult time?
At Frekhtman & Associates, our car accident attorneys are passionate about helping victims of serious and catastrophic car accidents in NYC during this trying time. We provide reassurance and legal counsel to car accident victims throughout the NYC area. We believe in gaining justice for our clients by seeking compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain, suffering, and other damages they have incurred.
Our lawyers have extensive experience in vehicle accident law. They will negotiate with insurance companies aggressively on your behalf and will not settle for less than you deserve. If you attempt to work with another driver’s insurance company on your own, they may use your inexperience to present you with a low-ball offer. The simple act of getting an attorney involved can cause insurance companies to take your claim more seriously.
It is also important to contact your insurance company to let them know you have met with a doctor. If you do not disclose this information, they may try to disclaim coverage and refuse to pay for a claim.
Settlements related to car accidents
What does the data show about car accidents in the NYC area?
As one of the largest and busiest cities in the world, New York City streets see thousands of serious car accidents each year- and New York City is busier than ever before. NYC currently has more residents, tourists, and jobs than it has at any other point in history.
New York City is projected to grow from 8.2 million persons in 2010 to 9 million in 2040, an increase of 783,000 or 9.5 percent. In 2010-2020, the first decade of the projection, New York City’s population is projected to increase by 3.7 percent, but growth is expected to slow to 3.2 percent in the following decade, with the population reaching 8,821,000 in 2030. Between 2030 and 2040, the growth rate in New York City is projected to decrease once again to 2.3 percent. This means there are a lot of people maneuvering city sidewalks, streets, and subways – and some, like tourists, are not accustomed to the traffic flow or volume of a booming metropolis.
About 730,000 vehicles enter Manhattan south of 60th Street per day, and residents took over 142 million citywide taxi trips throughout the city in 2015. While subway use has increased in recent years, cars and taxi services remain one of the most popular ways to travel. As of 2020, there were nearly 1.88 million registered household vehicles within city limits and another 72,000 taxi registrations.
Given the sheer number of vehicles on the road, it should come as no surprise that car accidents are common throughout the city and metro area. Consider these statistics from New York City’s Vision Zero project, which aims to eliminate traffic deaths from the city by 2024:
- In 2017, there were 241 motor vehicle fatalities throughout the city and nearly 60,000 injuries.
- Of these, 122 of those killed and over 11,500 of those injured were pedestrians.
How is fault decided in Car Accident Lawsuits?
New York is a No-Fault State, but follows a comparative fault rule. Deciding the fault after a car crash is the heart of every car crash. In a multi-vehicle accident, both drivers claim they had the green light and the right of way, and each blames the other for the collision. The fault is usually determined and adjusted as the claims process moves on:
In the early stages, an insurance adjuster interviews both drivers and determines fault from the driver statements, the police accident report, photographs, videos, witness statements, and other similar evidence. If you are unhappy with the fault determination and have suffered serious injuries, you can file a lawsuit.
In a lawsuit, the parties will attend depositions, give sworn testimony, and can hire experts such as accident reconstruction specialists to provide their opinions on who was liable. The final determination of fault will be up to a jury of six people in a civil trial. If a jury decides that an injured plaintiff is 50% at fault for a car crash and allows for $100,000 in total damages, that plaintiff will only recover half or $50,000 since he or she cannot recover for the percentage of fault that is their own.
Types of Car Accidents We Specialize in
Our car accident attorneys have extensive knowledge of different car accidents. With over 30 years of experience, we have handled multiple car accident cases, such as:
- Rear-End Collision
- Head-On Collision
- Intersection Accident
- T-Bone Accident
- Side Swipe Accident
- Single Vehicle Accident
- Multi Vehicle Accident
- Accident Involving A Police Vehicle
- Police Chase Accident
- Hit and Run Accident
- Drunk Driving Accident
- Speeding Accident
- Reckless Driving Accident
- Distracted Driving Accidents
- Blind Spot Accident
- Merging Accident
- Low Speed Accident
- Pedestraian Accidents
- Rollover Accident
- Wrong Way Crashes
Causes of Car Accidents in NYC
During our talk with the victims and from our car accident lawyers’ analysis, along with NYC crash car data, there are multiple causes of car accidents in NYC. But the common contributing factors are:
| Contributing Factor | Number of Vehicles |
|---|---|
| DRIVER INATTENTION/DISTRACTION | 340 |
| FOLLOWING TOO CLOSELY | 80 |
| FAILURE TO YIELD RIGHT-OF-WAY | 68 |
| PASSING OR LANE USAGE IMPROPER | 56 |
| UNSAFE SPEED | 53 |
| PASSING TOO CLOSELY | 37 |
| TRAFFIC CONTROL DISREGARDED | 35 |
| UNSAFE LANE CHANGING | 32 |
| TURNING IMPROPERLY | 30 |
| ALCOHOL INVOLVEMENT | 26 |
| DRIVER INEXPERIENCE | 25 |
| BACKING UNSAFELY | 24 |
| ERR/CONFUSN PED/BIKE/OTHER PED | 23 |
| AGGRESSIVE DRIVING/ROAD RAGE | 20 |
| OTHER UNINVOLVED VEHICLE | 11 |
| FELL ASLEEP | 7 |
| PASSENGER DISTRACTION | 5 |
| OUTSIDE CAR DISTRACTION | 4 |
| FATIGUED/DROWSY | 3 |
| TEXTING | 2 |
| PHYSICAL DISABILITY | 1 |
| CELL PHONE (HANDS-FREE) | 1 |
| LOST CONSCIOUSNESS | 1 |
Common Injuries in Car Accidents
Soft Tissue Injuries (Whiplash & Contusions):
Whiplash (Cervical Strain): The most common injury for vehicle occupants, especially in rear-end collisions. It involves damage to the neck muscles and ligaments.
Contusions & Abrasions: Bruising and scrapes from impact with airbags, seatbelts, or the dashboard.
Fractures (Broken Bones):
Lower Extremities: Legs, knees, and ankles are frequently broken, particularly in pedestrians struck by bumpers.
Ribs/Torso: Common in drivers due to the force of the seatbelt or steering wheel impact.
Facial Fractures: Broken nose or cheekbones, often occurring if an airbag fails to deploy or if the occupant is unbelted.
Head & Brain Injuries (TBI):
Concussions: Ranging from mild to severe, caused by the head striking the window or headrest.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): A leading cause of death and permanent disability, especially for cyclists and pedestrians who lack the protection of a vehicle frame.
Internal Injuries:
Damage to organs (spleen, liver, lungs) caused by blunt force trauma. These are dangerous because they may not be immediately visible at the crash scene.
How to Choose the Best Car Accident Lawyer in New York City?
To choose the best car accident lawyer in NYC, you must look into the details of their car accident cases. Due to the disclosure agreement, a lawyer could not show all the details, but while talking, you can ask them questions that would reflect their expertise. The lawyer must have proper knowledge of state laws, local laws, and negotiation skills when preparing and trying car accident cases. A lawyer prioritizes settling cases rather than taking them to trial. But, they should be ready whenever the time comes, in case of insurance companies’ pressure. Without this readiness to go to trial, you cannot get a proper settlement amount that you deserve.
These types of qualities of good car accident lawyers can be seen in our attorneys at Frekhtman & Associates. Our personal injury attorneys have years of trial advocacy. Our attorneys have all tried multi-million dollar car accident cases. We have a reputation for refusing to settle cases unless proper compensation is offered to our clients, which will fully compensate for the injuries and financial loss suffered.
We Serve Throughout the Five Boroughs of New York City
With 7 physical locations throughout New York City, contacting our lawyers is easy. If you wish to visit the offices physically, we are located at:
Take Action Now to Secure What You Deserve
Take action now, do not wait to get the justice and your deserved compensation. At Frekhtman & Associates, our car accident lawyers in New York are ready to fight for you. Get immediate support from our attorneys for aggressive trial advocacy in court. Call us at (212) 222-1111 for a free consultation with our serious attorneys for serious injuries. Or, you can contact us online and wait for us to contact you.
FAQs regarding car accidents in NYC
What should I do after a car accident in NYC?
Within the first 24 hours of a car accident in NYC, you should:
Seek medical attention – even if injuries seem minor.
Document everything – photos, videos, contact details.
File a police report – required for many claims.
Avoid admitting fault – don’t discuss the case on social media.
Consult an attorney early – they’ll preserve evidence and advise next steps.
Quick action protects both your health and your legal rights.
What is the Statute of Limitations to file an auto accident in New York?
To ensure compensation for injuries, victims must adhere to two strict statutory deadlines starting from the date of the accident:
30 Days (No-Fault Benefits): You must file the necessary forms with the No-Fault insurance provider to receive coverage for medical expenses and lost earnings.
3 Years (Personal Injury Lawsuit): You must file a lawsuit to claim damages for injuries sustained in the accident.
The Consequence of Delay: Missing these deadlines results in the permanent forfeiture of your rights. Failure to file within 30 days can lead to a denial of medical and wage payments, while missing the 3-year statute of limitations prevents you from ever recovering damages through a lawsuit, regardless of how valid your case is.
What happens if the At-Fault driver in the car accident doesn't have insurance to cover my damages?
When an at-fault driver has little or no insurance, you can seek compensation through your own auto insurance policies under two specific provisions:
Uninsured Motorist (UM): This coverage applies if the at-fault driver has no insurance or if you cannot identify the hit-and-run driver involved in the incident.
Supplemental Underinsured Motorist (SUM): This coverage applies if the at-fault driver carries insurance, but their limits are too low to cover your injuries fully. It allows you to claim the difference up to your own policy limits.
You should consult with an experienced auto accident lawyer at Frekhtman & Associates to help you move forward.
Will my car accident case result in litigation within New York?
Despite safety advancements, car accidents remain a leading cause of injury and the most common type of civil tort case filed today. Not every accident results in litigation. In New York, No-Fault laws govern minor injuries and restrict lawsuits. Successful legal recovery is generally reserved for cases involving serious injuries in which our motor vehicle lawyers have expertise.