Car Accident Lawyer in Staten Island, NY
Our Staten Island accident lawyer helps car crash victims recover compensation from negligent drivers and insurance companies.
Based on 300+ reviews
Why Hire Our Staten Island Car Accident Lawyer?
Nearly $1 Billion Won
We’ve recovered almost $1 billion for injured clients across documented cases
Largest MVA Recovery
Media Recognition
We’ve been featured in national and local outlets including the New York Post, Daily Mail, and CBS New York
No Fee Unless We Win
Because we work on a contingency fee, you won’t pay us a dime unless we win your case
Staten Island has the fewest total crashes of any NYC borough, but its car-centric, high-speed roads mean the crashes that do happen, on corridors like Hylan Boulevard and the Staten Island Expressway, tend to cause more severe injuries. Insurance companies know this and move aggressively to minimize your payout. When that happens, you need a seasoned car accident lawyer in Staten Island with a proven track record in Richmond County Supreme Court.
Frekhtman & Associates, founded by lead trial attorney Arkady Frekhtman, has spent 25+ years building a New York car accident practice that holds negligent drivers and insurance companies accountable throughout New York City, including Staten Island. Here’s what that record looks like:
- $900M+ recovered for injured clients across documented cases
- 25+ years fighting for New York injury victims
- $69.25M largest single recovery in a motor vehicle accident case
- 300+ five-star Google reviews from real clients
- Fluent in English and Russian
- 9.9 AVVO rating and National Top 100 Trial Lawyers
- Featured in NY Post, Daily Mail, and CBS New York
- No fee unless we win
Call (866) 288-9529 24/7 for a free case evaluation or schedule one online.
Car Accident Results We Have Obtained
| $69.25M Verdict | Motor Vehicle Accident |
Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Ranked among the largest motor vehicle accident awards in NY State history. |
| $1.2M Settlement | Rear-Ended By a Box Truck |
Neck & Back Injuries 37-year-old rear-ended. Overcame defense claims of abrupt stopping to secure a pre-trial settlement. |
| $1.0M Settlement | Pedestrian Hit by Car |
Traumatic Brain Injury 62-year-old grandmother struck in crosswalk, causing brain hemorrhages and permanent disability. Recovered full policy limits. |
| $1.0M Settlement | Car Accident | Vehicle Collision |
See our full verdicts and settlements or learn more about our firm.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is unique and the value of any claim depends on its specific facts.
How Much Is Your Staten Island Car Accident Case Worth?
Insurance companies often offer fast settlements after crashes on the Staten Island Expressway or West Shore Expressway, hoping you sign away your rights before knowing what your claim is really worth. The financial value of a Staten Island car accident case is determined by your injury severity, total medical bills, and lost income. To maximize your financial recovery, we evaluate three key categories of damages:
Economic Damages
Full coverage for emergency room bills, future medical expenses, lost income, lost earning capacity, physical therapy, and property damage from crashes on Hylan Boulevard, Richmond Avenue, or the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge approach. Learn more about the types of compensation available.
Non-Economic Damages
Financial recovery for physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, diminished quality of life, and permanent disfigurement.
Punitive Damages
Pursued against drivers whose conduct goes beyond negligence, showing a conscious disregard for others’ safety, most clearly established in drunk driving cases, a recurring issue on Staten Island’s parkways and ferry-adjacent roads at night.
Non-economic damages in a Staten Island car accident case are only available if your injury meets the serious injury threshold under Insurance Law § 5102(d). Since New York’s 2026 CPLR § 1411(b) reform, juries also decide fault before they reach that question, so if your case is filed in Richmond County Supreme Court, the liability fight now comes first.
Who Can Be Held Responsible in a Staten Island Car Crash
In Staten Island car accidents, from multi-vehicle pileups on the Staten Island Expressway to intersection crashes along busy commercial corridors like Hylan Boulevard, fault is frequently shared among several entities:
The Other Driver
Liable for dangerous behaviors like speeding on I-278, running red lights on Richmond Avenue, or driving distracted down Hylan Boulevard.
Vehicle Owners
Vicariously liable under NY V&T Law § 388 for any crash caused by someone driving their car with permission.
Commercial Vehicle Companies
Employers hold legal responsibility when delivery vans or 18-wheelers cause crashes along West Shore Expressway freight routes.
Rideshare Companies
Uber and Lyft corporate insurers provide multi-tiered coverage for accidents involving commuters near the St. George Ferry or Staten Island bridge crossings.
Government Entities
The City of New York can be sued for dangerous road hazards or broken traffic signals, provided you file a Notice of Claim within 90 days.
Auto Manufacturers
Subject to product liability claims if defective brakes, tire blowouts, or failing airbags cause or worsen your injuries.
New York Car Accident Laws That Affect Your Staten Island Claim
- Negligence: You must prove the other driver owed you a duty of care, breached it (speeding, texting, DUI), caused the crash, and caused your injuries. We build this using police reports, witness statements, and traffic camera footage from Staten Island precincts and the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge.
- Comparative Fault: Under New York’s 2026 reforms, if you’re found more than 50% at fault, your lawsuit may be barred from recovering damages, including pain and suffering. At 50% or less, your recovery is reduced proportionally, not eliminated. See how comparative fault works in car accident cases.
- No-Fault Insurance: Your own policy pays up to $50,000 in PIP benefits for medical bills and lost wages, regardless of fault. See how no-fault works in New York.
- Serious Injury Threshold: To sue for pain and suffering, your injury must meet the threshold under Insurance Law § 5102(d), such as a fracture, permanent limitation, or significant disfigurement. New York eliminated the 90/180-day category for cases filed on or after May 26, 2026.
- Statute of Limitations: 3 years for personal injury (CPLR § 214(5)), filed in Richmond County Supreme Court; 2 years for wrongful death (EPTL § 5-4.1); 30 days to file no-fault benefits (11 NYCRR § 65-1.1); 90 days for Notice of Claim against a government entity like the MTA.
Evidence disappears fast on Staten Island. Our car accident team at Frekhtman & Associates moves immediately to preserve it.
Types of Auto Accident Cases Our Firm Handles in Staten Island, NY
Staten Island traffic crashes demand hyper-local investigation strategies across Richmond County roads. We represent clients in every type of motor vehicle accident, including:
Common in bumper-to-bumper traffic on the Staten Island Expressway (I-278) and approaching the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge toll plazas, frequently causing severe whiplash and spinal disc herniations.
T-Bone Collisions
Broadside impacts at busy intersections along Richmond Avenue, Hylan Boulevard, and Victory Boulevard, where vehicle doors provide minimal protection against severe trauma.
Devastating crashes on narrow, undivided thoroughfares like Arthur Kill Road, Richmond Road, and the Korean War Veterans Parkway, often involving drunk or distracted drivers.
Hit-and-Run Accidents
Occur frequently along Father Capodanno Boulevard and commercial strips. We subpoena local security footage and secure recovery through your Uninsured Motorist (UM) policy.
Frequent around high-foot-traffic hubs like the St. George Ferry Terminal, Bay Street, and neighborhood school zones where distracted drivers fail to yield the right-of-way.
Uber and Lyft crashes serving Staten Island Ferry commuters or bridge crossers involve multi-tiered commercial insurance policies that require skilled legal navigation.
Car vs. Truck Accidents
Heavy freight traffic in industrial zones requires holding commercial trucking carriers accountable under federal FMCSR safety rules. Our Staten Island truck accident attorney handles these commercial vehicle claims.
Crashes involving MTA Bus Operations, SIM express routes, or local school buses require a 90-day Notice of Claim, with the lawsuit itself due within one year and 90 days.
Uninsured/Underinsured Accidents
When an at-fault driver has state-minimum or no insurance, we file claims under your Supplemental Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (SUM) and Optional Basic Economic Loss (OBEL) coverage.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Staten Island
The first hours after a crash shape your entire personal injury claim, and insurance adjusters start building their defense immediately. Here’s what to do, drawn from our full guide on steps after a New York car crash:
Common Injuries Victims Suffer in Staten Island Crashes
Concussions to severe brain damage causing permanent cognitive impairment. Our firm has secured a historic $69.25 million TBI verdict.
Spinal Cord Injuries & Paralysis
Herniated discs, fractured vertebrae, paraplegia, or quadriplegia. These often carry substantial value given their severity.
Devastating crashes on narrow, undivided thoroughfares like Arthur Kill Road, Richmond Road, and the Korean War Veterans Parkway, often involving drunk or distracted drivers.
Broken Bones & Fractures
Complex fractures requiring surgical hardware, plates, screws, and rods.
Knee & Joint Injuries
Torn ligaments (ACL/MCL) and meniscus tears requiring orthopaedic surgery.
Internal Injuries
Ruptured organs and internal bleeding may not produce immediate symptoms.
Emotional Distress
PTSD, anxiety, depression, and trauma following severe crashes are fully compensable non-economic damages.
Some crashes are fatal, and no settlement can undo that loss. If your family lost a loved one in a Staten Island car accident, you may have a separate claim for funeral costs, lost income, and loss of companionship. Our wrongful death lawyers in New York handle these cases alongside the surviving family’s own injury claims when both apply.
You do not need a complete medical file or a final diagnosis to find out where you stand.
Most people call while they are still in treatment. We will tell you what your claim involves and what evidence needs preserving now.
Car Accidents in Staten Island (Richmond County)
Staten Island’s car-centric layout creates unique dangers. Wide arterial roads, higher speed limits, and fewer pedestrians mean that when crashes happen, they happen at higher speeds with more severe outcomes.
- Staten Island Crash Statistics: Staten Island recorded 12 traffic deaths in 2024, according to NYC DOT’s 2025 year-end traffic safety report. Staten Island consistently has the fewest total crashes of any NYC borough, but per the NYC DOT Staten Island Pedestrian Safety Action Plan, the borough’s auto-oriented street design means the crashes that do occur are often more severe.
- Hylan Boulevard: The longest street in any NYC borough and a major commercial corridor and bus route. Per the same DOT plan, it’s identified as the only significant crash hot spot in the southern half of the island, outside the more pedestrian-heavy North Shore.
- Staten Island Expressway: The main artery connecting Staten Island to New Jersey and Brooklyn via the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, seeing high-speed crashes during rush hour.
- Richmond Avenue: A major north-south corridor identified by DOT as one of the borough’s 16 Priority Corridors for pedestrian and vehicle safety improvements.
Staten Island Trauma Centers: Staten Island University Hospital North (Level I Adult, Level II Pediatric Trauma Center) at 475 Seaview Avenue, and Richmond University Medical Center (Level I Adult, Level II Pediatric Trauma Center) at 355 Bard Avenue.
Staten Island Courthouse: Car accident lawsuits are filed in Richmond County Supreme Court at 26 Central Avenue in St. George. Our attorneys handle cases in Richmond County courts.
Areas We Serve in Staten Island and Beyond
Frekhtman & Associates represents auto accident victims across every Staten Island neighborhood and throughout New York. Our attorneys handle cases in every borough and understand the specific requirements of filing claims in each jurisdiction.
Staten Island Neighborhoods We Serve:
St. George, Stapleton, New Dorp, Oakwood, Tottenville, Great Kills, Port Richmond, West Brighton, Mariners Harbor, Arlington, Bay Terrace, Grasmere, Eltingville, Annadale, South Beach, Midland Beach, Dongan Hills, Todt Hill, New Springville, Bulls Head, Clifton, Rosebank, Concord, Emerson Hill, Grant City, Prince’s Bay, Pleasant Plains, Richmond Valley, Rossville, Woodrow, Charleston.
We Also Serve:
Manhattan (New York County), Brooklyn (Kings County), Queens (Queens County), The Bronx (Bronx County), Nassau County, Suffolk County, and Long Island.
If you have been in an accident anywhere in Staten Island or the surrounding area, a free case review is available.
Staten Island Car Accident FAQ
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?
Hiring a Staten Island car accident lawyer costs nothing upfront. Frekhtman & Associates works on contingency: the fee comes out of the settlement or verdict, as a percentage agreed to in writing before the case starts. You pay $0 if the case does not result in a recovery.
Can I Recover Compensation If I Was Partially At Fault for the Crash?
Yes, in most cases. Under CPLR § 1411(b), applicable to motor vehicle claims commenced on or after May 26, 2026, your payout is reduced by your fault percentage. But if your fault is greater than the fault of the parties you sue, you recover $0. Other injury cases keep pure comparative fault.
What If I Was Injured in a Car Accident While Working?
New York law allows two separate claims after a work-related car accident. Workers’ compensation covers medical bills and lost wages regardless of fault, but bars suing your employer. A third-party claim against the at-fault driver, such as a commercial vehicle operator, recovers damages workers’ comp excludes, like pain and suffering.
What If the Other Driver Was Uninsured?
You file against your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. New York requires a minimum of $25,000 UM. If you carry higher limits, you can recover more. We also search for additional liable parties with insurance, such as an employer, vehicle owner, or rideshare company.
Is It Better to Settle With the Insurance Company or Hire a Lawyer?
An attorney values your claim higher than the insurer’s first offer. Adjusters close claims quickly, before injuries are fully diagnosed, which leaves future medical costs uncovered. A lawyer negotiates using your full medical record, lost wages, and pain and suffering, not the insurer’s initial number.
How Long Does It Take to Settle a Staten Island Auto Accident Claim?
There is no average timeline. It depends on injury severity, treatment length, and whether fault is disputed. Some clear-liability cases resolve in months, but cases involving surgery, long-term disability, or serious injury threshold disputes can take longer, especially if litigation is needed in Richmond County Supreme Court.
Do I Need a Lawyer for a Minor Car Accident?
If you have significant injuries, yes. Insurance companies have teams of adjusters and lawyers working against you. An experienced Staten Island car accident lawyer levels the playing field. We can help you decide if you need a lawyer.
Ready for Your Free, Confidential Consultation?
A car wreck upends everything at once: pain, medical appointments, work, family. You shouldn’t have to sort through insurance rules and deadlines on your own while you’re still healing. A short call with our Staten Island personal injury lawyer specializing in auto accident cases can tell you whether you qualify for compensation beyond no-fault, which rules apply to your case, and what to watch out for with the insurance company. No obligation, no cost to talk.
Call 866 ATTY LAW. Get a trial lawyer on your side.
(866) 288-9529 24/7 | Start your free consultation
Hablamos español. Russian-speaking attorneys on staff.
The Right Representation Near You
While it’s possible to handle a personal injury case on your own, having an experienced attorney by your side significantly increases the likelihood of a favorable outcome. We have our office located all over New York City, so you don’t have to worry about office visits. You can find and visit one of our offices near you.