New York Car Accident Attorneys

Holding Negligent Drivers Accountable

If you were involved in a car accident in New York, you should know that you may be entitled to financial compensation from the party that caused the crash. If you were seriously injured, their insurance policy should cover your medical expenses, lost earnings, and possibly much more.

Sultzer & Lipari is committed to representing victims of traffic accidents, helping them recover the money they need to put their lives back on track. As highly experienced litigators, our New York car accident attorneys are positioned to deliver better results in these complicated cases. Whether fault is in question or you have been blamed for the accident, we can utilize our trial experience and our resources to investigate and litigate on your behalf.

We represent clients who have been injured in accidents caused by:

• Drunk drivers
• Distracted drivers
• Speeding
• Traffic violations
• Defective auto parts
• Poorly maintained roads

Call (800) 552-0265 for a free, private consultation and review of your car accident claim.

New York Is a “No-Fault” Insurance State

New York is a so-called “no-fault” state when it comes to car accidents. What does this mean for you as the victim of an accident? It means that your own insurance company will most likely be responsible for reimbursing you for medical expenses, lost earnings, and other accident-related losses. Regardless of who caused the accident, you would recover compensation from your own insurance provider. You have 30 days to seek no-fault benefits after a car accident.

The intent behind the no-fault rule was a valid one – to try to speed up the claims process and combat insurance fraud – but some insurance providers mishandle claims, offer unfairly low settlements, or try to deny coverage based off honest mistakes or errors. Our attorneys fight to make sure our clients get the full and fair coverage they deserve, fault or no-fault.

Serious Injuries: The Exceptions to the “No-Fault” Rule

There are exceptions to the no-fault rule. If a victim of a car accident sustains serious injuries, he or she can seek compensation from the at-fault party by way of a personal injury lawsuit. This opens the door to the recovery of economic and non-economic damages in excess of the no-fault insurance coverage limit of $50,000 per injured person.

The following may be considered serious injuries, warranting a fault-based claim:

• Bone fractures
• Disfigurement
• Dismemberment
• Loss of a fetus

Any injury that results in total disability for at least 90 days or an injury that results in the permanent loss of a body organ or function of a bodily system may also qualify. Another common type of injury from a car accident is the spinal cord injury. This can result in substantial change in one's life, either temporarily or permanently. Wrongful death can also result.

With fault-based car accident claims in New York, it will be necessary to prove that the other party caused the accident. You will also need to show the extent of injury or damages you have experienced. Our lawyers can thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding your accident to see who is at fault and how to proceed with your personal injury lawsuit.

Understanding Pure Comparative Negligence in Car Accident Cases

In some car accidents, it may not be clear who is at fault. In these situations, New York follows the principle of comparative negligence. This means that each party involved in the accident can be assigned a percentage of fault based on their actions leading up to the accident.

For example, if you were speeding at the time of the accident, you may be assigned a percentage of fault. This percentage will then be used to determine the amount of damages you can recover. If you are found to be 25% at fault, you can only recover up to 75% of your total damages. This can be true, even if you were judged to be 90% at fault for the incident (but you will only be able to recover 10% of your damages in such a situation).

It is important to have an experienced car accident attorney on your side who can investigate the accident, gather evidence, and negotiate with insurance companies to ensure that your percentage of fault is minimized and you receive the maximum compensation possible.

Contact Our Car Accident Lawyers Today

You have so much to gain and nothing to lose by talking to an attorney at our firm about your car accident claim. Our attorneys have over a century of combined legal experience, and we have recovered more than half a billion dollars in settlements and verdicts for our clients. We are equipped with the resources to handle your claim competently while keeping you informed every step of the way.

Contact us online or at (800) 552-0265 today for your free consultation.