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Personal Injury Attorneys

You can get the professional legal assistance you deserve after a motor vehicle collision by hiring a New York City car accident lawyer from our dedicated team at Napoli Shkolnik. We have a reputation for securing multi-million dollar results and putting our clients first every step of the way.

You can rely on us to handle all legal challenges on your behalf while you focus on healing. Find out more about how a New York City personal injury lawyer can help by reaching out to us now for a risk-free initial consultation.

Why Hire a Car Accident Lawyer in New York City?

Getting help from a personal injury law firm after an automobile accident gives you a stronger chance of securing maximum compensation for your economic and non-economic losses.

Our team knows what it takes to handle these complex claims. You can rely on us to:

Answer All Legal Questions You Have

Our team takes the time to carefully answer all of your questions after a crash. We'll even help you go over the five questions you should ask before hiring a car accident lawyer when you turn to us for assistance.

Explain Your Next Steps

We help you walk through all the steps you need to take after a crash. Allowing us to guide you through the legal process can help you maintain your peace of mind and confidence. We're ready to put you first, so reach out without delay.

Handle the Insurance Company

We step in to handle all contact with insurance representatives after a crash. We protect your claim and level the playing field in settlement negotiations, allowing you to fully focus on your physical recovery.

Help With a Personal Injury Lawsuit

In some situations, you can file a personal injury lawsuit against the driver responsible for your crash. We know how to handle litigation, and we're ready to aggressively stand up for your best interests in this situation.

Your Compensation After a Motor Vehicle Accident

Our team can explain how you can maximize your compensation after an auto accident in New York. We use our legal knowledge and experience to assist clients in your situation.

Depending on your circumstances, you may qualify for funds to pay for your:

Medical Bills

You may need expensive medical care to recover from the injuries associated with your crash. The liable party may have to cover your emergency treatment, time in a hospital, medications, and other healthcare expenses.

Lost Income

Many car accident victims have to take a lot of time off work to heal. You could qualify for funds to cover your lost wages. Some clients receive additional compensation to offset their reduced earning potential.

Non-Economic Damages

We understand the non-economic effects of a motor vehicle accident.

Our team can determine a fair value for your:

  • Emotional distress
  • Mental anguish
  • Pain and suffering

We work tirelessly to help you make a full financial recovery.

Property Damage

You may also get money to cover the costs of repairing your vehicle and any other personal property damaged in a collision caused by someone else's negligence.

We focus on winning damages in car accident cases, so reach out now and discuss your next steps.

Will You Get Punitive Damages?

In some cases, the court will award punitive damages to car accident victims. These damages do not directly cover the losses you sustained in a crash. Instead, they serve as a way to punish the party responsible for your crash.

The legal system does not include punitive damages in every car crash claim. Our team can assess your situation and give you more information about the potential impact of these damages on your final compensation.

Reasons to Hire Our Team After a Collision

The attorneys at Napoli Shkolnik have over 150 years of combined experience and the resources necessary to confidently handle car accident claims. We've built our reputation on working tirelessly on behalf of our clients.

We give our clients the attention they deserve throughout every step of the legal process. We have an in-house team that can review your medical situation, helping us strengthen your personal injury claim.

Additionally, we focus on providing fast, efficient service, minimizing the time you have to wait to get compensation for your losses. Our team members also speak a range of languages; you can turn to us for help from Russian, Korean, and Spanish speakers.

We Work on a Contingency Fee Basis

Our team handles car accident claims using a contingency fee structure. Therefore, you only pay us for legal fees after we've fully resolved your legal claim. We never want to add to the financial pressures you experience after a crash.

Fault vs. No-Fault Auto Accident Laws

Most states use either an at-fault or a no-fault car insurance system. In the former, drivers who sustained damages in a crash have three options for filing a claim. They can file with their own insurance company, with the other driver’s insurance company, or directly against the at-fault party. A fault-based system is also known as a traditional tort system.

In no-fault states, however, drivers may not file an injury claim directly against the at-fault party unless the damages that they have sustained are “severe.” Usually, severe damage includes:

  • Permanent injury or impairment
  • Broken bones
  • Permanent scarring or disfigurement
  • Death

In New York, if you sustain injuries in a car accident, you are entitled to receive no-fault insurance benefits for accident-related losses regardless of who was at fault for the accident.  No-fault benefits include payment for your medical and prescription costs, lost wages, and other costs for items.

These other items include travel to doctors, household care, and property damage.  These benefits are paid by the company insuring the vehicle you were in, or if you were a pedestrian, the vehicle that struck you.

No-fault benefits are in addition to any right you may have to bring a lawsuit against the negligent driver who was responsible for causing your injuries by hiring a New York City auto accident lawyer.

Receiving No-Fault Benefits

To receive no-fault benefits, the injured party must contact the no-fault insurance company, request an application for benefits, and return the completed application. The insurance industry has successfully restricted injured victims’ rights.

Injured persons have only 30 days from the day of the accident to apply for no-fault benefits. Doctors and hospitals have only 45 days to file for payment.

You Need to Contact Your Insurance Company Quickly

To protect yourself if you are involved in an automobile accident, it is critical that you obtain the name and address of the insurance company as soon after the accident as possible. Then, within 30 days of the accident, you must notify the company, in writing, of the accident and any injuries you have, no matter how minor they may seem.

In your letter, you should also request a no-fault application. Complete and return the no-fault application to the insurance company. Finally, we suggest that all documents be sent to the insurance company by certified mail, with a return receipt.

If we can be of any help concerning no-fault benefits or any other accident-related issue, we invite you to call us as soon as possible.

No-Fault Insurance Helps With Accidents Involving Uninsured Motorists

You can rely on our team to explain how to deal with uninsured and underinsured motorists in a car accident. In general, your no-fault insurance should cover your losses even if an uninsured motorist hits you.

You may also need to file an uninsured/underinsured motorist claim if you have this form of supplemental auto insurance. We can review your insurance policy and give you more information about the policies that could cover you in this situation.

Proving Negligence in an Auto Accident Claim

If you live in a traditional tort system state, or if you have severe injuries, then you can hire a New York City car accident lawyer to file an injury claim for economic and non-economic damages against the at-fault party.

We will have to prove that the other driver’s negligence was the direct cause of the accident. Negligence refers to acting in a manner that violates the level of care that a reasonable person would have in a similar situation.

Proving negligence often requires NYC personal injury lawyers to investigate the causes of a crash. Our investigation may require us to:

  • Visit the scene of your auto accident
  • Take statements from all eyewitnesses
  • Get a copy of the official accident report
  • Review photos and videos of the accident
  • Work with accident reconstruction specialists

The faster we begin investigating your car accident, the more evidence we'll have a chance to collect. We can address your legal concerns and give you more information about how you can prove who is at fault in a car accident when you contact us for assistance.

Types of Car Accident Claims We Handle

Our law firm can provide the dedicated assistance you deserve after any type of motor vehicle collision.

You can rely on us to help with crashes caused by:

Drunk Driving

Driving under the influence (DUI) greatly increases a motorist's chances of causing a crash. You can rely on us to help after a collision caused by an impaired driver. We take drunk driving crashes seriously, and we're ready to get to work on your claim right away.

Distracted Driving

Drivers who take their attention off the road or their hands off the wheel can cause major accidents. Distracted driving can include behaviors like texting while driving, eating while driving, or even talking to a passenger.

Aggressive Driving

Many motorists engage in aggressive or reckless behavior behind the wheel, such as:

  • Swerving in and out of lanes
  • Tailgating other drivers
  • Speeding or racing

These behaviors increase the odds that they'll cause a crash. You can contact us if a reckless driver hits you in New York.

Fatigued Driving

Driving while tired can slow a driver's reaction time and lead to poor decisions behind the wheel. Some drivers even fall asleep. We're ready to help with your legal claim after a crash caused by fatigued driving.

What to Do if You're in an Auto Accident

We can explain what to do immediately after a car accident.

Notify the Police and Emergency Services

You should tell the police about any accident in NYC that results in property damage or injuries. The police can create an official report detailing the facts about your accident. Your attorney will likely use the information in this report when building your claim for fair compensation.

Gather Evidence

We recommend that you collect as much evidence as possible about your accident.

You may need to:

  1. Take pictures of the scene where possible.
  2. Write down the Make and Model of each vehicle involved, plus take pictures of driver's licenses & insurance information.
  3. Get the names, addresses, and phone numbers of any witnesses who stay around after the accident.

You should also write down an account of what you remember about the crash.

Notify Your Insurance Company

Call your insurance agent as soon as you can, even if you are out of town, and it was somebody else’s fault.  You may need to request a no-fault insurance application. A NYC car accident lawyer can tell you more about how to handle insurance representatives.

Get Legal Help on Your Side

Finally, make sure that you contact a personal injury attorney for dedicated help and support after your accident. A car accident lawyer in New York City can immediately take charge and begin working on your claim, allowing you to feel confident as you navigate the legal process.

A lawyer can also explain how you can protect your rights after a car accident in New York.

Injuries Caused by Car Accidents

Automobile collisions often result in catastrophic injuries.

Some of the most common injuries associated with crashes include:

  • Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and concussions
  • Spinal cord injuries (SCIs)
  • Broken bones and fractures
  • Soft tissue injuries
  • Burns
  • Injuries to internal organs

We're here to help you get the money you need to cover all your healthcare expenses after you sustain injuries in a traffic collision. You can learn more about how we can help with your specific situation when you contact us for a consultation.

We Can Assist After a Deadly Collision

You can trust in our legal team to provide compassionate support if you lose a loved one in a motor vehicle accident. We understand what you're going through after the loss of a loved one and can handle all legal challenges on behalf of your family.

We'll explain the steps you need to take to file a wrongful death claim against the liable party. 

We can also give you information about:

Who Can File a Claim After a Fatal Crash

Generally, only the personal representative for your loved one can file a wrongful death claim after a fatal accident. Your loved one may have selected a personal representative. If not, the court can assign someone to fill this role.

Damages Available for Wrongful Death Claims

We know that taking legal action against the at-fault party after a fatal crash cannot bring back your loved one. However, it can help your family find closure while providing you with the funds you need to manage the financial pressures you face.

Our team can work to ensure you get damages to cover:

  • Your loved one's burial and funeral expenses
  • Your loved one's healthcare expenses
  • Lost financial support
  • Lost household services
  • Lost parental guidance, care, and nurturing
  • Lost inheritance

We can give you more information about the funds available after a fatal accident when you contact us for professional help and support.

Time Limits on Wrongful Death Claims

Your family must move forward with a claim before the statute of limitations expires in New York. Typically, our state will give you two years to take action after the loss of a loved one, though this deadline can vary.

We can give you more information about the timeline for these claims when you contact us for help.

Will the At-Fault Driver Face Criminal Charges After an Accident?

In some cases, the driver responsible for causing your crash will face charges, because car accidents can be criminal and civil matters, depending on the facts surrounding a collision.

For example, a driver could face criminal charges after causing a DUI accident. In this situation, the motorist who caused your crash would face legal action in both the civil and criminal court systems.

These systems do not directly interact with one another. Our legal team handles claims in the civil court system. We're ready to fight to bring you the compensation you deserve after a crash, so reach out now.

What You Need to Know About Car Accidents

Auto accidents are the most common cause of injury and death in the United States. Every year, thousands of people suffer serious and fatal injuries as a result of being in a motor vehicle accident.

When another driver’s negligence causes an accident, victims may hire a New York City car accident lawyer to seek financial remedies through insurance claims or tort. Our team can give you more information about motor vehicle accidents and how you should react after a crash. 

We’re ready to draw on our extensive experience to assist with all legal challenges you face.

How Long Will Your Car Crash Claim Take?

The time it takes to resolve a motor vehicle accident claim in New York City will vary. The severity of your injuries and the method you choose to seek compensation from the liable party can directly impact how long it takes to get funds to cover your losses.

You can focus on expediting the process and minimizing the time you wait to get fair payment by hiring a car accident attorney in New York City. Our team knows how to keep your claim moving through the legal system, and we're ready to take charge now.

We'll stand by you every step of the way, offering compassionate guidance and thoughtful support. You do not have to face legal challenges on your own; we're ready to help.

Talk to Us After a Collision in New York City

Injuries in an auto accident can change your life. To begin the process of recovering damages for the harm that you have suffered, reach out to the personal injury attorneys at Napoli Shkolnik today.

A New York City car accident attorney from our team can help you understand your state’s car insurance laws, as well as how to prove negligence in a civil action.

We're ready to take charge of all your legal needs when you reach out to us for help. Allow to fight to bring you fair compensation for your economic and non-economic damages.

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