Understanding how much your car accident case is worth in New York – and the types of damages or financial compensation that may be available – can give you a better idea of what to expect from a settlement or judgment. Work with a skilled Forest Hills car accident lawyer to get an accurate case estimate and to maximize your financial recovery after a crash in New York.
Typical Damages in a New York Car Accident Case
New York abides by a unique no-fault insurance system. Under this rule, drivers file claims with their own car insurance companies after accidents, regardless of who is at fault. Every driver is required to carry personal injury protection (PIP) insurance to pay for their own medical bills and lost wages.
The required amounts of car insurance in New York are currently:
- $50,000: personal injury protection insurance
- $25,000: per-person bodily injury liability insurance
- $50,000: per-accident bodily injury liability insurance
- $10,000: property damage liability coverage
These types of insurance can pay for the policyholder’s own hospital bills, ongoing medical needs and income lost due to the crash, in addition to the losses of others after an at-fault accident. However, first-party claims do not cover the victim’s pain, suffering, property damage and various other costs.
Additional Damages Available From a Lawsuit
If a victim’s injuries meet New York’s serious injury tort threshold, the victim may be able to file a lawsuit against the party that caused the collision outside of the no-fault system. A third-party insurance claim or car accident lawsuit could result in economic, non-economic and punitive damages.
Examples include:
- Present and future medical bills
- Therapies and rehabilitation
- Lost wages and lost future capacity to earn
- Disability or disfigurement
- Motor vehicle damage and personal property losses
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress or mental anguish
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Wrongful death damages, if applicable
- Punitive damages, in cases involving malicious or reckless conduct
“Serious” injuries under New York law include bone fractures, organ damage, disfigurement, dismemberment, disability, loss of a fetus and death. You can find out if you have the option of pursuing a claim against a third party after a crash by consulting with a local lawyer.
Seek Maximum Compensation By Hiring an Attorney
Many factors and elements can influence the overall value of a car accident claim in New York, including injury severity and the number of liable parties. The most effective way to maximize your case outcome is by hiring a qualified personal injury attorney to represent you from the very beginning.
An attorney can help you navigate your own no-fault benefits as well as pursue additional damages from the at-fault party, if applicable. An attorney will have the power to negotiate a fair settlement with an insurance company or bring your case to court, if necessary, to achieve maximum compensation on your behalf.
Car insurance companies will always put themselves first and try to minimize claim payouts. A car accident lawyer in New York, on the other hand, will work for you and you alone. To discuss how much your specific car accident claim might be worth, call Abaev Law Firm, PLLC at (212) 763-7738 for a free case review.