Because we share the roadways with others, even the most careful driver can experience a car accident. It happens in an instant, but the aftereffects of a serious car accident in Ozone Park or elsewhere in New York can have long-lasting or permanent adverse impacts.
While no legal process can undo physical and emotional trauma, a successful car accident claim provides the financial relief you need and deserve. Call our Ozone Park car accident lawyer from the Abaev Law Firm to learn more about your rights and legal options.
Contact Our Car Accident Lawyers
Why Choose ALF Law as Your Car Accident Lawyers In Ozone Park?
It’s always unwise to leave a crucial car accident claim in the hands of the insurance company whose goals conflict with yours. Instead, choose legal representation by Abaev Law Firm for the following:
- Nearly two decades of experience on your side
- A personalized legal strategy to aggressively seek the maximum compensation available to you in your car accident claim
- A commitment to honesty and accessibility, so you are always included and involved in your case. We will come to you if you are too severely injured for an office visit
At ALF Law, we never charge upfront fees to injury victims. Instead, after your free consultation, your Ozone Park personal injury attorney works for you at no cost until after they’ve recovered compensation for you in your car accident claim.
What Types of Car Accidents Happen In Ozone Park?
Residents of Ozone Park are active and productive, but this sometimes means heavy traffic conditions, frequent construction, and run-down roadways. Failing to follow traffic laws or texting and driving is a breach of the legal duty of care drivers have to others on the road.
It only takes a single driver’s error, recklessness, or moment of distraction to cause a serious accident. The most common accidents in Ozone Park and elsewhere in New York include the following:
- Rear-end collisions
- Motorcycle accidents
- T-bone accidents or angle collisions
- Sideswipes
- Head-on collisions
- Collisions with obstacles
- Tire blowout accidents
- Roadway departures
- Rollover accidents
- Multi-car pileups
- Truck accidents
It takes a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the accident and the at-fault party. Insurance companies assign an adjuster to investigate liability, but their goal is to protect their profits, even if it means unfairly shifting liability to you. An experienced, proactive car accident attorney in Ozone Park protects against these and other tactics through an independent investigation and compelling evidence.
What Damages Can I Recover In a Car Accident Claim In Ozone Park, NY?
Injuries are more than just painful; they can be debilitating. They also cause financial hardship for many families when the injury prevents them from working. A successful claim recovers common car accident damages such as the following:
- Reimbursement for medical expenses
- Anticipated future medical expenses
- Out-of-pocket costs
- Compensation for pain and suffering
- Catastrophic injury compensation, in some cases, is awarded when permanent harm occurs, such as loss of limb, disfigurement, organ loss, chronic pain, loss of hearing, vision damage, or diminished quality of life
If you lost a loved one in a fatal car accident in Ozone Park, a car accident wrongful death attorney can help you recover compensation and a sense of justice for your grievous loss.
Time Limits for Accident Claims in New York
Don’t wait to pursue a car accident claim in Ozone Park. You have no more than three years from the date of your crash to seek financial compensation from another party, with some exceptions, under New York Civil Practice Law & Rules §214. This law states:
- Actions to be commenced within three years:
- 4. an action to recover damages for an injury to property except as provided in section 214-c;
- 5. an action to recover damages for a personal injury except as provided in sections 214-b, 214-c, 214-i and 215.
Note that you may have more or less than three years to file in special circumstances, such as if you need to pursue damages for the wrongful death of a loved one (two years from the date of death) or wish to hold a government agency liable (90 days). This is why it’s recommended to contact an attorney without delay if you believe you have a case.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in Ozone Park
Car accidents can occur in Ozone Park, New York, for many reasons, but human error is the number one cause. Motor vehicle drivers can make many errors and mistakes while driving that increase the odds of a collision. When a driver fails to act in a reasonable and prudent manner, it is known as negligence.
Common reasons behind automobile accidents in Ozone Park include:
- Distracted driving
- Texting and other cell phone use while driving
- Driving under the influence
- Drowsy driving
- Failing to yield the right-of-way
- Ignoring traffic signs and signals
- Red-light running
- Tailgating or following too closely
- Unsafe passing
- Vehicle part defects or breakdowns from poor maintenance
- Unsafe roadways (poor design or dangerous road defects)
Since New York uses a no-fault insurance rule, it is not always necessary to determine fault. Drivers must seek compensation through their own insurance first, regardless of fault. However, if you have serious injuries, you can sue another driver for additional damages. Work with an attorney at Abaev Law Firm, PLLC to fully understand your legal options.
Steps to Take After a Car Accident
If you get hurt in a car accident in Ozone Park, try to remain calm and remember to take the correct steps to protect your personal safety and set up your future injury claim. If you can, here’s what to do:
- Stay calm and pull your vehicle over.
- Check yourself and others involved for injuries.
- Get medical care without delay.
- Call 911 to report the car accident to NYPD.
- Exchange contact information and insurance details with the other driver.
- Don’t admit fault.
- Take photos of the crash scene before you leave.
- Search for any videos, including traffic cameras and dashcams.
- Keep copies of your medical records and hospital bills.
- Get an accurate estimate of the cost of property repairs.
- Call your own insurance provider to report the crash.
- If available, file a claim against the at-fault driver or party.
- Consult with an attorney at ALF Law Firm before accepting a settlement.
Do your best to keep records of everything related to your car accident, including correspondence from insurance companies, documentation of your injuries, a journal detailing your pain and suffering, photographs, videos, and lost wage statements. Then, bring all of this evidence to a free consultation with our personal injury attorneys in Ozone Park.
Reach Out to Abaev Law Firm About Your Ozone Park Car Accident Claim
You shouldn’t be left responsible for the financial consequences of a car accident that was someone else’s fault. Instead, an assertive lawyer pursues all avenues of compensation from any party that caused or contributed to your accident under New York’s contributory negligence laws. Call our Ozone Park car accident law firm today to learn more about how the state’s fault-based injury law applies in your case.