How Can an Auto Accident Lawyer in NYC Help You?

As your auto accident lawyer in NYC, we can help you in a number of ways: 

• Providing legal guidance—Our team will explain your rights, liabilities, and obligations connected with the car accident in a clear and concise manner. You can use this knowledge to understand the legal process and set your expectations on compensation. 
• Conducting in-depth investigations—We will carry out thorough investigations into the accident, collect evidence, interview witnesses, and work with accident reconstruction specialists to determine liability in the case.
• Calculating damages suffered—As your auto accident lawyer in NYC, it is our job to look at your accident as a whole, determine all the losses you’ve suffered, and present a value that accurately reflects the damages suffered.  
• Handling insurance negotiations—As your legal representative, we will keep your best interest at heart and handle all the negotiations and communications with the insurance company to make sure that you receive a full and fair settlement. 
• Filing claims and handling paperwork—We will take care of all the paperwork involved with your claim and file the relevant claims on time, in accordance with New York’s legal deadlines. 
• Representing you in court—If a settlement agreement cannot be reached with the insurance company, we are more than ready to take the fight to court and do our absolute best to help you achieve the compensation you deserve. 
• Creating peace of mind—When you let your auto accident lawyer in NYC take care of your case, you can fully focus on your recovery and reduce your stress during a challenging time.

Real People, Real Wins

From significant settlements to landmark judgements, our team of car accident lawyers have worked tirelessly to secure some incredible results and amazing settlements. Let’s take a look back at some of the most notable victories. 

• A $2,150,000 settlement for a 40-year-old male who was involved in a motor vehicle accident and suffered multiple injuries, including but not limited to knee(s), shoulder(s), and back.
• A $1,175,000 settlement for a 33-year-old female who was injured in a motor vehicle accident where the driver lost control of the vehicle. She suffered fractures in the tibia and fibula. 
• A $1,450,000 settlement for a 52-year-old male involved in a rear-end collision where he suffered severe back injuries, which required a lumbar fusion. 
• A $1,450,000 settlement for a 34-year-old male who suffered severe back injuries in a motor vehicle accident, which required a lumbar fusion. 
• $1,000,000 for a 33-year-old claimant that was seriously injured in a rear-end motor vehicle collision. 
• $1,000,000 for a 34-year-old victim that suffered severe back injuries, which eventually required a lumbar fusion. 
• A $900,000 settlement for a 58-year-old male that suffered severe spinal injuries in a rear-end accident. 
• A $900,000 settlement for a 46-year-old individual who was injured in a motor vehicle accident and suffered extensive spinal injuries.  

What Should You Do After a Car Accident in New York?

If you are involved in a car accident in NYC, there are several things you should and should not do after the accident to help guarantee the best possible outcome in your car accident claim. 

Things you should do after the accident 

• Remain at the scene of the accident—New York law requires that all the parties involved remain at the scene of the accident for validation purposes. Leaving the scene prematurely creates a negative outlook, and you may be labelled as a “hit-and-run driver,” exposing you to criminal charges. 
• Call the police—If an accident has resulted in death, injuries, or property damage over $1000, you are legally mandated to report the accident to the police. The police report from the accident can be presented as evidence in your compensation claim.
• Seek immediate medical attention—If you have suffered injuries as a result of the accident, it is imperative that you get treated for your injuries as soon as possible. 
• Document the scene and gather evidence—evidence is the foundation of your claim. Focus your efforts on documenting the scene of the accident and gathering other important pieces of evidence, such as witness statements, police reports, weather reports, and CCTV footage. 
• Consult an auto accident attorney in NYC - Contact your lawyer to get a thorough understanding about the insurance and legal processes, as well as your rights, liabilities, and obligations in connection to the accident. 
• Contact your insurance provider—An insurance claim is the main route for compensation following a car accident, and the sooner we get the ball rolling, the better. 

Things you should not do after a car accident 

• Do not delay in getting medical treatment—If you willfully delay in receiving medical treatment, the other side can contend that you failed to mitigate the damages, ultimately reducing your compensation. 
• Do not admit fault or apologize—While admitting some fault or apologizing may seem like the right thing to do, insurance companies can use the statement against you and attempt to justify the reduction in compensation. 
• Do not post about the accident on social media—Posting about the accident on social media, even a seemingly harmless caption, can be used to twist the narrative and deny you the full compensation you deserve. 
• Do not make any recorded statements about the accident—When you make recorded statements about facts of the accident, especially the extent of your injuries, you may be prevented from claiming additional compensation, even if complications develop later down the line. 
• Do not accept the first settlement offer—your insurance company would be quick to offer you a settlement following the accident. As your NYC auto accident lawyer, we advise you to wait, as your claim is likely worth more.

What are the most common causes of car accidents in New York? 

In general, car accidents in New York are usually the result of driver negligence, mechanical failures, or intentional wrongdoing. As such, some of the most common causes of car accidents in New York are as follows: 

• Distracted Driving 
• Speeding and other traffic violations 
• Drunk driving 
• Poor weather conditions 
• Vehicle issues 
• Road rage or reckless driving

Common injuries seen in car accidents in NYC

The injuries seen in drivers, passengers, and pedestrians involved in car accidents come in all shapes and sizes. Some of the most common injuries that people can experience in car accidents include: 

• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and other head injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Whiplash and other neck injuries
• Complete or partial paralysis
• Internal bleeding and other internal injuries
• Soft tissue injuries
• Bone fractures
• Burns and road rash
• Loss of limbs
• PTSD and other psychological injuries

What are the types of car accidents in New York City?

Whether it be a busy intersection or on the road during rush hour or even in work zones, car parks, and freeways, there are a million and one different ways car accidents can happen in the Big Apple. Some of the most common types of car accidents in NYC include: 

• Side-impact collisions (T-bone accidents) 
• Intersection collisions
• Head-on collisions
• Rear-end collisions
• Hit-and-run accidents
• Speeding accidents
• Improper turn accidents 
• Drunk driving accidents
• Distracted driving accidents
• Improper turn accidents
• Parking lot accidents

What are the types of damages you can claim in a car accident claim? 

Following a car accident in NYC, the injured victim is entitled to claim compensation for two major types of damages: economic and non-economic damages. In addition to the abovementioned categories, victims may also be entitled to punitive damages, which are awarded at the court’s discretion.  

Economic damages 

Economic damages are the representation of all the financial losses that a person has suffered due to the car accident. The types of economic damages that can be claimed include: 

• Medical bills (hospital bills, diagnosis tests, medication, rehabilitation),
• Cost of repairing or replacing damaged property, 
• Lost wages or income, and
• Other reasonably connected expenses (transport costs to and from treatment, costs involving domestic help, etc.)

Most of the time, you can claim compensation for economic losses such as medical bills, lost income, and other related expenses through your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage, which is also known as ‘no-fault’ insurance. Since New York is a ‘no-fault’ state, an injured person can claim compensation, irrespective of their blame in the accident.  

Non-economic damages

Non-economic damages represent all the losses a victim has suffered due to a car accident that cannot be quantified and do not have an exact value. Due to these characteristics, the compensation for non-economic damages will be determined on a case-by-case basis. The types of non-economic damages claimed in car accidents include: 

• Pain and suffering,
• Mental anguish and emotional distress,
• Damage to reputation,
• The loss of consortium, and 
• The loss of enjoyment of life. 

Punitive damages 

If your car accident claim is to be decided in court, and the court finds that the accident was caused by the willful or intentional conduct of the other party, the court has the discretion to award punitive or exemplary damages to the victim. The idea behind awarding punitive damages is to punish the responsible party and to deter them and others from engaging in similar conduct in the future.

How long do I have to file a car accident injury claim in NYC?

When filing claims for compensation following car accidents, there are deadlines a claimant must comply with to preserve their right to compensation. If you are filing an insurance claim with your own insurer, you must file your claim within 30 days from the date of the accident. But, it is ideal if you can inform your insurer sooner rather than later. 

On the other hand, if you are filing a lawsuit for compensation, you are subject to a deadline known as the statute of limitations. If it is a personal injury lawsuit, you must file the suit within three years from the date of the accident. Alternatively, if you are filing a wrongful death lawsuit, the suit must be filed within two years from the date of death of the deceased. If you fail to meet these deadlines, the court can decide not to hear your case, regardless of merit, and you will lose the right to claim compensation.  

New York City car accident statistics 

Here are some key statistics we took from the most recent NYPD motor vehicle collision report for the city of New York (September 2025): 

• September 2025 saw 7385 motor vehicle accidents in the city of New York. 
• These accidents have resulted in 21 fatalities (11 motorists, 1 passenger, 2 cyclists, and 7 pedestrians). 
• When categorizing vehicles by type, passenger vehicles showed the highest involvement in accidents (5539), with sports utility/station wagons taking second place (4268). 
• According to the data, distracted driving was the most common contributing factor to accidents, resulting in 2063 accidents. 
• 516 accidents were the result of tailgating, while failing to yield the right-of-way was the contributing factor to 491 accidents. 
• At the same time, 330 and 316 accidents were caused by improper lane usage and unsafe speeding, respectively. 
• Furthermore, driving under the influence, disregard of traffic control, and road rage contributed to 157, 205, and 73 accidents in NYC in September 2025.

How much is my car accident case worth?

Determining the value of your claim is one of the most challenging aspects of your claim and one of the most important tasks carried out by an auto accident lawyer in NYC. Determining how much your car accident case is worth is influenced by a number of factors, including but not limited to the following: 

• The severity of the injuries suffered.
• The total wages or income lost due to the accident. 
• The loss of future earning potential. 
• The need for surgery, hospitalization, and rehabilitation. 
• The emotional distress and other non-economic losses suffered.
• The need for assistance and the inability to perform usual and daily tasks following the accident.
• The pain and suffering endured after the accident.
• The wrongful death of a passenger or pedestrian.

Can you still get sued after a car accident even if you have insurance? 

When pursuing compensation for damages suffered in a car accident, you must first go through the insurance process. In New York, for a vehicle to be legally driven on its streets, the driver must have proper liability insurance to satisfy the state’s minimum auto insurance requirements. 

At the same time, for more comprehensive insurance coverage, they must also have Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage and Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage. In most car accident cases, the compensation is paid out through insurance. But you have to keep in mind that insurance policies have coverage limits (PIP coverage—up to $50,000), and they do offer coverage for non-economic damages such as pain and suffering and mental distress.

According to Article 51 of New York State Insurance Law, a person can only sue for non-economic damages if they can prove that they suffered a “serious injury” in the car accident or that their basic economic damages were over $50,000. What New York considers a “serious injury” is defined in Section 5102 (d).  

What happens if I am partially to blame for the car accident?

In an accident, if you are also partially responsible for the outcome, any compensation you are entitled to receive via insurance or lawsuit will be reduced to reflect your fault in the accident. This is the result of New York’s pure comparative negligence rule. For example, you are the victim in a car accident, but the investigation finds that you are 30% at fault for the accident. If you are claiming $100,000 in compensation, your claim will be reduced by 30%, meaning the final amount you walk away with will be $70,000.

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Should Injured Victims Hire a Lawyer After a Car Crash?

If you are ever involved in a car accident and are looking to claim proper compensation for all the damages you’ve suffered, securing legal representation from an experienced and trusted auto accident lawyer in NYC is a must. Car accidents can be incredibly complex, and even if you are not to blame for the accident, that is not a guarantee that you will get the compensation you deserve. 

Navigating complex insurance and legal procedures, gathering the proper evidence, handling all the paperwork, and entering into negotiations with your insurance by yourself can be challenging and overwhelming, and your inexperience will likely lead to mistakes that can be exploited by the other side to deny you fair compensation. 

When you let an auto accident lawyer in NYC take over your case, an incredible weight will be lifted off your shoulders, and you will be able to completely focus on your recovery. When it comes to legal matters, especially in car accidents, there is nothing that beats the skills, knowledge, and expertise of a seasoned auto accident lawyer in NYC. 

How much does an auto accident lawyer in NYC cost?

One of the most common questions people ask when deciding on lawyers is “How much does an auto accident lawyer in NYC cost?” Most accident lawyers, including us at Gabriel Law, work on a contingency-fee basis instead of charging by the hour or having a retainer. Under the contingency-fee arrangement, you don’t need to pay legal fees unless you win your case, and the legal fees generally amount to 33% of the total compensation recovered in the settlement. 

However, the exact percentage that will amount to legal fees will depend on factors such as the law firm or complexity of the case. We advise you to ask and clarify about legal fees at the very first meeting or consultation and make an informed decision based on the lawyer’s response and your financial situation. 

Contact a Car Wreck Lawyer for Legal Representation

If you or your loved one has been injured in a car accident, securing proper legal representation is a must to protect your rights and secure the compensation you deserve. At Gabriel Law, our team of lawyers have been the legal representatives of many New Yorkers in their fight for fair compensation, and we are more than happy to step into the shoes of your auto accident attorney in NYC. 

Contact us on [phone number] or send an email [email address] to set up a free consultation. Take the first step forward into getting your life back on track with the legal help and guidance of Gabriel Law.