Discover unwavering support at Rosenberg & Gluck, LLP, where our Long Island car accident attorneys are solely focused on guiding victims towards the financial recovery they require. Our seasoned attorneys not only inform you of the damages you may qualify for but also provide dedicated representation throughout every phase of your car accident claim or lawsuit.
With a skilled personal injury attorney by your side, you gain the ultimate form of personal injury protection, ensuring robust advocacy for your rights and securing the compensation essential for your well-being. Trust us to be your steadfast allies on the path to recovery.
Six Things You Need to Do After a Car Accident
After a car crash, it’s understandable to feel confused about what to do. Here’s what to do after a crash to safeguard your personal health, protect your rights, and start the journey toward financial recovery:
- Stay on the scene. Never flee the scene. This could lead to criminal charges as well as a civil lawsuit against you. Instead, stay on scene until you’re sure everyone is okay and police have cleared you to go.
- Notify the police by calling 9-1-1 if there are injured people or damage to the vehicles. You must stay on the scene until an officer tells you it’s okay to leave.
- Exchange information. If your crash involved another vehicle, you must stop and exchange names, license plate numbers, phone numbers, and insurance company information.
- Seek medical attention for injuries. See a doctor as soon as possible for crash-related injuries. Delaying medical care can result in insurers and jurors questioning the nature of your injuries and the extent of harm.
- File a report with authorities. In New York, you must file a Report of Motor Vehicle Accident within ten days if the crash caused $1,000 in damages or more, per the New York Department of Motor Vehicles. Failure to report can lead to license suspension.
- Seek a case review with our team. We can help you understand your options and ensure that your right to seek compensation is protected.
What You Should Know About Reporting an Auto Accident in New York
In New York State, the law obligates you to report your car crash involving personal injury or death to the police. The driver of the car that caused the injury must report what happened.
If the collision involved only property damage, the driver must report it if the damage exceeds $1,000 or if the other driver is not present on the scene.
In New York, drivers must file written collision reports within ten days of the crash. The driver must report a car crash “as soon as they are physically able.”
No specific rules dictate when this might be, but it’s safe to assume this means immediately (unless injuries render the driver incapable of making the call). Failure to report an accident within this time frame can result in fines and potential suspension of your driving privileges.
How Much Time Do I Have to Take Legal Action for My Case?
In injury cases, the statute of limitations restricts the time you have to file a lawsuit.
Per New York law CPLR § 214, this is typically three years for personal injury cases. For wrongful death cases, you generally have two years, per EPTL § 5-4.1.
If you miss the deadline, you may no longer be able to seek fair compensation for your injuries, medical costs, lost wages, etc.
You should take steps to begin your case as soon as possible for this reason. Additionally, there are some situations which may shorten these time periods. You could have as little as 90 days to act.
Seeking legal help at the outset will give you and your attorney a head start in building strong evidence for your case.
Someone from our team will immediately work to preserve the evidence that may make the difference in proving fault and liability.
How Can the Attorneys at Rosenberg & Gluck, LLP Help My Case?
We have plenty of successful experience with personal injury law and wrongful death, with a strong focus on personal service and delivering the highest caliber of legal service.
We will typically begin your case as an insurance claim, but we may advise taking some car accident cases to court if necessary.
- Determine your recoverable damages
- Gather compelling evidence of your losses and the other driver’s negligence by reviewing the police report, medical records, and other evidence
- Handle all communications with parties in your case
- Negotiate the best possible settlement
- Advise you on settlement offers
- Litigate on your behalf
- File any necessary paperwork
- Protect your legal rights at every turn
Our car accident attorneys are known for handling cases ranging from routine to the most complex. While some car crash cases on Long Island may appear to be more straightforward than others, any injury case can come with a host of complications such as:
- A denial or challenge to your claim: The insurance company may try to claim that your injuries aren’t as serious as they are. The insurance company could also argue that a gap in your care timeline translates to you making your injuries worse.
- Lowball settlement offers: You may receive unfairly low offers from even your own insurance provider that may not cover the full range of your bills and losses.
- Arguments that you are at fault: Even when the other driver seemed negligent, you may face unfair accusations of fault or partial liability. We can gather evidence from Long Island car accidents to show the facts in the case and protect your rights.
- Multi-party liability or uncertain liability You may not realize that more than one driver or entity could be responsible for your losses. You could also leave a great deal of money on the table if you do not take appropriate action.
We know that you and your family may be going through a great deal as you cope with the loss of income, medical bills, and the struggle to regain your health.
As your attorneys, we will deal with the insurance company. Our motor vehicle accident attorneys will take care of all the legal aspects of your case while you concentrate on getting well.
Seeking Compensation: What You Can Recover After an Auto Accident
Your injuries from a car accident on Long Island are not the only costly losses you may face. You may be eligible to seek several forms of damages in a car accident case, including both economic and non-economic damages.
- Medical bills, including the cost of emergency room care, hospitalization, diagnostic testing, surgery, physical therapy, medications, and more
- Future medical bills, reflecting treatments and medical care you will be expected to require for your auto accident injuries
- Lost wages, if you missed paychecks due to recovery
- Reduced earning capacity, if your ability to earn income will be expected to continue affecting you in the future
- Pain and suffering, if your car accident caused you serious physical pain and other hardships
- Mental anguish, for the psychological challenges you could be dealing with after a crash
- And more
However, every auto accident case is different, and you may need to meet certain criteria to seek some forms of damages. A car accident attorney can help you understand all forms of compensation available to you after a collision.
This may also include economic and non-economic losses such as:
- Medical costs required by your loved one
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Loss of future income and support
- Pain and suffering of your loved one before passing
Like car accidents, no personal injury case is simple to handle on your own, let alone when you’re dealing with a loss.
A car accident attorney from our law firm can handle every aspect of a wrongful death case for you and help you recover damages.
How Our Attorneys Build a Case Against a Negligent Driver
If you or a loved one was involved in a car collision, you might have a legal case. If your injury was caused by actions directly from a negligent driver, you might have the right to file a claim or a personal injury lawsuit for the compensation you need.
The ability to collect compensation depends on whether or not the other driver was negligent. To prove negligence, you must be able to prove the following:
- Someone else had a duty of care to show you a reasonable level of safety.
- That party breached their duty of care.
- That breach caused your injuries.
- You suffered damages as a result of your injuries.
Our personal injury attorneys can help. We fight for your right to retrieve the compensation you deserve. We hold wrongdoers accountable to prevent future negligence on the road that causes car accidents.
On Long Island, highways are notorious for being dangerous places where accidents happen. Impatience on the roads can lead to impulsivity and poor decision-making.
Other forms of negligence, such as drunk or distracted driving, could have also caused your collision. You may have a right to seek compensation.
We must first establish how the other driver’s actions contributed to the car accident to move forward with a case. Here are some common forms of negligence that may lead to collisions:
- Inattention from the driver
- Speeding
- Tailgating
- Failure to yield to the right-of-way
- Failure to yield at stop sign/light
- Texting
- Drunk driving
- Unsafe lane change
- Illegal U-turn
- Weather conditions
- Roadway hazards
- Defective/faulty vehicle parts
Your own negligence can contribute to a car accident. Your Long Island personal injury attorney will discuss your possible contribution to the collision upon your initial free case review.
Our office may build evidence for your case from multiple sources because negligent drivers and their auto insurance providers often deny any responsibility for causing car accidents.
We gather eyewitness testimony and obtain police reports while investigating the evidence from the scene of car accidents.
If necessary, we work with computer animators and simulators to recreate the cause of a crash. Data and evidence recovered are also very useful for visual presentations to explain events to jurors.
We may also consult with other professionals such as:
- Accident reconstructionist
- Skid mark analysts
- Surveyors
We will take every step necessary to seek the compensation you deserve. If negotiations fail to arrive at a fair settlement on your behalf, you can rest assured, our attorneys are always prepared to present your case to a jury of your peers.
Why Choose Our Attorneys to Handle Your Injury Case?
Our team of personal injury attorneys has decades of experience working to assist victims of others’ negligence. If you choose to work with our team, you can rest assured that:
- We offer a free consultation so that you can learn your legal options.
- We work based on contingency, so you don’t have to worry about upfront fees.
- We can visit you at home or in a hospital if you are unable to travel to us. We can also schedule virtual meetings.
- We will get your questions answered and keep you in the loop throughout your case.
Contact Us for a No-cost, No-obligation Consultation
Contact Rosenberg & Gluck, LLP today to speak with an auto accident attorney for free. There is no obligation, and you could start the process of your case today.
We are available 24/7 and will discuss your options – no strings attached. If you are unable to travel as a result of injuries, we can come to you. Call us today. We can assist you in Spanish if needed.
