New York City Car Accident Lawyer

New York City Car Accident Lawyer

Were you recently injured in a car accident in NYC? The experienced New York City car accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Jay S. Knispel Personal Injury Lawyers are ready to help you fight to secure the compensation you deserve. Call us today at (212) 564 2800 for a free case review.

You could be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost income, and the suffering you’ve endured. Contact our New York City, NY law offices to discuss your legal rights and the potential options that might be available to you at this time.

How a NYC Car Accident Lawyer at Law Offices of Jay S. Knispel Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Car Accident in New York City

Jay Knispel is a fierce advocate for car accident victims across the city – and has been for years.

Before focusing exclusively on personal injury litigation, attorney Jay Knispel spent years working as a Senior Trial Attorney for one of the largest insurance companies in the nation.

How a Car Accident Lawyer at Law Offices of Jay S. Knispel Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Car Accident in New York City

When you turn to our NYC personal injury attorneys for help after a crash, you can expect:

  • Empathic and results-driven legal representation at all stages of your car accident injury case
  • A prompt and thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to and surrounding your collision to establish causation, fault, and liability
  • Engagement with local accident specialists and injury experts as we build and value your car accident case
  • No-nonsense negotiation strategies that are designed with one thing in mind: to maximize your recovery

If insurance adjusters refuse to offer you a fair deal – or if they try to deny your claim without a justifiable reason – our award-winning trial attorneys will be fully prepared to take your case to a jury.

We know how much is at stake when you turn to us for help after a crash. We’re ready to do everything in our power ot help you walk away with the full value of your car accident injury claim. Contact our NYC car accident attorneys to get started with a free initial case evaluation.

Visit Our Law Office In Manhattan, NY

450 7th Ave #1605, New York, NY 10123
(212) 564-2800
(516) 715-5944

Why Should I Hire a Car Accident Attorney?

Your medical bills and out-of-pocket expenses may accumulate quickly after a car accident. It can be overwhelming to deal with holding at-fault parties accountable for your injuries as you focus on recovering. An experienced car accident attorney can help you through this challenging process.

An attorney can handle the following legal aspects of your claim and work to maximize the value of your case:

  • Investigate
  • Gather and analyze relevant evidence
  • Determine who is at fault for your injuries
  • Assess the extent of your damages
  • Work with medical experts
  • Negotiate for a good settlement
  • Represent you in court if necessary

Contact us for more information.

Car Accident Statistics in New York, NY

Car Accident Statistics in New York, NYBased on an analysis of crash data published by the New York Police Department and the New York State Traffic Safety Statistical Repository (TSSR) – very common.

Car accident data from 2023 is preliminary as of early 2024. But statistics from 2022 tell us there were a total of 100,508 car accidents across all five boroughs. That’s around 275 car accidents a day on NYC roads.

Here are some notable NYC car accident statistics from that recent year:

  • More than half of all car accidents in NYC happened in Queens (28%) and Brooklyn (33%)
  • Less than one out of every five NYC car accidents occurred in the borough of Manhattan
  • A little under half of the traffic accidents resulted in at least one injury at 37,848
  • There were 255 traffic crash fatalities

Traffic accidents don’t just affect motorists and their passengers. In 2022, at least 17,000 accidents in the city involved bicyclists, pedestrians, buses, and motorcyclists.

NYC Car Accident Statistics [Early 2024 UPDATE]

In 2022, there were 100,508 New York City car accidents. Overall, 37,848 of those car accidents resulted in a fatality or injury.

The majority of car accidents in New York City occurred as a result of:

  • Distracted driving
  • Failing to yield
  • Tailgating
  • DUI
  • Unsafe passing
  • Speeding
  • Disobeying traffic signs and signals
  • Reversing unsafely
  • Improper turns
  • Changing lanes unsafely

The combination of vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists on NYC streets can easily lead to catastrophic accidents. If you are injured in a car accident, contact us for help.

Which NYC Borough Has The Most Car Accidents?

While data from 2023 is still preliminary, analysis of NYPD crash data from 2022 shows us Brooklyn is the borough where car accidents in New York City tend to happen most.

That year the county breakdown of accidents was as follows:

  • Brooklyn (33%) – 32,788
  • Queens (28%) – 27,943
  • Bronx (18%) – 17,678
  • Manhattan (17%) – 16,827
  • Staten Island (5%) – 5,272

There were 255 fatal crashes throughout NYC’s five counties in 2022. In terms of both injury-causing and fatal accidents, the percentages by borough are as follows:

  • 35% happened in Brooklyn
  • 28% happened in Queens
  • 18% happened in the Bronx
  • 16% happened in Manhattan
  • 3% happened on Staten Island.

Where Do Most Crashes Happen in NYC?

Where Do Most Crashes Happen in NYC?When you compare all of the boroughs, Queens and Brooklyn top the list. However, every borough in New York City typically sees tens of thousands of accidents every year. And, while collisions can happen just about anywhere, there are certain locations that tend to be more dangerous than others.

Some of the most dangerous roads and intersections in New York City include:

  • 42nd Street and 8th Avenue
  • 2nd Avenue and East 59th Street
  • Jay Street and Tillary Street
  • Tillary Street and Flatbush Avenue
  • 3rd Avenue and East 14th Street
  • 58th Street and Roosevelt Avenue
  • East 149th Street and Morris Avenue
  • East 161st Street and Morris Avenue
  • Atlantic Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue
  • Grand Concourse

Knowing this might be beneficial if you can avoid these stretches of road – or at least exercise extra caution while driving on them.

How Much Money Can I Get From a Car Accident Case?

The value of your car accident case will depend on several different factors, including:

  • The severity of the car accident
  • The types of injuries you sustain
  • The impact of the accident on your ability to work
  • The cost of medical treatment
  • The mental and emotional effects of your injuries
  • The cost of vehicle repairs
  • Whether you share fault for the accident

The amount of money available to you in a car accident case will also depend on your damages. A knowledgeable car accident attorney can help you determine what your case is worth and fight for fair compensation.

What Compensation is Available After a NYC Car Accident?

What Compensation is Available After an NYC Car Accident?Most often, crash victims are able to recover both economic and non-economic damages after getting hurt.

What Are Economic Damages?

Economic damages are awarded to help make accident victims financially “whole” again after a crash. They’re typically paid to offset the present and future costs, expenses, and losses that are a result of an accident.

Examples that are typically awarded in car accident cases include:

Economic damages must be backed by some sort of documentation – invoices, bills, receipts, or paystubs.

What Are Non-Economic Damages?

Not every consequence of a car accident in the city will come with a price tag. Rather, some injuries are intangible. Examples include:

  • Pain and suffering
  • PTSD
  • Vehophobia
  • Anxiety
  • Mental anguish
  • Disfigurement
  • Scarring
  • Loss of quality of life
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Loss of consortium

These types of injuries are personal to each and every accident victim. This makes them very difficult to value in terms of dollars and cents.

Are Punitive Damages Ever Available After a Wreck?

There are times when punitive damages might be awarded to crash victims or their families. However, this is the exception, rather than the rule.

Punitive damages are awarded for the sole purpose of punishing the defendant for conduct that’s simply inexcusable. In the context of a motor vehicle accident case, they might be appropriate if the at-fault driver was drunk at the time of the crash and caused catastrophic injuries or death.

How Will Sharing Blame For a Crash in New York Affect My Ability to Recover Compensation?

How Will Sharing Blame For a Crash in New York Affect My Ability to Recover Compensation?New York has something called pure comparative fault rules. In the most simple terms, comparative negligence means that sharing some – or even most – of the blame for an accident will not prevent you from recovering compensation. However, your financial award will be reduced in direct proportion to how much blame you’re assigned.

If you’re allocated 10% of the blame for a crash because you were texting, your damages will be reduced by 10%. At the same time, you’ll find that you’re on the hook for 10% of the damages sustained by other people in the crash, too.

Insurance adjusters and other parties to your accident will undoubtedly try to shift as much of the blame to you as they can. If you don’t fight back and defend yourself, you could watch your sizable financial award all-but-disappear.

What Happens If I’m in an Accident With an Uninsured Driver in New York City?

New York law requires all motorists to have minimum amounts of car insurance coverage. But, not everyone follows the law. If you’ve been in an accident and the other driver is underinsured or uninsured, there may be a few options for recovering compensation.

  • Seek benefits from your own insurance provider if you’ve purchased Uninsured Motorist Coverage
  • File a lawsuit against the uninsured driver and seek damages from them directly, or
  • File a lawsuit against anyone else who might have contributed to your accident or injury.

Our car accident attorneys will assess all of your options and help you get better after your car accident in NYC.

What Causes Most Car Accidents in New York?

Here’s a look into some of the most commonly-cited causes of car accidents in NYC, as reported by the NYPD.

Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is increasingly problematic across the nation. That’s particularly true in a gridlocked city like New York. In 2020, these practices – like texting, talking on the phone, eating, or anything that takes your hands off of the wheel – contributed to 33,074 car accidents. That means that distracted driving was a factor in more than 29% of all collisions, citywide.

Tailgating

Tailgating, or following too closely, is a leading cause of car accidents in NYC. In 2020, it was a factor in 9,082 reported traffic accidents.

Failure to Yield

It’s important to know the rules of the road before you drive. Unfortunately, not everyone understands – or cares about – when they have the right of way and when they have to yield. Failure to yield was cited as a factor in 7,731 car accidents in NYC in 2020.

Speeding and Aggressive Driving

Exceeding the speed limit is dangerous. But, after being stuck in NYC traffic, many drivers put the pedal to the metal to make up for lost time. In 2020, speeding contributed to 4,526 car accidents in the Big Apple. Many speeding accidents occur at intersections and traffic signals.

Drunk Driving

Alcohol was a factor in 1,763 crashes in New York City in 2020. Drunk driving is a factor in more than 1 out of every 100 collisions.

Passing

Unsafe lane changes contributed to 8,945 auto accidents in Manhattan and other city boroughs in 2020. Only distracted driving and tailgating were reported as causes more often.

Other leading causes of collisions, wrecks, and crashes in New York City include:

  • Fatigued driving
  • Executing illegal or unsafe turns
  • Defective vehicles or safety equipment
  • Road hazards or defects

At the Law Offices of Jay S. Knispel, our car accident attorneys will be ready to investigate your crash from every possible angle. The more we know about why your accident happened, the better prepared we can be to seek compensation from all contributing parties.

What Should I Do After a Car Accident in New York City?

Here’s what you should (and shouldn’t) do if you are involved in an auto accident in the Big Apple:

  • Stay at the scene. It’s a crime to leave if there was significant damage to property or if anyone was injured or killed in the collision.
  • Call the police and ask to have an officer dispatched to the scene.
  • Check to see if emergency medical attention is required – for yourself or anyone else involved in the collision.
  • Resist the urge to apologize – doing so could end your pursuit of compensation before it even starts.
  • Take photos and video footage of the accident scene, vehicles, and injuries.
  • Seek medical attention as soon as you can. Prompt documentation can be critical in establishing a causal link between your injuries and the accident.
  • Direct all communication to your car accident attorney.

Take the time you need to focus on getting back on your feet. Let a car accident attorney handle conversations and negotiations with insurance adjusters and other parties.

How Much Will it Cost to Hire a New York Car Accident Attorney?

Nothing upfront. Then, our attorneys get paid a percentage of your financial settlement or award if you win. This is called a contingency fee, and it means that there’s no risk to you.

If we don’t win your case you pay nothing.

Common Types of Car Accident Injuries in NYC

We Will Fight to Recover Maximum Compensation For All of Your NYC Car Accident InjuriesWe know that the costs of any injury can be overwhelming. That’s why we’re prepared to put our 25+ years of experience to work to get you the money you need for all of your crash-related injuries.

We represent clients who, because of avoidable crashes in the city, have suffered:

Our legal team is also committed to helping family members who have experienced a tragic and untimely loss as a result of a fatal NYC collision. If you’ve experienced the wrongful death of a loved one, don’t hesitate to call us for help. We’ll be there to help you make the tough decisions and work hard to secure the financial justice you and your family deserve.

How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Car Crash in NY?

How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Car Crash in New York, NY?The statute of limitations for most car accident claims in New York is just three years. This means that, following the date of your accident, you’ll have limited time (up to three years) to file a civil injury claim against responsible parties.

Note, you’ll have even less time to notify your insurance provider and formally request benefits from your insurance policy.

There are times when the statute of limitations can vary. For instance, you will have 90 days to file an administrative claim if a government agency is involved. Alternatively, you could have more time to act if a child was injured or if the responsible party can’t be found.

There’s great value in contacting an experienced attorney as soon as you can after a car accident in New York City. Not only does it help to ensure that your right to pursue compensation is preserved, but it also gives your attorney a chance to get a jump-start on an investigation. A prompt investigation can, many times, make a world of difference in how an accident claim unfolds.

Can I Get Money If I Was Partly at-Fault For My Car Accident?

New York is a pure comparative negligence state. Pure comparative negligence allows you to recover compensation even if you were partly at fault for the accident. This remains true even if you are 99% at fault for the car accident. However, the amount will be reduced in proportion to your amount of blame.

Will My Car Accident Case Go To Trial?

Car accident claims may go to trial, but many settle beforehand. You will likely deal with an insurance company if you are injured in a car accident. Insurance companies may make low initial settlement offers that do not cover your damages.

Your car accident attorney can negotiate with the insurance company or defense attorney on your behalf. A trial may become necessary if a fair settlement agreement cannot be reached.

Contact Our New York City Car Accident Attorneys to Schedule a Free Consultation

Contact Our New York Car Accident Attorneys to Schedule a Free ConsultationDid you recently get hurt or lose a family member in an NYC car accident due to someone else’s negligence? If so, you may have the right to recover compensation. Whether you’re fighting for insurance benefits or seeking damages from a negligent third party, it helps to have a qualified New York City car accident attorney standing beside you.

At the Law Offices of Jay S. Knispel Personal Injury Lawyers, we will fight for the compensation you deserve after your accident. When you hire our law firm, you’ll benefit from a team with 25+ years of experience who have recovered millions in life-changing awards for injury victims just like you.

Don’t give the insurance company any advantage. Give yourself the edge you deserve by calling attorney Jay Knispel and his accomplished legal team. We offer a free case evaluation – so please connect with us by email or by phone to get started.


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New York City car accident infographic

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Our Locations

New York City Office 

450 7th Ave Suite 1605
New York, NY 10123
(212) 564 2800

Law Offices of Jay S. Knispel Personal Injury-New York City Office

 

Brooklyn Office 

26 Court St., Suite 2511
Brooklyn, NY 11242
(718) 802-1600

Law Offices of Jay S. Knispel Personal Injury - Brooklyn Office

 

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