Accident Laws in New York
Accident laws in New York
The legal procedures involved in such cases are very complex and getting advice and guidance from a lawyer becomes an essential task. The lawyer should be familiar with the accident laws in New York as well as the federal laws. He should have enough experience in handling such cases. But be sure that you have gathered enough information about the lawyer as well as your case before you contact the lawyer.
There are certain things that you should follow after an accident. First of call after you have met with an accident you should call the police. Secondly get useful information about the other party involved in the accident, get their address, license number and information about their insurance. And always remember that do not own up if you think it is your fault, don’t make any statements or signs that you were responsible for the accident.
There is a no-fault law in New York that a person regardless of fault is entitled for. The car insurance company will pay you for the damages. This would cover medical expenses, prescriptions, lost wages and others up to $50,000. You should file your complaint within 30 days from the time of the accident. The reimbursements are obtained through the New York Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation.
When to contact an accident attorney in New York
You should get in touch with a car accident lawyer in New York as soon as you can after you have met with an accident and you feel that the accident occurred as a result of the negligence of the other party. The lawyer will help you file a case and will help you out with all the important documentation that will be required to make your case strong and help you obtain the compensation. You should provide sufficient medical evidence about your injuries. After going through all these, the lawyer will be able to tell you whether you can file a case or not.
The lawyer will charge you fees according to certain laws.
Contingency fees - if the lawyer succeeds in winning your case then he receives usually one-third of your settlement amount; if he looses the case then he does not get anything. But you may have to pay the filing fees. In New York, fees for workman's compensation claims are tightly regulated, and are generally lower
Hourly fees - this is based on the experience of the lawyer.
Retainer fees – under this you need to make an escrow account
where in you pay in advance and the lawyer takes his hourly fees according to his rates timely from this account.
Legal Aspects of Car Accident
If you or your family member has suffered as a result of a car accident then you can file a case of personal injury or a wrongful death according to the loss. A car accident can result in brain injury, injury to the spine, neck injuries, fractures and broken bones, head injuries, etc. These injuries can make the victim suffer from severe pain or discomfort and even make him disabled for life. These accidents can result in loss or eyesight or hearing. Under the Personal Injury Claims the person who has suffered can obtain compensation for the injuries and damages caused. If you prove that
• Your injury is a direct result of the car accident. • The accident was caused due to another person’s negligence or fault and not your own. Then you are entitled for compensation. To file for a personal injury claim the first ting that you need to do is prove the negligence of the other party. Under this law you are not entitled for compensation if you are at fault. If the negligence of the other party is proved then you can get compensation for
• Medical expenses incurred in the treatment of your injuries. • Any future medical costs. • Compensation for actual loss of wages. • Loss of future wages • Compensation for loss of enjoyment of life • Damages for mental pain and anguish
Wrongful Death Claim
Under the law of Wrongful Death Claim if you have lost a family member then you can sue the other party for negligence. You can make a claim of wrongful death if the person who was killed in a car accident was your financial provider and you were solely financially dependent on that person, even if you are not actually related to the deceased. In such cases also you need to prove that the accident was caused as a result of carelessness of the other person. In cases, you are entitled to receive damages if you have:
• Loss of companionship • Loss of sexual relationships • Actual financial losses, if the person killed was the provider of the household or you were dependant on them financially • Mental pain and suffering
If you think you have a valid personal injury or wrongful death claim arising from car accident injuries / death, you should consult with an experienced car accident attorney as soon as possible.
In most of the cases people who suffer as a result of a car accident in New York are not at fault. People who have suffered as a result of fault of others are liable to get compensation. There are now specialists in New York for car accident laws. These lawyers deal particularly with those affected in this way, and these lawyers could help you to get the compensation to which you are allowed.
