Astoria Car Accident Lawyer
Car accidents can be traumatizing for victims, resulting in serious injuries that require compensation. Our lawyers can help you navigate the aftermath of a car accident so that you can recover the compensation you deserve.
After a car accident in Astoria, you should call the police and go to the hospital. Our attorneys can then begin building your case using the documentation you created by reporting your accident. Because New York is a no-fault state for car accidents, only certain victims that have sustained serious injuries are permitted to file a lawsuit. Our lawyers can assess your injuries to determine if you meet the criteria to sue. In a car accident lawsuit in Astoria, victims can recover both economic and non-economic damages with help from our experienced lawyers.
Our attorneys are dedicated to helping car accident victims in Astoria hold negligent drivers accountable. For a free and confidential case evaluation with the car accident lawyers at The Carrion Law Firm, call today at (718) 841-0083.
Steps to Take After a Car Accident in Astoria
Immediately after a car accident in Astoria, there are several things victims should do. By calling the police and seeking medical attention, victims create important documentation and evidence that can help them on their path to recovery.
In the moments following a car accident in Astoria, call the police. Law enforcement officials can create a police report for your recent collision that includes important details about an accident’s events. This report can be useful to our car accident lawyers when building your case, so it is crucial to take this step.
Next, victims should go to the hospital. In order to successfully file a car accident lawsuit in Astoria, it is important to have ample medical documentation of your injuries and their likely cause.
Finally, reach out to our attorneys. Our lawyers can immediately launch an investigation into your accident and assess your case to prepare you for the recovery process.
How No-Fault Laws Impact Car Accident Cases in Astoria
New York is a no-fault state for car accidents. This means that no-fault laws might impact your ability to recover compensation in Astoria. Our attorneys can explain how New York’s no-fault laws work so that you know what to expect moving forward.
All drivers in New York, including those in Astoria, must purchase personal injury protection (PIP) insurance. After a car accident, victims may have to file a claim with their own PIP insurance, regardless of who is at fault. There is a serious injury threshold in New York, meaning victims may be able to sue instead of filing a claim with their PIP coverage if they have sustained certain injuries. Personal injury protection covers whether you were injured in a car accident as a driver, passenger, pedestrian, or bicyclist in Astoria.
Based on your medical records, our attorneys can determine whether or not you have to file a claim with your PIP coverage. Suppose your personal injury protection insurance is insufficient to cover the cost of your injuries and other damages. In that case, our attorneys can help you file a claim with a negligent driver’s liability insurance or your own health insurance after a car accident in Astoria.
Filing an Astoria Car Accident Lawsuit
In Astoria, only certain car accident victims can file a lawsuit against a negligent driver. Your ability to sue will be based on the injuries you sustained in a recent collision and whether or not those injuries meet New York’s serious injury threshold for car accident cases.
Because New York is a no-fault state, victims can only sue if their injuries are severe enough or they have incurred a basic economic loss of more than $50,000. The following injuries qualify car accident victims in Astoria and throughout New York to file a lawsuit against a negligent driver for compensation, as defined by I.S.C. Law § 5102(d):
- Death
- Dismemberment
- Fractures
- Loss of fetus
- Permanent loss of use of a body organ, member, function, or system
- Permanent consequential limitation of use of a body organ or member
- Significant disfigurement
- Significant limitation of use of a body function or system
In addition to the injuries mentioned above, certain non-permanent injuries that substantially impact victims for at least 90 days out of the first 180 days following a collision may qualify victims to file a car accident lawsuit in Astoria.
Contact our car accident lawyers if you are unsure whether or not you can sue based on your injuries. Our attorneys can determine if you meet the serious injury threshold for car accident cases and help you file a lawsuit within New York’s three-year statute of limitations.
Compensation for Car Accident Victims in Astoria
When victims can bring a car accident lawsuit against a negligent driver in Astoria, they stand to recover considerable compensation. Our attorneys can help you file a successful case so that you can focus on healing after a car accident.
Victims can often claim greater damages when they sue a negligent driver instead of filing a claim with their PIP insurance after a car accident in Astoria. Economic damages are often available to compensate victims for financial losses due to an accident. With our attorneys by your side, you can recover compensation for any medical bills, lost wages, and other out-of-pocket expenses you incurred because of a negligent driver.
Non-economic damages are not available in PIP insurance claims. Victims can only recover compensation for pain and suffering when they meet the serious injury threshold and are permitted to file a lawsuit in Astoria. Our lawyers can help you prove how a negligent driver’s actions have impacted your quality of life so that you can recover non-economic damages after a car accident in Astoria.
Call Our Lawyers After a Car Accident in Astoria
If you require compensation following a car accident in Astoria, our attorneys can help. For a free and confidential case evaluation with the car accident lawyers at The Carrion Law Firm, call today at (718) 841-0083.