Were you injured in a car accident in Melville, New York? Carrion Accident & Injury Attorneys, PLLC can help you understand your rights. Contact (212) 433-3100 today for a free consultation with an experienced Melville car accident lawyer.
Our legal team has more than 50 years of combined experience and has recovered tens of millions of dollars for injured clients. At 212-CARRION, we can provide exceptional legal representation while you focus on moving forward after your crash.
Why Choose Carrion Accident & Injury Attorneys, PLLC After a Car Accident in Melville, NY?
A car accident can throw your life off course in a matter of seconds. You may be dealing with painful injuries, missing work, and watching medical bills pile up.
At Carrion Accident & Injury Attorneys, PLLC, our Melville personal injury lawyers can:
- Investigate how the collision happened
- Calculate your accident-related losses
- Handle communications and negotiations with insurance companies
- Consult experts when appropriate
- Obtain police reports, photographs, videos, and other evidence
- Speak with witnesses who saw the crash
- Review medical records and document your injuries
- Identify everyone who may share responsibility
- Prepare your case for trial when necessary
While you focus on your health and recovery, our Melville car accident attorneys can take care of the legal side of your case. Call our law office serving Melville, NY, today to discuss what happened during a free consultation.
What Should I Do After a Car Accident in Melville?
The moments after a crash can be confusing and stressful. Your health and safety should come first, but there are also practical steps you can take to protect yourself and preserve important information.
Depending on the circumstances, you should consider:
- Moving to a safe location when possible.
- Calling 911 and reporting the collision.
- Seeking medical attention for your injuries.
- Exchanging contact and insurance information with the other driver.
- Taking photographs of the vehicles, roadway, and surrounding area.
- Getting names and contact information from witnesses.
- Keeping copies of medical bills and other accident-related records.
- Reporting the accident to your insurance company.
New York law also requires motorists to submit an MV-104 report to the Department of Motor Vehicles within 10 days when a crash results in death, personal injury, or more than $1,000 in damage to the property of any one person.
What Is New York’s No-Fault Insurance System?
New York uses a no-fault automobile insurance system. After many accidents, injured occupants first turn to applicable no-fault coverage for certain economic losses, regardless of who caused the crash.
New York Insurance Law defines “basic economic loss” to include up to $50,000 per person for covered losses, subject to statutory limitations. Those losses can include qualifying medical expenses and lost earnings.
However, no-fault insurance does not necessarily compensate an injured person for everything they lose after an accident. New York law generally limits a covered person’s ability to recover non-economic damages from another covered person unless the accident causes a “serious injury” as defined by state law.
What Compensation Can I Recover After a Melville Car Accident?
A serious car accident can create losses that extend well beyond the initial hospital bill. You might miss weeks of work, require ongoing treatment, or find that injuries prevent you from doing things you enjoyed before the crash.
Depending on your case, compensation may be available for losses such as:
- Medical bills
- Future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Rehabilitation expenses
- Property damage
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Emotional distress
- Disability
- Disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Some losses can be documented through bills, receipts, wage statements, and other financial records. Others, such as pain and suffering, do not come with a specific price tag.
Keeping records of your expenses, treatment, and recovery can help show how the accident has affected you financially and personally.
What Injuries Can Result From a Car Accident?
Car accident injuries are not always obvious right away. Adrenaline and shock can mask symptoms, and some injuries may become more noticeable in the hours or days following a collision.
Common car accident injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
- Neck and back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Soft tissue injuries
- Shoulder and knee injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Cuts and lacerations
- Burns
- Facial injuries
- Nerve damage
- Paralysis
Some people recover after a relatively short course of treatment. Others face surgery, months of rehabilitation, or medical problems that affect them for years.
Getting appropriate medical care is important for your health. Medical records can also help document the nature and extent of your injuries if you later pursue compensation.
Who Can Be Liable for a Car Accident in Melville?
The driver who caused the crash may be responsible for the resulting damages, but car accident cases are not always that straightforward. Sometimes, more than one person or business played a role in what happened.
Depending on the circumstances, potentially responsible parties may include:
- A negligent driver
- An employer whose employee caused a crash while performing job duties
- A vehicle owner
- A manufacturer or distributor of a defective vehicle or component
- A government entity responsible for certain dangerous roadway conditions
- Another person or business whose negligence contributed to the collision
Accidents involving commercial vehicles or several motorists can be particularly complicated because multiple insurance policies and parties may come into play.
Investigating all potential causes of the crash can help identify the parties responsible and the possible sources of compensation.
Contact a Melville Car Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
The days and weeks after a car accident can be difficult. You may be trying to recover physically while worrying about missed paychecks, medical expenses, insurance paperwork, and what comes next.
Carrion Accident & Injury Attorneys, PLLC has more than 50 years of combined experience. With tens of millions of dollars recovered, we will fight to recover maximum compensation for you, too. If another party caused your crash in Melville, New York, reach out to us today for a free consultation with an experienced Melville car accident attorney.
