Victims of car accidents in New York can file a lawsuit against any negligent parties who caused a crash. Considering the financial trouble a bad car accident can put you in, it’s important to work as quickly as possible to get compensation. Stay aware of the time limits applicable to your accident, and contact a trusted New York car accident lawyer.

Like most cases that can be brought against another individual, a car accident case has a statute of limitations. That means that eventually, the right to pursue financial damages related to an accident goes away. In New York, this limit is three years from the date of the accident and applies to property damage as well as personal injury. 

Once this time limit has been passed, it may still be worth contacting a qualified New York car accident lawyer, but waiting will pose a significant additional challenge in your case.

In any event, there is rarely a reason to wait so long to get started on your car accident case. If you have been injured in a car accident, reach out to an experienced New York car accident lawyer at your soonest convenience. Carner & DeVita have been providing expert legal guidance for victims of New York car accidents since 1957 and can help you recover the maximum possible amount for your injuries and damages. 

Give us a call at (631) 543-7070 and we can schedule your free, no-obligation consultation as soon as possible.

What to Do After a New York Car Accident

At the scene of the accident, your priority should always be the safety of yourself and your passengers. Be sure to move your vehicle somewhere safe if possible, and don’t move if you’re too hurt. Call the police and begin documenting the scene of the crash as well as you can. Photo and video evidence of the scene can help you prove your case. When speaking with the police, don’t incriminate yourself, but answer any questions honestly and without over-explaining anything.

If you aren’t taken to the hospital from the scene of the accident, see a doctor within 48 hours. A medical professional is the only person that can officially diagnose any injuries. If you wait too long to see a doctor, you could wind up with complications that affect recovery. Plus, an insurance company would likely point to this as evidence that your injuries aren’t as bad as you claim. Go to a doctor, get a diagnosis and a treatment plan, and follow it. It’s the best way to recover physically and eventually financially.

From here, you may be wondering how you’re supposed to pay all the medical expenses and repair bills that begin piling up. Fortunately, New York requires all drivers to possess Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance, which covers up to $50,000 in medical costs, financial losses, and death benefits. Only if this $50,000 threshold is passed are you eligible to pursue another individual for damages. 

It’s also important to note that you are expected to inform your PIP insurance company no more than 30 days after your accident. Waiting too long can quickly present problems when seeking coverage for your medical and economic damages.

Don’t Delay the Legal Process

A bad car accident can leave your life in chaos, making deadlines and paperwork more stressful and irritating than they usually are. However, these deadlines are crucial to the success of your case and should not be ignored. 

Seeing a doctor early after an accident, submitting a claim with your PIP provider within 30 days, and seeking the assistance of a New York car accident lawyer are all excellent ways of getting your case off to the right start. The longer you wait to begin your case, the more likely it is that crucial evidence will have disappeared. Most digital evidence, like security camera footage, is deleted within 24-72 hours. Eyewitnesses may also forget key details. 

Furthermore, defense attorneys can raise suspicion that your claim is illegitimate if you wait too long to begin the claims process. For example, if you don’t have a medical diagnosis immediately after the wreck, they could question whether your injuries were actually caused by the accident.

Don’t wait until you’re bumping up against the three-year statute of limitations for your New York car accident. Get in touch with a New York car accident lawyer with a history of winning cases like yours. The faster you act in the weeks after an accident, the faster you will be able to get back to life as it was before the accident.

Don’t Assume It’s Too Late to Start Working with a Long Island Car Accident Lawyer

Even if you’ve waited to act for months or years at this point, speaking with a qualified legal representative can put you on the path to financial recovery. While there are many reasons that waiting can make your case more difficult to pursue, this is not a reason to give up on your claim altogether. 

You and your family deserve to be able to seek recovery for all of your accident damages. Many times, life gets in the way of pursuing at-fault parties, and many accident victims are unaware of their rights to file a lawsuit. So while it’s never too early to start working on your case, it’s never too late to learn more about your legal options. In some cases, courts will grant an extension to the three-year personal injury statute, especially if the injury victim only recently had their injury diagnosed.
Carner & DeVita have helped many victims of car accidents like you win their cases and recover the maximum amount of compensation they were entitled to. We are available to schedule a consultation to go over the details of your New York car accident case 24/7, so call us at (631) 543-7070.