New York Vehicle Accident Lawyer

Why NYC Is a Dangerous Place for Drivers, Passengers, Cyclists and Pedestrians

New York is a city on the go — fast, busy, and bustling. At any given time, we have millions of people on the move. New Yorkers rush into subways, hop into cabs, use their smartphones to summon Uber or Lyft rides or get behind the wheels of their own vehicles. Add to that the visitors who don’t always know where they’re going or how to get there. They sometimes dart unwittingly into traffic or make dangerous last-minute turns in a rental car.

The sheer volume of transportation means that accidents are just waiting to happen here. And they happen all the time. Even if crashes don’t produce catastrophic injuries or death (and in many cases, they do), New York auto accidents trigger an avalanche of stress, red tape, and financial hardship. Medical bills, lost income, endless paperwork, continuous pain, emotional trauma, and flashbacks all become daily reminders of a terrible event.

Unfortunately, the at-fault party’s insurance company typically offers very little help. If they offer a settlement, it’s likely for much less than the victim deserves. Insurance companies rarely do the right thing unless the victim hires a lawyer. As New York City vehicle accident lawyers, we understand how frustrating and unfair that is.

Contact Tucker Lawyers by calling (516) 399-2364 to schedule a free consultation with our team. 

Why Choose Us?

Opting for Reliability and Experience

At Tucker Lawyers, our team of personal injury attorneys have decades of experience helping people throughout New York receive the guidance they need after suffering injuries. Whether you’ve been in a car accident that left you with losses you’re not sure your own insurance will cover or you’ve been in a serious truck accident that resulted in catastrophic injuries, our team can help.

From the moment you step through our doors, you can expect to be treated with compassion and respect. With our team by your side, you can focus on healing from the physical and emotional distress you’ve suffered while we take care of the legal complexities of your case.

Common Causes of NYC Vehicle Accidents

While vehicle crashes have many causes, the most common is human error. When people make mistakes behind the wheel, other people can suffer dearly. Here are some of the most common causes of New York City traffic collisions:

• Reckless Driving: This includes speeding, failure to observe stop signs or traffic signals, improper lane changes, illegal turns or following another vehicle too closely.
• Distracted Driving: More than ever before, drivers have mobile devices and accessories that draw their attention from the road. In addition to mobile phones, distraction can include extra passengers, loud music, navigation devices, car stereos, eating, drinking and grooming while driving.
• Impaired Driving: Drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol have put others in danger because of their poor decision to get behind the wheel while intoxicated.
• Failure to Drive Appropriately for Weather Conditions: When snow, ice and rain start to fall in New York, it is up to drivers to adjust their driving behaviors accordingly.
• Drowsy Driving: Whether driving home after a long work shift or on a long road trip, fatigue can make a driver inattentive and extremely dangerous.
• Hit-and-Run Collisions: In some cases, a negligent driver flees the scene, leaving victims to suffer in the wake of the damage they left behind. When hit-and-run accidents occur, hit-and-run victims can still sometimes find a way to be compensated for the damages they’ve suffered.
• Vehicle Defects: Sometimes it is not the error of the driver but rather a manufacturing error that can lead to a serious vehicle crash. Defective tires, brakes or headlights are just a few examples of defective vehicle parts that can cause motorists injury and accident.

If you were hurt in a car accident, it’s not your responsibility to identify the cause of another driver’s negligence. Leave that to our car accident lawyers. We’ll investigate your case to find out who was at fault and how much you are owed. Schedule your free, no-obligation consultation today.

If You Need to Deal with Insurance Companies…

Remember that when speaking to your own insurance company, you should cooperate with them to the best of your ability. However, if they offer you an amount that is inadequate, you are under no obligation to accept that offer. Contact an attorney to fight for the payment you are owed.

If you are contacted by another driver’s insurance company, or any insurance company that is not your own, do not speak to them. A representative of an insurance company might try to get you on the record making statements that eventually shift the blame away from their policyholder or reduce the amount of money you’re offered. Direct these representatives to your attorney.

Our team knows how to deal with insurance companies. Let us do the work on your behalf. Contact Tucker Lawyers today to schedule a free consultation.

If You Might Be Injured, See a Doctor

If you’ve been involved in a vehicle accident, you should always see a doctor to eliminate the possibility of an injury. This is no time to “power through” or put a brave face on your pain. Injuries should be treated immediately, and it’s best to document your suffering in case you need to file a legal claim for compensation. So many things can go wrong after a car wreck. Don’t leave anything up to chance. Go see a doctor as soon as possible, and follow the physician’s advice closely.

At Tucker Lawyers, we offer free immediate consultations so that you can receive the help you need when you need it. 

Consequences of NYC Vehicle Accidents

Victims of negligent drivers in New York can face immeasurable hardship from the injuries they have suffered. Some of these injuries include:

• Spinal Cord Injury
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Burns
• Broken Bones
• Internal Damage
• Wrist and Ankle Injuries
• Whiplash.

In addition to pain and suffering, victims must deal with the financial fallout of a traffic crash, including medical bills, lost income, loss of work capacity, and ongoing therapy and rehabilitation. In the worst of vehicle accidents, the victim can lose their life due to the negligence of another driver. In these cases, it is possible for surviving family members to hold the at-fault driver responsible for the financial fallout stemming from the loss of a loved one, including outstanding medical bills, funeral costs, loss of income, and end-of-life care costs.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a negligent driver, you should not have to pay the costs for their mistakes. Our New York vehicle accident attorneys are here to help you hold that negligent driver accountable for the losses they caused you. Contact Tucker Lawyers PC today to learn more about how our NYC personal injury lawyers can help you win the payment that you deserve.

Steps to Take After a New York Collision

Protecting Your Future Claim

Before you do anything else, ensure that you and others in the vehicle are not in any active danger. If your vehicle is in the middle of the road, for example, finding a safer place to wait for emergency services is essential. The only exception to this would be if you are in serious pain or if you think you’ve hit your head. In those instances, try not to move.

Make certain that emergency services and the police are called to the scene. Allow them to speak with you and assess you, even if you’re not sure you’re hurt. If paramedics recommend that you go to the hospital, listen to them.

Offer as much information as you can to the police and then start gathering evidence from the scene if you’re well enough to do so. Take pictures of the vehicles, the road, your injuries, and anything else that could help your claim later on.

You’ll also need to contact your insurer to let them know you were in an accident. Keep the conversation as short as you can, and then make the very next call to your lawyer.

FAQs: Vehicle Accidents

If you’ve suffered losses in a vehicular accident, you likely have many questions about what to expect. Our personal injury lawyers offer the answers you need.

Why file a personal injury claim after a vehicle accident?

Vehicle accidents are costly, painful and endlessly frustrating. Drivers usually have insurance that covers expenses after a crash, but too many crash victims are met with payment that simply doesn’t meet their needs. A personal injury claim is your chance to stand up and demand payment for the costs you face. A claim can cover: medical bills, ongoing treatment, medications, property damage suffered in a crash and non-economic damages, such as pain, suffering, anxiety and post-traumatic stress. If an insurance company hasn’t given you a fair deal, you have options.

Do different accidents result in different injuries?

When you compare the severity of injuries from different types of vehicle wrecks, it becomes evident the dramatic impact of (a) type of vehicle, (b) speed at time of collision, and (c) availability and use of safety equipment.

Should you explore your options?

When you’ve suffered a serious injury, particularly if it was caused by another driver, you should always consider your legal options. Insurance companies don’t always live up to their promises, and you want to be sure that you aren’t leaving money on the table when you’re faced with expensive medical bills, property damage and other costs. We know that it’s not always clear what steps to take after a serious vehicle accident in New York City, which is why we offer free case evaluations. We want to help you understand your options, so that you know whether you should move forward with an injury claim. To schedule a free consultation with Tucker Lawyers PC, contact our team today by giving us a call or filling out our online contact form.

What should I do if I have been involved in a car accident?

First make sure that everyone is okay. Call 911 so that a police officer will respond to the scene, and to ensure that anyone who has been injured can get medical attention. Get information from the other driver (name, phone number, insurance information). Ask any witnesses for their contact information, too. If it is possible to do so, take pictures of the scene. In the weeks that follow, keep extensive records concerning police reports, medical bills, car repairs and any other relevant financial or medical information.

What should I say following the crash?

You should speak to the police as honestly and truthfully as possible and you should ask for the information of the other driver and witnesses. Aside from that, you should say very little after being involved in a car accident. There can often be a number of contributing factors that lead to an automobile accident, and it is unreasonable to assume that you will know what lead to the crash. What you say to the other driver might be used against you later. For this reason, it is best never to admit fault or apologize to the other driver.

How should I deal with insurance companies after a car accident?

You should notify your own insurance company of the crash. However, your attorney will be able to deal with insurance companies in the days, weeks, and months that follow a crash. DO NOT give a statement to the other driver’s insurance company. You are under no obligation to talk to another driver’s insurance company. They will likely try to shift the blame onto you if at all possible. Let your attorney handle the conversation.

What if the other driver flees the scene?

If the other party leaves the scene after a crash, you should still call the police and contact your attorney. You can still receive payments from your insurance company for many of the damages you have suffered. If possible, try to get the license plate number or the make and model of the hit-and-run driver’s vehicle. The police might be able to use that information to track down the other driver.

How long do I have to bring a claim?

The statute of limitations (or time in which a claim must be brought from the date of the accident) is 3 years for a personal injury claim. If a claim is being brought for wrongful death, the claim must be brought within 2 years from the date of death. If the claim is being brought against a municipality, the time to bring a claim is significantly shorter depending on who the claim is against, so you should consult with an attorney immediately.

Why would the insurance companies want that?

The insurance companies agreed to the legislation because the law also limits access for injured parties to the court system. The statute states that an injured person can’t proceed with a lawsuit unless they have sustained a serious injury as defined by the legislation, which significantly restricts an individual’s ability to collect money for pain and suffering.

What is the legal definition of a serious injury?

A serious injury has been defined as death; dismemberment; significant disfigurement; fracture; loss of a 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 limitation of use of a body function or system; or a medically determined injury or impairment of a non-permanent nature which prevents the injured person from performing substantially all of the material acts which constitute such person’s usual and customary daily activities for not less than ninety days during the one hundred eighty days immediately following the occurrence of the injury or impairment.

How will I know if my injuries will be considered serious?

Many of the injuries sustained in automobile accident cases become progressively worse with time, and their seriousness may be difficult to determine shortly after the accident. However, the automobile accident attorneys at Tucker Lawyers PC recommend that you retain an attorney immediately so that all filings are completed to protect your rights and ensure that you receive the compensation that you are entitled to.

To get the answers to more specific questions regarding your unique case, schedule a consultation with our team at Tucker Lawyers.

Start a Claim with Dedicated Lawyers by Your Side

Beginning a personal injury claim after an accident can feel overwhelming. You may be battling significant injuries and could be experiencing stress from all of the bills you’ve gotten as a result. If the collision was the result of another person’s negligence, there are steps you can take to help yourself through this difficult time.

By hiring experienced New York lawyers, you can file a personal injury claim to receive compensation. At Tucker Lawyers, we never back down from a fight, and we’re fiercely dedicated to each of our clients. You don’t have to go through the aftermath of an accident alone.

Call us at (516) 399-2364 to schedule a free consultation with our team.

Managing Attorney John. J. Tucker, Esq.

John has personally handled thousands of clients who were victims of another’s negligence and fights relentlessly for their rights. John enjoys bringing closure to a client’s matter so that the injured party can move forward with their life. His background enables him to evaluate complex liability related claims and bring resolution to claims in a record time frame. [ Attorney Bio ]