What Are Some Examples of Tricky Driving Laws in NYC?

In New York City, the statute of limitations for car accident cases is three years. This means you have three years from the date of the accident to file a civil claim. If you fail to file it within three years, the defendant will certainly bring a motion to have the case dismissed, and you won’t be able to recover any compensation. 

Keep in mind that if you lost a loved one in a car accident in NYC, the statute of limitations is shorter. When you bring a wrongful death suit in New York, you only have two years to file the claim. 

While both two and three years might sound like a long time, it’s important to realize that time passes quickly, and evidence can fade away or disappear the longer you wait. Contact an attorney right away so they can speak with witnesses, obtain video footage, and put together the strongest case possible for you. 

If you were injured in a car accident in New York, you should consider contacting a lawyer right away for a number of reasons. If you believe the accident was someone else’s fault, you could be eligible to recover monetary compensation to help you pay for medical expenses, lost wages, and emotional injuries such as pain and suffering. If you don’t have a lawyer, it’s likely that the insurance company will try to get you to accept a low settlement offer as quickly as possible. Many people are tempted to take the quick cash and don’t realize that it’s not even close to the amount that they’re actually entitled to. Insurance companies have lawyers, and their job is to make sure the company is as profitable as possible. To do this, they offer low settlements and hope victims will accept them so that they can’t then file a personal injury lawsuit. If you have legal representation, it's much less likely that the insurance company will try to take advantage of you. 

Additionally, hiring a lawyer to help you handle the complicated legal aspects of the case allows you to focus on your recovery and healing. It’s difficult enough to deal with injuries from a car accident without also having to navigate the complicated legal system in America. Personal injury lawyers are experienced and well-versed in these types of cases, so they can make it as stress-free as possible for you. 

If you were involved in a car accident in New York City, you should call 911 as soon as it’s safe to do so. Make sure you’re not in the middle of the road and at risk of being hit. Wait for law enforcement to arrive so they can survey the scene, take notes, write up an accident report, talk to you, the other driver, and witnesses, and help you exchange insurance information with the other party. This is helpful if the other party is at fault, and you decide in the future to file a personal injury claim. The accident report can serve as an unbiased account of what may have happened or what caused the accident. 

It’s also helpful to take pictures of the accident, including your car, the other party’s car, any injuries you can see, and anything else in the area that you believe is relevant and will help show that the other party was responsible for the accident. 

After law enforcement arrives and you are finished speaking with them, you should consider going to get checked out by a medical professional. Even if you don’t feel injured, this is still a good idea. Some injuries that result from car accidents are internal and you might not even be aware that you have them. Additionally, your adrenaline is likely pumping, which often means you don’t feel pain – or as much pain – so you might not even realize you’re injured until much later. Seeing a medical professional as soon as possible can prevent complications from injuries and ensure that you receive the care you need. 

Finally, contacting an experienced personal injury attorney is a good idea so they can help you determine if you have the grounds to file a civil claim. They can also help you deal with the insurance company, and they may be able to get you the compensation you deserve without having to go to court. 

Now that you’re familiar with some of the tricky NYC driving laws, you should be better equipped to keep yourself safe on the road. Unfortunately, other drivers may not be as well versed in these laws and might be driving while distracted or even under the influence. It’s guaranteed that accidents will happen – no matter how safe you try to be. If you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of being injured in a car accident, you should contact a personal injury lawyer right away – especially if you believe the accident was someone else’s fault. If another party was negligent and that caused the accident, you might be entitled to collect substantial compensation as a result. 

Morgan & Morgan can help you. We have been handling car accident cases in New York City for decades, and we will do everything in our power to make sure you get the justice and compensation that you and your family deserve. We handle all our cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning we only get paid if we win or settle your case. You never have to pay anything upfront, which means there’s no financial risk to you in moving forward with a civil claim. All of the attorneys at Morgan & Morgan treat their clients the same way they’d want their own family members to be treated. We are here for you. Contact Morgan & Morgan today for a free consultation.