A New York Accident Lawyer Can Help You Understand the No-Fault Insurance System
Car accidents are a common incident in New York City. Certain accidents could cause serious injuries even if they're just minor collisions. Anyone injured should dial 911 and seek medical attention right away.
A New York car accident attorney can assist victims with their legal issues after the crash. They can help them obtain compensation for medical expenses and lost wages.
No-fault Insurance
New York is an insurance no-fault state. This means that motorists pedestrians, passengers and passengers as well as bicyclists and cyclists are covered by their automobile insurance policies. This includes medical expenses, lost wages, and other costs related to accidents. While this system has protected car accident victims from being buried by out-of-pocket costs, it is important to know exactly what it does and does not mean.
To qualify for No-Fault Insurance You must satisfy certain requirements. First of all you must be injured in a vehicle accident that took place in the state of New York. You must also be a driver, passenger in the vehicle that is insured or a cyclist or pedestrian hit by the vehicle. The person injured must be treated at an accredited hospital or provider. You must have also suffered "a serious injury."
New York State Insurance Law defines serious injuries as a permanent loss of function or disfigurement. All of these injuries are severe and can have a negative impact on the victim's life. A New York injury lawyer can help you if you have suffered serious injuries in a New York car accident.
A lawyer can assist with the legal process in numerous ways after a serious car accident. They can explain your legal options, conduct an extensive investigation, and bargain with the insurance company on your behalf. They may also bring a lawsuit to court on your behalf against the negligent driver responsible for the crash.
You may have to pay astronomical medical bills as well as loss of wages, and other costs following a serious accident. No-fault insurance will help with these costs, and you should always seek out treatment after an accident, even though you feel fine.
If you're unable to return to work, no-fault insurance will pay for 80 percent of your lost wages up to $2,000 per month. It also covers an important portion of the cost you incur out-of-pocket such as the cost of household help.
Insurance companies often try to deny coverage under no-fault by arranging an IME or EUO (Independent Medical Examination or Exam Under Oath). You must show up for these appointments, as not attending could result in the denial of benefits retroactively.
Purely comparative fault
In a lot of car accident cases, the plaintiffs may be partially or fully responsible for the incident. The law grants injured parties the right to receive damages based on their percentage of fault. This is called pure comparative negligence. Pure comparative differs from modified comparative, which caps the amount a claimant may be deemed to have in order to keep them from receiving financial compensation. Modified comparative fault states usually place the limit between 49 and 51 percent.
In a car accident the plaintiff must prove two elements to be legally accountable for the accident that is, negligence and causality. Negligence is the violation of a law, or committing a breach of the law with reckless negligence. Causation is the process by which the negligence directly led to the injury. To establish legal liability the plaintiff has to demonstrate the economic loss caused by their injuries, like medical bills, lost income and travel costs to appointments. Non-economic losses can include emotional trauma, pain and suffering.
New York is one of the 13 states that have pure comparative fault laws, which means that injured parties can still seek recovery in the event that they are partly at fault. However, if the person seeking compensation is found to be more than 50 percent at fault, they will be barred from recovering any damages. In this instance, it is important to work with a skilled attorney.
Comparative fault can be applied to any personal los angeles injury lawyer or wrongful-death situation in which the victim (or heirs) have suffered mental or physical injuries. However, the concept of comparative fault can be a bit more complicated in wrongful death claims.
It is essential to comprehend the concept of comparative negligence when submitting claims for compensation following an accident in New York. Your lawyer will collaborate with the insurance companies to ensure that you receive the maximum compensation for your injuries.
Joint and several liability can also be a possibility if there are several defendants. This is a method which splits the verdict among all defendants if the jury finds that you are jointly and severally liable for the accident. This is a great method to ensure that you receive the most compensation for your injuries.
Insurance Company Tactics
The aftermath of a car crash can be as stressful. The injured victims are often faced with medical bills, lost income due to not being able to go to work and physical discomfort. They also have to think about how they will pay rent and other expenses of daily living. They don't need to be subjected to the stalling tactics used by insurance companies to try and get them to take low settlement offers.
Insurance companies exist to make money. They do this by denying or reduce your claims. Insurance agents will employ every strategy to prevent you from receiving the compensation you are entitled to. It is crucial to employ an experienced New York car accident attorney to level the playing field. The attorneys at Mirman Markovits & Landau PC are seasoned in fighting for the rights of car accident victims. Our lawyers will fight insurance companies' devious tactics.
Insurance companies will do all they can to delay your claim or stop negotiations to save as much as possible. They will also try and avoid responsibility by arguing that the injuries aren't related to the accident or do not require treatment. They might even claim that you have a prior medical condition that is the reason for the crash.
In some instances the insurance adjuster may offer a settlement that seems reasonable. This is a trick that many people fall to. This offer is lower than the amount you must pay to cover your medical expenses and other damages.
New York law requires that all drivers have no-fault insurance. It is not unusual for people to suffer injuries while driving another person's car or in their own vehicle. Distracted driving, reckless driving and speeding are some of the most common causes for accidents. Distracted driving occurs when a driver is using devices to send or receive text messages, makes phone calls, or listens to music behind the wheel. Distracted driving can cause drivers to lose control of their vehicles and result in serious crashes. Other causes of crashes include drunk driving, road conditions, and weather.
Reckless driving
You may be entitled compensation for injuries sustained in an accident caused by reckless driving. A New York City reckless driving accident lawyer can help investigate the crash to identify the parties accountable for your injuries and losses. They could also file a lawsuit or claim against the driver in order to collect damages.
The New York criminal code defines reckless driving as the act of operating a vehicle in a manner that poses a threat to the lives and safety of other drivers and pedestrians or riders on bicycles. To convict someone the police officer has to prove more than mere negligence or recklessness. This means that the police officer must prove that the driver was aware of their actions could cause an accident or put others at risk.
Even minor traffic violations can be considered reckless driving in New York. Running a stop sign or red light could result in serious accidents. If a driver is found driving recklessly, he or she might be found guilty of misdemeanor charges and could face penalties such as fines or jail time.
Incorrect driving can cause serious injuries to cyclists, pedestrians, and motorists. A conviction for this offense can lead to the addition of points to your license, as well as substantial fines. This could result in driver's premiums going up significantly. It is crucial to employ a New York reckless driving accident attorney to ensure that the driver is found guilty in a fair manner.
The reckless driving laws in New York are quite strict and can lead to substantial penalties, including fines and imprisonment. The severity of the penalty depends on several factors such as the severity of the crash and whether there were any aggravating circumstances. A reckless driving conviction could also result in the suspension of a driver's license.
A reckless driving accident attorney who is experienced can determine the cause of an accident and gather evidence to show your innocence. This could include witness statements and phone records to look for distracted driving, photos and videos of the scene of the accident as well as official medical reports and toxicology reports. They will file and defend insurance claims or lawsuits to ensure you receive the maximum amount of compensation for your injuries.