- New York -
Car Accident Lawyer
When you’re involved in a car accident, the impact on your life can be devastating. While burdened with the pain and suffering from your injuries, you are also likely to lose earnings, suffer property damage, and accrue medical bills. As if that were not bad enough, the process of dealing with large insurance companies is complex and frustrating for most people. Don’t take on the large insurance companies and their attorneys on your own. Let us fight for your rights. A car accident lawyer from Rosenberg & Rodriguez is your best choice after an accident in Freeport, Long Island and Manhattan. Our New York car accident lawyers handle every aspect of your case. Our lawyers will process lost earnings and property damage claims, and ensure that medical bills are covered. All of these things are a part of our ultimate goal of getting you the top compensation you deserve.
At Rosenberg & Rodriguez, our lawyers understand the legal and insurance issues surrounding car accidents. Our extensive knowledge and years of experience handling auto accident claims in the New York metro area and Nassau County make our lawyers for accidents the best choice for you. Call us or fill out the online contact form to schedule your free consultation today!
What to do after a car accident?
In an instant, a car accident can violently upend your life. The feelings of shock and confusion which commonly follow an accident make it difficult to think clearly. The physical, emotional, and monetary injuries from an accident mount quickly, so it is crucial that you know what steps to take:
Step 1
Stay at the scene of the accident, check for injuries, and call 911.
New York law requires that drivers stop immediately after an accident, and remain as close to the scene as possible. Take a moment to evaluate yourself for injuries, keeping in mind that some symptoms may not present themselves until several hours or days later. Do not assume that you’re not injured just because you feel fine right after the accident.
You’re not required by law to perform first aid or CPR if other people are injured in an accident. Only provide aid if it is safe to do so, you understand the risks, and you feel confident in your abilities.
Always Call 911 and report the accident. Police reports play a crucial role in any claims or lawsuits which may need to be filed. Be ready to tell the dispatcher where you are and give a description of the accident, including the details of any injuries. This ensures that the appropriate emergency services will be sent to the scene.
Step 2
Exchange information with the other driver or person involved.
New York law requires that you provide the following information at the scene of the accident:
- Full Name
- Address
- Driver’s License information
- Vehicle registration
- License plate number
- Insurance information
While you are required to provide this basic information, be careful about what you say to other people involved in the accident. Do not make any statements or speculations which may cast the blame on you.
Step 3
Report the accident.
New York law requires that any driver who is involved in an accident that results in injury to a person, or more than $1,000 of damage, report the accident within ten (10) days to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. This can be done using the following form: MV-104 – Report of Motor Vehicle Accident.
Step 4
Take pictures and preserve evidence.
It is crucial that you preserve and document key photos and evidence after an accident. Key evidence includes damage to vehicles, injuries, conditions at the scene of the accident, traffic signals and signs, witness statements, and surveillance footage of the accident. If you’re injured, ensure that someone that you trust takes photos and preserves evidence for you.
Keep all documents relating to the accident. Important documents include medical bills, vehicle repair estimates and bills, wage statements and hours missed from work, out-of-pocket travel expenses, and prescription medication costs. These documents are necessary for calculating your losses due to an accident.
Step 5
Seek medical attention.
If emergency medical services are called to the scene, do not refuse medical treatment. If you aren’t severely injured and don’t go to the hospital, you should still go see your physician as soon as possible.
Keep in mind that symptoms of some serious injuries, such as brain injuries or internal bleeding, may take several hours or even days to appear. Do not assume that you’re not hurt just because you feel fine right after an accident. Refusing or not seeking medical treatment will weaken your personal injury claim if you need to file one later.
Step 6
Contact your insurance provider to report the accident.
New York is a no-fault insurance state, which means that your insurance provider is required to pay you for your losses, no matter who is at fault for the accident. Working with insurance companies can be intimidating, and it is crucial that you protect yourself in the process. While speaking with an insurer, be honest and provide any requested information.
It’s risky to provide information that is not requested, as you may shift the blame onto yourself. An insurer might ask you to record or sign a statement any time, or an adjuster may rush to offer you a monetary settlement. You should not record or sign anything, nor should you accept a check. You could be signing away your right to seek compensation that you’re entitled to.
Step 7
Contact a reputable New York car accident attorney to learn about your rights and potential compensation.
An experienced attorney can guide you through the process of working with the insurance companies, while also fighting for your rights to compensation. After an accident, insurance companies will try to shift the blame on you.
The attorneys at Rosenberg & Rodriguez, PLLC will protect you and handle every aspect of your case. This involves processing lost earnings and property damage claims and ensuring the coverage of your medical bills. As we handle your case, our ultimate goal is to get you the maximum compensation for your injuries.
Most Dangerous Intersections In NYC
Types of Auto Accident Cases We Handle
Car accidents come in many shapes and sizes, as do their causes. In the city of New York and throughout Nassau County, we see a wide variety of causes for motor vehicle accidents. Some common causes include negligent drivers, unsafe road conditions, and vehicle defects, just to name a few. At Rosenberg & Rodriguez in Freeport, our car wreck lawyers have successfully resolved thousands of car accident cases, which means that our lawyers have seen virtually every type of car accident. The following are the most common motor vehicle accidents we handle:
Side-impact and rear-end collisions
Also known as “fender bender” or “T-bone” accidents, these are very common in the state of New York.
Drowsy drivers
As one of the top 10 causes of motor vehicle accidents, drowsy or fatigued drivers do not have the alertness required to safely drive a vehicle.
Speed-related accidents
With faster speeds, comes severe accidents. Speeding is a major threat to our safety when we are out on the roads.Distracted drivers
When activities inside or outside of a vehicle draw a driver’s attention away from the task of driving, even for a moment, that’s distracted driving.
Truck accidents
Wrecks involving semi-trucks are complicated because these trucks often have many owners and companies involved, while also posing serious threats to passenger vehicles since semis are much heavier and slower to respond.
Aggressive drivers
Aggressive drivers pose a serious risk to themselves and other drivers, due to the erratic and unpredictable nature of their actions.Bus accidents
Motor vehicles can get involved in accidents with a number of mass transportation vehicles including buses and trains
Ridesharing accidents
Services like Uber and Lyft have reinvented how we get around, but the popularity of these services has put more vehicles on the road. The risk of an accident involving a ridesharing service is becoming more prevalent.
Drunk drivers
When a person decides to drive drunk, they are a threat to themselves and everyone around them.
Hit and runs
When someone strikes your vehicle but leaves the scene, you have been involved in a hit-and-run accident.
Fatal car accidents
What types of compensation are available?
Car accidents can cause horrific injuries, both physical and psychological, but the pain does not end there. The financial losses from a car accident are severe. Car repair bills, insurance deductibles, and medical bills add up quickly, and you may not be able to work after an accident. Injuries may prevent you from returning to work in the long-term, so your future wages are at risk. Seeking out every possible source of compensation after an accident is crucial for mitigating the losses from an accident. Below is a brief list of monetary and non-monetary sources of compensation which may be available to you in the event of an accident.
- Medical bills, prescription medications
- Property damage (vehicle, personal property, real estate)
- Lost wages, earning capacity & future lost income
- Household care & travel expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Disfigurement
- Emotional distress
- Loss of quality of life
Why hire a car accident lawyer?
After a car accident, your insurance company will do everything in their power to shift the blame for the accident and reduce your compensation. An experienced attorney will take the following actions and more to ensure that you get the compensation that you deserve.
- Identify all of the potential sources of compensation after an accident.
- Determine and document all losses from an accident. These will be proven to the insurance companies to get you the compensation you deserve.
- Conduct a thorough investigation of the accident, and file a personal injury lawsuit if possible.
- Address issues such as medical treatment, car repairs, and dealing with insurance adjusters on your behalf, so you can focus on recovering.
- Regularly communicate with you regarding the progress of your case, so that you are up-to-date on the status of your claim.
How much do accident lawyers charge?
At Rosenberg & Rodriguez, you pay no money upfront for our services, and we don’t get paid until we get you your compensation. Our firm operates on a contingency-fee-basis, and this means that our fees depend on our success with your claim. Our fee will be a set percentage of your settlement or court award. We will seek reimbursement for the expenses we will pay upfront as we develop and process your claim.
Since our payment depends on the success of your claim, you take on no risk by retaining us to represent you. This ensures that we only select cases which we believe will be successful. We have a strong incentive to pursue all compensation available to you and work to the best of our ability to recover since our fee depends on the amount of money we recover for you.
Our process starts with a free consultation regarding your car accident. This can be done using our online form, over the phone, or in-person. This legal consultation is provided free of charge, with no obligation. Call us, or fill out our online contact form to schedule your free consultation!
Since our payment depends on the success of your claim, you take on no risk by retaining us to represent you. This ensures that we only select cases which we believe will be successful. We have a strong incentive to pursue all compensation available to you and work to the best of our ability to recover since our fee depends on the amount of money we recover for you.
Car accident attorney – Recent Results
Although the courts and both of our New York offices in Freeport and in Manhattan were closed due to the worldwide Coronavirus pandemic, the attorneys at Rosenberg & Rodriguez PLLC were working hard on our clients’ cases. Here are some of the settlements that were made on our clients’ auto accident cases during the shutdown:
$207,000.00 settlement for a 67-year old retiree who was on a bus that was rear-ended by a second vehicle while in traffic. Our client sustained neck and shoulder injuries as a result of the accident.
$100,000.00 settlement for a pedestrian who was struck by a vehicle backing out of a driveway. We obtained the full policy limit.
$190,000.00 settlement for a bicyclist that was “doored” by the driver of a vehicle. Our client, an avid bicyclist, was riding his bicycle when the driver of a parked car suddenly opened his door causing our client to hit the door and fall off his bike. Our client sustained a shoulder injury as a result of the fall that required him to undergo arthroscopic surgery. The attorneys for the driver claimed that our client was partially at fault because he was allegedly speeding and not paying attention at the time of the accident. The driver’s attorneys also claimed that our client’s shoulder condition was unrelated to the accident.
Call a car accident lawyer today!
Our law firm has two conveniently located offices in Manhattan and Freeport, in Nassau County available to serve you. If you have been injured in an auto accident and cannot come to us, we will come to you in Long Island or Manhattan for a free, no-obligation consultation.