How Common Are Car Crashes In Queens, NY?

The NYPD releases data on vehicle accidents in NYC every month. In January 2022, there were 7,733 incidents across the city, with Queens having the highest number of accidents at 2,231. This means that about 28% of all car crashes in NYC occurred in Queens. Unfortunately, many of these accidents were severe, with 658 of them causing injuries or fatalities in December 2021 alone. Within a month, 869 people were injured, and five people lost their lives.

What Types Of Damages Are Available To Car Accident Victims?

Most personal injury cases involve two types of damages: economic and non-economic. We have lawyers who can assist you in determining the damages you have incurred. You may be entitled to receive compensation for: Past and future medical expenses Lost wages Reduced earning potential Rehabilitation Property damage Pain and suffering Emotional distress Diminished quality of life Disfigurement Scarring Anxiety, depression, and PTSD Loss of consortium And more Punitive damages are not typically awarded by New York courts, but when they are, it's because the defendant's actions were intentional or malicious. For instance, if you were involved in an accident caused by a drunk driver, you could potentially receive punitive damages.

Queens Car Accident Lawyers

Car Accident Lawyer Queens, NY

If you have been injured in a car accident in Queens, the weeks that follow are often defined by mounting medical expenses, missed income, and prolonged negotiations with insurance adjusters who are trained to minimize payouts. The physical recovery alone is difficult. The legal and financial burden that accompanies it can be overwhelming.

Rosenberg & Rodriguez Personal Injury Lawyers has represented car accident victims across New York for more than 25 years. Our Queens, NY car accident lawyer investigates each collision thoroughly, identifies all sources of liability and insurance coverage, and pursues the maximum compensation available under the law. We provide free consultations and operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning clients pay nothing unless we obtain a recovery on their behalf.

Why Choose Rosenberg & Rodriguez Personal Injury Lawyers for Car Accident Cases in Queens, NY?

Substantial Litigation Experience

Attorney Ivan Rodriguez has dedicated 25 years to the practice of personal injury law, with a particular concentration in motor vehicle collision cases. His experience encompasses every phase of car accident litigation, from initial investigation and insurance negotiations through depositions, motion practice, and trial. He has handled cases involving multi-vehicle pileups on the Long Island Expressway, high-speed collisions on the Grand Central Parkway, and intersection crashes on Queens Boulevard. That depth of experience is reflected in the outcomes we obtain for our clients.

Laura Rosenberg has practiced personal injury law in New York and New Jersey since 2001. She is admitted to practice in both State and Federal Courts and maintains memberships in the New York State Trial Lawyers Association and the Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association. Laura has been designated a Super Lawyer each year from 2019 through 2026, a distinction conferred upon fewer than 5% of attorneys nationwide. She also serves as an advisor to the Freeport High School Moot Court Team.

Demonstrated Results Across Vehicle Collision Cases

Our Queens, NY personal injury attorney has recovered millions of dollars on behalf of injured clients through settlements, jury verdicts, and arbitration awards. Notable results include a $550,000 rear-end accident settlement, a $500,000 auto accident settlement, an $815,000 jury verdict, and a $760,000 jury verdict. We also obtained $72,500 through arbitration following a two-car accident in midtown Manhattan, and a $125,000 settlement for a passenger in a vehicle that went out of control and crashed on a Maryland highway. Each of these outcomes required thorough preparation, strategic negotiation, and a willingness to proceed to trial when settlement offers were insufficient.

Contingency Fee Representation

All car accident cases at Rosenberg & Rodriguez Personal Injury Lawyers are handled on a contingency fee basis. Clients incur no upfront legal fees and are not responsible for any payment unless the firm secures a recovery. This arrangement allows individuals injured in car crashes throughout Queens, NY to retain qualified legal counsel without financial risk.

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“I would definitely recommend Laura Rosenberg to my family and friends. She is very knowledgeable, professional and always available to help. She represented me when I got into a car accident. She answered all my questions and got me a great outcome.” — Moarina Shlez

Read more reviews on our Google Business Profile.

Types of Car Accident Cases We Handle in Queens

Queens encompasses some of the most heavily trafficked roadways in New York City. The Long Island Expressway, Queens Boulevard, Northern Boulevard, and the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway each carry substantial daily volumes of passenger vehicles, commercial trucks, and public transit. The firm represents individuals injured in the full range of motor vehicle collisions that occur on these roads and throughout the borough.

Rear-end collisions. Following too closely, distracted driving, and sudden stops contribute to rear-end crashes that frequently produce neck injuries, back injuries, and soft tissue damage. Symptoms from these injuries may be delayed by days or weeks following the collision.
Intersection accidents. Running red lights, failing to yield on left turns, and disregarding stop signs cause broadside and head-on collisions. These crashes frequently result in fractures, brain injuries, and other serious harm.
Hit and run accidents. When a responsible driver leaves the scene, injured parties may still pursue compensation through uninsured motorist coverage and additional legal avenues. The firm has substantial experience with hit and run claims in Queens.
Truck accidents. Collisions involving commercial vehicles introduce additional layers of complexity, including driver log violations and federal regulatory compliance issues.
Rideshare collisions. Accidents involving Uber and Lyft vehicles require analysis of tiered insurance policies and rideshare driver requirements specific to New York City.
Motorcycle accidents. When a car strikes a motorcycle, the rider bears the full force of impact. These cases involve distinct insurance rules, as motorcycles are excluded from New York’s no-fault system.
Pedestrian and cyclist collisions. Drivers who strike pedestrians or cyclists cause injuries that are disproportionately severe due to the absence of any protective barrier for the victim.

New York Legal Requirements for Car Accident Cases

New York operates under a no-fault automobile insurance system. Following a car accident, an injured party’s own insurance policy provides Personal Injury Protection benefits that cover medical expenses and a portion of lost wages, regardless of who was at fault. However, no-fault coverage does not extend to non-economic damages such as pain and suffering.

To pursue a claim for non-economic damages, the injured party must demonstrate that the injuries sustained qualify as a “serious injury” under Insurance Law § 5102. The statute defines serious injury to include death, dismemberment, significant disfigurement, fractures, loss of a fetus, permanent loss of use of a body organ or member, permanent consequential limitation of use of a body organ or member, significant limitation of use of a body function or system, and a medically determined injury that prevents the injured person from performing substantially all of the material acts constituting their usual daily activities for not less than 90 of the 180 days immediately following the accident. If the injury meets this threshold, Insurance Law § 5104 permits the injured party to bring a negligence claim against the at-fault driver.

New York applies a pure comparative negligence standard under CPLR § 1411. An injured party’s recovery is diminished in proportion to their percentage of fault but is not barred entirely. Insurance companies frequently invoke comparative negligence arguments to reduce settlement offers. Our firm counters these arguments with accident evidence including police reports, witness testimony, traffic camera footage, and vehicle damage analysis.

The statute of limitations for car accident personal injury claims in New York is three years from the date of the accident, as established by CPLR § 214. Failure to commence an action within this period results in the permanent loss of the right to sue. Our firm advises all prospective clients to seek legal counsel promptly, as critical evidence degrades over time.

What Damages Are Recoverable in a Queens Car Accident?

Where the serious injury threshold is met, the range of recoverable damages in a Queens car accident case extends well beyond what no-fault insurance provides. Damages are categorized as follows.

Economic damages compensate for all quantifiable financial losses attributable to the accident. This category encompasses emergency medical treatment, hospitalization, surgical procedures, diagnostic imaging, physical and occupational rehabilitation, prescription medications, assistive medical devices, and the projected cost of future medical care. It also includes lost wages from time absent from employment and any permanent diminution in earning capacity resulting from the injuries sustained. Maintaining comprehensive medical documentation from the date of the accident forward is essential to substantiating these claims.

Non-economic damages compensate for losses that are not readily quantifiable in monetary terms. Pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of consortium, loss of enjoyment of life, and permanent impairment of physical or cognitive function are all recoverable. In many serious car accident cases, non-economic damages constitute the largest component of the total recovery. An experienced car accident attorney in Queens understands how to document, quantify, and present non-economic harm in a manner that is persuasive to both insurance adjusters and juries.

Punitive damages are available in limited circumstances where the at-fault party’s conduct was willful, wanton, or exhibited a conscious disregard for the safety of others. Driving while intoxicated or engaging in a street race that results in a collision are examples of conduct that may support a punitive damages claim under New York law.

Insurance carriers regularly employ tactics designed to undervalue injury claims, including requesting recorded statements, conducting surveillance, and disputing the causal relationship between the accident and the injuries claimed. Our firm is prepared to challenge each of these tactics with evidence and legal authority.

Contact Rosenberg & Rodriguez Personal Injury Lawyers

If you have sustained injuries in a car accident in Queens, NY, prompt legal consultation is essential. Physical evidence at the accident scene, surveillance recordings, and witness recollections all diminish in value with the passage of time. Retaining a car accident attorney in Queens at the earliest opportunity enables the preservation of evidence and the protection of your legal rights.

Rosenberg & Rodriguez Personal Injury Lawyers offers free consultations and charges no fee unless a recovery is obtained. To schedule a complimentary case evaluation, please contact our firm through our contact page.