Queens Car Accident Attorney

Put 25+ Years Experience in Your Corner

A severe car accident can completely change your life in an instant. Suppose you or someone you love was involved in a car accident in New York City. In that case, you could be entitled to financial compensation for your resulting medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Because New York is a no-fault car insurance state, you do not necessarily need to prove that another person or party caused the car accident. At the Harris Firm, LLC, our car accident lawyers represent victims of serious car accidents in Queens, the Bronx, and NYC.

Our car accident attorneys bring nearly 30 years of experience to their practice of personal injury law. We know how the system works and have what it takes to represent you and your rights aggressively. In every car accident case, we fight to recover the maximum compensation our clients are owed, even when that means taking the liable party to court.

Car Accident Cases We Handle in Queens

• Drunk driving
• Distracted driving
• Uber/ Lyft accidents

Continue reading to learn more about filing a car accident claim in New York City or contact us today at (718) 487-8669 for a free, no-obligation consultation with a Queens auto accident attorney.

How Common Are Car Accidents in New York?

New York City is home to thousands of car accidents every year. According to crash reports from the New York City Police Department, there were more than 110,000 car accidents in the city’s five boroughs in 2020.

Most of which occurred in Brooklyn, followed by Queens, the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island. While 2020 saw an overall decline in the number of car accidents in NYC, severe injury and fatality rates increased.

About 29.3% of all car accidents in NYC in 2020 resulted in damages, and there were 90 traffic accident-related deaths—a dramatic increase from the 58 fatalities in 2019. If you are involved in a car accident in New York City, there is more than a 60% chance the accident will happen in Brooklyn or Queens.

And while most accident-related injuries affect motorists and passengers, pedestrians and bicyclists are also at risk. In 2020, more than 6,500 pedestrian accidents in New York City resulted in 6,411 injuries and 94 fatalities. An additional 12,422 cyclists were injured, and 28 were killed in collisions with motor vehicles that same year.

Is New York a No-Fault Car Insurance State?

New York follows a no-fault system when it comes to car insurance and accident claims. This means that, as opposed to states with traditional fault-based systems, you do not necessarily need to prove that another driver was to blame for the crash in order to file a claim for compensation. Rather than bringing a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance company, you can seek compensation from your own insurance provider in the form of personal injury protection (PIP) or Medical Payments (MedPay).

All motorists in New York are required to carry no-fault insurance. This insurance is there to pay compensation for specific economic damages after an accident, such as medical expenses and a percentage of your lost wages. However, no-fault insurance does not cover any non-economic losses, like pain and suffering. It also does not cover the full cost of economic damages, which means accident victims may need to go outside the state’s no-fault system to be fully compensated.

To go outside the no-fault system and bring a claim against the liable party, you will need to prove that your injuries meet the state’s “serious injury threshold.” This means proving at least one of the following:

• Your injury is a bone fracture
• Your injury resulted in significant disfigurement
• Your injury caused significant impairment of a bodily function or system
• Your injury resulted in permanent impairment of the use of a body member or organ
• You were substantially and fully disabled for at least 90 days

If you meet these requirements, you can step outside the no-fault system and file a claim or lawsuit against the at-fault driver. Our team at the Harris Firm, LLC can help you understand your legal rights and options during a free, no-obligation consultation.

Fighting for Your Maximum Recovery

While a PIP or MedPay claim may provide immediate financial resources to assist with some of the costs associated with your accident, it may not be enough to fully compensate you for your damages.

At the Harris Firm, LLC, we understand the importance of recovering maximum compensation for our clients. Our Queens car accident attorneys are known for aggressively advocating for the rights of the injured and for recovering every last cent from insurance companies.

While we are aggressive in negotiation and trial, we are compassionate and attentive in providing our clients with the care, support, and service they need. As a client, you can expect to receive direct communication from your attorney and empathetic guidance from our staff throughout the entire legal process.

What To Do After You've Been in a Car Accident

• Call 911
• Treat any injuries
• Write down all information of those involved, witnesses, drivers, passengers
• Take photos of the accident
• Contact a Queens car accident lawyer

Common Causes of Car Accidents in New York

The most common cause of car accidents in New York City and the surrounding areas is negligence. When motorists are careless, distracted, or inexperienced, they are far more likely to cause a collision.

Some of the most common causes of car accidents in Queens include:

• Speeding
• Inattention and distracted driving
• Texting or using a cellphone while driving
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Failure to follow traffic laws
• Failure to yield the right of way
• Following too closely
• Merging or changing lanes too closely
• Dangerous turns
• Unsafe or unlawful passing
• Failure to obey traffic signals, stop signs, and other traffic control devices

Often, there are additional underlying elements involved in these collisions. Inclement weather and nighttime driving are common factors, as well as defective or dangerous road design, poor roadway maintenance, and auto defects.

At the Harris Firm, LLC, our Queens auto accident attorneys work with an accident reconstructionist, expert witnesses, and other specialists to fully investigate how the accident occurred and, most importantly, who is liable. In addition, we leave no stone unturned when it comes to seeking all possible avenues of compensation for our clients.

Common Injuries Causes by Car Accidents

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Broken bones/ fractures
• Internal injuries
• Whiplash
• Scrapes / cuts

Don't Wait to Get Help Today

We offer multilingual legal services and can assist you in English, Spanish, French, Russian, Bangali/Vangia, or another language you are most comfortable with. We have an open-door policy at our office locations. We are happy to travel to your home or the hospital if your injuries prevent you from coming to us.

To get started with your complimentary case evaluation, contact our Queens car accident attorneys at (718) 487-8669 or contact us online.