Car Accident Lawyer in Long Island

A serious car crash can affect your health, your income, and your plans for the future. If you were injured in a crash caused by another driver’s negligence, a Long Island personal injury lawyer can help you recover damages.

The team at Chaikin Trial Group Injury Lawyers has over 50 years of combined legal experience. If you were involved in a car crash that wasn’t your fault, a car accident lawyer in Long Island can help you secure a fair settlement.

What Your Long Island Car Accident Lawyer Will Handle

A Long Island car accident lawyer can handle every aspect of your claim so you can focus on your recovery. Specifically, we can:

• Investigate the crash and collect evidence
• Identify all negligent parties, including the at-fault driver and any third parties
• Gather medical records, perform a damages analysis, and consult with experts
• Handle all communication and settlement negotiations with the insurance company
• File a lawsuit if a fair settlement isn’t offered

How Much Is My Claim Worth?

Every car accident case is unique. The value of your claim depends on several factors, including medical expenses, lost wages, insurance policy limits, and each party’s degree of negligence. 

Some accident victims receive four or five-figure settlements, while others receive payouts worth six or even seven figures. A car accident attorney in Long Island can evaluate your case and estimate the value of your claim.

Our Contingency Fee Promise

At Chaikin Trial Group Injury Lawyers, we work on a contingency fee basis, which means you won’t pay us anything up front. Rather, you only pay us if we win your case.

You will get personalized attention, the direct cell phone number of your attorney, and the peace of mind that comes from working with a team that’s fully invested in your case. Whether you are dealing with mounting medical bills or unexpected time off work, we’re here to fight for the compensation you need to move forward.

Who Is Liable for a Car Accident in Long Island?

More than one party can be held liable for a car crash in Long Island. Potentially liable parties include:

• Another driver: A driver may be liable if they acted negligently, such as by speeding, texting while driving, running a red light, or failing to yield the right of way.
• Commercial vehicle operators: If a truck driver caused the crash while working, both the driver and their employer may be liable.
• Vehicle manufacturers: A manufacturer may be held responsible if a defective part (such as faulty brakes, airbags, or tires) contributed to the crash or made the resulting injuries worse.
• Government entities: A local or state agency may be liable if poor road design, lack of proper signage, malfunctioning traffic lights, or failure to maintain safe road conditions contributed to the crash.

How to Deal With Insurance Companies

Insurance providers’ goal is to minimize accident settlements, not offer fair compensation. After a crash, they may try to:

• Blame you based on alleged traffic law violations or vague statements about fault
• Minimize your injuries by pointing out medical examination gaps or pre-existing conditions
• Downplay the long-term effects of the crash, like chronic pain or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Offer a low settlement before you understand the full extent of your injuries

We can deal with insurance adjusters on your behalf and help ensure fair treatment.

How Long Will It Take to Settle My Claim?

There’s no fixed timeline for settling a car accident claim. Some cases are resolved in a matter of months, while others can take a year or more. Factors that will affect the duration of your case include the severity of your injuries, whether liability is disputed, the insurance company’s willingness to negotiate, and whether the case goes to trial.

Types of Auto Accidents We Handle

No matter what type of car crash you were in, our firm can help. We’ve represented clients who were injured in:

• Rear-end collisions
• T-bone and intersection accidents
• Head-on collisions and rollover accidents
• Distracted driving accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Rideshare accidents
• Fatal accidents leading to wrongful death lawsuits

Common Causes of Car Accidents in Long Island

Car crashes in Long Island happen for many reasons, most of which can be traced back to negligent behavior from drivers. Common causes include:

• Distracted driving: A driver may take their attention off the road to text, use a phone, adjust their GPS, eat, or engage with other distractions, which often leads to preventable collisions.
• Speeding: Driving above the speed limit or too fast for road conditions reduces a driver’s ability to stop safely and increases the severity of injuries in the event of a crash.
• Drunk driving: Alcohol or drug impairment slows a driver’s reaction time, affects their judgment, and affects their coordination, making it much more likely that they will cause a serious accident.
• Reckless driving: Aggressive behaviors like tailgating, unsafe lane changes, and weaving through traffic create dangerous situations that frequently result in multi-vehicle collisions.
• Weather conditions: Rain, snow, ice, and fog reduce visibility and road traction, making crashes more likely.

Common Injuries in Long Island Car Accidents

Car accident victims deal with a wide range of physical injuries, many of which require extensive treatment or even lifelong care. Common car accident injuries include:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Concussions
• Spinal injuries and herniated discs
• Broken bones
• Internal organ damage
• Soft tissue damage
• Psychological trauma

Why Hire Chaikin Law Group as Your Car Accident Lawyer?

Not all law firms approach car accident cases the same way. Here’s why clients choose Chaikin Trial Group:

• Proven results: We’ve recovered over $100 million in verdicts and settlements for injury victims throughout New York.
• No upfront fees: You don’t pay us anything unless we win your case.
• Personalized attention: We dedicate the time, resources, and knowledge necessary to fully develop your case. In addition, you will have your lawyer’s phone number so that you can reach out with questions or concerns at any time.
• Confidentiality: We protect our clients’ personal information and treat all of our clients like family.
• Trial-ready approach: We build every case with the expectation that it could go to court, which strengthens your position during negotiations.

Our Case Results

We have achieved numerous six and seven-figure settlements across a wide range of car accident cases. Here are some of our law firm’s most notable verdicts and settlements:

• $6.1 million: We secured this settlement for a client who was seriously injured while riding in a limousine.
• $4.5 million: We recovered this amount for a client injured in a sideswipe tractor-trailer accident.
• $3.6 million: We obtained this settlement for a client injured in a rear-end accident with a truck in which liability was heavily disputed.
• $2.5 million: We secured this settlement for a client who required multiple surgeries after a rear-end car accident.

Steps to Take After a Long Island Car Accident

What you do after a crash can impact the strength of your claim. You should:

• Call 911: Report the accident and request medical assistance (if needed).
• Document the scene: Take photos of the vehicles, the road conditions, and your injuries (if you can).
• Exchange information: Get contact and insurance details from all drivers involved in the crash.
• Speak to witnesses: Request contact information from any witnesses present at the accident scene.
• Seek medical attention: Even if you feel fine, it’s important to document your condition for your claim.
• Avoid admitting fault: Anything you say can be used against you. Don’t discuss fault with anyone at the scene or the insurance company.
• Contact a lawyer: Our personal injury attorneys can assess your situation and advise you on the next steps.

Car Accident FAQs

If you’re still unsure about how your case may unfold, we’ve assembled answers to questions we commonly see from clients. Reach out to our office for more specific information about your situation.

What Types of Compensation Can You Recover After a Car Accident in Long Island?

As Long Island car accident lawyers, we pursue compensation for everything you have lost, not just immediate medical bills. This includes:

• Medical expenses: You can recover the cost of emergency care, surgery, physical therapy, and ongoing treatment related to the accident.
• Lost income: You can be compensated for income you missed out on during your recovery.
• Property damage: You can recoup the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle.
• Pain and suffering: You can be compensated for the physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life caused by the crash.
• Wrongful death damages: In the event of a fatal accident, you and your family can pursue a wrongful death claim.

In cases involving gross negligence or intentional misconduct from the other party, you may also pursue punitive damages.

What if You Were Partially at Fault?

New York follows a pure comparative negligence rule, as outlined in NY CPLR § 1411, which means you can still recover damages even if you are found to be up to 99% at fault for a car crash. However, if you share fault, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of responsibility for the accident.

For example, if you were speeding when the crash occurred and are found to be 20% at fault, you would still recover 80% of your total award.

How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Claim?

Per NY CPLR § 214, the statute of limitations for most car accident lawsuits in New York is three years from the date of the accident. However, shorter deadlines may apply in certain situations, such as if your claim involves a government entity.

If you wait too long to file, you could lose your right to recover compensation altogether, which is why it’s important to work with a personal injury lawyer in Long Island, NY.

What if the Other Driver Was Uninsured?

If you were hit by an uninsured driver, you still have options for recovering compensation. In most cases, your first source of recovery is your own uninsured motorist coverage (UM), which is designed to step in when the responsible driver has no insurance at all. Your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage can also help cover your medical bills and lost wages.

If the driver has some insurance but not enough to cover your damages, underinsured motorist coverage (UIM) may also apply. Lastly, in some situations, it may also be possible to pursue a personal injury lawsuit directly against the uninsured driver, though collecting on a judgment can be challenging depending on their financial situation.

Will My Case Go to Court?

Most car accident cases are resolved through settlement negotiations with the insurance company. However, your case may go to trial if the insurance company refuses to offer fair compensation.

Filing a lawsuit does not automatically mean your case will end up in court, but it does create leverage that often leads to better settlement offers.

Talk to Our Long Island Car Accident Attorneys Today

At Chaikin Trial Group Injury Lawyers, we treat every case like it’s heading to trial, and that’s how we get real results. If you were hurt in a car crash caused by someone else’s negligence, a Long Island car accident attorney from our team can help you build a strong claim and fight for the compensation you are entitled to.

Schedule a free consultation to get help with your case.