Were you hurt in a car crash? Collisions can happen for a plethora of reasons, ranging from reckless driving and speeding to various other forms of negligence. Unfortunately, the consequences often include painful injuries, mounting medical bills, and lost income.
Dealing with the aftermath of a vehicular incident can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to figure out what to do next all on your own. Instead, reach out to Chaikin Trial Group Personal Injury Lawyers to speak with a personal injury lawyer in Suffolk County.
As your car accident lawyer in Suffolk County, we will always protect your rights and fight for the compensation you are entitled to as the victim of a car accident. We have 50 years of combined experience, and our attorneys have recovered $100 million in compensation.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in Suffolk County
While collisions can happen for any number of reasons, some causes are seen more frequently than others along Suffolk County’s busy roadways:
- Distracted driving: Using phones, adjusting in-car technology, or eating while behind the wheel can cause drivers to overlook changes in traffic conditions. Many victims of distracted driving turn to a car accident attorney in Suffolk County to help them pursue compensation.
- Speeding: Long stretches of road—especially on the LIE and Sunrise Highway—often lead drivers to exceed the posted speed limit. When high-speed crashes occur, an auto accident lawyer in Suffolk County can evaluate the details and hold negligent drivers accountable.
- Impaired driving: Alcohol-related crashes remain a serious issue on Long Island. In fact, Suffolk County has historically reported high numbers of DUI arrests and related accidents. Victims of drunk drivers often search for a “car accident lawyer near me” in Suffolk County to ensure their rights are protected.
- Weather conditions: Rain, snow, and icy conditions are frequent contributors to multi-vehicle collisions, particularly during the winter months. Victims of crashes caused by drivers not being mindful of these dangerous road conditions may require assistance from an auto accident attorney in Suffolk County.
- Aggressive driving: Tailgating, engaging in road rage, and making unsafe lane changes are common complaints on Suffolk roadways. In these cases, car accident attorneys in Suffolk County can guide injured individuals through the legal process.
Car crashes caused by these dangerous behaviors can result in severe injuries, such as broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal cord damage. For many families, the aftermath is overwhelming, both financially and emotionally.
That’s why we encourage you to consult with a car crash lawyer in Suffolk County. Your legal counsel can help you pursue fair compensation for medical bills and lost income, as well as pain and suffering.
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New York’s No-Fault Insurance System
New York is one of a handful of states that follow a no-fault insurance system.
This means that after most car accidents, each driver’s own insurance policy covers certain losses—primarily medical expenses and lost income—up to a set limit, regardless of who was at fault for the crash.
Let’s take a closer look at two aspects of this system:
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP): New York requires every driver to carry a minimum of $50,000 in PIP coverage. This provides payment for reasonable and necessary medical treatment, a percentage of lost wages, and other necessary expenses, such as transportation to medical appointments.
- Restrictions: While the no-fault system is designed to streamline recovery of basic expenses, it does not cover pain and suffering or other non-economic damages. To pursue these, an injured person must meet New York’s serious injury threshold.
The Serious Injury Threshold in New York
Under New York law, only victims who suffer a “serious injury” as defined by Insurance Law § 5102(d) can step outside the no-fault system and file a claim against the at-fault driver. Here’s what this threshold includes:
- Death
- Dismemberment
- Significant disfigurement
- Fracture
- Loss of a fetus
- Permanent loss of use of a body organ, member, function, or system
- Permanent consequential limitation of a body organ or member
- Significant limitation of the use of a body function or system
Last but not least, a medically determined injury or impairment that prevents the victim from performing usual daily activities for at least 90 out of the first 180 days after the accident also applies.
If an injury meets one of these categories, the victim may bring a personal injury claim to seek compensation for damages beyond the limits of PIP coverage, including pain and suffering or long-term losses.
Liability in Suffolk County Car Accidents
Liability is integral to cases involving serious injuries. New York follows a pure comparative negligence rule, meaning that even if a victim is partly at fault for the accident, they can still recover damages, though their award will be reduced by their percentage of fault.
These pieces of evidence are considered in liability determinations:
- Police accident reports
- Witness statements
- Surveillance or dashcam footage
- Physical evidence, such as vehicle damage and skid marks
- Professional analyses of accident reconstruction
In Suffolk County, local police departments—as well as the Suffolk County Police Department—often play a role in the process of documenting accidents and creating the reports that both insurers and courts rely upon.
Call Our Suffolk County Car Accident Law Firm ASAP
If you or someone you love was injured in a crash, none of you has to deal with the stress and uncertainty on your own. These cases can quickly become overwhelming, especially when insurance companies are actively working hard to invalidate you and minimize your claim.
However, with Suffolk County car accident lawyers from Chaikin Trial Group Injury Lawyers by your side, you can trust that you have legal guidance and strong representation at all times. We know how to take on insurers and fight for what you deserve.
We’ll be by your side from start to finish. You can count on us to work tirelessly as we strive to secure a favorable outcome in your case.
Contact us today so we can start working on your claim and holding the responsible parties accountable.
