Car Accidents

CAR ACCIDENTS

When you or a loved one is involved in a car accident, there will be many issues that must be quickly handled. We strongly recommend contacting us as soon as possible when a car accident occurs so we may help you. It’s often more important to contact an attorney before speaking with insurance companies. A lawyer will help you deal with the issues of insurance coverage and payment for your injuries and property damage. Claims will need to be made against the responsible parties and medical benefits. Consulting Asta Law is free, we provide a free consultation for accident victims, and since we work on contingency, we do not charge a fee until we obtain a recovery for you.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE IN AN ACCIDENT:

1. Call the police and wait for them to arrive;
2. Exchange information with the other driver(s) / operators in the accident, especially name, address, phone number, license plate number, insurance company, and policy number;
3. Obtain the names, addresses, and phone numbers of any witnesses;
4. If possible, take photographs of the vehicles in the accident at the scene.
5. Consult a car accident lawyer such as Michael J. Asta as soon as possible following a car accident.

IMPORTANT DEADLINES

New York State is a no-fault state. An injured person’s medical and lost wage benefits are payable regardless of fault, and this coverage is often provided by the injured person’s own automobile insurance company. The minimum insurance coverage for these benefits is $50,000, but that amount can be higher. An application for no-fault benefits must be sent to the insurance company within 30 days of the accident. If the application is late the insurance company can deny benefits. This is an important deadline.

As “no-fault” states, New York and New Jersey limit lawsuits for personal injuries from a car accident to the most severe injuries. In New York, you only have three years from the day that the car accident occurred to file a lawsuit. In New Jersey, the time period is even less, only two years. Time is of the essence and getting an investigation underway as soon as possible is always best.  The longer the time between the accident and when an investigation begins, the more memories fade, and evidence is lost. If you are involved in an auto accident, call our office as soon as possible.

Sometimes if a person does not have a lawyer, an insurance company adjuster or investigator will contact the injured person. It is vital that you not sign anything or submit to the insurance company’s demands before speaking to an attorney.

While car accidents can result in only minor injuries, many are severe or catastrophic. Catastrophic injuries are debilitating, making it difficult to return to gainful employment or a normal life. To obtain compensation for “non-economic loss,” meaning pain and suffering, a person must show that they had a serious injury.If you suffered a serious injury following a car crash, you would likely be able to recover more than basic economic loss. Our car accident lawyers can help prove the severity of your injuries, ensuring you get the maximum recovery allowed by law.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, some common causes of car accidents include:

1. distracted driving;
2. failing to obey traffic signals such as stop lights and stop signs;
3. driving while intoxicated;
4. excessive speed, driver inattention;
5. aggressive driving; and
6. mechanical failure.

An injured person can recover for their pain and suffering, loss of income, and medical expenses caused by the accident.

WHEN DO I NEED A LAWYER FOR A CAR ACCIDENT?

If you have been injured in a car accident, you should consult a lawyer. Never give a statement, either oral or written, to a representative of the defendants’ insurance company. They are not trying to help you. Oral statements will be recorded and used against you as will written statements, should the case proceed to trial. The first thing you should do is contact an experienced car accident lawyer.

Common Questions in Car Crash cases:

1. What fees do you charge? Our firm works on a contingency basis. Our promise is to not charge a fee to a client until we obtain a recovery for the client by a settlement or a trial verdict. Our clients have the option of having our law firm pay for the expenses for the case, such as filing fees, court reporter fees, medical record costs and expert charges. The contingency fee means a client who cannot work can still hire a lawyer to handle the case.
2. Will my case go to trial? Our client’ cases often reach a favorable settlement prior to trial but not all. We prepare each case for our client as if we are going to trial. When the insurance companies see that we are ready for trial they often offer a good settlement to the client. If your case goes to trial we will be prepared to present the strongest case possible to succeed for you.
3. What will be expected of me? We strive to keep our clients well-informed about the status of their case. We will be available to you to answer questions, help you understand the process and, prepare you for each part of your case. Typically a client will testify during their case about the details of the accident and the injuries sustained. We prepare the client and spend the time with you to make your case a success.
4. What is My Case Worth? As experienced personal injury lawyers we can provide you with guidance as to the value of your case. Some injuries are not immediately known at the time of the car accident. At Asta Law we review every aspect of damages of our client’s case to get our client the most money for their injuries.

Find Legal Help Today For Your Personal Injury Case

The experienced lawyers at Asta Law provide a free consultation to discuss your case, explore the details, and answer any questions you may have. We can discuss the different types of personal injury claims with you and explain which ones you can include on your claim. We will provide you with professional service and personal attention.

A car accident can be emotionally and physically devastating. Michael J. Asta, Esq. is one of New York’s leading accident attorneys with over 500 Million Dollars recovered for clients and over 30 years fighting for New Yorkers like you. You can be confident that the legal team at Asta Law is fully committed to winning the best possible results for our personal injury clients and their families. If you’ve been injured in a car accident, call Asta Law at (212) 244-6555 or complete the contact form here on our website so we can help you. The consultation is free, and we work on a contingency basis meaning there is no fee until we obtain compensation on your behalf, guaranteeing you’ll never come out of pocket.

Asta Law, Where Quality Representation Doesn’t Cost, It Pays.