Car Accident Lawyer in Nassau County, NY
Nearly all households in Nassau County own cars, with residents using them to commute to school or work and run errands. The high concentration of motor vehicles on Nassau County’s roads increases the likelihood of being involved in car accidents. Those who suffer injuries in traffic accidents may face excruciating pain, emotional trauma, long-term complications, and devastating financial consequences.
Speaking with a knowledgeable personal injury attorney to understand your legal rights after a car accident injury claim is your first step to pursuing financial accountability.
The legal team at The Tadchiev Law Firm, P.C., has decades of combined experience seeking compensation for people seriously injured in Nassau County car accidents. You can increase your chances of a favorable outcome by working with an experienced personal injury attorney.
Call us today or contact us online for a free case review with a knowledgeable car accident lawyer in Nassau County.
We serve clients across New York, including New York City, Floral Park, Long Island, and Queens.
What To Do After a Car Accident in Nassau County
The aftermath of a car accident can be one of the most overwhelming times in a person’s life. Many victims of traffic crashes find themselves unsure of what steps to take after a car accident to secure the compensation they deserve. You can optimize your recovery if you keep the following things in mind.
Follow Your Doctor’s Instructions
The most important step to take after an auto accident is to seek immediate medical attention. Once you have done that, it is crucial that you follow your doctor’s orders. Failure to comply with your medical professional’s instructions can give the insurance company a reason to question your insurance claim and limit your ability to recover compensation for your injuries and other losses.
Maintain and Compile All Accident-Related Medical Records
Documents relating to your post-accident medical treatment can serve as proof of the serious injuries you suffered, their connection to the car accident, and the cost of your treatment. It is important that you maintain documents such as:
- Invoices from E.R. visits, ambulance rides, doctor’s appointments, surgeries, and medications
- Medical test results
- Diagnostic scans
- Doctor’s notes
You may find it helpful to take photos of your injuries at various points during your recovery.
Collect Documents Relating to Lost Income
In addition to medical expenses, a personal injury claim can seek to recover compensation for your lost income due to missed time at work. To prove your losses, be sure to collect documents such as:
- Pay slips
- W-2 forms
- Bank statements
- A note from your human resources department
Avoid Making Public Statements About the Accident
Many people who are injured in car accidents post comments on social media accounts about their injuries. But it is better to stay off social media after a serious automobile accident. Insurance companies can find ways to use any public statements you make or photos you post to call into question the seriousness of your injuries.
If you are a keen social media user, it might be a good idea to avoid posting anything until your case’s conclusion.
Contact an Experienced Nassau County Car Accident Attorney
Handling a car accident case can cause headaches for anyone who is not familiar with New York personal injury law. The challenges are even harder when you are in the process of healing from a serious injury.
After a car accident, you first need to turn to your own insurance company for compensation, no matter who was at fault for the collision. If your injuries are serious and another person’s negligence caused the collision, you may be able to seek additional compensation for your losses by filing a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault motorist and his or her insurance company.
Having a seasoned car accident lawyer evaluate your rights to recover fair compensation and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf can give you peace of mind.
Why Hire The Tadchiev Law Firm, P.C. After a Car Crash in Nassau County?
Choosing a qualified personal injury attorney after a car accident may be one of the most important decisions you ever make. Many large law firms handle so many cases that clients never get to know the lawyers who are supposedly representing their interests. We have heard far too many stories of injured individuals who felt like they had no idea what was happening with their cases, with no obvious way of contacting their attorney for a one-to-one conversation.
If you choose our Nassau County car accident lawyers at The Tadchiev Law Firm, P.C., you can be confident that your case will receive the individual attention you deserve. Our team prides itself on developing a connection with our clients so we can focus on what matters to them. When you hire us, we will:
- Investigate the accident to gather evidence and determine its causes
- Identify all at-fault parties
- Calculate the full value of your losses
- Conduct settlement negotiations with the insurance company representing the at-fault driver
- Take legal action against the at-fault party if the insurer is unwilling to agree to a fair settlement.
Along the way, our law office will keep you informed of the progress of your case. The Tadchiev Law Firm handles car accident cases on a contingency fee basis. We only charge an attorney’s fees if we secure financial compensation for you through an insurance settlement or court award.
Types of Compensation You Could Receive
Because New York is a no-fault auto insurance state, you will first need to turn to your own insurance provider for compensation after a crash, no matter who was at fault. However, if your injuries and expenses are significant and another person’s negligence caused the accident, you may be able to seek additional compensation by filing a car accident injury claim against the at-fault motorist and his or her insurance company.
If you can prove that the other party was negligent, you could be entitled to compensation for:
- Past and present medical expenses – You may seek compensation for the costs of medical expenses you incur as a result of the accident. This includes costs associated with things like ambulance rides, hospital stays, surgeries, doctors’ office visits, diagnostic tests, prescription medications, medical equipment, therapy, and in-home care.
- Projected future medical expenses – If you will need future medical care to treat your accident-related injuries, you can claim compensation for the estimated costs of that future care. You could also be compensated for incidental costs related to your injuries, such as the costs of transportation to medical appointments and home or vehicle modifications to make them accessible.
- Lost wages – If you were forced to miss work as a result of your injuries, you may seek compensation for your lost wages. It’s a good idea to hold on to pay stubs or banking records to demonstrate the value of your lost wages.
- Lost future earning potential – If your injuries are serious enough to prevent you from returning to work in your usual capacity, you may be able to seek compensation for losses in your projected future earning capacity. Your attorney can help you consult with an occupational specialist to estimate the value of wages you likely would have earned if you hadn’t been involved in the accident.
Pain and suffering – You may seek compensation for the pain and suffering you have endured as a result of the accident. Unlike many other states, New York does not impose a maximum cap on the value of pain and suffering compensation. When a Nassau County car accident attorney at The Tadchiev Law Firm handles your car accident injury claim, our firm will present evidence to show how the pain has affected the quality of your life and what you are able to do.- Vehicle repair or replacement costs – If your vehicle was seriously damaged or totaled as a result of the accident caused by another motorist, you may claim compensation for the costs of repairing or replacing the vehicle. New York vehicle owners are required to carry at least $10,000 in liability insurance for property damage, including accident-related vehicle damage.
- Punitive damages – Punitive damages are a rare type of compensation sought by victims who are injured by others who acted with extreme recklessness or intentional malice. Punitive damages are designed to punish at-fault parties and discourage others from engaging in similar behavior in the future. As with pain and suffering compensation, there is no cap on punitive damages in New York.
Who Is Responsible for My Car Accident and Injuries?
If you are injured in a Nassau County car accident, identifying the at-fault party is critical to pursuing compensation. In most crashes, driver negligence or recklessness is to blame through actions such as the following:
- Speeding or aggressive driving
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Distracted driving
- Drunk driving or impaired driving
- Fatigued driving
- Unsafe lane changes or turns
- Driving too fast for weather or road conditions
However, liability does not always rest solely with a driver. Sometimes, vehicle defects such as faulty brakes or tires contribute to collisions. If a defective automotive component causes your injuries, you might also be able to demand compensation from the manufacturer of the vehicle or its components.
In other cases, hazardous road conditions that governments failed to repair may have contributed to a crash. While seeking compensation from a government entity can be more of a challenge, an experienced lawyer can help you understand your legal options.
A skilled car accident attorney will investigate the crash to identify everyone who bears legal responsibility. Those parties may be held financially liable for your injuries and losses. Establishing fault is the building block for seeking maximum compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and other accident expenses.
What Happens If the Other Driver Is Uninsured?
Being involved in an accident with an uninsured driver can be frustrating. However, it does not mean that you will be unable to recover compensation. New York requires all vehicle owners to carry uninsured motorist (UM) insurance to protect them in the event of a collision. The law stipulates minimum coverage amounts of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident, but your policy might have higher limits if you purchase more insurance.
Legal actions against uninsured motorists are often particularly challenging, as these drivers often lack auto insurance because they cannot afford to pay for it. An experienced Nassau County car accident lawyer can evaluate the best approach to seek the compensation you need to recover from serious injuries.
What Is the Time Limit to File a Car Accident Claim?
New York State’s statute of limitations on personal injury cases sets a three-year deadline for anyone who wishes to file an accident lawsuit. Missing the deadline can limit your right to seek compensation for your losses. Working with an experienced attorney can help you avoid missing the deadline for filing a personal injury claim.
While three years might sound like a long time, you should try to contact a lawyer as soon as possible to try to preserve evidence. If you wait too long, eyewitness memories might fade, and crucial evidence, such as traffic camera videos, might be lost. Enlisting the services of an experienced legal professional as soon as possible can improve your chances of developing a persuasive case.
Causes of Car Accidents in Nassau County, NY
Car accidents happen in many ways. Some of the most common causes of car accidents in Nassau County, NY include:
- Distracted driving – Safe driving is a demanding task that requires constant attention. When drivers focus on other activities such as talking with passengers, adjusting the radio, or talking on the phone, they are more likely to overlook potential road hazards and cause traffic accidents.
- Impaired driving – Alcohol and intoxicating drugs impair individuals’ ability to drive safely. Drivers who are under the influence tend to have slower reaction time, impaired judgment, and difficulty evaluating distance. An impaired driver who causes a crash in Nassau County, NY resulting in injuries should be accountable for the harm caused.
- Drowsy driving – According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), drowsy driving can be just as dangerous as drunk driving. Driving after just 24 hours of sleep deprivation is effectively the same as driving with a blood alcohol content over the legal limit. Drowsy driving is associated with as many as 6,000 fatal crashes each year in the U.S.
- Speeding – Drivers who exceed posted speed limits or drive too fast for road conditions present a serious risk to everyone on the road. When drivers speed, they have less time to react to changing traffic conditions ahead or a pedestrian crossing an intersection. Excessive speed is a factor in many auto accidents in Nassau County, NY.
- Aggressive driving – Aggressive driving behaviors include running red lights, tailgating, lane weaving, using bright headlight beams to punish another driver, and cutting others off in traffic. Aggressive drivers tend to be unpredictable, which puts everyone on the road at risk. Aggressive driving may lead to acts of road rage.
- Driver inexperience – Passing a state-required driving test and obtaining a license does not mean a person is experienced enough to handle all the traffic situations that arise in New York City. Teen drivers and those without significant driving experience are less likely to recognize dangerous traffic scenarios or react in time to avoid accidents.
- Failure to yield – All New York drivers are expected to yield the right-of-way to other vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians in certain circumstances. For example, a driver approaching a Nassau County intersection must yield the right-of-way to vehicles already in the intersection. Drivers who fail to yield the right of way properly when turning, merging, or crossing intersections can cause serious accidents. They may be financially liable for the injuries others suffer in collisions caused by their failure to yield
- Running red lights or stop signs – Red lights and stop signs play an important role in managing traffic in Nassau County and throughout Queens. When drivers disregard safety and run red lights or stop signs, severe accidents such as T-bone accidents and head-on collisions can occur.
- Defective car parts – In some cases, car components can fail due to defects that occurred during the manufacturing or assembly process. When defective automotive parts fail, drivers can experience loss of control and crash. Injured victims may be able to hold the auto park manufacturers liable for accidents caused by faulty components.
Common Car Accident Injuries in Nassau County, NY
The violent impact of a car crash can cause serious injuries. The common injuries caused by Nassau County car accidents include:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Concussion
- Whiplash
- Neck and back injuries
- Spinal cord injury
- Internal injuries
- Bone fractures
- Heat, friction, or chemical burns
- Cuts, lacerations, and bruises
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Amputations
- Partial or total paralysis
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
Call Our Experienced Car Accident Lawyers in Nassau County
At The Tadchiev Law Firm, P.C., we understand how challenging it can be to deal with an insurance adjuster and insurance policy paperwork if you have a serious injury from a car crash. In addition to the physical pain, you may be dealing with lost wages from time missed at work, psychological distress from the shock of the accident, and anxiety about what the future holds. If you have suffered car accident injuries due to another party’s negligence, you should not have to bear these burdens alone. You deserve trusted legal guidance about your best options to be made whole after a car accident caused by someone else.
With our compassionate and dedicated legal team on your side, you can feel confident you are in good hands. Our personal injury lawyers have a track record of getting favorable settlements and verdicts for Nassau County residents, and we are ready to fight for you. Contact us today for a free initial consultation with a car accident lawyer in Nassau County.