If you are an accident victim who was injured in a car wreck, you may feel overwhelmed while healing from your accident injuries and paying the continuous medical bills from treatment. However, you shouldn’t have to worry about the financial burden if a negligent driver caused the accident. With the help of a Buffalo car accident lawyer, you can eliminate the stress of your financial burdens and focus solely on your health.
If you were injured in a car collision or lost a loved one due to an accident, you have options to seek financial recovery by filing a personal injury claim. Working with a personal injury lawyer in Buffalo at the Morelli Law Firm can help you obtain the maximum settlement for your losses. Schedule your no-cost, risk-free consultation after reading how we can help you.
What to Do after a Buffalo NY Car Accident
If you follow the proper steps after a car accident, it can make things go smoother. Here are a few things to do after a car accident that can positively impact your settlement award:
- Notate details of what happened
- Take photos or record the scene as you describe the incident and show the parties involved
- Get eyewitness contact information if possible
- Request a copy of the accident’s official police report
- Get a medical evaluation immediately after leaving the scene, advising your doctor of how you were injured and details of your discomfort
It is crucial to get a medical checkup as soon as possible following the event because it’s possible that you have hidden wounds that could prolong your healing or become fatal. Skipping out on a medical evaluation provides the defense and insurance company with the opportunity to claim that something other than the vehicle accident was to blame for your injuries.
If you are too hurt after a vehicle accident to concentrate on your case, or if you feel injured but are worried that you can’t cover the medical expenses, our devoted staff of car accident attorneys in Buffalo, New York, can gather evidence and handle the legal side of getting you a quick settlement after a car wreck.
Most Common Car Accident Injuries to Sue for in Buffalo, NY
If you were in a car accident in NY, you could have endured many types of injuries. However, certain injuries are reported more frequently in Buffalo personal injury car crash cases than others.
People frequently seek the maximum payout for a certain type of injury. It is important to remember that the type of injury you are diagnosed with doesn’t necessarily determine your right to financial compensation. Instead, the biggest factor is the impact that your injuries have had on your everyday life.
As a result, the following list of injuries is frequently reported in vehicle accident claims in Buffalo, New York:
- Organ failure
- Internal bleeding
- Concussion
- Road rash
- Whiplash
- Soft tissue injuries
- Neck injuries
- Head injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Back injuries
- Herniated discs
- Paralysis
- Loss of limbs
- Emotional trauma such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
You could still be eligible to file insurance claims and civil lawsuits against the party at fault if you sustained an injury in an automobile accident that wasn’t one of the ones mentioned above. When you get in touch with our personal injury attorneys to go over the specifics of your vehicle accident in Buffalo, New York, you’ll learn what you should do next.
Is Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney for a Car Accident Worth it?
New York law entitles anyone who has been involved in an auto accident to file a civil suit for personal injury damages. You can also claim monetary compensation for emotional distress and loss of stable work or reduced income. Hiring adequate legal representation will allow you to navigate these legal matters with ease.
In addition to gathering evidence and filing a claim, your lawyer can handle all settlement negotiations to secure fair compensation. You can trust your car accident attorney in Buffalo, NY, to recover the fair settlement that you justly deserve after your accident.
The Best Time to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer Following a Wreck
If your motor vehicle accident was minor, with little property damage and no injuries, you may not need a lawyer. Complications arise when there are multiple parties involved, or severe injuries occur. You should get a Buffalo personal injury lawyer for a car accident when:
- Vehicles are heavily damaged
- Insurance offers you a low payout
- People suffer injuries
- Someone dies in the accident
- There are errors in the accident report
- You are blamed for causing the accident
- The liable party is a drunk driver or someone that was under the influence
Even if your car accident seems minor, having a knowledgeable lawyer in your corner is beneficial to your case. Our team of Buffalo car accident attorneys will keep your best interests in mind while negotiating your settlement after a car accident.
Evidence Needed to Support Your Car Accident Claim in New York
Liability for an automobile accident in Buffalo must be established by a preponderance of the evidence. Accordingly, the proof must unambiguously demonstrate that the offender is more likely than not to blame for the victim’s injuries.
To prove liability, your lawyer will need to submit evidence to the insurance company to support your case. Some of the most prominent forms of evidence used to prove fault in Buffalo car accident claims include:
- Car accident reports
- Police reports
- Expert testimony
- Testimony from eyewitnesses
- Video footage of the accident
- Photos of your Injuries and bills from your medical care
- Photos of the accident scene
- Analysis by accident reconstructionists
- Chemical blood alcohol concentration (BAC) test results
- Cell phone records
What Is a Reasonable Settlement Amount for a Car Accident Claim?
Settlements for car accident claims are based on losses suffered by the parties involved. For example, our team helped the family of an 11-year-old boy obtain $2.65 million in economic and non-economic damages after suffering catastrophic injuries in a car wreck.
You deserve a car accident lawyer in Buffalo, NY, that will help you avoid a lowball settlement and recoup the compensation that you deserve. Insurance companies will often make an offer that compensates an injured party for only the most basic expenses associated with the accident. Any damages incurred will be itemized and requested during negotiations to get an adequate settlement.
A reasonable settlement should fully reimburse medical costs, lost wages, vehicle repairs, pain and suffering, and other intangible losses, such as decreased mental health or quality of life due to injuries from the collision. Our experienced car accident lawyers can guarantee maximum compensation if you use our legal services.
Was Your Car New York Car Wreck Caused By a Negligent Driver?
According to data from the New York State Department of Health, from 2012 to 2014, an average of 12,093 New Yorkers were admitted to hospitals as a result of car accidents. Even non-hospitalization cases for minor injuries are not taken into consideration here. In addition, New York saw over 1,000 fatalities from auto accidents annually. Causes for most auto accidents in this state include:
- Bad weather conditions
- Reduced visibility
- Impaired driving
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Running a red light
Oftentimes, car accidents are caused by driver negligence. Life-changing crashes can happen when drivers disregard traffic laws or fail to account for severe weather. If you were harmed in a traffic accident, a car accident lawyer in Buffalo, New York, can assist you in submitting a claim for compensation.
Understanding How Your Accident Causes Trauma
There are physical and emotional injuries to compensate for when you get into an accident. The emotional consequences can weigh heavily on crash victims. Some of these include:
- Mental pain and suffering
- Nightmares about the accident
- Driving anxiety
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Depression
Unfortunately, a car wreck has the potential to be a fatal crash that claims the life of a loved one. In the event of a fatal wreck, you can file a wrongful death claim to recoup the economic losses of the decedent, loss of consortium, funeral and burial expenses, and your family’s pain and suffering. There is a strict time limit set for such cases. Our Buffalo car accident attorneys can help you through this difficult time with compassionate legal support.
How Long do You Have to File Your New York Auto Accident Injury Lawsuit?
Under New York Civil Practice Law & Rules Section 214, personal injury lawsuits have a three-year statute of limitations. Three years might seem like plenty of time to advance your case, but a lot of the evidence might be time-sensitive.
This means you will need to get your attorney to investigate liability and gather the evidence needed to support your case sooner rather than later. You don’t want to take a chance on the Buffalo civil courts rejecting your case. You will miss your chance to maximize the value of your auto accident case if you do not file your personal injury claim before the statute of limitations expires.
Get Started for Free with a Buffalo, NY, Car Accident Lawyer
Being injured in a car accident is distressing, but you may be able to recover financial compensation for the damages you were forced to endure. Whether you were involved in a head-on collision, a rear-end incident, or even if you suffered minor injuries, our auto accident lawyers can help you get a larger settlement.
The skilled car accident lawyers at Morelli Law Firm in Buffalo, NY, will assist you in each phase of your car accident claim process. Get in touch with us today for a complimentary, no-obligation case review. Our legal team is standing by to assess your claim and calculate your monetary losses.
