If you or your family member was involved in a car accident, you may have grounds for a claim or civil lawsuit against the driver or other party responsible. A Huntington car accident lawyer from our firm can help you identify the at-fault party, evaluate your damages, and understand the laws and insurance rules that apply to your case so that you can seek compensation.
Common Car Accident Damages You Could Recover
Car accident injuries—even relatively minor ones—can cost thousands of dollars to treat. Many injuries require long-term medical treatment before you fully recover, such as those involving the spinal cord, brain, or nerves. This can place your family under considerable financial strain.
The good news, however, is that the law entitles you to compensation for losses and damages you are unfairly made to suffer because of the actions of other parties. While some of this compensation will come from your insurance company, you may qualify to hold the at-fault driver financially responsible as well. Common medical damages you can recover include:
- Your transportation to the hospital
- Hospitalization and doctor’s visits
- X-rays, scans, and bloodwork
- Surgeries
- Prescription meds
- Assistive devices, such as wheelchairs
- Therapy and rehabilitation
Non-Economic Damages
You may also qualify for non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering and emotional trauma. Other losses you may be able to recover in an accident include:
- Lost income from an inability to work
- Lower earning potential
- Vehicle and property damage
- Funeral or burial costs and other wrongful death damages if you lost a loved one
We Can Help You Navigate the Injury Claims Process
To file a personal injury claim or sue for damages after a car accident, you must:
- Identify the at-fault party responsible for the accident
- Gather evidence to establish a link between the at-fault party’s actions and the accident
- Quantify your losses
- File your claim with the relevant parties
Handling each of these steps can take time and energy that you may not have if you are still in recovery or finally getting back to work. Our law firm can take these responsibilities off your hands so that you are free to focus on your healing and other obligations.
Identifying the At-Fault Party
The at-fault party in motor vehicle accident cases is usually another driver, but it can also be the owner or operator of a trucking company if you were struck by a truck. Another possible liable party is a vehicle service or maintenance team if poor maintenance or a parts failure led to your collision.
You could even hold a municipal office at fault for an accident if poor road maintenance, inadequate signage, or missing traffic control devices caused or contributed to your accident. Our team will look for evidence of scenarios like these when investigating your case.
Evidence Collection
Evidence is vital to providing support for your compensation case. It can establish fault and liability, as well as the extent of your injuries and damages. We will seek documents and items, such as the following:
- Police reports
- Dashcam, CCTV, or surveillance video
- Photos of the accident
- Bystander or witness statements
- Vehicle black box data
- Proof of medication usage or drug/alcohol consumption by the at-fault driver
- Driving logs or cellphone data of the at-fault driver to prove fatigued or distracted driving occurred
- Medical bills
- Vehicle repair invoices
- Proof of property damage and the value of that property
- Proof of lost income
Filing Your Claim
Once your case is ready, we can submit a claim to the insurer of the at-fault party. This informs the insurer that you are seeking compensation for the losses and/or damages that their client made you suffer.
If the insurer accepts your claim, you should receive your payout, and the case is closed. However, this typically requires some negotiation, which our firm can handle for you. If the insurer denies your claim or refuses to offer an appropriate settlement, we can file a lawsuit with the relevant court to decide your case.
Our attorneys fight to ensure that the innocent victims of another party’s negligence, carelessness, recklessness, or incompetence receive the compensation to which the law entitles them.
Huntington Car Accident Lawyer Near Me 877-751-9800
What is the Deadline to File a Car Accident Lawsuit in New York?
You must file your lawsuit within the statute of limitations that applies to your accident. The deadline varies depending on your state and the circumstances of the case, as follows:
- Three years for personal injuries, as per CVP §214
- Two years for wrongful death cases, as per EPT §5-4.1
Exceptions may apply, but our firm can identify the precise filing deadline in your case so that you do not risk losing your right to sue.
The Attorneys from Morelli Law Firm are Ready to Help
Contact us today at (212) 751-9800. Our compassionate and empathetic personal injury attorneys understand the shock and hardships collisions cause. We know how they can negatively impact families for years, so do not hesitate to reach out to us today for legal guidance regarding your case.