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Personal Injury

Car Accident Cases

Injured in a New York car crash? We handle the no-fault claim, the injury lawsuit, and any traffic ticket the crash put on your record. Call 917-476-7666.

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Overview

What you need to know about Car Accident Cases.

The basics, what we do, and the issues we see most.

How long do I have to bring a car accident claim in New York, and what does no-fault cover?

Quick Answer

In New York you generally have 3 years from the crash date to file a personal-injury lawsuit (CPLR 214), but only 30 days to file your no-fault application. Basic no-fault (PIP) pays up to $50,000 for medical bills and lost earnings regardless of who was at fault. To sue the other driver for pain and suffering, your injury must meet the 'serious injury' threshold of Insurance Law § 5102(d). If the crash also brought a ticket, the points stack: following too closely is 4 points, failure to yield 3, and leaving the scene of a personal-injury crash 5 points. We handle the claim and the ticket together.

Services we offer for Car Accident Cases.

From the first 30-day no-fault deadline through settlement or trial — and the traffic ticket in between — here is what we do on a New York car accident case:

  • File and protect your no-fault (PIP) application within the 30-day window so the $50,000 in medical and lost-wage benefits is not forfeited.
  • Gather the police accident report (MV-104), scene photos, vehicle-damage records, and witness statements that establish how the crash happened.
  • Document whether your injury meets the 'serious injury' threshold under Insurance Law § 5102(d) so you can pursue pain-and-suffering damages.
  • Communicate with the at-fault driver's insurer and your own carrier so adjusters are not negotiating directly against an injured client.
  • Pursue underinsured/uninsured motorist (SUM) coverage when the other driver has no insurance or too little.
  • Defend any traffic ticket the crash produced — tailgating (VTL 1129, 4 points), failure to yield (3 points), or leaving the scene (VTL 600) — to limit points and the Driver Responsibility Assessment.
  • Take the case to trial when the insurer's offer does not reflect the injury, rather than settling because a deadline is near.

Scenarios we see most.

  • Missing the 30-day no-fault filing deadline, which can forfeit the $50,000 in PIP medical and wage benefits.
  • An insurance adjuster calling within days of the crash to lock in a recorded statement or a quick lowball offer before injuries are diagnosed.
  • Soft-tissue and delayed-onset injuries (neck, back, concussion) that may not surface until days later but still count toward the § 5102(d) threshold.
  • The other driver being uninsured or underinsured, leaving SUM coverage on your own policy as the only source of recovery.
  • A ticket written at the scene — following too closely (4 points) or failure to yield (3 points) — that adds points and surcharges on top of the injury.
  • Confusion between an officer-issued ticket and a speed/red-light camera ticket, which is civil, owner-liable, and carries 0 points.
  • Assuming the 3-year lawsuit deadline (CPLR 214) is the only clock, and letting the no-fault and ticket deadlines lapse in the meantime.

Who we help

Who we represent.

Every case handled directly by the attorney you speak with at intake.

Auto Accident Victims

Car, truck, and motorcycle crashes involving no-fault and injury claims.

Pedestrians & Cyclists

People struck while walking or biking in traffic.

Slip-and-Fall & Premises Injuries

Injuries on unsafe property, sidewalks, and other premises.

Uninsured / Underinsured Claims

Claims that arise when the at-fault driver lacks adequate coverage.

How we handle your case

From summons to resolution.

The same attorney handles your matter from intake through hearing and closeout.

  1. 1

    Step 1 of 5

    Free case review — tell us what happened

  2. 2

    Step 2 of 5

    File and secure no-fault benefits (30-day clock)

  3. 3

    Step 3 of 5

    Investigate: records, MV-104 report, photos, witnesses

  4. 4

    Step 4 of 5

    Negotiate with the insurers; defend any crash ticket

  5. 5

    Step 5 of 5

    Settle, or take the case to trial

Frequently asked

Questions clients ask first.

Direct answers from the attorney who handles these matters.

Most asked

Do I have to be hurt 'seriously' to sue the other driver in New York?

To recover for pain and suffering, yes — your injury must meet the 'serious injury' threshold in Insurance Law § 5102(d), which includes things like a fracture, significant disfigurement, permanent limitation of a body part, or a medically determined injury that disables you for 90 of the first 180 days. No-fault PIP still pays your medical bills and lost wages up to $50,000 even if you do not meet that threshold. We review your medical records to assess where your injury falls. This is general information, not legal advice.

Question 2

What if I got a ticket at the scene of the accident?

It is common — officers frequently issue a ticket to one or both drivers. Following too closely (VTL 1129) is 4 points, failure to yield right-of-way is 3, and leaving the scene of a personal-injury crash (VTL 600) is 5 points. Six or more points in 18 months also triggers a Driver Responsibility Assessment of $100 per year for three years. We can defend the ticket in traffic court in the same office that handles your injury claim, so the points do not quietly add up while the injury case is pending.

Question 3

How much does it cost to hire the firm for a car accident case?

Auto injury cases are handled on a contingency basis: the legal fee comes out of a recovery, so there is no separate hourly bill for the injury claim. We will explain the fee arrangement in writing before you sign anything. The initial case review is free. Fee terms for any related traffic-ticket defense are discussed separately and up front. Reading this page does not create an attorney-client relationship — that only happens once you and a firm attorney agree to work together.

Resources

Helpful tools & references

Free, official resources from The Law Office of Anthony Sharnov — look up your situation before you call.

NY Court & DA Directory

Find the traffic court, criminal court, and District Attorney for any New York county — with official contact info.

Directory

Traffic Points Calculator

Estimate the DMV points a ticket adds to your license, and search the Vehicle & Traffic Law.

Tool

Penal Law Lookup

Search the New York Penal Law by section, offense, or keyword.

Tool

Legal Articles & Guides

Plain-language guides on traffic tickets, criminal charges, points, and summonses across New York.

Guides

Free case review

Hurt in a New York car accident? Talk to us before the deadlines run.

No-fault has a 30-day clock and your ticket has its own. Call 917-476-7666 for a free case review with The Law Office of Anthony Sharnov, PC.

Start My Free Case ReviewCall 917-476-7666

Or email us

info@sharnovlaw.com

An attorney reads every message.

  • Same-day response

    During business hours

  • Direct attorney access

    Same lawyer from intake to close

  • Transparent pricing

    Fees quoted up front