Of the five New York City boroughs, car ownership and access are the lowest in Manhattan. A 2018 survey revealed that only 36% of core Manhattan residents and 35% of those in Northern Manhattan own or have access to a vehicle, compared to the highest rate of ownership and access in Staten Island at 86%. The population of Manhattan ranks in the middle of the five boroughs, with more people living in Queens and Brooklyn and fewer residing in the Bronx and Staten Island.
Though the ratio of residents driving to the number of people living in the borough is lower than in the other four boroughs, accidents still occur. If you get hurt in a car crash or after a vehicle hits you while on foot or your bike, you may benefit from working with an attorney for auto accidents in Manhattan.
Looking at Manhattan Auto Accidents
Most people will be involved in a collision with another vehicle at least once in their lives. For N.Y.C. residents, the likelihood of getting hit as pedestrians or cyclists is relatively high. In 2022, 4,732 people sustained injuries, and 20 lost their lives in Manhattan car accidents. The borough ranked 4th out of the five for the number of injuries and fatalities overall. Only Staten Island had fewer, while Brooklyn’s numbers were highest.
However, the rankings shift if we break down the statistics to the number of cyclists and pedestrians injured or killed after getting hit by a car. That same year, 1,103 cyclists got hurt after a collision with a vehicle. Only Brooklyn had more cyclist injuries, with 1,343. Queens ranked third but had just over half as many cyclist injuries. Two bike riders in Manhattan died after a crash involving a car, while Brooklyn and the Bronx each had three deaths, Queens had one and Staten Island had none.
Fewer pedestrians sustained injuries in Manhattan auto accidents than in Queens and Brooklyn, but fewer pedestrians got hurt in the Bronx and Staten Island. Unfortunately, 15 pedestrians died in this borough in 2022 after a car hit them, compared to 14 in Queens, 10 in the Bronx and two in Staten Island. Only Brooklyn had more fatalities (19) that year.
Understanding What a Cellino Law Attorney Can Do for You
Whether you are a motorist, cyclist or pedestrian who sustained injuries after a collision with a vehicle, you have a right to fair compensation. The insurance companies or attorneys for others involved will do their best to prevent paying you the compensation you deserve. The lawyers at Cellino Law are here to help you navigate a claim.
Often, more than one person is to blame for an auto accident, so even if you are partially to blame, New York’s laws allow you to pursue compensation for the role the other party’s negligence played in the accident. Our attorneys have the experience and knowledge you need to increase your chances of favorable results. When you work with an attorney with experience in Manhattan auto accidents, your lawyer provides the following assistance:
- Evaluation: Every person should know whether their case has merit before pursuing compensation. Our attorneys offer a free evaluation, after which you’ll understand its strengths and weaknesses.
- Evidence collection: You need evidence proving another party’s negligence, and we know what to look for and how to obtain it. Some types of evidence are time-sensitive, so you may want to begin gathering proof immediately after your accident.
- Interviews: Gathering witness and expert testimony are usually imperative to a claim’s success. Your attorney talks to witnesses, determines what type of experts are relevant to your case, and obtains statements.
- Document submission: Completing appropriate legal documentation accurately and on time is necessary. If your paperwork is incomplete, doesn’t provide enough of the correct information, or is filed late, you risk losing the opportunity to file a legal claim.
- Communication: Talking to insurance companies and defense attorneys is more than just inconvenient. It also has the potential to damage your case. Your lawyer handles all verbal and written communications with the other parties, protecting your rights and ensuring you don’t inadvertently make statements they can use against you.
- Compensation calculations: If your injuries are serious, you may not be able to wait until your medical treatments are finished before filing. Furthermore, there may be long-term impacts on your earning capacity, relationships and other aspects of life. The attorneys at Cellino Law know how to calculate damages, including those that haven’t occurred yet and ones that aren’t associated with a direct financial cost.
Most auto accident claims settle before they ever see the inside of a courtroom. Chances are, yours would, too. However, if the other side fails to agree to a satisfactory settlement, your Cellino Law attorney will not hesitate to bring your claim to a judge and jury, representing you throughout the process.
Becoming Familiar With Relevant NY Laws
Multiple laws impact a claim for an auto accident. Becoming familiar with those laws can help you understand the potential outcomes for your case and why it’s usually a good idea to work with an attorney with experience handling auto accidents in Manhattan. The state’s no-fault car insurance, comparative fault and statute of limitations laws are the three primary statutes you should know about.
NY No-Fault Car Insurance Law
New York has a no-fault car insurance law that requires all insurers to provide and drivers to carry personal injury protection coverage. PIP insurance covers your medical expenses, lost income and miscellaneous expenses related to your accident. The insurance pays for these expenses up to policy limits, no matter who is at fault.
There are no caps on medical and rehabilitation coverage, but a fee schedule limits the amount covered for different types of expenses. However, your insurance will only pay the lesser of 80% or $2,000 per month in lost wages for up to three years. It will also cover just $25 per day in miscellaneous expenses, such as mileage reimbursement to and from medical appointments and household help.
Your PIP insurance will not pay you for lost earning capacity should you lose your inability to work the same job in the same capacity for more than three years. It won’t pay you for non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, loss of relationship and significant disfigurement. You need to file a personal injury lawsuit to recover damages for these.
NY Comparative Fault Law
This state’s comparative fault law is the statute that allows you to pursue compensation even if you are partially or primarily liable for the accident. N.Y. adheres to a pure comparative fault doctrine. It does not bar you from recovering as long as you are not 100% liable. However, the amount you receive reflects the degree of fault you bear. If you are 75% responsible, the court reduces your award by the same percentage. The same holds if you are only 10% at fault.
NY Statute of Limitations
Every state imposes legal deadlines for filing claims in court. In New York, you must file a personal injury lawsuit within three years of the accident.
Getting Started With an Attorney for Auto Accidents
Cellino Law attorneys are ready to help you pursue just compensation for injuries you sustained in a car accident in Manhattan due to another party’s negligence. To get started, all you need to do is reach out. We provide a free personal injury consultation, so you have the information required to make an informed decision about how to proceed.