If you or a loved one was injured in a car accident in New York City, you may be eligible to recover substantial compensation. At Hecht, Kleeger & Damashek, P.C., our experienced NYC car accident lawyers are relentless in holding negligent drivers, rideshares, cab drivers, and other liable parties accountable—securing justice and results across all five boroughs.
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Hecht, Kleeger & Damashek, P.C. has recovered hundreds of millions for crash victims across NYC and bring decades of legal experience in motor vehicle accident litigation. From our Manhattan office, we offer personalized, stress-free support with no upfront fees—helping injured New Yorkers navigate insurance claims, medical bills, and lost wages while we fight for the compensation they deserve.
Under New York law, victims of motor vehicle accidents have the right to pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering when another party is at fault. At HKD, attorneys Jordan Hecht, Judd Kleeger, and Jonathan Damashek are trusted advocates in NY personal injury litigation, known for their relentless pursuit of justice in high-stakes car accident cases throughout New York City.
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How Is Evidence Gathered After A New York Car Accident?
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Video Transcript
Following a car accident in New York, our investigator will get the police report and then follow up on that police report ... by contacting the witnesses, canvassing the neighborhood for other witnesses that are not included on the police report, and we'll also try to see if the accident was caught on any type of surveillance video in the neighborhood.
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Thousands of car accidents occur in New York City and Manhattan every month. Many of those involve other motorists, passengers, cyclists, and pedestrians.
Car accidents in New York City are on the rise. In addition to regular traffic, taxis and rideshare companies have brought more cars and drivers into the city than ever before. You can view up to date information about crashes at the New York City Open Data website.
Some of the most dangerous roads in New York City include:
The most common types of car accidents in New York City include:
The top contributing factors of car accidents in New York City are:
Other contributing factors included road rage, alcohol, drugs, driver inexperience, failure to keep right, drowsiness, falling asleep, illness, medication, using a cell phone, using a navigation device, passenger distraction, eating and drinking, and confusion with a bicycle, according to the New York Police Department (NYPD).
Our New York accident attorneys handle car accident cases involving all types of injuries. Some of the most common injuries from car accidents include:
If you are involved in a car accident, you should immediately contact a New York personal injury lawyer. However, you may also need help with the following:
Hecht, Kleeger & Damashek, P.C. is here to help if you were hurt in a:
Seek medical attention from a doctor immediately. Although you might feel good after the accident, symptoms such as pain, discomfort, dizziness and numbness can surface in the following days. Seeking medical attention as soon as possible helps strengthen any personal injury claim you may file.
Take notes regarding injuries and medical treatment to make sure you can obtain full reimbursement from an insurance company. Write down names of physicians, physical therapists, chiropractors and other professionals you visit. Start a file for receipts and other related paperwork. Keep a journal about your injuries and treatment and write detailed notes.
Keep proof of financial loss, including lost wages and work opportunities.
Take numerous photos of the crash location, including stop signs and traffic lights, in addition to photos of damage to your vehicle.
Witnesses could play a crucial role in helping you make a strong claim. Make sure to talk to anyone who could have information on your crash so they can help you secure the compensation you deserve.
Contact Hecht, Kleeger & Damashek, P.C as soon as possible after a car crash to discuss the best next steps.
We will listen to your story and ask questions to piece together what happened. Once your New York accident lawyer has an overview of your situation, they can give you a good idea of whether you have a strong claim for compensation and the possible value of your damages.
Once you enlist the help of a car accident lawyer, they will:
We thoroughly investigate car accident claims. As the person claiming compensation, you must prove what happened. You have to establish that another driver was negligent and caused your injuries.
We gather the police report, photos, videos, your statement, eyewitness testimony, and expert opinions to get the evidence you need. Your NYC accident attorney can help you understand more about negligence and liability in personal injury cases.
Once we know who caused the crash and the extent of your injuries, we will send a demand letter to the liable party or their insurance company. The letter will demand that this party takes responsibility for their actions and the harm they caused you.
We will calculate the value of your claim and make a specific financial demand in the letter.
As your case progresses, the insurance company may make you a settlement offer. Their first offer is never the best. Make sure not to give them information without consulting your car accident lawyer. They could use your statements against you later on.
Your attorney will negotiate with insurance adjusters, show them your losses, and demand a fair settlement.
Even if you expect to settle your case, filing a personal injury lawsuit is common. This allows your accident attorney to use the discovery process to obtain evidence and documents from the insurance company and the person responsible for your crash.
The goal is to obtain the financial compensation you deserve. Most cases will do that through a car accident settlement, but if we have to go to trial, we will handle the jury, motions, and all other aspects.
All registered vehicles in New York must be covered by:
New York is considered a no-fault insurance state, which is why it requires PIP insurance. After a car crash, you must use your insurance to primarily cover your medical bills and lost wages. But if you suffer a severe injury in a New York crash, you can file a third-party insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit against the negligent driver. You can demand compensation for additional medical bills, expenses, pain and suffering, and emotional distress.
Many personal injury cases settle before trial and motor vehicle cases are no different. When negotiating car accident insurance settlements we consider your past and future expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering. We take everything into account before we recommend you say yes to a settlement. When you receive a settlement, it will be in a lump sum or payment plan, which you will use to pay your legal fees and medical bills.
In order to win a settlement in your car crash case, you must determine who was liable and prove they were at fault for your accident and losses.
Finding the liable party means you need to prove the defendant was negligent. You’ll need to prove the elements of negligence, basically showing that the other party breached their duty of care and you were injured as a result.
This negligence might manifest as a failure to follow traffic laws, distracted driving, or impaired driving, among other behaviors.
Evidence such as police reports, witness statements, traffic camera footage, and accident reconstructions are critical in demonstrating this fault. Additionally, statements from the drivers involved and expert testimonies can further bolster the case.
The defendant does not have to be 100% at fault for you to win compensation. New York follows a pure comparative negligence rule.
The insurer assigns fault, or if you go to trial, the jury. However, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault.
Contact us online or call 212-490-5700 to schedule a free, no-risk consultation with a local NY car accident lawyer. No up-front costs, and you owe nothing unless we win. Our law firm is located in Midtown Manhattan and serves clients in Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, Staten Island, and all across New York City.
What if My Case Goes to Trial
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212-490-5700The insurance company and negligent driver might refuse to settle the case after receiving the demand letter. To pursue compensation and show them we are serious, we will file a personal injury lawsuit. Going to court allows us to use the discovery process and gather more information. Learn more about the complex personal injury lawsuit process.
Some of the courthouses that we frequently work in include:
There is a time limit for how long you have to file a personal injury lawsuit. In New York, you have three years from the date of the car crash to file a lawsuit in most cases. This deadline applies only to lawsuits, not insurance claims. If an accident involves a municipality, the statute of limitations may be shorter.
When you file a car accident insurance claim or lawsuit, the defendant will likely fight back. If the defendant is insured, then their insurance company will provide defense lawyers.
These lawyers will argue that the defendant was not negligent. They might argue that you or someone else was to blame. They can also argue that their client did not breach their duty, or that the crash was caused because of an emergency condition.
Working with an experienced car accident lawyer will help you win the best results possible in your claim. A New York accident attorney is more likely to get the claim decided in your favor and get you more money than you would without a car accident attorney.
Victims of car accidents in New York City can seek compensation for a wide range of injuries. It’s possible to pursue economic and non-economic damages.
In some cases, you could pursue compensation if a loved one is killed in a car accident. Working with a New York City car accident attorney can help you calculate the value of your claim.
Economic damages are physical losses you suffer because of your car crash. You can pursue a claim to recover compensation for current and future medical expenses, lost wages, damaged property, and possible future earnings.
Non-economic losses are damages you suffer because of your physical injuries. They include concepts like pain and suffering, mental anguish, emotional distress, disfigurement, loss of consortium, and loss of quality of life.
Your claim will hinge on the total impact of all of your damages. Calculating your economic losses is relatively easy. You can use items like bills, receipts, and pay stubs to prove your losses.
Non-economic damages are less straight-forward. They can vary from case to case, and a car accident injury lawyer is typically the best asset to calculate the full extent of your losses.
The NYC accident lawyers at Hecht, Kleeger & Damashek, P.C., are prepared to help you find out what your personal injury claim is worth.
Fatal car accidents can be devastating. Under New York’s wrongful death and survival action laws, you can demand compensation for the loss of your loved one’s income, loss of your loved one’s support, medical expenses, funeral and burial expenses, pain and suffering. Contact a wrongful death attorney to discuss the details of your case.
Can I Receive More Compensation Than What Is Provided By Insurance?
Video Transcript
There may be another case, like there's a car accident and there's a roadway design issue. So you have to be able to think, why did this accident happen? ... Is there a homeowner that didn't trim, you know, bushes or tree branches, obfuscated a stop sign, and a driver just went through the stop sign. Turns out the homeowner was aware that their bushes were blocking the sign. Right. So we sued the homeowner as well. So then when there was a limited policy on the car, we're also able to get a lot of money from the homeowner because they also contributed to the accident.
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Car Accident FAQ
JUMP TO SECTIONLeaving the scene of an accident without handling the steps related to that accident is known as “hit-and-run”. This type of behavior may result in felony charges.
Names, contact information (cellphone, address, etc.), insurance information, license plate numbers, and driver’s license numbers are key information you’ll need if you want to file a claim later.
The role of an officer is extremely important. Not only he or she will mediate the situation, but the officer will also file a crash report about the incident that will later serve as an official document proving that the accident occurred. This report is also trusted by insurance companies as a basis for filing claims. The police will interview any witnesses and take notes of the state of the road and other conditions that might have caused the accident.
Contact information, photos of all vehicle damage, a list of physical injuries, and you should note the condition of the road. All of this information will make a difference in a future potential claim. Being in a motor vehicle accident is stressful and traumatic. If you or a loved one is injured in a car accident, contact us immediately for a free consultation with a lawyer for car accidents. We will analyze your case and explain you your legal rights.
If you are involved in a crash where the other driver doesn’t have car insurance, you still have options. You may be able to recover a significant amount of money from your own insurance company through an uninsured motorist policy. You can also sue the other driver and force them to pay for your medical bills and other losses.
If you are in a hit and run accident, you might be hurt and very confused. Even if you have no idea who hit your car, you may still have options for compensation. You should first call the police, then get contact information from any witnesses. Document the scene by taking pictures and note any security or traffic cameras. Your attorney can help you with an uninsured motorist claim through your own insurance, and we will do our best to find the person responsible.
You will likely have medical bills after an accident. This would include bills for emergency and ongoing care. You shouldn’t have to worry about these bills while your claim is ongoing. We will contact your providers and get them to wait for payment. If your health insurance has paid for any of your treatment, they may want you to repay them once you get a settlement. However, we can also talk to them about relinquishing that demand.
How Long Does It Take To Settle A Car Accident Case?
Video Transcript
Trials can last all different times. We've had some trials last a few days ... [and] we've had some trials last a couple of months, so it depends on the facts of the case.
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