Rochester Car Accident Lawyer 

Serious Rochester car accidents can leave you with a lot of questions, and injuries that need to be paid for. You may be feeling overwhelmed at the thought of having to cover everything on your own, especially if the accident was because of no fault of your own.

You may not always be treated fairly by Rochester insurance companies, which is why it is important to reach out to a law office that understands this type of law. Being a victim and trying to settle a claim can be a headache.

Find experienced attorneys at Brown Chiari LLP who can settle everything for you, while you focus on healing after the accident. Whether through litigation, arbitration, or investigation, a Rochester car accident lawyer who understands New York’s motor vehicle accident laws can inform you of the rights you have.

What To Do Immediately After a Rochester Car Accident

Being in a Rochester car accident is a terrifying experience for everyone involved, even if you weren’t injured in it. Trying to keep in mind what to do after being in one can be tough, but it is important to know the steps you should take. 

If you’ve been involved in an accident in New York, there are some specific things you can do to protect yourself and your vehicle. 

• Make sure your vehicle is stopped and on the side of the road
• Keep your four-way emergency lights on and call the police out to the accident
• File a police report
• Take photos of the accident
• Seek medical attention as soon as possible
• Contact an experienced attorney to find out what your rights and options are

New York’s No-Fault Law

New York is a no-fault auto insurance law state. This basically means that you may be entitled to benefits, but you’ll have to have your insurance company cover the costs upfront first. 

Regardless of who is responsible for the accident, the insurance carrier that you have will have to cover the costs of the medical bills and damages done to the vehicle. These costs may be reimbursed by a claim after they have already been covered.

What Does a Rochester Car Accident Attorney Do for You?

When you hire a Rochester auto accident lawyer, they will go over various areas of the law, the accident, and your options with you. Their specific job functions will also depend on the severity and specifics of your auto accident case.

You can expect them to provide these services:

• Communicate with the auto insurance companies
• Obtain evidence that has to do with the accident
• Organize the paperwork involved such as police reports, medical records, and bills
• Communicate with healthcare providers about your care
• Negotiate settlements with everyone involved
• Present the evidence and information that was gathered to prove liability and damages

Compensation for Rochester Car Accident Victims

If you’re someone who has been injured in a vehicle accident in the state of New York, you may be entitled to compensation for the damages. Whether you need help paying for the medical bills from the injuries or to fix your vehicle; you should investigate what options you have financially.

The compensation you may be able to obtain from a car accident falls within two categories: economic or non-economic damages. These cover different areas of payment.

Economic damages include things like medical expenses, lost wages, and lost earning potential. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, lost quality of life, or loss of consortium because of the accident.

You might also be entitled to compensation for the damage done to the property involved in the vehicle accident. This includes the costs it takes to repair your vehicle or the value of the vehicle if it was totaled.

New York Statute of Limitations on Rochester Car Accidents

Those involved in car accidents in New York that want to seek compensation or open a claim for the injuries and other damages sustained have a limited amount of time to do so. This time is known as the statute of limitations.

The statute of limitations in NY is three years from the date of the accident.  If your claim isn’t filed within these three years, you may not be able to bring up a claim.

There are some instances where you may be able to bring up a claim after the three-year mark. Those who are under the age of 18 during the accident have three years after they turn 18 to file a claim.

If you’re looking to bring a claim against the state, government, or municipality, you must file a notice of tort within 90 days of the accident. If you don’t file this, Rochester courts can dismiss the claim you make.

The Common Causes of Rochester Car Accidents

There are many different reasons why a car accident can occur. Most often, they occur because of the negligence of those operating the motor vehicles. Defects in the vehicle and the roads themselves are other causes.

There are many reasons why they happen, and here are some of the cases that come about in New York car accident courts.

• Careless, distracted, or reckless driving
• Driving the wrong way on the roads
• Failure to follow the road signs or signals
• Driving under the influence or while intoxicated
• Tailgating too closely to the other vehicles on the road
• Speeding
• Poor visibility
• Poor road designs
• Poor road conditions

The Most Common Rochester Car Accident Injuries

The injuries that are suffered during a car accident can vary depending on the severity of the accident.  They range from minor to serious. They might heal within a couple of days or may be lifelong, life-threatening injuries.

There are many specific Rochester car accident injuries that happen to individuals. They can include, but are not limited to:

• Ligament sprains, tears, or breaks in bones
• Amputations
• Bruises or lacerations, internal bleeding
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Neck and back injuries
• Soft tissue injuries
• Wrongful death

Whether the injuries are minor or more severe, it is important to reach out to an experienced law office that can advise you on what to do next.

How Long Does a Rochester Auto Accident Claim Take?

It is impossible to say how much you will get in compensation or how long the actual claim may take. It is also impossible to say whether you’ll be awarded compensation at all, either. Every case is different.

These cases, on average, can take anywhere from months to years to fully settle. Some cases are able to settle in several weeks, but this is not true for all of them. Getting the settlement or compensation you’re due isn’t always a simple task when the at-fault party refuses to cooperate with your claim. 

These claims can take so long because there needs to be an investigation done, paperwork gathered, witnesses talked to, and more. This can all take some time. In addition to this, the attorneys may also work on negotiating outside of court. 

If the insurance company refuses to work with the attorney or to act ethically, they may need to bring the claim to court. This can add even more time to the process. 

Contact a Rochester Law Office for Further Help

You shouldn’t feel like you’re alone in this, especially after all you’ve been through. An experienced law office can help you find answers.

At Brown Chiari LLP, we want to walk you through what to expect when filing a claim, while advising you on whether you have one. We know every situation is different, and you shouldn’t feel alone. Call 716-681-7190 or fill out the contact form to schedule a time to talk.