New York City Accident Lawyers

Common Accidents in NYC

New York City’s congested streets and fast pace create conditions for a wide range of accidents. Here’s a look at some of the most common auto and car accidents in NYC, along with what to do if you find yourself in one.

Rear-End Collisions: One of the most frequent types of accidents in NYC, rear-end collisions often occur due to tailgating, distracted driving, or sudden stops in heavy traffic.

Intersection and T-Bone Accidents: With numerous intersections and busy streets, accidents at crossings are prevalent. T-bone crashes and stop sign accidents are particularly dangerous when drivers fail to yield or run red lights.

Head-On and Side Impact Collisions: Head-on collisions and side impact crashes often result from unsafe lane changes, lane departures, or speeding, and frequently cause catastrophic injuries.

Multi-Vehicle and Rollover Accidents: Highway pileups and multi-vehicle accidents are common on NYC expressways. Rollover accidents involving SUVs and top-heavy vehicles are among the most deadly types of crashes on the road.

Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents: NYC is known for its high pedestrian traffic, leading to accidents involving pedestrians hit by cars, especially at crosswalks or when drivers fail to observe pedestrians’ right of way. With the increasing popularity of cycling in the city, collisions between cars and bicycles are also common, often due to drivers failing to share the road.

Truck Accidents: Commercial vehicles present unique dangers on NYC streets. We handle cases involving commercial vehicle accidents, wide turn and swinging turn truck accidents, tractor trailer jackknife accidents, blind spot truck accidents, overloaded truck accidents, drowsy or fatigued truck driver accidents, negligent truck maintenance, truck manufacturing defects, and “squeeze play” truck accidents.

Parking and Road Hazard Accidents: Fender benders in crowded parking areas are a daily occurrence, and our attorneys handle parking lot accidents along with crashes caused by potholes, negligent road design, hidden, missing, or incorrect road signs, and construction zone car accidents.

Other Accident Types: We also represent victims in cases involving aggressive drivers and road rage, HOV lane accidents, road shoulder accidents, single vehicle and phantom vehicle accidents, municipal vehicle accidents, out-of-state car accidents, traffic collisions, aftermarket vehicle accidents, airbag injuries, and injuries caused by automotive defects.

Contact our experienced personal injury lawyers serving all of New York City for more information or immediate assistance. Cohan Law Firm can help with your accident claim.

What to Do After an Accident

1. Check for Injuries – Prioritize safety and check yourself and others for injuries. If anyone is hurt, call 911 immediately.
2. Move to a Safe Location – If possible, move vehicles to the side of the road to prevent further accidents and ensure the safety of everyone involved.
3. Exchange Information – Exchange contact and insurance information with the other parties involved, including names, addresses, phone numbers, license plate numbers, and insurance policy details.
4. Document the Scene – Take photos of the accident scene, including vehicle damage, road conditions, and any relevant traffic signs or signals.
5. Notify Authorities – Report the accident to the police, especially if there are injuries, significant property damage, or disputes over fault.
6. Contact Your Insurance Company – Notify your insurance company as soon as possible to begin the claims process.

What to Do After an Uber or Lyft Accident

If you’re involved in an accident while riding in an Uber or Lyft:

1. Ensure Safety – Check for injuries and move to a safe location if possible.
2. Report the Accident – Report the accident to the rideshare company through their app or website. They typically have protocols in place for handling accidents involving their drivers.
3. Exchange Information – Exchange contact information with the driver and any other involved parties.
4. Document the Scene – Take photos of the accident scene, including vehicle damage and any injuries sustained.
5. Seek Medical Attention – Even if you don’t feel injured immediately, it’s essential to seek medical attention as some injuries may not be apparent right away.
6. Contact an Attorney – Consider consulting with a New York City personal injury attorney experienced in handling rideshare accidents to understand your rights and options for compensation.

Scooters & Ebike Accidents

With the proliferation of electric scooters (e-scooters) and electric bikes (ebikes) in NYC, accidents involving these vehicles have become more common. Some key points to consider:

Safety Gear: Riders should wear helmets and other protective gear to reduce the risk of injury in case of an accident.

Obey Traffic Laws: Riders must follow traffic laws, including speed limits, traffic signals, and yielding to pedestrians.

Sidewalk Riding: Riding e-scooters or ebikes on sidewalks is illegal in NYC and can lead to accidents with pedestrians.

Share the Road: E-scooter and ebike riders should share the road with other vehicles and be mindful of their surroundings.

Reporting Accidents: In the event of an accident involving a scooter or ebike, follow the same steps as you would for a car accident, including documenting the scene and exchanging information with other parties involved.

Being aware of common auto and car accidents in NYC and knowing what to do in the event of an accident can help mitigate the stress and potential consequences of such incidents. Whether you’re driving a car, riding in a rideshare vehicle, or using alternative forms of transportation like scooters or eBikes, prioritizing safety and following traffic laws are essential for everyone on the road. Contact a skilled New York City scooter & ebike injury lawyer for further assistance.

Premises Liability

Property owners have a duty to maintain their premises in a safe condition for their customers, guests, and members of the public. From grocery stores to department stores, hotels to nightclubs, subways to sidewalks, we hold property owners liable for injuries caused by a slip and fall, trip and fall, dog bite, or even an assault due to negligent security on the premises. We also pursue claims under New York’s dram shop laws and social host liability when alcohol served irresponsibly leads to injuries. Property owners and their insurers argue they didn’t have notice of the hazard or weren’t given a reasonable time to fix it. We know New York premises liability law and how to build a strong case that proves when the property owner is liable for the harm you’ve incurred. Premises liability accidents can be embarrassing, painful, and costly to deal with. Our New York City personal injury lawyers will fight to see you get the compensation you need and deserve.

Workplace & Construction Accidents

If you were hurt at work because of the negligence of a third party, or if the contractor in charge of the construction project failed to provide adequate fall protection and other safety measures, you can count on Cohan Law Firm to hold the responsible party accountable. We help workers injured in falls in the workplace and on construction sites, or if they’ve suffered electrical shock, been struck by a falling object, or crushed in between machinery. Our construction accident practice covers scaffold accidents, ladder falls, forklift injuries, crane collapses, and trenching and excavation injuries. Construction is a dangerous occupation, but injuries can be avoided if proper safety measures are taken. When they aren’t, our New York City injury lawyers are here to hold responsible parties accountable and make sure you get the care and compensation owed to you.

Serious Injuries

The severity of your injuries determines the trajectory of your recovery and the value of your claim. At Cohan Law Firm, we represent clients suffering from head and brain injuries, neck and back injuries, fractures, severe burns, amputation injuries, paralysis, scarring and disfigurement, and other catastrophic injuries resulting from accidents caused by negligence.

Defective Products

We hold product manufacturers strictly liable when they put defective products on the market that wind up causing serious injury, whether due to a defect in the design of the product, an error in the manufacturing process, or a lack of adequate safety labeling. From household appliances to automotive and truck defects, New York injury attorneys at Cohan Law Firm is ready to take on the biggest corporate defendants to compensate you for your harm and make the marketplace safe for others.

Nursing Home Negligence

Cases of nursing home abuse and neglect are heartbreaking tragedies that should never be allowed to happen if nursing home owners and administrators are running their facilities appropriately. We help family members identify signs and symptoms of neglect and abuse and obtain justice for patients suffering from bedsores, medication errors, the improper use of restraints, misuse of antipsychotic drugs, cleanliness and hygiene issues, or the lack of proper medical evaluation.

Catastrophic & Wrongful Death

New York City personal injury attorneys at Cohan Law Firm helps accident victims with injuries large and small, including the most severe fractures, burns, head and brain injuries, injuries to the neck and back, and other catastrophic harm. If you’ve lost a family member because of the negligence of another, our wrongful death lawyers will fight to obtain justice for your loved one along with compensation to help cover funeral expenses, medical expenses, the loss of income and the many other ways the loss of a spouse or child can impact your life that are recognized by New York’s wrongful death statute. Call us for a confidential discussion to talk about what happened and how we can help.

New York City Personal Injury FAQs

What is My Case Worth?

The first stage of a traffic collision is simply pain and fear. The second stage is one of mourning for what has been taken away from you both physically and emotionally. Some victims looking for the silver lining may convince themselves that the crash was not that bad, that it could have been worse, and that they could have been killed or more seriously injured. While an injury could potentially have been worse if things had gone slightly differently, traffic victims should realize that they do not deserve any of what happened to them. The third stage of a traffic collision is realizing how expensive it all is. On top of the physical injuries, many personal injury victims have to spend years recovering from financial debt and job loss due to disability. For these reasons, it is entirely natural to wonder what one’s case is worth. At Cohan Law Firm, our New York personal injury lawyers work tirelessly to maximize our clients’ take-home compensation. Visit our personal injury FAQs page for more detailed answers.

What Damages Does a Personal Injury Claim Include?

Before we can accurately answer the question of what your case is worth, it is important to understand what a personal injury claim is. A claim is simply a demand for compensation. A lawsuit takes it one step further: a lawsuit is a legal proceeding in civil court, and if the two parties cannot come to an agreement the lawsuit will be tried in court. Most personal injury claims, and lawsuits, are settled out of court, however. Damages in a personal injury claim or lawsuit include the following:

• Medical expenses and projected future medical costs
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Lost wages and lost earning capacity due to short or long-term disability
• Loss of joy of life
• Property damage

What is the Average Value of a Traffic Injury Claim Settlement?

According to the Insurance Information Institute, the average bodily injury claim settlement is a little over $20,000, while the average property damage claim in a car crash case is worth a little under $5,000. These averages mean nothing regarding your case.

Do I Have a Case If I Was Partially at Fault for the Accident?

Yes, you can still recover compensation even if you were partially responsible for the accident. New York follows a pure comparative negligence rule under CPLR § 1411, which means your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault but never completely barred. For example, if you are found 20 percent at fault and your total damages are $100,000, you would still recover $80,000. Insurance companies often try to shift blame onto the injured person to reduce what they owe. Our New York City personal injury attorneys know how to counter these tactics, gather evidence that minimizes your share of liability, and fight to maximize your recovery regardless of the circumstances.

How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in New York?

In most cases, New York’s statute of limitations gives you three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, there are important exceptions that can shorten or extend that deadline. If your claim involves a New York City government entity, such as an accident involving a city bus, municipal vehicle, or a dangerous condition on a city-owned sidewalk or road, you must file a Notice of Claim within just 90 days of the incident. Claims against the State of New York or other public authorities have their own deadlines as well. Wrongful death claims must be filed within two years of the date of death. Because missing a filing deadline can permanently destroy your right to compensation, it is critical to speak with an attorney as soon as possible after an accident.

Should I Accept the Insurance Company’s First Settlement Offer?

In almost every case, the answer is no. Insurance companies are in the business of paying out as little as possible, and their first offer is typically made before the full extent of your injuries is known. Accepting an early settlement means you give up the right to seek additional compensation later, even if your condition worsens or you need surgery, physical therapy, or long-term care you did not anticipate. At Cohan Law Firm, we do not let our clients settle until we have a complete picture of their medical treatment, recovery timeline, lost wages, and future needs. Our attorneys negotiate aggressively with insurers and are fully prepared to take your case to trial if a fair offer is not made.

Why it is Impossible to Estimate Your Claim’s Value at this Point?

A typical New York personal injury claim takes over a year to settle. Much of this time is used up waiting to get an accurate assessment of your injuries. It takes a long time to recover from serious injuries, and your case’s value has a lot to do with your long-term outcome, as well as the pain and suffering and lost wages in the meantime while you heal. The longer and more arduous your recovery process, the more your case is worth. Because of this, it is not possible to guess what your case is worth so early. It could be worth $50,000, or it could be worth $500,000.

How Does a Contingency Fee Work?

A contingency fee works as such: you hire an attorney, your attorney works on your case for a period of months to years, and they either win a settlement offer or lawsuit verdict, or they do not. If your attorney wins your personal injury claim/lawsuit out of court, your attorney is privy to 30 percent of the settlement proceeds. If you take your case to court, your attorney is privy to a larger percentage (40 percent) of the settlement or lawsuit award because of the extra time and effort it takes to argue a case before a judge and jury. If you lose your case, either in or out of the courtroom, you do not owe anything to your attorney. A contingency fee allows injured plaintiffs with little to no financial clout to take on the largest insurance companies in and out of the courtroom with no financial risk. A contingency basis also serves as extra motivation for your attorney to do the very best job possible; the more they make for you, the more they make for themselves and their law firm. A contingency fee is a win-win for both the client and the attorney.

Skilled Auto Accident Attorneys Serving Throughout New York City

Finding the best New York City injury lawyer involves identifying an attorney with deep knowledge of New York’s tort laws, a proven record of success, and a reputation for strong client advocacy. New York follows a pure comparative negligence system under CPLR § 1411, meaning even if an injured person is partly at fault, they can still recover damages, making a lawyer’s ability to present compelling evidence and minimize liability crucial. Our top-rated NYC personal injury attorneys are well-versed in navigating complex claims involving Labor Law §§ 200, 240(1), and 241(6), especially in construction accidents, as well as serious motor vehicle collisions governed by New York’s no-fault insurance rules. We also understand how to handle litigation in the state’s busiest courts, such as the Supreme Courts in New York County (Manhattan), Kings County (Brooklyn), and Bronx County. To stand out in a highly competitive legal market, the best lawyers offer personalized representation, aggressive negotiation strategies, and access to medical experts and accident reconstruction professionals. Prospective clients should look for attorneys who provide transparent communication, offer free consultations, and work on a contingency fee basis, ensuring they are only paid if the client wins.

At Cohan Law PLLC, we bring deep experience and dedication to every personal injury case we handle in New York City. We know that securing fair compensation means more than just filing a claim, it means mastering New York’s legal system and applying pressure where it counts. Choosing a seasoned NYC personal injury lawyer who understands the nuances of local law and the expectations of city juries can make a substantial difference in the outcome of your case.

Our firm proudly serves accident victims across all five boroughs and surrounding communities. In Manhattan, we represent clients in Midtown, the Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Lower Manhattan, Harlem, East Harlem, Washington Heights, and Inwood. In Brooklyn, we handle cases in Downtown Brooklyn, Williamsburg, Bushwick, Bed-Stuy, Crown Heights, Flatbush, Bay Ridge, Sunset Park, Borough Park, Bensonhurst, and Canarsie. Our Queens clients come to us from neighborhoods throughout the borough, including Astoria, Flushing, Jackson Heights, Jamaica, Elmhurst, Corona, and Forest Hills. In the Bronx, our attorneys serve clients in the South Bronx, Fordham, Mott Haven, Pelham Bay, Riverdale, and surrounding communities. We also represent injury victims on Long Island and across Staten Island, including St. George, Stapleton, New Dorp, and Tottenville. Our reach extends to Westchester County as well, serving clients in Yonkers, White Plains, New Rochelle, and Mount Vernon.

Contact Experienced New York City Injury Lawyers at Cohan Law Firm Today

If you or a loved one has suffered an injury or have been involved in an accident in Manhattan, Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens, or throughout NYC, the Cohan Law Firm is here to make sure you get the medical care and compensation you need and deserve. We take our cases on a contingency fee basis, where we advance all costs necessary to pursue your case, and we only charge a fee based on the recovery we obtain for you. If we don’t win, you don’t pay. We speak both English and Spanish in the office and welcome you to contact us in the preferred language of your choice. We want to give you the best level of customer service you can expect from a law firm and deliver results you’ll be happy with. Call our experienced New York City accident attorneys today for a free consultation.