How Many People Can I Sue for a Car Accident in Manhasset?
If you were involved in a multi-vehicle accident in Manhasset, you might be convinced that many different drivers contributed to your injuries in different ways. Contact Cohan Law, PLLC to determine whether you can sue all of these drivers at once. Our firm handles New York car accident claims on a contingency-fee basis, so you pay no legal fee unless we recover compensation for you.
New York’s Pure Comparative Negligence Law May Allow Claims Against Multiple At-Fault Parties
New York’s comparative negligence laws give you the right to sue numerous drivers for the same crash. Under New York Civil Practice Law and Rules § 1411, your own share of fault does not automatically bar you from recovering damages. Instead, any award is reduced in proportion to your percentage of responsibility. Courts consider the percentage of fault for each defendant in this situation. For example, a drunk driver might have swerved into your path, causing you to slam into the back of an illegally parked semi-truck. A driver who was texting behind the wheel might have subsequently rear-ended you.
In this situation, a court might determine that the drunk driver was mostly responsible for causing the accident and assign them a “fault level” of 75 percent. The illegally parked semi-truck might also rope a trucking company into the case. A court might determine that the company is 20 percent at fault. That type of claim may require an investigation into the trucker, truck company, maintenance records, loading practices, and commercial insurance. If a commercial vehicle contributed to your crash, our New York City truck accident lawyers can evaluate whether the trucking company or another business defendant should be included in the case. Although the distracted driver also contributed to the crash, a court might find that their involvement was minimal. After all, they would have had no time to avoid the collision even if they hadn’t been texting.
Another advantage of comparative negligence is that it gives you the right to sue even if you were partially to blame for your own crash. New York’s system of comparative negligence is “pure,” which means that you can sue even if you were 99 percent to blame for your own injuries. That is different from modified comparative negligence systems used in some neighboring states, where an injured person may lose the right to recover once their share of fault reaches a certain threshold. In New York, partial fault reduces the value of the claim, but it does not automatically end the claim. However, such a lawsuit probably wouldn’t be worth it. This is because your compensation in this situation would decrease by 99 percent, reflecting your contribution to your own crash.
You Can Sue More Than Just Drivers
Sometimes, it’s not exactly clear who (or what) really caused your accident. Sometimes, these crashes are partially or completely caused by poorly maintained roads. Potholes and cracks can certainly cause accidents, especially for cyclists and motorcyclists. Confusing or incorrect signage may also cause collisions. In Manhasset, a roadway defect claim may involve the Town of North Hempstead, Nassau County, New York State, or another public entity, depending on who owned, controlled, or maintained the road. Claims against public entities also have special notice rules. In many New York municipal injury cases, a Notice of Claim must be served within 90 days, so these claims require fast investigation.
You might also sue various companies and manufacturers for causing crashes. For example, you might have crashed your e-bike due to a sudden and unexpected malfunction. Perhaps your electric vehicle suddenly caught fire due to a faulty battery. Whatever the case may be, many different parties can face liability for car crashes. A product liability claim may involve a vehicle manufacturer, parts manufacturer, repair shop, dealership, or another company in the distribution chain. Identifying these defendants early matters because each potential party may have different insurance coverage, evidence, and defenses.
How Cohan Law Helps Identify Every Potential Defendant
Multi-party car accident claims are notoriously complex. It is imperative that you have a reliable New York City motor vehicle accident lawyer on your side. A proactive approach is a must. You need to be sure that every party that may bear liability for the crash has been identified. Cohan Law, PLLC can help. Our attorneys are prepared to:
- Investigate the crash;
- Review police reports;
- Review witness statements;
- Preserve video footage;
- Inspect vehicle damage; and
- Determine whether accident reconstruction is necessary.
In serious crashes in Manhasset, an investigation may reveal additional defendants, including employers, trucking companies, vehicle owners, government entities, maintenance contractors, rideshare companies, or product manufacturers. We will identify every potentially liable party, calculate combined coverage limits, and take action before New York’s filing deadlines expire.
Key Takeaways
- New York’s comparative negligence laws allow you to sue numerous defendants
- You can also sue even if you were partially responsible for your own injuries.
- An auto accident lawyer in Manhasset can help you identify defendants whom you might not have considered
- Multi-party claims may require accident reconstruction, insurance stacking analysis, and fast action to preserve evidence
- Claims against public entities may involve shorter notice deadlines than ordinary negligence lawsuits
Can a Manhasset Auto Accident Lawyer Help Me?
If you were injured because of multiple negligent drivers, you have the right to take action against all of them. However, sometimes it’s not easy to identify all of the different parties that contributed to your accident.
Injured by multiple drivers in a Manhasset auto accident? Contact the New York car accident lawyers at Cohan Law, PLLC for a free consultation. We can investigate the crash, identify every potentially liable party, evaluate all available insurance coverage, and file your claim before the applicable deadline expires.
Source:
nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/CVP/1411