Queens Auto Accident Lawyer

Any type of auto accident can turn your world upside down. You may suffer from severe injuries, your medical bills may be piling up, and you likely cannot return to work to pay for them. If you were hurt, you may be entitled to personal injury protection (PIP) benefits, and you may also be able to file a claim against the negligent driver who caused your injuries. Below, our Queens auto accident lawyer explains more.

No-Fault Insurance in Queens

Under the law, anyone who owns a vehicle in New York must purchase a minimum amount of auto insurance coverage. The required coverage is as follows:

$25,000 for bodily injury per person,
$50,000 for bodily injury for the entire accident, and
$10,000 for property damage.

You must first file a claim with your own insurer to obtain no-fault benefits. Under the no-fault insurance laws, you can claim this compensation even if you caused or contributed to the accident. Unfortunately, the above policy limits are often not enough to fully cover the cost of serious injury. When this is the case and you meet the serious injury threshold, you may also be able to file a claim against a negligent driver who caused a crash.

The Serious Injury Threshold

If you suffered a serious injury that your own PIP benefits do not cover, you may be able to file a claim against the other driver if they were negligent, or careless, and caused the crash. When filing this type of claim, you must have suffered a basic economic loss greater than $50,000, or meet the serious injury threshold. Meeting the serious injury threshold simply means having suffered one or more of the following injuries:

A temporary medical condition or impairment that prevents you from performing most of your customary daily tasks for at least 90 of the 180 consecutive days immediately following a crash,
A permanent loss of the use of a bodily organ,
Loss of a fetus,
A fracture,
Significant disfigurement,
Dismemberment

If you or someone you love has suffered one of the above injuries, you can file a claim against the negligent driver for additional compensation. While you can recover additional medical expenses and lost income that PIP benefits did not cover, you can also recover damages for non-economic losses, such as pain and suffering. When filing a claim against a negligent driver, you must prove that they caused the crash. This poses many challenges, so you should always work with a Queens auto accident lawyer who can help you overcome them.

Our Auto Accident Lawyer in Queens Can Prove Your Case

At Cohan Law Firm, our Queens auto accident lawyer can review the facts of your case, help you determine the legal strategy that is right for you, and ensure you receive the full and fair settlement you deserve. Call us today at 855-855-0321 or contact us online to schedule a consultation with our experienced attorney and to learn more about how we can help with your case.

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