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New York Car Accident Lawyer

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Legally Reviewed By: Michael A. Akselrud

  • Last Modified May 24, 2023
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New Yorkers experience 3,000 serious injuries and more than 200 deaths every year because of car crashes. New York City’s Vision Zero is working to make New York City streets safe through enforcement, education, and engineering.

Unfortunately, negligent drivers will still cause accidents. Too often, the injured driver is not the negligent driver but the innocent driver who did nothing wrong.

The New York personal injury attorneys at The Lanier Law Firm are committed to holding negligent drivers accountable. We strive to win the maximum compensation available for car accident victims so they have access to the best medical treatment and a secure financial future.

Dangerous Roads and Intersections in NYC

Traffic accidents are most common in busy areas near on-ramps, off-ramps, and interchanges. The following stretches of NYC roads have the highest crash rates:

3rd Avenue from 7th Street to 52nd Street in Brooklyn and Manhattan

Atlantic Avenue from Rochester Avenue to 85th Street in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens

Bruckner Boulevard from Balcom Avenue to Jackson Avenue in Manhattan and The Bronx

Woodhaven Boulevard from 91st Avenue to Dry Harbor Road in Middle Village and Queens

Northern Boulevard from 70th Street to Main Street in Queens

Flatbush Avenue from Avenue V to Midwood Street in Brooklyn and New York City

South Conduit Avenue from Sutter Avenue to Rockaway Boulevard in Middle Village and Queens

The most dangerous highways in NYC include the Jackie Robinson Parkway, the Van Wyck Expressway, and I-95, especially in Washington Heights and the Bronx.

New York State Insurance Requirements

New York drivers are required to carry the following insurance, at a minimum:

  • Basic No-Fault Insurance Policy
    • $50,000 minimum coverage
    • $2,000 death benefit
  • Liability Insurance
    • $25,000 bodily injury per person/$50,000 for multiple persons
    • $50,000 bodily injury resulting in death per person/$100,000 for multiple persons
    • $10,000 property damage
  • Uninsured Motorist – same as liability

Pedestrians and bicyclists can carry no-fault insurance or file against the no-fault policy of a family member in the same household. Motorcyclists are not required to carry no-fault insurance.

Common Causes of Car Accidents in NYC

According to NYPD, the top causes of accidents are:

Driver distraction or inattention

Improper passing or lane usage, including unsafe lane changing

Following too closely

Failure to yield the right of way

Speeding or driving too fast for the conditions

Failure to obey traffic controls (such as red lights and stop signs)

Unsafe backing

Improper turns

Drunk driving

Driver inexperience (teen drivers)

Steps to Take After a Car Accident in New York

Your early actions in the aftermath of an auto accident are critical to your health and your potential personal injury claim.

  1. Move the car to a safe place out of traffic.
  2. Call 911.
  3. Take pictures and video of the scene, vehicles involved, damag