Why Hire a Car Accident Lawyer? Top Reasons to Call an NYC Attorney Today
Greenstein & Pittari, LLP | New York City Car Accident Attorneys Serving All Five Boroughs
A car accident in New York City can change everything in seconds. One moment, you are driving in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, or Staten Island. Next, you are dealing with pain, vehicle damage, missed work, and nonstop phone calls from insurance adjusters.
If you are asking, “Do I need a car accident lawyer in NYC?” the answer is often yes, especially when you are injured or the insurance company is not treating you fairly. Insurance companies begin protecting their profits immediately. They look for ways to reduce your claim, dispute your injuries, and shift blame to avoid paying full compensation.
When you hire Greenstein & Pittari, LLP, you put an experienced New York City car accident attorney between you and the insurance company. We protect your rights, preserve evidence, handle the insurance calls, and fight for the maximum compensation you deserve so you can focus on healing.
Free Consultation: Talk to an NYC Car Accident Lawyer Today
Insurance companies act fast. Evidence can disappear quickly. Deadlines are strict.
Call Greenstein & Pittari, LLP today for a free consultation.
- Free case review
- No upfront fees
- No attorney fee unless we win
- Serving Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island
- We handle the insurance company for you
Call 1-800-VICTIM2 (1-800-842-8462) now or contact us online to get started.
Do You Really Need a Lawyer After a Car Accident in New York City?
Not every crash requires legal representation. If it is a minor fender bender with no injuries and the insurance company pays fairly, you can handle the claim on your own.
However, you should strongly consider hiring an NYC car accident lawyer if:
- You suffered any injury, even if symptoms seem minor at first
- You missed work or expect to miss work
- Your car is totaled or heavily damaged
- Fault is disputed, or you are being blamed
- The insurance company is delaying or denying the claim
- The insurance company made a low settlement offer
- You need ongoing medical treatment, physical therapy, or surgery
- The crash involved a rideshare vehicle, taxi, delivery truck, bus, or city vehicle
Many people think their case is simple until they experience:
- Requests for recorded statements designed to trap them
- Confusing policy language and changing explanations
- Settlement offers that do not cover medical bills and lost wages
- Blame being pushed onto the victim through comparative fault arguments
- Injuries that get worse days or weeks later, including whiplash and concussion symptoms
A lawyer helps you avoid costly mistakes early and protects the full value of your claim.
When Should You Hire an NYC Car Accident Attorney?
The best time to call a New York City car accident lawyer is as soon as possible, ideally the same day or within a few days of the crash.
Deadlines Can Destroy a Case
New York car accident claims involve strict deadlines, including:
- Statutes of limitations
- Insurance policy notice requirements
- Special notice requirements in claims involving government entities
If your crash involved a city vehicle, the MTA, a municipal fleet, or an unsafe roadway condition, your deadline may be significantly shorter than you expect. A lawyer identifies these deadlines early and protects your rights.
Evidence Disappears Fast in New York City
Some of the most substantial evidence can disappear within days or weeks, including:
- Business surveillance footage that gets deleted
- Traffic camera video that gets overwritten
- Skid marks, debris, or roadway conditions that change quickly
- Vehicle evidence lost after repairs or scrapping
A lawyer can send preservation letters, secure footage, and document the scene before the evidence is gone.
Medical Documentation Must Start Early
If you delay treatment, insurance companies may argue you were not hurt or that something else caused your symptoms. Prompt medical care protects your health and strengthens your claim.
New York City Car Accident Laws That Affect Your Claim
New York has unique rules that impact almost every car accident case.
New York’s Statute of Limitations
In most cases:
- You have three years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit for injuries or property damage
- Wrongful death cases generally must be filed within two years from the date of death
Missing the deadline can permanently eliminate your right to recover compensation.
New York’s Pure Comparative Fault Rule
New York follows pure comparative fault. You can still recover compensation even if you were partly responsible. However, your compensation can be reduced by your share of fault.
Example: If you are 20 percent at fault, your compensation may be reduced by 20 percent.
Insurance companies often try to exaggerate blame to reduce what they pay. A car accident attorney fights back against unfair fault arguments.
No-Fault Insurance and the Serious Injury Threshold
New York is a no-fault state. This means your own insurance company typically pays initial benefits for:
- Medical costs
- Lost wages up to policy limits
To pursue the at-fault driver for additional compensation, including pain and suffering, your injury generally must meet the serious injury threshold under New York law.
Severe injuries may include:
- Fractures
- Significant disfigurement
- Permanent impairment
- Serious limitation of a body system or function
- Disability lasting 90 days or more
- Loss of a fetus
- Death
If you are unsure whether you qualify, we can review your medical records and explain your legal options.
Top Reasons to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer in NYC
1. Real Legal Protection From Day One
Car accident claims are not just paperwork. They involve law, insurance rules, and strategy. Your right to compensation can depend on how well your case is built from the beginning, including proof of causation and damages.
2. Insurance Companies Are Not on Your Side
Insurance adjusters work for the insurance company, not for you. They may:
- Downplay your injuries
- Delay the claim to pressure you financially
- Ask for a recorded statement to limit your case
- Request broad medical authorizations to search for pre-existing condition arguments
- Offer a quick settlement before your long-term needs are known
Once you hire an NYC car accident lawyer, the insurance company often changes its approach because it knows your claim is being handled professionally.
3. Your Lawyer Calculates the True Value of Your Claim
Many accident victims underestimate the value of their cases. A fair settlement should account for both financial losses and human losses.
Economic damages may include:
- Past and future medical bills
- Surgery, specialists, and follow-up care
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Property damage and vehicle replacement
- Out-of-pocket costs related to recovery
Non-economic damages may include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- PTSD and anxiety after the crash
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of consortium, where applicable
We use medical documentation and, when needed, experts to support the full value of your damages.
4. Proving Liability Takes More Than Common Sense
Even when a crash seems obvious, insurers often dispute fault. To prove negligence, your case must show:
- Duty of care
- Breach of duty
- Causation
- Damages
We build your case with evidence and documentation to prove what happened and how the crash caused your injuries.
5. Strong Evidence Wins Cases
A claim is only as strong as the evidence behind it. Our team may collect:
- Police reports and crash reports
- Photos and video of the scene and vehicle damage
- Traffic camera, dashcam, and surveillance footage
- Witness statements
- Medical records, imaging, and diagnostic testing
- Cell phone records, when relevant
- Accident reconstruction in severe cases
6. Settlement Leverage Comes From Trial Readiness
Most NYC car accident cases settle, but the best settlements come from strength. Insurance companies pay more when they know your lawyer is prepared to file a lawsuit and prove the case to a jury.
7. Lawsuits Require Serious Legal Skill
If your case requires litigation, your attorney handles:
- Court filings and service of legal documents
- Discovery, depositions, and evidence exchange
- Motions and court hearings
- Expert witness strategy
- Trial preparation and courtroom advocacy
Trying to handle this alone is a serious risk.
8. We Protect You From Deadlines, Paperwork, and Pressure
New York personal injury deadlines are strict, and mistakes can be expensive. We want you to know that we make sure your case stays on track, deadlines are met, and communication is documented.
9. You Get Time to Heal
After a crash, your health should come first. We handle the insurance company, the legal process, and the pressure so you can focus on recovery.
NYC Car Accident Cases We Handle
Greenstein & Pittari, LLP represents clients injured in:
- Rear-end collisions
- T-bone and intersection crashes
- Hit and run accidents
- Uber and Lyft rideshare crashes
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle and e-bike crashes
- Motorcycle accidents
- Delivery truck and commercial vehicle crashes
- Bus accidents, including MTA and private buses
- City vehicle and municipal fleet crashes
We serve clients across New York City, including Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island.
What Makes Greenstein & Pittari, LLP Different?
Choosing the right car accident lawyer in New York City matters. At Greenstein & Pittari, LLP, clients choose us because:
- We specialize exclusively in personal injury law
- We have a local Harlem office and seven convenient locations across New York
- We handle the insurance companies so you can focus on healing
- We offer bilingual services
- We have hundreds of positive reviews and testimonials
- We are top-rated and award-winning attorneys
- You pay nothing unless we win with our Fee Guarantee
Call Greenstein & Pittari, LLP, today for a Free Consultation.
Please don’t let the insurance company control your claim. If you were injured in a New York City car accident, we are ready to fight for you.
- Free consultation
- No upfront fees
- No attorney fee unless we win
- Serving all five boroughs
- Trial-ready preparation from day one
You can call 1-800-VICTIM2 (1-800-842-8462) now or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.
FAQ: Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer in New York City
Do I need a lawyer for a car accident in NYC?
If you were injured, missed work, have significant vehicle damage, or the insurance company is delaying or undervaluing your claim, hiring an NYC car accident lawyer can dramatically improve your outcome.
What if the insurance company offered a settlement?
Please don’t accept or sign anything without legal review. Early offers are often low and may not include future medical care, long-term pain, or lost earnings. Once you settle, you usually cannot reopen the claim.
What if I were partly at fault?
You can still recover compensation under New York’s comparative fault law. Your share of fault may reduce your recovery, but you are not barred from recovery. A lawyer helps prevent insurers from exaggerating blame.
Should I give a recorded statement to the insurance company?
Not without legal advice. Recorded statements can be used to dispute liability or minimize injuries. Your lawyer can handle communication and protect you.
What if my injuries show up days later?
This is common. Whiplash, back injuries, and concussion symptoms often appear later. Get medical care promptly and document symptoms. Delayed treatment gives insurers a reason to challenge your injuries.
What does no-fault insurance cover in New York?
No-fault typically covers medical expenses and a portion of lost wages up to policy limits, regardless of fault. It does not automatically cover pain and suffering. Severe injuries may allow you to pursue the at-fault driver.
What is the serious injury threshold?
To sue the at-fault driver for pain and suffering, your injury generally must qualify as serious under New York law. Severe injuries may include fractures, significant disfigurement, permanent impairment, severe limitation, disability lasting 90 days or more, loss of a fetus, or death.
What compensation can I recover after a serious car accident?
Compensation may include medical bills, future care, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, property damage, pain and suffering, emotional distress, PTSD, reduced quality of life, and other damages, depending on the case.
How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in New York?
In most cases, you have three years from the date of the crash. Wrongful death cases generally must be filed within two years from the date of death. Government-related claims can have much shorter notice deadlines.
How much does it cost to hire Greenstein & Pittari, LLP?
Nothing upfront. We work on contingency. That means no attorney fee unless we win compensation for you.
Will my case go to trial?
Most cases settle, but insurance companies pay fair value when they know your lawyer is prepared for trial. We prepare every case as if it may go to court.
Can you help if the crash happened in a different borough than where I live?
Yes. We represent clients across all five boroughs and throughout New York, regardless of where the crash occurred.
Don’t Be a Victim Twice. Call Today.
If you or someone you love was injured in an NYC car accident, do not wait.
Call Greenstein & Pittari, LLP at 1-800-VICTIM2 (1-800-842-8462) for a free and confidential consultation.
The call is free. The consultation is free. You do not pay us unless we are successful. That is our Fee Guarantee.