Manhattan Car Accident Lawyer

If you were just injured in a car accident in Manhattan, what you do next matters — for your health, your finances, and your future.

New York is a no-fault insurance state. That means your own insurance pays your initial medical bills, regardless of who caused the crash. However, to recover compensation for pain and suffering, you must meet the “serious injury” threshold under New York Insurance Law §5102(d).

In most cases, you have three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit under CPLR §214(5). If a City vehicle, MTA bus, sanitation truck, or other municipal entity was involved, you may have only 90 days to file a Notice of Claim.

Insurance companies begin protecting themselves immediately. You should too.

At Pazer Epstein, we represent individuals injured in car accidents throughout Manhattan — from the Upper East Side and Harlem to Midtown, Lower Manhattan, and the Financial District. We work on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

If You Were Just Injured in a Car Accident in Manhattan, Do These Things First

If you are physically able, take the following steps:

1. Call 911

Request police and medical assistance immediately. Emergency responders can document injuries and secure the scene.

2. Check for Injuries

Assess yourself and others. Even if you feel “okay,” symptoms like concussions, internal injuries, and soft tissue damage may not appear right away.

3. Move to Safety If Possible

If vehicles are drivable and creating a hazard, move them out of traffic if you are comfortably able. Manhattan’s congestion increases the risk of secondary collisions.

4. Document the Scene

Take photographs and video of:

• Vehicle damage

• License plates

• Traffic signals

• Intersection layout

• Skid marks

• Road conditions

• Visible injuries

5. Obtain Driver Information

Collect:

• Full name

• Contact information

• Insurance details

• Driver’s license number

• Vehicle registration

6. Speak to Witnesses

Independent witnesses can be critical in liability disputes. Get names and contact information.

7. Do Not Admit Fault

Even casual apologies and polite statements can be misinterpreted later.

8. Avoid Giving Recorded Statements

You are not required to give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company. Insurance adjusters are trained to gather statements that reduce payouts. Speak with counsel first.

9. Make Sure a Police Report Is Filed

A formal NYPD accident report creates an official record of the crash, documents statements, and may identify contributing factors. Insurance companies rely heavily on police reports when evaluating claims, and the absence of one can complicate your case.

10. Contact a Manhattan Car Accident Lawyer

Early legal involvement preserves evidence, protects deadlines, and prevents costly mistakes.

Who Pays My Medical Bills After a Manhattan Car Accident?

In most cases, your own insurance pays your initial medical expenses through Personal Injury Protection (PIP), even if the other driver was entirely at fault.

PIP typically covers up to $50,000 in medical expenses and a portion of lost wages.

If your injuries meet New York’s serious injury threshold, you may pursue additional compensation from the at-fault driver for:

• Pain and suffering

• Future medical expenses

• Lost earning capacity

Understanding how this two-step system works is critical in Manhattan car accident cases.

What If the Other Driver Was Uninsured or Fled the Scene?

If the at-fault driver lacks insurance or left the scene, you may file an uninsured motorist (UM) claim through your own policy.

Hit-and-run and uninsured driver cases involve unique procedural steps. Having legal representation early can prevent costly mistakes. Learn more about Hit & Run claims here.

What If I Was Partially at Fault?

New York follows pure comparative negligence. You may recover compensation even if you were partially responsible for the accident.

Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault — not eliminated entirely.

How New York’s No-Fault Insurance System Works in Manhattan

New York requires drivers to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP), which provides coverage for:

• Medical expenses

• Lost wages (subject to statutory limits)

• Certain necessary out-of-pocket costs

PIP applies regardless of fault.

However, PIP does not cover pain and suffering or full economic losses beyond policy limits. To pursue those damages, your injuries must qualify as a serious injury under state law.

What Qualifies as a “Serious Injury” Under New York Law?

Under New York Insurance Law §5102(d), a serious injury includes:

• Death

• Dismemberment

• Significant disfigurement

• Fracture

• Loss of a fetus

• Permanent loss of use of a body organ, member, function, or system

• Permanent consequential limitation of use

• Significant limitation of use

• A medically determined injury preventing normal activities for at least 90 of the first 180 days

Insurance companies frequently dispute whether injuries meet this threshold. Establishing serious injury status is often the central legal battle in Manhattan car accident cases.

How Much Is My Manhattan Car Accident Case Worth?

Case value depends on:

• Severity and permanence of injuries

• Impact on your ability to work

• Medical documentation

• Available insurance coverage

• Strength of liability evidence

There is no universal settlement amount. Each case requires individualized evaluation.

Why Choose Our Firm to Handle Your Manhattan Car Accident Case?

If you are reading this after a serious crash, you are likely dealing with pain, stress, and uncertainty. You may be worried about medical bills, missed work, and what comes next.

Our role is to remove that burden from you.

We prepare every Manhattan car accident case as if it will go to trial. Insurance companies know which firms are willing to litigate and which are not. That preparation often changes how your claim is valued.

When you hire our firm, you work directly with attorneys — not just case managers. We take the time to understand how the injury has affected your life, your family, and your future.

If you are unable to travel because of your injuries, we will come to you — whether at home, in the hospital, or in rehabilitation.

There are no upfront fees. We only get paid if we recover compensation for you.

Contact a Manhattan Car Accident Lawyer Today

If you were injured in a Manhattan car accident, do not delay.

Evidence disappears. Surveillance footage is overwritten. Deadlines approach quickly.

We represent injured individuals throughout Manhattan and fight to secure meaningful compensation.

Contact us today for a free consultation.

Neighborhoods We Serve Throughout Manhattan

We represent injured clients across all Manhattan neighborhoods, including:

• Upper East Side

• Midtown Manhattan

• Lower Manhattan

• Harlem

• Financial District (FiDi)

Whether your accident occurred near a bridge entrance, along a busy Midtown corridor, or on a residential street in Harlem or the Upper East Side, our firm is prepared to assist you.

Related Manhattan Accident Cases

Certain crashes involve unique legal issues depending on the type of vehicle or roadway user involved.

Learn more about:

• Motorcycle accident claims in Manhattan
• Pedestrian injury cases in Manhattan
• Bicycle accident cases in Manhattan
• Delivery truck collision claims
• Rideshare accident cases involving Uber or Lyft

These cases often involve different insurance structures and liability considerations.

Most Dangerous Intersections in Manhattan for Car Accidents

Certain Manhattan intersections consistently experience higher crash volumes due to congestion, merging patterns, and pedestrian density.

2nd Avenue & East 59th Street (Midtown East)

Bridge access, merging traffic, and turning vehicles create frequent collision risks.

42nd Street & 8th Avenue (Midtown)

Bus traffic, taxis, and extreme pedestrian density increase crash frequency.

West 120th Street & Lenox Avenue (Harlem)

Wide avenues and variable speeds contribute to serious injury collisions.

57th Street & 3rd Avenue (Midtown East)

Turning conflicts and congestion-related crashes are common.

Canal Street (Lower Manhattan)

Truck traffic and Holland Tunnel congestion make this corridor particularly hazardous.

Manhattan Traffic Safety and Vision Zero

New York City’s Vision Zero initiative aims to reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries throughout Manhattan. The program emphasizes speed reduction, intersection redesign, pedestrian safety improvements, and traffic enforcement.

Despite these efforts, collisions remain common in high-density corridors and bridge approaches.

Manhattan Car Accident Statistics

According to recent NYC Open Data crash reports:

• Manhattan records thousands of motor vehicle collisions annually.

• Intersections account for a significant share of injury-producing crashes.

• Rear-end and failure-to-yield collisions are among the most common types.

• Midtown and Lower Manhattan consistently report high pedestrian injury rates.

Traffic density remains one of the primary contributing factors.