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New York City Motor Vehicle Accident Lawyer

Motor vehicle accidents in New York City can take many forms—from car crashes and truck collisions to motorcycle, pedestrian, and rideshare accidents. While each type of crash presents its own challenges, serious motor vehicle accidents often share common issues: significant injuries, multiple insurance policies, disputed fault, and the need for early evidence preservation.

Our firm represents injured people across New York City, including Lower Manhattan, in a wide range of motor vehicle accident cases. This page provides a high-level overview of motor vehicle accident claims and directs you to more specific practice areas, where you can find detailed guidance tailored to your situation. For the full framework of how these cases fit into our broader injury practice, visit our Manhattan personal injury lawyers hub.

What Is Considered a Motor Vehicle Accident in NYC?

A motor vehicle accident generally involves a collision or incident caused by or involving a motorized vehicle on a public or private roadway. In New York City, this can include crashes involving passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, motorcycles, buses, and other forms of motorized transportation.

Motor vehicle accident cases often involve:

Serious physical injuries
Complex insurance coverage questions
Commercial or government vehicles
Video and digital evidence
Disputes over fault and responsibility

Because NYC traffic is dense and fast-moving, even a brief lapse in attention can lead to lasting consequences.

Types of Motor Vehicle Accident Cases We Handle

Motor vehicle accidents are not one-size-fits-all. We represent clients across the full spectrum of vehicle-related injury cases, including:

Car accidents
Collisions involving passenger vehicles, including rear-end crashes, intersection accidents, multi-vehicle pileups, and highway collisions.
Truck accidents
Crashes involving box trucks, delivery trucks, tractor-trailers, and other commercial vehicles, often with higher injury severity and layered insurance issues.
Motorcycle accidents
Accidents where riders are particularly vulnerable to serious injuries due to limited protection.
Pedestrian accidents
Injuries caused by vehicles striking people walking in crosswalks, intersections, or along city streets.
Bicycle accidents
Collisions involving cyclists, including dooring accidents and crashes with turning or merging vehicles.
Rideshare accidents (Uber and Lyft)
Accidents involving app-based drivers, where coverage depends on the driver’s status at the time of the crash.
Delivery vehicle accidents
Collisions involving drivers working for delivery services, couriers, or contractors.
Hit-and-run accidents
Cases where the at-fault driver leaves the scene, requiring alternative evidence and insurance pathways.

Each of these accident types has unique legal and insurance considerations. For detailed, situation-specific guidance, explore the dedicated pages linked above.

Injuries Common in Serious Vehicle Accidents

Motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of serious injury in New York City. Depending on the type of crash, injuries may include:

Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
Neck and back injuries, including herniated discs
Spinal cord injuries
Broken bones and fractures
Shoulder, knee, and joint injuries
Internal injuries and organ damage
Nerve injuries and chronic pain
Aggravation of pre-existing conditions

These injuries often affect a person’s ability to work, commute, and carry out daily activities long after the accident itself.

Why Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Are Complex in NYC

Motor vehicle accident claims in New York City are shaped by the environment in which they occur.

Common complicating factors include:

Heavy congestion and frequent multi-vehicle crashes
Commercial and company-owned vehicles on the road
Multiple insurance policies applying to a single accident
Surveillance, traffic, and security camera footage that must be preserved quickly
Aggressive insurance investigation and early claim pressure

Lower Manhattan and other high-traffic areas add additional layers of complexity due to dense intersections, constant delivery activity, and frequent pedestrian and cyclist interaction.

Important Deadlines After a Motor Vehicle Accident

Timing matters in any motor vehicle accident claim.

Depending on the circumstances, key deadlines may include:

Filing a personal injury lawsuit within the applicable statute of limitations
Providing timely notice in cases involving city, state, or public vehicles
Applying for no-fault insurance benefits within required timeframes
Reporting certain accidents to the New York DMV

Missing a deadline can limit or eliminate available remedies. Early legal guidance helps ensure that important timelines are not overlooked.

How Our Manhattan Personal Injury Lawyers Handle Vehicle Accident Cases

Our approach focuses on protecting injured clients and building claims that reflect the full impact of a motor vehicle accident.

That typically includes:

Early investigation and evidence preservation
Identifying and securing available video footage
Coordinating medical documentation that accurately reflects injuries and limitations
Managing insurance communications
Preparing cases with litigation in mind from the outset

To see how motor vehicle accident cases fit into our broader injury practice, visit our Manhattan personal injury lawyers hub.

Talk to a New York City Motor Vehicle Accident Lawyer

If you were injured in a motor vehicle accident in New York City, understanding where your case fits—and taking the right next steps—can make a meaningful difference.

Our firm represents clients across NYC, including Lower Manhattan, in a wide range of serious vehicle accident cases. To learn more about your options, contact our office to speak with a lawyer, or explore the specific practice area pages linked above for guidance tailored to your situation.

Practice Areas