Aggressive Representation Against Uninsured Drivers in New York
Even though New York state law requires every driver to carry basic auto insurance, many people drive without it. In fact, that practice has become increasingly common in recent years.
A downturned economy, coupled with skyrocketing auto insurance premiums, has fostered a new generation of uninsured drivers on New York’s roadways. Accordingly, our office has seen an uptick in the number of accident victims with a legitimate claim but no insurance company on the other side to pay for it.
We understand how utterly defeating that revelation can feel. We all trust that, if something bad happens while we’re on the road, we can at least fall back on the insurance system to help us recover. That is, after all, the whole reason that insurance exists in the first place.
But when other people fail to play by the rules and irresponsibly decide to drive without insurance, they can leave innocent victims in a terrible predicament. An injury is bad enough without having to worry about how you’ll pay for it.
There is hope.
At Kaplan Lawyers P.C., we have helped New Yorkers just like you recover the compensation they deserve after an unexpected car crash, even if the at-fault driver was illegally operating a vehicle without insurance.
These cases are more challenging than most other car crash claims, but our experienced NYC uninsured auto accident lawyers work as a team, and they have cultivated a number of effective strategies for recovering compensation, even in the absence of insurance.
You can count on our firm to turn every single stone — and explore every single avenue for compensation — in our quest to get you the justice you deserve. Our ultimate goal is to recover each penny that you have coming to you.
We are fighters, and we know the law. We believe we can help you. Please contact our NYC uninsured auto accident lawyers today.
A Special Note on Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist Coverage
Your existing auto insurance policy might include a special kind of coverage called Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist coverage, commonly referred to as UM Coverage.
These special provisions usually exist as optional add-ons to basic auto insurance policies, and drivers can typically obtain them for only a few dollars a month. They’re worth much more than that, though, if you ever find yourself injured by an uninsured driver. In that case, your UM Coverage will kick in to pay for part or all of your injuries (up to the UM policy limits).
UM Coverage will even pay if the negligent driver has insurance but is underinsured (in other words, the driver’s policy limits are insufficient to cover the full cost of your injuries).
Here’s the good news: You might have UM Coverage in your existing policy and not even know it. Drivers are often surprised to learn that they already have the provision in place. Don’t take that assumption for granted, though. You should contact your insurer right away and ask about Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist coverage in your plan.
There’s more good news, too: Even if you don’t have UM Coverage, our NYC uninsured auto accident lawyers may still be able to help you.
Whether you have UM Coverage or not, though, you can never count on an insurance company to give you a fair value for your damages — not even your own insurance company!
Please don’t accept any offers from your insurance company without calling our office first.
Talk to Experienced NYC Uninsured Auto Accident Lawyers
If you’ve been injured in a New York vehicle accident but fear that the other side might be uninsured or underinsured, please don’t give up hope. Kaplan Lawyers PC may be able to help.
Contact our office to get started with a free case review today.
Frequently Asked Questions for Uninsured and Underinsured Auto Accidents
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Do I need an attorney to handle my claim?
The insurance company employs an army of attorneys, claims specialists, and experts to win the case; in order to get the compensation that you are entitled to, you will need to hire an attorney that specializes in this type of law. Our legal team has decades of experience and a proven track record of maximizing settlements, and we are in the best position to guarantee that you get everything that you are entitled to.
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Can I bring a claim even if the other driver wasn’t 100% at fault?
New York law follows the pure comparative negligence rule, which states that an injured party will receive compensation for their injuries in proportion to their percentage of contribution to the accident. For example, if a jury believes that a claimant was 10% at fault, the other driver is responsible to pay 90% of the claimant’s damages.
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How long do I have to bring a claim?
The statute of limitations (or time in which a claim must be brought from the date of the accident) is 3 years for a personal injury claim. If a claim is being brought for wrongful death the claim must be brought within 2 years from the date of death. If the claim is being brought against a municipality the time to bring a claim is significantly shorter depending on who the claim is against so you should consult with an attorney immediately.
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Do I have to pay any legal fees if I lose my case?
Our attorneys work on a contingency fee which states that if you don’t win your case we don’t get paid.
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How much is my case worth?
If any attorney tells you that they know how much your case is worth before reviewing all of the documentation then they are lying or incompetent. However, our legal team has decades of experience and will maximize the value of your case.
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How long will it take to settle my case?
Every case is different but our legal team utilizes the most advanced technology and aggressive legal strategy to expedite our client’s cases, generally resolving cases years faster than any other firm.
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How will my medical bills get paid?
Whether you were the driver or passenger in the car your medical bills will be paid for by the insurance company for the car that you were in. However, you must file a No Fault application with the insurance company within 30 days from the date of the accident, if you fail to do so you have waived your right to file the claim for benefits.
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Does No Fault pay for anything else?
No Fault will also pay for lost wages, prescription costs, transportation to medical providers, and reasonable expenses for household services.
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Why does my insurance company have to pay the bills if the other driver caused the accident?
The insurance companies were involved in the drafting of the legislation that created this policy. The benefit to injured parties is that they can get the treatment that they need even if it is unclear who caused the accident because liability will not determine who pays.
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Why would the insurance companies want that?
The insurance companies agreed to the legislation because the law also limits access for injured parties to the court system. The statute states that an injured person can’t proceed with a lawsuit unless they have sustained a serious injury as defined by the legislation, which significantly restricts an individual’s ability to collect money for pain and suffering.
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What is the legal definition of a serious injury?
A serious injury has been defined as 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 of a body organ or member; significant limitation of use of a body function or system; or a medically determined injury or impairment of a non-permanent nature which prevents the injured person from performing substantially all of the material acts which constitute such person’s usual and customary daily activities for not less than ninety days during the one hundred eighty days immediately following the occurrence of the injury or impairment.
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How will I know if my injuries will be considered serious?
Many of the injuries sustained in emergency vehicle accident cases become progressively worse with time so it is difficult to determine shortly after the accident. However the emergency vehicle accident attorneys at Kaplan Lawyers PC recommend that you retain an attorney immediately so that all filings are completed to protect your rights and ensure that you receive the compensation that you are entitled to.
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How can I get my car fixed?
If you have collision coverage we would recommend that you contact your insurance company and submit a claim under your policy. If you don’t have collision coverage you will have to file a 3rd party claim with the other driver’s insurance company. However, a 3rd party claim can take significantly longer to resolve and the insurance company will try to twist your words against you so we recommend that you contact a legal professional before contacting the insurance company directly.
Attorney Jared S. Kaplan
Attorney Jared S. Kaplan has focused his career on advancing his legal knowledge though the day to day practice of law. Jared is a partner in the law firm of Kaplan Lawyers PC in Syosset, New York and has been a practicing attorney for nearly 20 years. His career started in litigation, so Jared is aware of the pitfalls in litigation and uses that knowledge in the representation of his clients in complex matters. [ Attorney Bio ]