FAQ

Yes. At the Law Office of Steven R. Smith, our firm handles personal injury cases in every part of New York state. While our main office is located in Garden City, Long Island, we routinely advocate for accident victims across the entire region, including Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Staten Island, and Nassau and Suffolk counties. Whether you need an aggressive personal injury lawyer in Queens, NY, or representation anywhere else in the state, the county where your accident occurred should never deter you from getting top-tier legal help.

While we're always available to meet with clients in person at our office, we can easily manage your entire case virtually. We can hold consultations at any time via video conferencing, and we maintain open, responsive lines of communication through telephone, text, and email. All paperwork and evidence can be securely exchanged electronically, and you can review and sign your retainer and legal documents from the comfort of your own home using DocuSign.

Furthermore, many court appearances, depositions, and legal conferences are handled virtually, regardless of the county.

The timeline for resolving a personal injury case varies depending on the unique circumstances of your accident. According to Case Peer, nearly 400,000 personal injury claims are filed annually in the United States. Managing this situation requires an experienced advocate who knows how to move cases forward efficiently without sacrificing the compensation you may be entitled to. When you're facing mounting medical bills and lost income, working with the best personal injury lawyer confirms your claim is handled with the diligence and urgency it requires.

If a lawsuit isn't required, most of our cases are successfully resolved within the first year following the accident. However, remember that the length of your medical treatment and complicated questions of fault can lengthen this period.

While a great number of our cases at the Law Office of Steven R. Smith are successfully resolved through aggressive negotiation without ever starting a lawsuit, a lawsuit is sometimes necessary. If the insurance company refuses to play fair or if we need to legally establish the percentage of fault of each party, we'll not hesitate to take your case to court.

At the Law Office of Steven R. Smith, we advise all drivers to take the following crucial steps at the scene of an accident:

* 1. Prioritize Your Health and Safety: The very first thing you must do is make sure that you're physically capable of moving. Check yourself and your passengers for injuries. If it's safe to do so, move your vehicle out of the path of oncoming traffic to prevent further collisions.
* 2. Call the Police Immediately: Always call 911 to request police officers at the scene, even if the accident seems minor or the other driver asks you not to. A formal police report is a vital piece of evidence that provides an objective record of the event, the weather conditions, and initial statements.

* 3. Extensively Document the Scene: Use your smartphone to capture as much photo and video evidence as possible. Take pictures of the damage to all vehicles involved—especially the other car, which you may never see again. Document the positions of the vehicles, any skid marks on the pavement, traffic signs, and road conditions. Additionally, safely photograph the other vehicle's license plate, and if possible, the driver and any passengers.

* 4. Scan for Surveillance Cameras: Look around the immediate area for businesses, residences, or traffic lights that have surveillance or dash-cameras. Take note of their locations so your legal team can request and secure the video footage before it is overwritten.

* 5. Never Admit Fault or Apologize: It is completely natural to feel shaken up and deeply upset after a collision. However, adrenaline and shock can cloud your judgment, and you may not realize that the accident was actually caused by the other driver's negligence. Many people inadvertently hurt their claims by apologizing or making rash admissions at the scene. Keep your conversation with the other driver brief, stick strictly to the facts when speaking with the police, and leave the determination of fault to the experts.

* 6. Seek Immediate Medical Attention: It is highly recommended that you go straight to a hospital emergency room or urgent care center to get fully checked out. In the immediate aftermath of a crash, your body is in shock, which naturally masks pain. Serious internal injuries, concussions, or soft tissue damage may not become fully apparent until days later. Prompt medical documentation also prevents insurance companies from claiming your injuries were caused by something else.

If you’ve been involved in a collision, don't face the insurance companies alone. Connect with a trusted car accident lawyer at the Law Office of Steven R. Smith today for a completely free, no-obligation case consultation. We're available 24/7 to provide the fierce advocacy and personalized attention you deserve.

Dealing with injuries after a crash is incredibly stressful, but New York’s No-Fault insurance law is designed to cover your immediate medical expenses. Under this system, the insurance company of the vehicle you occupied at the time of the accident is legally obligated to pay your medical bills, regardless of who caused the collision. If you were a pedestrian or bicyclist, the insurance policy of the car, that struck you, provides this coverage. Consulting a dedicated car accident lawyer at the Law Office of Steven R. Smith can help clarify how these rules apply to your specific situation.

This basic No-Fault benefit provides up to $50,000 for hospital bills, doctor visits, lost earnings, and medical transportation. These funds are paid directly to your healthcare providers and don't need to be paid back. While this coverage applies to most drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and cyclists, notable exceptions exist. For example, motorcycles are generally excluded from New York's No-Fault laws, and challenging, distinct rules apply to motorized e-bikes and scooters.

The bottom line is that your absolute priority should be seeking immediate medical care without worrying about the cost. However, insurance companies often look for technicalities to deny claims, and New York enforces a strict 30-day deadline from the date of the crash to file for No-Fault benefits. To protect your rights, you should find an experienced traffic accident legal professional to guide you through the process. With over 35 years of experience providing fierce advocacy across Long Island, Queens, and all of New York, the Law Office of Steven R. Smith will handle the paperwork and insurance adjusters so you can focus entirely on healing. Contact us today for a 100% free consultation.

Yes, you can. Many people mistakenly believe that if they contributed to a motor vehicle collision, they completely forfeit their right to seek financial compensation. In New York, this is simply not the case. New York operates under a legal principle known as "pure comparative fault" (or comparative negligence). This means that when you're involved in an automobile accident, responsibility is split among the involved parties proportionate to their individual degree of fault.

If you're injured in a crash, you can still legally receive monetary compensation for your medical bills, lost earnings, and pain and suffering, but your ultimate recovery will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if your case is valued at $100,000 and it's determined that the accident was 25% your fault, your compensation will be reduced by 25%, allowing you to still collect $75,000. Remarkably, even if the accident is deemed to be 70% your fault, New York law still allows you to obtain the remaining 30% of the full value of your case from the other negligent party.

Because insurance companies routinely try to exploit these rules by shifting an unfair amount of blame onto injury victims to minimize their payouts, it is vital to have a skilled car accident lawyer protecting your rights. Unless an accident was completely 100% your fault, you should always consult with an attorney to see how they can assist you in bringing a successful claim, even if the accident was partially or mostly your fault.

At the Law Office of Steven R. Smith, we bring more than 35 years of fierce advocacy and litigation experience to your side. We know how to thoroughly investigate an accident, gather critical evidence, and counter the high-pressure tactics used by insurance adjusters who want to overstate your portion of liability. Our goal is to handle the legal details and protect your interests so you can focus entirely on your physical recovery. Contact us today to schedule a 100% free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your case.