Before speaking to an insurance company, contact Duluth Auto Injury Lawyer. They will evaluate your injuries and collect important evidence.
They understand the complexities of insurance laws, including the nuances of specific regulations. They also know how to evaluate the extent of your injuries and property damage.
New York is one of only a few states that requires its drivers to carry no-fault or PIP (Personal Injury Protection) insurance coverage. No-fault benefits are available immediately after an accident and cover medical bills, lost income, and other reasonable expenses regardless of who caused the crash. No-fault coverage also provides a minimum of $50,000 in death benefit and up to $250,000 for injuries to non-fatal accident victims.
These first-party benefits are governed by a statute that sets forth specific parameters for the payment of these damages. The insurance carrier will send you an application and other forms which request a variety of identifying information including your name, address, date of birth and social security number as well as detailed information about the nature and severity of your injury. Often the carrier will require that you submit documentation from your doctor and/or hospital as proof of the nature and extent of your injury.
The insurance company will typically pay 80% of your gross lost earnings for up to three years from the date of the accident if you were not able to work due to your injury. This amount is subject to certain offsets. The insurance company will also pay a maximum of $25 per day for up to a year for non-medical expenses such as transportation costs, childcare and household services.
In addition to no-fault benefits, injured persons have the right to file a third party claim against the at-fault driver or other at-fault parties for their accident-related losses not covered by the no-fault benefits. Typically the liability claims can include a wide range of economic damages such as loss of past and future earnings, and compensation for pain and suffering.
An experienced and knowledgeable auto injury lawyer from Harding Mazzotti can help you navigate the complexities of both the no-fault and third-party claims process. We can assist you in obtaining the best possible outcome from your case, including the recovery of all damages to which you are entitled.
It is important that you contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible following a crash. In many cases there are two different claims proceeding simultaneously, a no-fault claim for medical and other expenses and a third party action for pain and suffering brought against the wrongdoing driver who caused the crash. A skilled and tenacious attorney from our firm can make all the difference in the successful outcome of your case.
It is important to keep in mind that there are a number of different standards and criteria that must be met to establish that an injury is serious and that you have the right to claim additional damages under a liability claim. It is also critical to understand the distinction between economic and non-economic damages. Our law firm will be by your side throughout the entire process, ensuring that your legal rights are fully protected. Our tenacious attorneys have extensive experience in both types of claims and can maximize the value of your no-fault and third-party claims.
Economic Damages
Economic damages cover quantifiable costs resulting from an accident and can be proved with tangible evidence like bills, receipts, and pay stubs. They can include everything from medical expenses and vehicle repair to lost income and future loss of earning capacity. However, it is important to remember that not all losses are monetary in nature and thus cannot be compensated by a simple dollar figure. This is why it’s vital to have a comprehensive list of your losses and to provide a thorough explanation of each when putting together a claim.
A comprehensive economic damage calculation can be complicated, but a skilled lawyer knows how to help you through each step. This is especially true for future-oriented damages such as loss of earning capacity. It requires detailed analysis and expert testimony to accurately project how your injuries will impact your financial future.
This is why it’s crucial to have a skilled lawyer on your side who can gather and analyze financial documentation such as medical records, pay stubs, and other income sources. Expert testimony from professionals like medical experts and economists can also affirm the scope of your economic losses, further solidifying the value of your claim. Verifiability: The court places immense weight on the credibility of your claims, making it critical to have reliable and consistent documentation and testimony.
Promptly seeking medical treatment after an accident is crucial to your health and the strength of your case. Aside from improving your odds of a speedy recovery, this creates a record of your injury that is critical to calculating future damages. It also gives you the opportunity to prove the immediate cost of your injury such as deductibles, co-pays, and other out-of-pocket costs that insurance will not cover.