A car accident can change your life in seconds. One moment you are driving down Queens Boulevard or the Long Island Expressway; the next you are dealing with an emergency room, a totaled car, a job you cannot get to, and an insurance company that started building its file the same afternoon. In the middle of all of that, you are expected to know your rights, protect your claim, and not say the wrong thing to an adjuster who does this for a living.
That is the imbalance our firm exists to correct. For more than 30 years, Adam L. Shapiro & Associates has represented injured drivers, passengers, and pedestrians across Queens, Brooklyn, and the greater New York City area. What makes the firm different is where its founding attorney started: defending insurance companies. He knows the formulas adjusters use, the reasons they delay, and exactly what it takes to move a claim to a fair number.
New York is also a no-fault state, which makes car-accident claims more technical than most people expect. Deadlines are short, paperwork is unforgiving, and a single missed step can reduce or end a claim. This page explains how car-accident cases work in New York, what compensation may be available, and what to do right now to protect yourself.
Car & auto collisions
Rear-end, intersection, head-on, and multi-vehicle crashes.
Taxi & rideshare
Uber, Lyft, and yellow-cab passenger and driver claims.
Truck & commercial
Delivery trucks, box trucks, and commercial fleet vehicles.
Bus & MTA
City bus, coach, and public-transit collisions.
Pedestrian & cyclist
People struck while walking, crossing, or riding.
Hit & run / uninsured
Uninsured, underinsured, and unidentified-driver claims.
New York is a no-fault insurance state. After most crashes, your own auto policy pays your initial medical bills and a portion of lost earnings through Personal Injury Protection (PIP), regardless of who caused the accident — but you generally must file that no-fault application within 30 days. No-fault does not pay for pain and suffering.
To recover pain and suffering from the at-fault driver, your injury must cross New York's "serious injury" threshold under Insurance Law § 5102(d) — categories such as a fracture, significant limitation of a body function, or a medically determined injury that prevents normal activities for 90 of the first 180 days. Whether an injury qualifies is often where cases are won or lost, and where an insurer's doctor will push back hardest.
3-year deadline
Most New York car-accident injury lawsuits must be filed within three years of the crash (CPLR § 214). Claims involving a city bus or the MTA are far shorter — see below.
90-day notice for public buses
If a government vehicle (an MTA or NYCTA bus, a sanitation truck) was involved, you may need to file a formal Notice of Claim within 90 days. Miss it and the claim can be lost.
Comparative fault
New York follows pure comparative negligence (CPLR § 1411). Even if you were partly at fault, you can still recover — your award is just reduced by your percentage of fault.
Medical expenses
Emergency care, surgery, hospital stays, rehabilitation, and future treatment your injuries will require.
Lost wages & earning capacity
Income you lost while recovering, plus reduced ability to earn in the future.
Pain and suffering
Physical pain, emotional distress, and the loss of enjoyment of daily life — available once the serious-injury threshold is met.
Out-of-pocket costs
Property damage, transportation to treatment, medical devices, and home modifications.
Permanent injury & scarring
Compensation for lasting disability, disfigurement, and long-term limitations.
Get medical care first
See a doctor right away — for your health, and because a gap in treatment is the first thing an insurer uses to argue you weren't really hurt.
Don't talk to their adjuster
The other driver's insurer may call within days. Do not give a recorded statement or accept an offer before you speak with us.
Call us before the deadline
New York's deadlines are strict — as little as 90 days for a claim against the MTA. The sooner we start, the more evidence we can preserve.
Free case review
You tell us what happened. We tell you honestly whether you have a case — at no cost, in English or Spanish.
Investigation
We gather the police report, medical records, photos, camera footage, and witness statements before evidence disappears.
Demand & negotiation
We build a documented demand and negotiate directly with the insurer — using the defense-side playbook against them.
Litigation if needed
If the offer is not fair, we file suit and prepare for trial. Insurers settle differently when they know you are ready to go the distance.
Do I even have a case?
If another party's negligence caused your crash and you were injured, you likely do. The fastest way to know is to call and tell us what happened — there is no fee to find out.
What if the insurance company already offered me money?
Early offers are almost always low and are designed to close your claim before you know its full value. Let us review any offer before you sign anything.
How long do I have to file in New York?
Many car-accident claims allow up to three years, but claims involving a city bus, the MTA, or another public entity can require a formal Notice of Claim within 90 days. Call as soon as you can.
What does it cost to hire the firm?
Nothing up front. We work on contingency — you do not pay a fee unless we win your case.
The accident was partly my fault. Can I still recover?
Often, yes. New York's pure comparative negligence rule lets you recover even if you were partly at fault; your award is reduced by your share of responsibility.