Staten Island Car Accident Attorney

Following a car accident on Staten Island, do not hesitate to call Mirman, Markovits & Landau, P.C. to discuss your legal rights and options. You might be entitled to compensation if you’ve been injured due to someone else’s negligence. Our Staten Island car accident lawyers can help you fight to maximize your recovery. 

Our Staten Island law firm offers a free initial case assessment, so contact us to schedule yours today. We’re always available to chat – 24/7/365.

Why Should I Call Mirman, Markovits & Landau, P.C. After a Staten Island Car Accident?

Accidents can happen, even when you’re being as careful as you possibly can behind the wheel. You can’t control how others behave while they drive. However, you can control what you do after you get into a crash. You can decide to take matters into your own hands and assert your right to recover compensation from negligent parties. Mirman, Markovits & Landau, P.C. can help you position yourself to get every last dollar you need and deserve.

Since 1977, Mirman, Markovits & Landau, P.C. has been a trusted ally to car accident victims on Staten Island. Our team has a combined 200 years of experience and we’ve recovered more than $1 Billion for our clients. When you ask for our help after you get hurt in a Staten Island crash, you can rest assured that your case will be in the very best hands.

Our team will go above and beyond to secure a substantial monetary award on your behalf. To accomplish this, we will:

• Work with local law enforcement agencies as we investigate your accident to ensure we gather all relevant evidence
• Bring in accident reconstructionists, appraisers, medical professionals, and any other experts who might be able to assist us in building a strong case on your behalf
• Determine causation, fault, and liability
• Seek damages from anyone who contributed to your motor vehicle accident on Staten Island
• Minimize the effectiveness of any claims that you share responsibility for the crash
• Negotiate with insurance companies and work to leverage a meaningful settlement, and
• Have our accomplished trial lawyers take your case to court, if necessary.

We know that things might be tough right now. Money won’t be a cure-all, but it can certainly make life a lot easier. So, let our Staten Island personal injury lawyers help you fight to get it. Just give our law office a call to schedule your free, no-obligation case assessment and learn more.

Staten Island Car Accident Statistics

Out of all five NYC boroughs, Staten Island is home to the fewest number of traffic accidents. However, the number of collisions on Staten Island is still significantly higher than in many major cities across the nation. In 2018, there were a total of 12,900 motor vehicle accidents on Staten Island. 

That year:

• Roughly 17 percent of all accidents on Staten Island caused an injury (2,238 out of 12,900);
• There were 9 fatal traffic accidents on Staten Island;
• There were approximately 3 truck accidents every month;
• 95 motorcyclists were involved in Staten Island collisions;
• 61 bicyclists were injured on Staten Island roads; and
• 387 pedestrians were injured and another 5 were killed on Staten Island.

So, just because Staten Island has fewer accidents than other NYC boroughs, that doesn’t mean that its roads are safe. Accidents happen every single day.

Which Staten Island Roads and Intersections Are Most Dangerous?

On any given day, there are between 34 and 35 collisions on Staten Island roads. While these accidents can (and do) happen all across the borough, certain roads and intersections tend to see more crashes than others. The most dangerous roadways on Staten Island include:

• Hylan Boulevard and Allison/Ebbitts Street
• Hylan Boulevard and New Dorp Lane
• Hylan Boulevard and Nelson Avenue
• Father Capodanno Boulevard and Sand Lane
• Hylan Boulevard and Richmond Avenue
• Arthur Kill Road and Drumgoole Road West
• Clove Road and Victory Boulevard
• Hylan Boulevard and Guyon Avenue
• Hylan Boulevard and Old Town Road, and
• Rockland Avenue and Manor Road.

These intersections see hundreds of injury-causing and fatal crashes every year. These crashes tend to involve cars, bicyclists, and pedestrians.

What Causes Car Accidents on Staten Island?

There are a lot of different things that can lead to, contribute to, or cause a car accident on Staten Island. However, crash statistics gathered by the NYPD indicate that certain things tend to cause accidents more often than others. These include:

• Distracted driving
• Speeding and aggressive driving behaviors
• Failure to yield
• Following too closely
• Alcohol and drunk driving, and
• Unsafe turns at intersections.

Other factors that commonly contribute to crashes on Staten Island include hazardous road conditions (e.g., potholes, uneven surfaces); defective vehicles; road construction; and inclement weather (e.g., ice, snow, sleet, rain).

We Handle All Car Accident Injury Cases on Staten Island

Your car accident case is too important to entrust to just any law firm on Staten Island. There’s simply too much at stake. You deserve to work with a firm that focuses exclusively on personal injury law and has decades of experience under its belt. At Mirman, Markovits & Landau, P.C., all we do is personal injury law.

We represent car accident victims and help them fight to recover compensation for all of their injuries, including:

• Broken bones
• Chest injuries
• Crushing injuries
• Eye injuries
• Fractures
• Head injuries, including concussions
• Neck injuries, including whiplash
• Lost limbs
• Paralysis
• Soft tissue injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries, and
• Wrongful death.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Staten Island car accident, Mirman, Markovits & Landau, P.C. should be your first call. With more than 200 years of combined experience handling accident claims like yours, we know what it takes to get you the results you deserve.

Comparative Negligence and Your Car Accident Case

If fault is not crystal clear, you might be blamed for some or all of the crash. It’s a common tactic employed by insurance companies in an effort to devalue or deny your claim for damages. Since New York is a comparative negligence state, those efforts could hurt your ability to get compensation or bar recovery, altogether.

Comparative negligence means:

• More than one person can be assigned fault and liability for an accident, and
• You’re not automatically prohibited from getting money just because you contribute to a crash. 

So, anyone who contributes to an accident can be on the hook for damages. This can include anyone who happens to get hurt. The more fault assigned to you, the less money you can ultimately get.

For example, let’s say you were involved in a car accident on Hylan Boulevard. You were speeding at the time of the accident, and the other driver was texting. After an investigation, you’re allocated 30 percent of the blame for the accident, while the other driver receives 70 percent of the blame. Your damages will be reduced by 30 percent to reflect your role in the accident. So, if your damages totaled $10,000, you’d be able to get, at most, $7,000. At the same time, you could be liable for up to 30 percent of the other driver’s damages.

Tenaciously Pursuing Compensation From All Negligent Parties

Our team will work hard to uncover all possible causes of your Staten Island car accident. Why? Once we determine what caused your accident we can identify who’s responsible. With this information in hand, we can pursue damages from all liable parties. This might include:

• Other motorists
• Truck drivers
• Motorcyclists
• Bus drivers
• Transit companies
• Government agencies
• Bicyclists
• Pedestrians
• Employers
• Property owners
• Manufacturers, and more.

When we demand compensation from multiple parties – especially those with deep pockets – we can position ourselves to recover maximum compensation for you.

Damages Available After a Car Accident on Staten Island

Do not underestimate the impact a car accident can have on your life. Between medical bills and lost wages, the financial repercussions can be devastating. The emotional trauma of the collision might stop you from enjoying your life and interfere with your day-to-day life. You didn’t ask to get hurt, so you should not have to struggle with these consequences on your own. The person (or companies or people) who caused your accident must be held accountable. 

Mirman, Markovits & Landau, P.C. will identify your damages and aggressively pursue maximum compensation. Damages that are commonly awarded in car accident cases in New York include money for:

• Lost income and wages
• Temporary and/or permanent disability
• Present and future medical expenses
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress, including depression and PTSD
• Loss of consortium
• Disfigure and scarring, and more.

We won’t let insurance companies bully you into accepting less money than you deserve. We’ll bring in experts who can provide insight into the details of your case – including the extent and severity of your injuries. When we understand how your injuries will likely affect your life, we can really get to the bottom of what your case is worth. In negotiations, we’ll use our expert-backed evidence and testimony to support our demands for compensation.

Statute of Limitations for Car Accident Lawsuits on Staten Island

Keep in mind that New York has no-fault insurance laws. So, you’ll have to seek benefits from your own insurance provider first, regardless of fault. If your damages exceed what your insurer will pay, you can then file a claim or lawsuit against an at-fault party.

New York state law limits the amount of time you’ll have to file a lawsuit after a car accident on Staten Island. In most cases, you’ll have three years from the date of your accident to file a claim. There might be circumstances that give you more or less time to act. That’s why it is essential to speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer on Staten Island as soon as you can after your crash.

What Should I Do After a Staten Island Traffic Accident?

You might not realize that the decisions you make immediately after your auto accident can have a major impact on any legal claims you pursue in the future. So, keep these things in mind in the hours, days, and weeks following your Staten Island crash.

Stay at the Scene: You’re legally required to stay put if there’s significant property damage or if anyone was injured or killed in the crash. Exchange insurance information with other parties while you wait for the police. 

Call 911 or the Local Police: You’ll want to make sure that the police are aware of your accident. When you call, ask to have an officer sent to the scene. Upon arrival, the officer will perform a preliminary investigation, ask some questions, and prepare a police report. The details in this report can be really important down the line. It will likely contain information relevant to your case that you’re probably going to forget – such as weather and traffic conditions or the specific time of day.

Get a Full Medical Workup: Make sure that you go to the emergency room or your doctor as soon as you can after your accident, even if you don’t think your injuries are severe. A doctor will evaluate you and make sure that any and all injuries are diagnosed and treated. This will keep you safe and limit the chance of complications, while also establishing a causal link between the crash and your injuries.

Don’t Admit Fault: Don’t apologize or admit fault. Limit your conversations with others and only supply concise answers to the police. Other parties and their insurers will try to twist your words and use them against you.

Call a Lawyer: Hiring a lawyer can significantly increase the odds of recovering compensation and maximizing your award after an accident. Don’t delay in calling a qualified and experienced Staten Island car accident lawyer after your collision. Once you have a personal injury attorney, you can direct all communication to them.

Let Our Staten Island Car Accident Attorneys Fight For You

If you’ve lost a loved one in a fatal crash or if you’ve been injured in a collision in Staten Island, NY, Mirman, Markovits & Landau, P.C. will be there to help. Give our law office a call to schedule a time to discuss your case with our accomplished personal injury lawyers. We’ll stand by your side from start to finish and help you fight for the money you deserve. Your first consultation is free, so call now.