Our Staten Island Car Accident Attorneys Are Ready to Fight for You
If someone else’s negligence caused your auto accident, you have rights. A Staten Island car accident attorney from our firm will investigate the crash, identify the at-fault party, and pursue just compensation for your physical, emotional, and financial losses.
You have a limited time to take legal action after a traffic collision, so call Oresky & Associates, PLLC at (929) 305-0949 today. We offer free consultations to all callers and can answer your questions in English or Spanish. Our Staten Island personal injury lawyers will go the extra mile to advocate for you.
How Can Our Staten Island Car Accident Lawyers Help You?
Our car accident lawyers on Staten Island will manage all aspects of your case while you focus on receiving medical care and rebuilding your life. Our legal services include:
- Collecting evidence to prove the extent of your injuries and the liable party’s identity
- Assessing your case so you know what damages to pursue
- Communicating with the other parties on your behalf
- Submitting and receiving all necessary paperwork
- Fighting inside and outside of the courtroom for the money you are entitled to
- Explaining your legal options so you can make the decisions that are right for you
What Types of Damages Can Car Accident Victims Recover?
You are potentially entitled to:
- Economic damages
- Non-economic damages
- Punitive damages
Economic damages will cover financial losses associated with the Staten Island auto accident. This could include:
- Loss of income
- Diminished earning capacity
- Loss of union benefits and other job benefits
- Medical expenses
- Property damage
- Out-of-pocket expenses
Non-economic damages are your physical and emotional losses. Depending on the type and extent of your injuries, our Staten Island car accident lawyers could pursue:
- Past and future pain and suffering
- Reduced quality of life
- Disability
- Loss of consortium
Punitive damages are rare and do not compensate you for a specific loss. Instead, they are additional damages that a liable party is forced to pay if their behavior goes beyond ordinary negligence. Most motor vehicle accident cases do not involve punitive damages.
Can I Still Recover Compensation If I’m Partially at Fault for the Accident?
Yes. Under CPLR 1411, being partially at fault for a car crash does not prevent you from recovering compensation, but your payout may be reduced based on your proportionate percentage of fault.
What Causes Most Car Accidents in Staten Island?
New York City Police Department (NYPD) data from November 2024 shows that most accidents at Staten Island intersections are the result of driver negligence:
- Driver inattention or distraction was the most common cause of motor vehicle accidents. Potential distractions include phones/electronic devices, passengers, animals, and equipment built into the car (e.g., the radio).
- Failure to yield the right of way played a role in many collisions. It is vital for drivers to obey traffic signs and signals and respect others’ right to use the road.
- Improper turning, backing, and lane changing procedures were also factors in too many crashes. Drivers must check their surroundings carefully before attempting these maneuvers.
In most auto accident cases, a negligent driver is responsible for the crash and your resulting damages. There are, however, cases where another party such as the driver’s employer, if the driver was on the job at the time of the collision may share or assume total responsibility.
Let our personal injury law firm review your case to make sure you seek compensation from all at-fault parties.
Types of Car Accidents We Handle in Staten Island
Oresky & Associates, PLLC, is prepared to accept negligence-related cases like the following:
- Distracted driving accidents: As previously mentioned, distractions are especially dangerous for road users.
- Drunk driving accidents: The New York State Police (NYSP) reports that drunk driving causes an average of one injury every two minutes in this state. We want to do our part to hold irresponsible drivers accountable.
- Uninsured motorist accidents: If the person who hit you is uninsured or underinsured, you may have other options for collecting damages, including filing a claim with your own insurance policy or filing a Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation (MVAIC) claim.
- Hit-and-run accidents: Leaving the scene of an injury accident without exchanging information and calling for help is illegal. Our car injury lawyers will work hard to identify the driver in your case.
- Uber and Lyft accidents: Crashes involving rideshare vehicles can be complex. Our lawyers on Staten Island will give you the chance to seek appropriate damages.
- Taxicab accidents: Whether you were a taxi driver, taxi passenger, or an occupant in a different vehicle, you are entitled to damages when another person’s negligence causes your injuries.
- Head-on collisions: When two cars hit each other head-on, the results can be catastrophic, especially if the impact occurred at high speed.
- Side-impact collisions: Also called T-bone collisions, these crashes happen when the front of one car hits the side of another.
- Rear-end collisions: Such accidents may occur when someone behind you drives too fast, follows your vehicle too closely, or is not paying attention to their surroundings.
If you are unsure whether or not we take cases like yours, we encourage you to ask. Our legal team will tell you everything you need to know about how to handle your case.
Common Injuries in Staten Island Car Accidents
Car accidents can cause a wide range of injuries, depending on factors like the speed at which the crash occurred, what part of your car was hit, and the size of the involved vehicles. You could seek financial compensation for injuries like:
- Broken bones/bone fractures
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), including concussions
- Back and spinal cord injuries
- Neck injuries, including whiplash
- Cuts and lacerations
- Amputation
- Organ damage
- Nerve damage
These and other physical injuries often lead to mental and emotional distress, especially when your injuries are permanent or life-altering.
As soon as possible after your collision, get medical attention. A doctor can officially diagnose your injuries and prescribe the right treatments. This prevents your injuries from getting worse and creates a clear medical record we can use when building your case.
In the most severe cases, the injuries listed above may be fatal. As a surviving relative of the deceased, you have the right to pursue compensation for your loved one’s death. Our Staten Island wrongful death lawyers will assist you.
How Do We Prove Negligence in Staten Island Car Accident Cases?
Proving negligence requires finding enough evidence to show that the at-fault party failed to act with reasonable care, and to connect their lack of reasonable care with your traffic crash. Our car accident attorneys on Staten Island can look for evidence like:
- Police reports
- Video footage
- Photographic evidence
- Eyewitness testimony
- Your own recollections of the accident
- Expert testimony
- The at-fault party’s past behavior (e.g., previous convictions for traffic offenses)
The sooner we start investigating, the more evidence we may be able to find to support your case.
What’s the Deadline for Filing a Car Accident Lawsuit in Staten Island?
Under CPLR 214(4), you may file your case at any time within three years of the accident date. However, this statute does not tell the whole story: factors specific to your situation could alter the deadline. For example, those who intend to sue a government entity have much less time to begin a case, according to CPLR 217-A. It is therefore best to start your case promptly.