When You’re Hurt As A Passenger In A Car Accident

Car accident in Watertown

Hurt As A Passenger In A Car Accident in Binghamton, NY?

Binghamton, NY — If you’ve been injured as a passenger in a car accident, you may be unsure how to cover your medical bills, lost time from work, and other damages. Serious injuries can often require costly surgeries, hospital stays, rehabilitation, and ongoing medical care, and you may also be concerned about how you will afford any future care that may be required. At the Stanley Law Offices in Binghamton, NY, and throughout the Southern Tier, our skilled car accident attorneys have over 90 years of combined experience and have successfully recovered thousands of dollars for clients in personal injury cases. We can help you pursue all avenues of compensation to ensure you get the care you need.

Recovering Compensation From Insurance Companies in Binghamton, NY

New York and Pennsylvania are no-fault insurance states, which means that the driver and passengers can seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage from the driver’s insurance company, regardless of who was at fault for the accident. However, this also means that you’re not permitted to file a personal injury claim against an insured driver for these and other types of damages, such as pain and suffering, unless you have suffered a severe injury. The types of injuries that may qualify as serious or catastrophic include:

  • Dismemberment
  • Severe disfigurement
  • Loss or limitation of a body function
  • Loss of a fetus
  • Permanent loss or limitation of use of an organ, member, bodily function, or system
  • Death

Other types of injuries may also meet the serious injury threshold in Binghamton, NY, throughout the state and PA. Still, it’s tough to make a persuasive case and recover compensation for serious injury alone. That’s why seeking the counsel of an experienced car accident attorney is vital. A seasoned legal team will utilize diagnostic and testimonial evidence and consult medical and rehabilitation experts who can testify to the extent of your injuries and pain. Not only that, if another driver was involved in the accident and your injuries were sustained due to their negligence, you may also be entitled to compensation from their insurer. Your own medical and auto insurance may also cover some treatment costs.

Exploring every option to get the care and compensation you need to protect your health and your family’s financial future is essential. A car accident lawyer can help you understand your rights and advise you on the most effective action to recover the Maximum Award you deserve.

Steps To Take If You’re Injured In A Motor Vehicle Accident

Following an accident, you should take a few vital actions to protect your health and your rights.

  • Call 911 and seek medical attention right away.
  • Gather contact and insurance information from all involved drivers and information from any witnesses.
  • Take photos of the scene and your injuries and jot down the accident details while they’re fresh in your mind.
  • Avoid discussing details of the crash at the scene unless you’re speaking with law enforcement. Do not post anything about the accident or your injuries on social media.
  • If the police can’t give you a copy of their report at the scene, obtain this valuable piece of evidence as soon as possible.
  • Do not give a recorded or official statement or sign anything from an insurance company before speaking with a car accident lawyer. There are statutes of limitations that apply to personal injury claims, so if you’ve been hurt, it’s critical to contact an attorney right away.

Contact a Car Accident Attorney

Whether you’ve been injured or have lost a loved one as a passenger in a crash, our experienced car accident lawyers in Binghamton, NY, can help you understand and pursue legal remedies for compensation. Contact Stanley Law Offices online or call 800-608-3333 to schedule a free initial consultation. If you cannot travel to our Binghamton, NY office due to your injury, our lawyers will gladly meet you via Zoom/online, at home, or at the hospital—se habla español.