Manhattan Car Accident Lawyer

Were you hurt in a car accident in Manhattan, NY?

At The Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP, we help drivers, passengers, and pedestrians injured in Manhattan crashes recover under New York’s No-Fault system and beyond.

If another driver’s mistake put you in the hospital, New York’s insurance rules can make even a clear crash feel complicated. A Manhattan, NY car accident lawyer at our firm handles the No-Fault paperwork, the adjusters, and the lawsuit while you focus on treatment. The Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP has handled injury cases for New Yorkers since 1937, and we stay on top of the state’s crash rules, including the changes that took effect in 2026. Reach out for a free consultation to learn where your claim stands.

Car Accident Lawyer Manhattan, NY

A car accident case is a claim for the harm one driver’s negligence causes to other people on the road, whether they are passengers, pedestrians, or cyclists. In New York, that claim runs through a No-Fault insurance system, with rules that decide who pays first and when you can sue for more.

New York City’s transportation department recorded 16 motor-vehicle occupant deaths in the first half of 2026, part of a long decline in traffic fatalities. Deaths are only the visible edge of the problem, because far more people are hurt in crashes that never reach the news. A car accident attorney in Manhattan sorts through the insurance layers and builds the case for full compensation. Our attorneys read the crash the way an insurer will, then answer it with the police report, the vehicle data, and the medical record.

Types of Car Accident Cases We Handle in Manhattan

Manhattan traffic packs cars, buses, delivery trucks, cyclists, and pedestrians into tight space, and the crashes take many forms. Speeding contributes to nearly a third of fatal crashes nationwide, and reckless driving shows up constantly on city streets. Our Manhattan car accident attorneys match the investigation to how the collision happened.

• Rear-end collisions. Sudden stops in heavy traffic push one vehicle into another, causing whiplash, disc injuries, and concussions. The following driver is often at fault, though a sudden cut-off can complicate that. We look at signal timing, brake lights, and the flow of traffic.
• Intersection and left-turn crashes. Failure to yield and running a light produce some of the hardest hits at crossings. These cases frequently come down to who had the right of way. Camera footage and witness accounts carry real weight. Right of way is decided by the physical evidence as much as by the drivers’ accounts.
• Head-on collisions. Wrong-way driving and crossing the center line cause catastrophic injuries even at moderate speed. We move fast to document the vehicles and the roadway before evidence is cleared. Speed and closing distance make these among the most serious crashes we handle.
• Sideswipe and lane-change crashes. Tight lanes and blind spots lead to contact when a driver merges without looking. Injuries range from minor to severe depending on speed and point of impact. We check mirror settings, lane markings, and any dashcam footage.
• Hit-and-run accidents. When a driver flees, your own uninsured motorist coverage may step in. We help identify the driver where possible and pursue every source of recovery. Surveillance and traffic cameras often capture what a fleeing driver hoped to hide.
• Drunk and impaired driving crashes. A driver under the influence may face both criminal charges and civil liability. These cases can support added damages, and we build them with care.
• Distracted driving crashes. Texting and phone use behind the wheel cause crashes that look avoidable in hindsight. Phone records and vehicle data often prove what happened, and we know how to request that data before it is overwritten.
• Truck accidents. Collisions involving large trucks bring heavier insurance coverage and more parties who may share the blame.
• Motorcycle accidents. Wrecks involving motorcycles tend to produce more severe injuries and unfair blame directed at the rider.
• Bus and for-hire vehicle crashes. Collisions with city buses, taxis, and rideshare cars raise questions about which insurer covers the claim. Our attorneys identify the right policies and the parties standing behind them.

Why Choose The Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP as My Car Accident Lawyer in Manhattan, NY?

A Track Record in New York Crash Cases

Over the years, our attorneys have won more than $131 million on behalf of the people we represent. Some of that total traces directly to hard-fought crash cases:

• $9,000,000 for a pedestrian struck on the sidewalk by a drunk driver
• $8,250,000 for a child who suffered head and brain injuries in a vehicle accident
• $7,208,000 for the family of a person killed by a company truck

Every case is different, and past results are not a promise, but they show the kind of case we are built to handle.

Lawyers Who Know the No-Fault System

A car case in New York is won or lost on details that other injury claims never touch, from the serious-injury threshold to the fault rules the state rewrote in 2026. We handle those questions daily. The same preparation we bring as a personal injury lawyer in Manhattan, NY goes into every crash claim, from the first demand to trial. Our attorneys have handled crash cases that range from minor-impact disputes to fatal collisions. When the facts do not support a strong case, we say so early.

What Is Important to Understand About a Car Accident Case?

Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Car Accident Cases

A fair recovery accounts for everything the crash cost you, from the emergency room bill to the income you lose while you heal. The damages available usually include:

• Medical treatment, current and future
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Property damage to your vehicle

Serious crashes cause lasting harm, including brain injuries and spinal damage, and when a collision takes a life the family may bring a wrongful death claim.

New York also changed the fault rule for car cases in 2026. If your share of the blame exceeds fifty percent, more than the combined fault of everyone you are suing, you cannot recover. If your share is fifty percent or less, your damages are reduced by that percentage instead of erased. That single rule can decide a case, which is why we build the fault picture early, before the other side frames it first.

What Is the Car Accident Case Timeline?

A car accident claim runs on two clocks at once, and missing either one can sink an otherwise strong case. New York generally gives you three years to sue after a crash, and claims involving a city bus or a government vehicle carry far shorter notice deadlines. No-Fault benefits work on an even tighter clock, since the application has to reach the insurer within a short window after the crash. Confirming time limits early keeps a valid claim from lapsing, and it lets us start gathering the police report, camera footage, and vehicle data before any of it disappears. From there a case moves through investigation, a demand to the insurer, and, when the offer falls short, a lawsuit. A personal injury claim moves through several stages between filing and resolution, and how long each one takes depends on the injury and the parties involved.

What Are Important Aspects of a Car Accident Case?

New York’s No-Fault system shapes almost every car case, and a few points matter more than the rest. Getting these details right early often decides how much a claim is worth.

• No-Fault pays your basic medical costs and part of your lost earnings up to $50,000, no matter who caused the crash. These benefits come from your own insurer and are meant to start quickly.
• To recover for pain and suffering beyond that, you must meet the serious injury threshold in the Insurance Law, which covers injuries like a fracture, significant disfigurement, or a permanent or significant limitation.
• A 2026 change tightened that standard and removed one older category, so objective medical proof carries more weight than before.
• When the at-fault driver has little or no coverage, your own uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage can fill the gap.

What Should You Bring to Your Car Accident Consultation?

Even a few documents make the first meeting more productive, and we can gather anything you are missing. The police or accident report, photographs of the vehicles and the scene, your medical records and bills, and any letters from the insurers all help us read the claim. Notes on how the crash happened and the names of any witnesses are worth bringing as well. The consultation is free, and we use it to explain your options and lay out the next steps. If you are still treating, there is no need to wait, because we can begin while your care continues and the evidence is fresh.

Reach Out to The Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP to Schedule a Consultation

A crash can leave you dealing with injuries, lost income, and an insurer that is already building its defense. Contact us to schedule a free consultation, and we will review how the collision happened and explain what a recovery could look like. You pay no fee unless we win, so there is no cost to find out where your claim stands.

Car Accident Statistics in Manhattan

Manhattan’s most dangerous streets are a matter of public record. The Department of Transportation studies individual corridors because of their crash history and publishes what it finds. When a collision happens on one of those streets, a Manhattan car accident lawyer uses that record to show the City knew about the hazard.

The same is true of drivers. Speed camera violations and prior tickets are discoverable in a lawsuit, and a car accident attorney in Manhattan requests them in every serious case.

1. Canal Street recorded three traffic deaths and about 200 injuries between 2020 and 2024, 23 of them severe, according to the DOT Canal Street proposal.
2. Sixth Avenue saw 18 traffic deaths and serious injuries from 2019 to 2023 before its 2025 redesign, according to the DOT Manhattan avenues release.
3. Drivers with more than 20 speed camera violations are five times as likely to be involved in a crash causing severe injury or death, according to DOT first-quarter data for 2026.
4. Distracted driving killed 3,208 people nationwide in 2024, according to NHTSA distraction data.

What Are 10 Important Steps in the Car Accident Claim Process?

A car accident claim in Manhattan, NY has more moving parts than most injury cases because the no-fault system and the liability claim run on separate tracks. Missing a step on either track can cost coverage that would otherwise have been available.

1. Get medical care the same day. Emergency room records tie the injury to the crash. Some delayed symptoms do not appear for days, so a follow-up visit matters even when the first exam seems clear.
2. Report the crash and get the police report. The NYPD report identifies the vehicles, the drivers, and the insurers. It also records the officer’s observations about fault.
3. File the no-fault application with your own insurer. No-fault benefits pay medical bills and part of lost wages regardless of fault, but the application has a short deadline. A late filing can forfeit the coverage.
4. Preserve the evidence. Photographs of the vehicles and the intersection, the names of witnesses, and dashcam or storefront video all disappear quickly. The evidence that supports a Manhattan claim is usually gone within weeks.
5. Decline the recorded statement. The other driver’s insurer will call early. Anything said to an insurance adjuster is used later to dispute fault or minimize the injury.
6. Identify every policy. A taxi, a rideshare vehicle, a commercial van, or a city vehicle each carries different coverage. Your own policy may also provide uninsured driver coverage if the other driver has none.
7. Serve notice on any public defendant. A crash with a city bus, a sanitation truck, or a police vehicle requires a notice of claim within a short window. That deadline arrives long before the general filing limit.
8. Document the serious injury. New York allows a pain and suffering claim only when the injury meets the statutory threshold. Medical records that describe fractures, permanent limitations, or significant disfigurement establish it.
9. Value the claim with complete records. Lost wages, future treatment, and the effect on daily life are added to the medical bills. Settlement talks that start before treatment ends almost always undervalue the case.
10. File suit before the deadline. Most car accident lawsuits must be filed within three years of the crash. Before filing, we confirm that every potential defendant and every policy has been identified.

Manhattan Car Accident Lawyer FAQs

Do I need a car accident lawyer in Manhattan if no-fault is paying my bills?

No-fault covers basic medical costs and a portion of lost wages, and it stops at its policy limit. It pays nothing for pain and suffering, nothing for the long-term cost of a permanent injury, and nothing above the cap for lost income. A separate liability claim against the at-fault driver recovers those losses, but only if the injury meets New York’s serious injury threshold. A car accident attorney evaluates whether the threshold is met and builds the medical record to prove it.

What if I was hit by a taxi or rideshare vehicle in Manhattan, NY?

Taxis and rideshare vehicles carry commercial coverage that is usually higher than a private driver’s policy, but the claim process differs. A yellow cab is insured through its medallion owner or fleet. A rideshare driver’s coverage depends on whether the app was on and whether a passenger was in the car at the time. We identify which policy applies and put every carrier on notice early, because each one will look for a reason to shift responsibility to the other.

How much does a Manhattan car accident attorney charge?

The consultation is free, and you pay no fee unless we win. The fee comes out of the recovery at the end of the case, not out of your pocket during it. We put the arrangement in writing before anything is signed and answer every question about how it works. If our review shows that a claim cannot succeed, we explain why before any agreement is signed, and there is no charge for that review.

Can I still recover if the crash was partly my fault?

In most car accident cases, yes, as long as your share of fault is not greater than the other side’s. Under New York’s current rule for motor vehicle claims, a driver found more than 50% at fault recovers nothing, and a driver found 50% or less at fault recovers damages reduced by that percentage. The defense has to prove your share of fault. Police reports, witness statements, and video usually decide the question, which is why preserving them early matters.

What happens if the other driver fled the scene?

A hit and run does not end the claim. Your own policy’s uninsured motorist coverage can pay for your injuries when the driver is never identified, provided the crash was reported to the police promptly. Manhattan’s density also works in your favor. Traffic cameras, storefront video, and nearby witnesses often identify a vehicle that left the scene, and we begin that search immediately.

How long will my case take?

A clear-liability crash with a defined injury can resolve in under a year. Cases involving disputed fault, a commercial or municipal defendant, or an injury that requires ongoing treatment commonly run two to three years. The timeline depends on when the treating physicians can determine the lasting effects of the injury, because a settlement reached before that point undervalues the claim. We keep clients informed at each stage so the wait is never a mystery.

Should I accept the insurance company’s settlement offer?

Not without a review. Early offers arrive before the extent of the injury is known and are calculated to close the file cheaply. Insurers rely on common tactics such as requesting broad medical authorizations or suggesting that a quick payment is the best you will get. Once a release is signed, the claim is over regardless of what develops. Let a car accident lawyer in Manhattan read the offer against the full value of the injury first.

Important Resources for Manhattan Car Accident Cases

What Are Important New York Legal Resources for Car Accident Cases?

The statutes that govern no-fault benefits, fault allocation, and filing deadlines in a New York car accident case are published by the State Senate.

• Insurance Law Article 51 contains New York’s no-fault provisions, including the serious injury definition.
• CPLR Article 2 sets the time limits for filing civil actions, including personal injury suits.
• CPLR 1412 places the burden of proving an injured person’s share of fault on the party asserting it.

What Are Important Local Resources for Manhattan Car Accident Cases?

The resources below handle emergency treatment and official crash records in Manhattan. Our firm is not affiliated with any of them, does not endorse one over another, and lists them for reference only.

• NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan, (212) 423-6262. A public hospital at 1901 First Avenue in East Harlem.
• NewYork-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital, (212) 312-5000. The emergency hospital for the Financial District and Chinatown at 170 William Street.
• New York State DMV Crash Reports. Certified copies of police and motorist crash reports can be ordered online once the report has been filed with the DMV.

About The Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP

Paul J. Edelstein handles motor vehicle cases at our firm alongside Glenn K. Faegenburg. Paul earned his undergraduate degree at the State University of New York at Albany before Brooklyn Law School, and he belongs to the American Bar Association, the Brooklyn Bar Association, and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. Our motor vehicle results include $4,350,000 for a driver struck head-on by an intoxicated driver and $2,905,000 for a taxi passenger injured in a collision.

What Our Clients Say

★★★★★

“Arthur Blyakher took care of my case as if it was his own. Walked me through the process every step of the way with assurance and diligence. I couldn’t be more honored to have a lawyer like him on my side. From treatment to following up, Arthur’s communication factor is second to none. Thank you so much for all that you did for me and my family.” — Alexander Skorobogatov

Read more reviews on our Google Business Profile.

Additional Resources for Manhattan Car Accident Cases

• The Threshold That Decides Your Case
• Can You File a Lawsuit for a Rear-End Accident?
• Common Back Injuries After a Car Accident
• 9 Questions To Ask Your Car Accident Lawyer

Contact The Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP

The deadlines in a car accident claim begin the day of the crash, and the first few weeks decide how much evidence survives. Speak with a Manhattan, NY car accident attorney before the insurers set the terms. The consultation is free, and you pay no fee unless we win. We go through how the collision happened, what coverage applies, and whether the injury supports a claim beyond no-fault. Our staff returns calls and messages the same business day. Contact us to schedule a free consultation about your Manhattan car accident claim.