Disclaimer: *Steve and Rich Barnes have obtained millions in recoveries for their clients and have supervised over $2.5 Billion Dollars in settlements.
Written by The Barnes Firm, reviewed by Richard Barnes
Rich Barnes
President
At The Barnes Firm, our team of car accident attorneys have experience helping car crash victims and are ready to fight for you to help you get the best result possible. Our team is knowledgeable in New York State car accident laws and will help guide you through the legal process after an accident. Call us today at (800) 800-0000 for your free case evaluation or to have any questions you have regarding your accident answered.
The time after a car accident can be overwhelming. At a time when you should be focusing on recovering from your injuries, you’ll most likely be working with an insurance company that is undervaluing or denying your claim. It’s at this time that you may realize you’re going to need a lot of help and will want to partner with an experienced Rochester car accident attorney at The Barnes Firm. When you partner with our team, you can be assured we will:
After a car accident, don’t accept the first offer from insurance. Instead, call The Barnes Firm and find out what your case is really worth. Our car accident attorneys are available to answer any questions you may have regarding your accident or filing an accident claim.
No matter the cause of your car crash, our experienced team of Rochester car accident attorneys is equipped to handle it. We have successfully represented clients injured in car accidents involving other vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists, trucks, buses, pedestrians, and more. Our team of successful lawyers work on a variety of car accident cases and have helped clients obtain the best result possible in the following types of car accidents:
“After studying pre-medicine in college, I decided to pursue a career in law and to dedicate my professional life to the pursuit of justice. To that end, right out of law school, I was appointed as an Assistant District Attorney for the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. As a prosecutor in New York City, I worked tirelessly to seek out justice for people who were victims of crimes. In doing that, I gained invaluable experience as a trial attorney.”
If you or a loved one were injured in a Rochester car accident, you can be assured that our team of experienced car accident attorneys at The Barnes Firm will work hard to help you get the best result possible for your case.
Below are some steps that we recommend you follow after being injured in a car accident in order to assure your rights are protected so that you can try to recover the best result possible for your claim. If you were involved in a car accident, consider taking the following steps:
Our team of Rochester car accident lawyers have handled thousands of car accident cases and have found the most common causes of car accidents in Rochester include:
No matter the cause of your accident, if you were injured by a negligent driver, you may be entitled to financial compensation. The Barnes Firm is here to help guide you every step of the way to help you get the best result possible for your accident claim.
New York is a no-fault state. This means after a car accident, you will turn to insurance to receive financial compensation for your injuries, regardless of who is liable for the crash. Unfortunately, insurance companies will often try to pay out quickly without fully investigating the cause of your accident or the extent of your injuries. When you partner with The Barnes Firm, we will evaluate your accident and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf to assure you receive the financial compensation you deserve.
Insurance companies will only pay up to certain policy limits in New York State. If your injuries exceed what the insurance company will pay, under New York’s comparative fault laws, you can potentially file an injury claim against anyone who contributed to your car accident injuries including another driver, motorcyclist, pedestrian, bicyclist, rideshare driver, and others. The Rochester car accident attorneys at The Barnes Firm will assure all liable parties are held responsible for their actions. Call us today at (800) 800-0000 for a FREE case evaluation.
The severity of your injuries after a car accident will depend on the circumstances surrounding the collision. It is always a good idea to seek medical attention after a car accident as injuries and symptoms may take days or weeks to show up. Some of the most common injuries resulting from a car accident include:
After an accident, your focus should be on your health and recovering from your injuries. Our Rochester car accident attorneys are here to help you do that – call us today at (800) 800-0000 and speak an attorney.
Our Rochester car accident lawyers at The Barnes Firm have the knowledge and experience to recover financial compensation for the following losses after a car accident:
If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident in Rochester or the surrounding areas, our experienced team of car accident attorneys are here to help you get the best result possible. The attorneys at The Barnes Firm understand that another driver’s carelessness may cause you stress and hardships, but you shouldn’t have to worry about lost wages, medical costs, and other types of physical pain and financial concerns. Our team of experienced attorneys are here to help you get the best result possible.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, slip and fall, construction accident, or have suffered another type of personal injury contact our team today.
Free Case Evaluation or call us: (800) 800-0000Client Reviews
The Barnes Firm was very friendly, always quick to respond to our calls, emails. When we had any questions or concerns they were there to walk us through everything. Would definitely recommend them to anyone that is looking for an attorney that will honestly fight for you and has your best interest in mind.
Most people have never needed a lawyer when they find themselves injured and in need of legal advice. We hear the following questions from many of our clients. We hope the answers help clarify your options and considerations.
You should get a NY car accident lawyer when at least one person suffers an injury from the accident. Injuries are the basis for many claims and subsequent lawsuits in civil court. If you suffer an injury, the other person can be liable for your damages.
The average car accident settlement in New York is around $287,000 for significant cases. This is eight times more than the national average. However, injury victims might get anywhere from a few hundred dollars to hundreds of thousands, and some cases can result in millions, depending on the circumstances.
Read more about here: How Much Should a Settlement Be for a Car Accident?
New York allows anyone who sustained a severe injury in a car accident to sue for damages. The definition of serious injury involves dismemberment, death, loss of a fetus, and more. Serious injuries extend to non-permanent injuries that leave a victim out of work for at least 90 days. A good rule of thumb is if you have medical expenses over $50,000, you can sue for a car accident. Before you can file a lawsuit, you must go through the insurance claim process first. There are various restrictions and deadlines to consider before filing a lawsuit.
Typically, a car accident lawsuit can take a couple of weeks to a few months to resolve. In some instances, it can take up to a year or longer. The length it takes can depend on liability issues, insurance policy limits, and injury severity. You must wait until you finish your medical treatment before accepting a settlement. Do not try to rush the process. Stick to our treatments and work with your legal team.
Once you file an insurance claim for a New York car accident, the insurance company must settle within 35 business days. However, they have other deadlines to respond to your lawsuit. The state gives them 15 days from the filing date to respond. They can respond by asking for additional information, such as details about the accident or medical records. When they ask for more information, it can be a delay tactic.
New York is a no-fault state. That means drivers must submit claims to their insurance company after a crash. The insurer can cover economic and noneconomic losses. If you were in an accident, the insurance company can reimburse you for damages. This reimbursement comes regardless of who is responsible for causing the accident. Motorists must have liability insurance with the following minimum coverage options:
The insurance company can pay this out to the driver and the passenger in the vehicle. It can also cover damages for pedestrians who were struck by your car.
We must examine your insurance coverage and the victim’s injuries to determine what happens next. When you have insurance, you are covered under no-fault law. That means any losses you cause can be covered. If there is a claim filed, that can increase your insurance premium. If you break any laws, you may also have to deal with a ticket.
You will also have the chance to defend yourself. There are some common defenses you can use. You can try to show you were not at fault. You can also show the injured person contributed to the collision, thus splitting the responsibility between multiple parties. Or you can show they miscalculated their damages.
Car accidents stay on your record and can impact your insurance coverage. You will want these accidents off your record as soon as possible. A car accident will typically stay on your record for four years in New York. It can remain on your record even longer if it is a severe accident. If there is alcohol involved, then you will be facing criminal charges, and the timeline will extend even more.
New York personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. That means they will get a percentage of your final settlement. This percentage can vary by firm. It will also change the further along you go in your claim. You may have one percentage during pre-litigation and then a different one in litigation. Some attorneys can also up the percentage if the case goes to trial.
Learn more: How Much Does a Lawyer Charge for a Car Accident Case?
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"My personal injury lawyer was Timothy Hedges from The Barnes Firm in Rochester N.Y. He worked very diligently with the case and was very helpful with how things were goi...
"The Barnes Firm treated me like family with honesty and answered all my questions immediately with a strong resolution to the benefit of my family."
"Brett Manske of The Barnes Firm helped me with my hit and run case he was very personable and cared about my situation always making sure I was taken care of would make ...
"After a certain other supposed Auto injury specialist dropped me like a hot potato I was fortunate enough to get Tim Hedges and Sarah McGee of the Barnes firm to take th...
"I had a great experience working with Richard Amico and his team. They were responsive to my questions and got me a great settlement. They definitely were working in my ...
"My lawyer was great I was very impressed by my lawyer and thankful, thank you so much, Brett!"
"I can’t say enough regarding the personal and caring attention attorney Brett Manske has provided my wife and myself, following out automobile accident. Having worked ...
"Anna Robbins and her assistant Alex were top notch! They were kind, compassionate and there for us when we needed them. They were able to turn a difficult situation with...
"Tim Hedges & Sara McGee took great care of me after my car accident in 2023. They both kept me informed & updated me with plenty of texts, emails & phone cal...
"Tim Hedges was my attorney and the whole Barnes Firm team was fantastic! They helped me through my injuries."
"After my accident The Barnes Firm helped me navigate the legal process quickly, professionally, and compassionately. I highly recommend them."
"Anna Robbins was amazing with my personal injury lawsuit."
"My personal injury lawyer was Tim Hedge and he helped my daughter and I with our car accident lawsuit. Big thanks to Sara for making the process smooth. I can't thank th...
"Everyone was very helpful. Brett Manske and Cindy Corcimiglia were always there for me and answered all my questions. They were Great !! Thank you Barnes Firm."
"These are the best attorneys that you can get for a car accidents me and my family we love them and I referred them to my families."
"Brett is one of the best lawyers I’ve ever ran into! His work and timing is wonderful. Along with Cindy (his assistant) she’s definitely wonderful with communication...
"We chose the Barnes firm after my daughter was hit by a drunk driver last may. Brett was very caring,professional and really cared about doing everything he could for my...
"The Barnes Firm helped me with my car accident, I highly recommend!!"
"Tim Hedges and his assistant, Sara McGee, worked so hard for me with my personal injury case! They went above and beyond to help me get a settlement that was fair and pr...
"Tim Hedges was great all throughout my experience. We had to deal with additional obstacles with Covid and what not, but he always kept me updated and made me feel comfo...
"My personal injury lawyer Brett Manske was awesome. He helped me so much with my dad's case. The atmosphere was always welcoming when I would go in. Mr. Brett and Cindy ...
"It was a pleasure working with The Barnes Firm, they were very welcoming and always available with our questions and concerns. Mary and Brett were very professional and ...
"Anna and Alex were great to work with. They kept me in the loop with my case and were very helpful and encouraging. I am very pleased and would recommend!"
"Excellent experience with the Barnes Firm."
"On August 30th 2021 I was in a serious car accident I needed some one to handle my case I found the Barnes Firm the staff of Tim Hedges and Sarah was excellent they went...
"Tim made this a painless experience and Sara was great. If you ever need a lawyer, this is one of the best firms to go with."
"Tim and Sara at The Barnes Firm were the best. They handled everything in a timely and professional fashion. I’d recommend them to anyone going through the hassle of a...
"Brett Manske and Cindy Corcimiglia were absolutely awesome! The patience and perseverance led to a great outcome. I would recommend The Barnes Firm for anyone with a sli...
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