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Westchester Car Accident Lawyer

Car crashes, whether fatal or minor, or anywhere in between, can significantly impact a victim and the victim’s family. Dealing with physical injuries or even lost wages or transportation is detrimental to everyone involved. That’s why the legal team at Lever & Ecker, PLLC has chosen to fight for thousands of motor vehicle accident victims and their families in Westchester County and across New York State.

Insurance adjusters are almost always resistant to paying claimants what they deserve, leaving victims of car accidents to deal with piling medical bills and lost wages, on top of the physical injuries they have suffered. Representing injured victims against the insurance companies to receive a fair and just settlement often requires the aid of experienced legal counsel. Our Westchester County car accident lawyers negotiate with insurance adjusters day in and day out, so we have the expertise to acquire the fair settlements that our clients deserve.

Were You Involved in a Car Accident in Westchester County, New York?

When a person is involved in a car accident, the last things they want to deal with are the complex legal and insurance issues that will soon follow. However, it is critical for individuals to ensure the protection of their rights after being involved in a car accident.

A Westchester County car accident attorney will have the training and experience to help victims recover for their losses. In addition to compensation for your pain and suffering, any accident-related medical costs, property damage, and other expenses associated with the incident could be appropriate for recovery under New York law.

Why Should You Hire Us to Represent You after a Car Crash in Westchester?

At Lever & Ecker, PLLC, our Westchester County car accident attorneys have more than six decades of combined experience. We specialize in helping auto accident victims in New York State recover what was lost as the result of another driver’s negligence. We understand the complexities associated with navigating the car accident claim process and have the legal insight, experience, and expertise required to guide victims through their car accident cases. For a free consultation to discuss what happened in your particular case, contact us via our online contact form.

  • With our more than 65 years of combined legal experience, we have successfully helped thousands of New York car accident victims obtain the compensation they deserve. Nobody should have to struggle to pay bills obtained as the result of someone else’s negligent behavior.
  • We care about our clients’ needs and make it a priority to respond to our clients’ calls promptly and compassionately. Our goal is to put our clients’ minds at ease by making sure that they fully understand each step of the process.
  • We understand that many car accident victims in Westchester County may undergo financial challenges as a result of the accident, so we always offer our skilled legal guidance on a contingency fee basis. This means that our clients only have to worry about payment if we succeed in recovering the compensation they deserve.

Our personalized, unique approach to automobile accident claims has proven results. We listen to our clients and look at your circumstances to decide how best to proceed, regardless of your financial means. We have seen great success with our style of approach and are grateful to say that our reputation in Westchester County speaks for itself. Countless clients have been referred to us by previous clients and their families and friends, and we still feel honored every time it happens.

How to File a Car Accident Injury Claim in Westchester County, New York

After a car accident, the victim has just one chance to file a claim properly. The legal world is filled with necessary procedures that must be followed correctly in order to have a claim be successful. If an injury is not properly documented and the appropriate medical treatment is not received, it can complicate a car accident case. This is especially so when witnesses are not correctly interviewed, and important photographs are not taken.

At Lever & Ecker, PLLC, our team will ensure things run smoothly during your car accident injury case. Your Westchester car accident lawyer will also provide you with a variety of services that are geared towards recovering the maximum amount of compensation for you and your family, including, but not limited to:

  • An independent and thorough investigation of your motor vehicle accident and collection of critical evidence to prove liability.
  • Consultations with experts in fields such as accident reconstruction, medical care and life-care planning.
  • Assurance that all documents will be filed correctly and in a timely manner so as to avoid any mishaps during your case.
  • A comprehensive review of your losses to determine the proper value of your claim.

After compiling enough evidence to establish a solid car accident claim, your attorney will aggressively negotiate with the auto insurance company representatives. If a full and fair settlement is unable to be agreed upon, then you will have a legal advocate to present a persuasive case on your behalf in court.

What Is New York’s Serious Injury Threshold?

Unfortunately, in New York, not every car accident victim is entitled to pursue a personal injury lawsuit. This is due to the state’s “serious injury” threshold. In order for a victim to pursue compensation beyond what is covered through No-Fault, your injury must qualify as a “serious injury” and be objectively verified by diagnostic testing. Under New York State Insurance Law Section 5102(d), the following categories qualify as “serious injury”:

  • Death
  • Dismemberment
  • Significant disfigurement
  • Bone fracture
  • The loss of a fetus
  • Permanent loss of use of a body organ, member, function, or system
  • Permanent consequential limitation of use of a body organ or member
  • Significant limitation of use of a body function or system
  • Injuries that prevent the victim from performing significant daily activities for at least 90 days out of the first 180 days after the accident (the “90/180 Day Rule”)

During your free consultation at Lever & Ecker, PLLC, a Westchester County car accident attorney will evaluate the circumstances surrounding your car accident and determine whether or not you have the ability to file a claim for your injuries.

What Damages Can I Recover after a Car Accident?

One of the biggest questions you may have when it comes to your car accident claim is what your car accident case may be worth. If you have the ability to file a third-party claim (i.e., a claim against the negligent driver), the three most common types of damages that can be pursued are:

Pain and Suffering

Pain and suffering is often the most substantial component of damages in a car accident case. These are non-economic damages that cannot be precisely calculated, including physical pain, mental distress, and anguish caused by the accident. When motor vehicle accidents involve egregious misconduct, such as drunk driving, punitive damages may be awarded as a form of punishment for the at-fault party. The amount of total damages awarded to a victim reflects the estimated cost of the pain and suffering that has occurred. Experienced auto accident attorneys can review the facts of your claim to give you an estimate of its value.

Medical Expenses

This amount of reimbursement you can receive for your medical expenses will depend on a few factors. The severity of your injuries and the amount of accumulated hospitalization fees, surgery costs, doctor visit bills, and medical accessory expenses will help determine the amount you are owed. Medical expense compensation will also include any future medical expenses a victim is expected to incur.

Loss of Income

Any injuries you have sustained in an accident could prevent you from working and may diminish your ability to return to your occupation in the future. When that is the case, you may be able to recover compensation for your loss of income. The value of this component will depend on several elements, including your age, occupation, time missed from work, experience, and life expectancy.

Types of Motor Vehicle Accidents We Handle in the Westchester County Area

Our auto accident injury lawyers have handled a diverse number of traffic accident and motor vehicle accident and injury cases, such as:

No matter what type of motor vehicle accident you were injured in, we urge you to seek legal counsel with Lever & Ecker, PLLC, for any damages you have suffered.

How Long Do I Have to File an Injury Claim for a Car Accident in Westchester County?

New York does have laws that limit the time an injured person has to file an injury claim after an automobile collision. This only applies to seeking legal remedies and not filing insurance claims.

In New York, a person has just three years to start a lawsuit concerning a motor vehicle accident, when the wrongdoer is a private citizen or corporation. If the negligent party works for a municipality or other public entity, the time to start the action is much shorter, and may be as little as one year, with the additional requirement that a document called a notice of claim must be filed within 90 days of the accident. Further, the victim has only 30 days to file a No-Fault insurance claim. An employer must be notified within 30 days of the accident for a person to qualify for Worker’s Compensation. There are some exceptions to this statute of limitations. It is always best to speak with one of our Westchester County personal injury attorneys as soon as possible to see if your case could still be valid.

Call an Experienced Car Accident Attorney in Westchester County, NY for a Free Consultation

There may come a time when a person’s insurance is not enough to cover the damages that they have incurred. Not all insurance companies are willing to give their policyholders everything they deserve. They may negotiate in bad faith. When this happens, it is time to seek legal remedies. 

At Lever & Ecker, PLLC, our legal team of experienced Westchester County car accident lawyers is dedicated to helping you recover damages from an automobile accident. We understand that a serious car, truck, bike, motorcycle, or pedestrian accident can leave a victim with severe injuries, extensive medical bills, lost wages, permanent disabilities, and chronic pain. Our team aggressively pursues car accident cases to the fullest extent necessary to get victims the compensation they deserve for their losses.

Though we often settle cases out of court in order to minimize the additional trauma that you and your family may suffer, our experienced, confident accident attorneys are always prepared to go to trial when necessary. To schedule a free consultation with our experienced auto accident attorneys in Westchester County, contact us via our online form, or by phone, at (914) 288-9191. We offer our Spanish-speaking clients bilingual legal representation. We never collect a fee unless you successfully win compensation for your injury.

Lever & Ecker, PLLC is located in White Plains, New York, and serves clients throughout the state, including New York City’s five boroughs (Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, and Staten Island) as well as Westchester County, Rockland County, and Long Island.

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$12m

Pedestrian struck by bus/wrongful death following lengthy conscious pain and suffering

Tragic bus collision involving pedestrian in crosswalk, causing catastrophic injuries which ultimately resulted in pedestrian’s wrongful death two weeks later. Lever & Ecker, PLLC, was able to obtain $12 million in compensation on behalf of the pedestrian’s surviving family. Not only was this settlement (the specific terms of which are confidential) one of the largest personal injury settlements in New York in 2020, we were able to resolve the case at an early stage, allowing the family to obtain a measure of closure and avoid the trauma of reliving the experience in court.

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