Content Reviewed By:
John Richmond, Co-Founding Member
- November 18, 2024
New York is a no-fault insurance state, which means drivers in Buffalo and across the state are required to purchase basic no-fault insurance, also known as personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. This coverage will cover economic losses after being injured in a motor vehicle accident, regardless of who was at fault. Even if your accident occurred due to another driver’s negligence, your initial claim for basic economic losses will be filed with your own insurer through PIP.
However, there are times when an accident causes such serious injuries that you may exhaust your personal injury benefits. In these cases, it’s important to connect with a New York car accident lawyer to discuss your options for pursuing further compensation. Richmond Vona is here to help. Contact us online or call (716) 500-5678 for a free consultation.
- Working With A Team of Experienced Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Lawyers
- What Does PIP Cover in New York?
- What Is the PIP Limit in New York?
- How Do I File a PIP Claim in Buffalo?
- Can Passengers and Pedestrians File a PIP Claim?
- What Should I Do If PIP Does Not Cover All My Losses?
- Let Our Attorneys Handle Your Buffalo PIP Coverage Claim
Working With A Team of Experienced Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Lawyers
At Richmond Vona, our attorneys have extensive experience handling PIP claims and auto accident lawsuits. Our PIP lawyers can help you receive your benefits and file a personal injury lawsuit if your injuries and losses are serious. You can count on us to:
- Identify all liable parties and sources of compensation.
- Send demand letters to the at-fault parties and their representatives.
- Negotiate a settlement with the other party’s insurer.
- File a lawsuit if insurers refuse to compensate you fairly.
- Handle the pre-litigation process, including gathering all available evidence.
- Represent you in court if a settlement is not reached.
Some of the case results Richmond Vona has achieved for motor vehicle accident victims include the following:
- $4.25 million for a tractor-trailer delivery driver.
- $1.2 million for a head-on collision.
- $825,000 for a car crash.
What Does PIP Cover in New York?
PIP insurance is designed to pay victims promptly after a crash, avoiding the delays that come with settlement negotiation in at-fault insurance states. PIP benefits cover economic losses like:
- Reasonable and necessary medical expenses.
- Eighty percent of lost earnings (up to $2,000 per month) for three years.
- Up to $25 per day for necessary expenses (e.g., cleaning services and medical transportation).
- $2,000 for funeral and burial expenses if the accident resulted in death.
There are damages that PIP doesn’t cover, such as car repairs and non-economic damages like pain and suffering. Additionally, some situations disqualify people from receiving PIP benefits. These include driving drunk, intentionally causing your own injuries, riding an ATV or motorcycle, committing a felony, or driving a stolen or uninsured vehicle.
What Is the PIP Limit in New York?
To satisfy New York’s car accident requirements, you must purchase no-fault, liability, and uninsured motorist (UM) insurance. No-fault benefits cover basic economic losses up to $50,000, though many insurers offer additional PIP coverage as a policy add-on.
New York law also requires that drivers carry liability insurance of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury (respectively, $50,000 and $100,000 for fatal injuries) and $10,000 for property damage. Additionally, motorists must carry corresponding amounts in uninsured motorist (UM) coverage.
How Do I File a PIP Claim in Buffalo?
The first step to filing a PIP claim in Buffalo is notifying your auto insurer about the accident as soon as possible after it occurred. In New York, you must notify your PIP insurer within 30 days. You also have 45 days after starting medical treatment to submit healthcare bills. If you wait too long to take action, it could undermine your claim for compensation.
New York has a number of forms related to PIP claims that you may need to fill out in order to receive benefits, depending on the circumstances of your accident and injuries. The most common include:
- Form NF-2 – This form allows you to apply for no-fault benefits under the state’s no-fault laws. It asks for details about you, your crash, your injuries, and treatment costs.
- Form NF-3 – This form must be submitted to verify treatment by a physician or other healthcare provider no later than 45 days after treatment. It covers rehabilitation, long-term care, and occupational therapy. It is not used to verify hospital treatment.
- Form NF-AOB – This assignment of benefits form allows you to transfer your benefits to another person, such as a passenger or pedestrian, after an accident.
Can Passengers and Pedestrians File a PIP Claim?
No-fault insurance covers drivers, passengers, and pedestrians injured in an accident involving a covered vehicle. Again, the assignment of benefits form allows you to transfer your PIP benefits to another person who was injured in an accident involving your car.
What Should I Do If PIP Does Not Cover All My Losses?
If PIP benefits don’t cover all of your expenses after an accident, you could pursue a liability claim against the other driver, but only if you experienced a “serious injury” or economic loss over $50,000. Serious injuries include things like dismemberment, loss of a fetus, permanent or significant limitation of the body, or a disability that lasts at least 90 of the 180 days following an accident.
In these cases, our New York PIP lawyers can help you recover compensation for injuries and losses not covered by no-fault insurance. We are here to answer your questions and determine if you have a viable case. Through a liability claim or car accident lawsuit against a negligent driver, you can seek compensation beyond PIP benefits, including for non-economic damages like pain and suffering.
Let Our Attorneys Handle Your Buffalo PIP Coverage Claim
At Richmond Vona, our attorneys are experienced, aggressive, results-oriented advocates for car accident victims. With decades of combined personal injury experience and over $175 million recovered in settlements and verdicts, our top-rated personal injury attorneys take the time to get to know our clients and their cases, treating them with the dignity and respect they deserve.
If you have questions about PIP coverage in Buffalo, our team can help. Contact us online or call (716) 500-5678 for a free consultation. When the unexpected happens, expect Richmond Vona.
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This law firm goes above and beyond to fight for you. Their entire team treats you with respect and truly cares about your well-being. Look no further if you need a personal injury lawyer.
John Richmond and the team at Richmond Vona did an incredible job with my complicated personal injury case. They made sure no stone was unturned and got me the settlement I deserved for my situation. They treat you well, explain everything you need to know and more so you are always in the loop about the status of your case. John was easy to get in touch with anytime during the process and made signing paperwork easy and understandable. Their entire staff is professional and helpful throughout the process These guys are fair, trustworthy, and will stand up for you!
This firm’s attention to detail is second to none. It’s evident that they are true professionals and really care about their injured clients. This is the firm to call if you have been seriously injured due to someone else’s negligence.
