Content Reviewed By:
John Richmond, Co-Founding Member
- November 18, 2024
Even a seemingly minor car accident in Niagara Falls can lead to significant injuries, resulting in mounting medical bills, missed time from work, and a lengthy recovery. You may have to look beyond insurance to collect compensation that completely covers all your losses.
If you’ve been in a car accident in Western New York, you need an experienced attorney to help you assess your damages, investigate your case, determine liability, and seek fair compensation. Our Niagara Falls car accident lawyers have the experience and history of success you need to pursue fair damages in settlement negotiations or court.
- Reasons To Work With a Car Accident Lawyer at Richmond Vona
- What Is the Statute of Limitations for Auto Accidents?
- How New York’s No-Fault Law May Affect Your Case
- How Can I Be Compensated in a Car Accident Case?
- Liability in Niagara Falls Car Accident Cases
- Services Richmond Vona Provides for Your Auto Accident Case
- Contact Our Niagara Falls Car Accident Lawyers
Reasons To Work With a Car Accident Lawyer at Richmond Vona
Our founding partners, John E. Richmond and Keith R. Vona, have 30 years of combined experience in personal injury law. We pride ourselves on taking the time to understand the unique circumstances of your case so we can work toward the best possible outcome. Our approach is geared toward providing our clients with the best service possible by focusing on the following:
Collaborative success: Our team-centric work environment enhances relationships, enabling us to leverage our combined experience in seeking the best outcomes for our clients.
Commitment to thorough communication and a supportive environment: We will keep you informed throughout your case and answer any questions you or your family have. The time after a car accident is stressful, and you deserve consistent updates and access to your lawyer to help alleviate as much anxiety as possible.
Community connection: Our auto injury lawyers in Niagara Falls are well-versed in local legal and procedural nuances, which we believe contributes to our success. We have deep ties to the western New York area, which enhances our understanding of the area and our commitment to our clients.
Record of successful outcomes: Our firm has a strong history of positive case results for our clients. We've recovered over $175 million on their behalf, including $1.2 million in a motor vehicle accident case.
No upfront costs: We offer free case evaluations and take our car accident cases on a contingency basis. You don't pay us unless we win, which gives you a risk-free way to explore your legal options.
What Is the Statute of Limitations for Auto Accidents?
New York has a three-year statute of limitations for car accidents, meaning you must file suit within three years of the accident date. If you do not file your claim by the deadline, a judge will likely dismiss your case regardless of your damages. If you are filing a wrongful death claim because a loved one died in a car accident, you have two years from the date of death.
You must file a claim with your insurance company for your no-fault insurance benefits within 30 days of your accident. There is an exception to this rule if you can clearly justify why you couldn’t file sooner. In your claim, you must provide details of the time, place, and circumstances of your crash and the names of any injured parties.
How New York's No-Fault Law May Affect Your Case
New York is a no-fault car insurance state. New York law requires all drivers to carry minimum auto insurance coverage. Injured auto accident victims must first seek compensation through their no-fault personal injury protection, or PIP, coverage after a crash. PIP coverage generally pays some medical expenses and lost wages from an accident. However, if you suffer more than $50,000 in basic economic losses or a “serious injury” as defined by statute, you may pursue a claim against an at-fault party to recover your damages.
How Can I Be Compensated in a Car Accident Case?
If insurance does not sufficiently cover your damages and you move forward with a lawsuit, you may be able to collect economic and non-economic damages, including the following:
- Medical bills and future medical costs
- Rehabilitation costs
- Home nursing or other aides
- Medication/pain management
- Property damage
- Lost wages and future earnings
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
- Funeral and burial costs in wrongful death claims
Our car accident attorneys in Niagara Falls rely on a trusted team of financial, accident reconstruction, and medical experts to calculate the total costs of your accident. Our comprehensive approach includes assessing your lifetime costs so you can pursue damages that fully compensate you, even in the case of catastrophic injuries.
Handling Insufficient Insurance Coverage From At-Fault Drivers
If an at-fault driver doesn’t have insurance or doesn’t have enough to cover your damages, you turn to your own policy’s uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. You must provide documentation showing that the other driver’s insurance did not cover your damages.
Insurance companies try to protect profits, and you can’t count on yours being on your side. An adjuster may question your assessment of your damages and offer less than what you deserve. An experienced car accident lawyer in Niagara Falls, NY, can gather the needed evidence and persuade the insurance company to offer a fair settlement.
“At Richmond Vona, we know that medical records never tell the full story; they don’t explain how injuries from a car crash impact every aspect of your life. We make sure that insurance companies fully understand how your injuries from your car accident have affected your life, and work hard to ensure that the insurance company settles your case for a full and fair value.”
Liability in Niagara Falls Car Accident Cases
Following an accident, you must determine how it occurred and who is responsible. If your damages exceed $50,000 or you suffer a serious injury, you can file a lawsuit to cover your excess damages.
In addition to the other driver, several other parties may hold responsibility for your accident, including the following:
- Rideshare companies – If the at-fault driver was logged on as a rideshare diver, you may have a claim against a rideshare company.
- Government entities – If your crash resulted from poor road conditions or lack of signs, a government agency may be responsible.
- At-fault drivers’ employers – If the driver was working at the time of your accident or the company failed to maintain the vehicle, you may also have a claim against the employer.
- Manufacturers – If defective parts contributed to your crash or injuries, you may have a product liability claim against the manufacturer. Manufacturers are strictly liable if product flaws directly contribute to accidents or injuries. For example, defective brakes may contribute to an accident, or a defective airbag could worsen your injuries.
How Comparative Negligence Affects Your Niagara Falls Car Accident Case
In New York, your share of the blame for your accident affects the amount you can collect in compensation. New York follows a pure comparative negligence model in car accident cases. That means you can collect compensation even if you are primarily at fault for the accident, as long as you are not totally responsible for it. Your compensation is reduced in proportion to your share of the blame.
For example, if you sustain $100,000 in damages and are 60 percent at fault for your accident, you can collect $40,000. This standard benefits New York drivers, as most states do not allow you to collect compensation if you hold more liability than the other party.
"*" indicates required fields
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.
Services Richmond Vona Provides for Your Auto Accident Case
Our Niagara Falls personal injury law firm offers comprehensive legal services to tackle all our clients’ challenges after auto accidents. We are committed to personalized service that matches the unique circumstances of each claim.
Contact Our Niagara Falls Car Accident Lawyers
You don’t have to navigate the aftermath of a car accident in Niagra Falls and deal with insurance companies alone. Let our experienced, award-winning attorneys handle all the details of your claim. You can focus on healing, and we can focus on getting you the best outcome possible. We also provide comprehensive legal services for those involved in truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, and other accidents caused by someone else’s actions.
Call us today at 716-500-5678 or complete our online form for a free case evaluation.
