John Richmond, Co-Founding Member
- March 5, 2025
A car accident can change victims’ lives in ways they least expect. They have a lot to consider – expenses, lost income, and recovery time. Figuring out how to move forward can be overwhelming when they are healing from painful injuries.
If you have been in a traffic collision, a Rochester car accident lawyer from Richmond Vona can fight for your damages while you recover. We will handle your case and work for a favorable outcome. Our lawyers will also lead talks with the insurance company, which is not on your side.
We urge you to talk to our Rochester car crash attorneys before you talk to them. Call us today at 585-523-2336 for a free consultation to learn about your legal options. We can represent you at no upfront cost and get paid only if you recover compensation.
- How Our Rochester Car Accident Injury Lawyers Can Help Your Case
- Should I Hire A Car Accident Lawyer in Rochester, NY?
- We Will Address the Insurance and Liability Issues in Your Case
- How Comparative Negligence Applies to New York Car Accidents
- How to Assess Your Case’s Monetary Value
- Wrongful Death Damages in Fatal Auto Collisions
- Other Ways Our Rochester Motor Vehicle Attorneys Can Help
- New York Car Accidents Have a Filing Deadline
- Get Richmond Vona for Skilled, Fully Personalized Legal Guidance
How Our Rochester Car Accident Injury Lawyers Can Help Your Case
Richmond Vona has recovered more than $175 million for hundreds of clients who trusted us with their personal injury cases. Our case results include six- and seven-figure settlements, including one for $1.2 million and another for $825,000 for motor vehicle accidents. Attorney Brian Alterio won $150,000 for a client injured in a Rochester car accident.
We care about our clients and fight hard to secure the compensation that helps them rebuild their lives after a devastating event. Auto collisions are costly, so we pursue every opportunity to make negligent parties pay for their reckless actions. We also take pride in high levels of communication with our clients. We assign attorney, paralegal, and clerk teams to each case and institute workload maximums to ensure each client gets the personal attention they deserve.
Our team knows Rochester. Some of our team members grew up here, including Co-founder John E. Richmond. We’ve seen the city grow and change and learned to call it home alongside our families. We care about our community, and we’ll go above and beyond the legal process to help you recover from your injuries.
Call us today for a free consultation. We will review the accident, answer your questions with straightforward advice, and explain the next steps to take.
Should I Hire a Car Accident Lawyer in Rochester, NY?
You can consult with a car accident attorney about the collision for any reason, and the best time to do it is now. If any of the following applies to you, you can contact us today:
- You have serious injuries that require medical care and extended recovery.
- You’re losing income because your injuries won’t allow you to work.
- There’s a dispute over who caused the crash.
- The at-fault driver’s insurance company challenges your claim that its client caused the accident.
- Your car’s damages cost more than what the insurance company wants to pay.
- The auto accident involves complex liability issues.
- You want an attorney who can handle paperwork, meet filing deadlines, and take care of other case-related tasks.
We encourage you to reach out to us now to discuss your case, especially if an insurer has contacted you about a settlement offer. Our car accident lawyers in Rochester can tell you if this offer will meet your needs before you talk to an insurance company.
We Will Address the Insurance and Liability Issues in your Case
New York follows a “no-fault” system for motor vehicle accidents. This means drivers must first turn to their personal injury insurance (PIP) to cover accident-related medical bills and income loss. All state drivers must carry the minimum amount of auto insurance.
Drivers with serious injuries beyond their PIP policy limits can seek more compensation from the liable party outside the no-fault system. They can also seek payment for non-physical damages that PIP doesn’t cover, such as pain and suffering.
Our legal team can take on an insurer refusing to cover your losses, even if it’s your insurer. We can also tell you if you meet the serious injury threshold, which allows you to step outside the no-fault system.
How Comparative Negligence Applies to New York Car Accidents
You can still recover damages if you bear some responsibility for the accident. New York operates under a pure comparative negligence system. This means if more than one party is partially at fault for a crash, they share liability based on their percentage of fault.
If you collect a monetary award, your percentage of fault will be deducted from it. For example, if your award is $10,000 but you are 25% at fault, you would recover $7,500. We will present your case to show how the other party was negligent and advocate for the proper compensation for you.
How to Assess Your Case’s Monetary Value
We will pursue all the damages you can claim after a car accident. You can seek compensation for current or future economic and non-economic damages from your injuries. Economic damages, or those with a set financial cost, include medical expenses, future medical care, lost income, and property damage.
Non-economic damages have no specific dollar amount, but they affect the quality of your life. Examples include pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Every case has a different value based on the severity of the injuries and the specific circumstances behind the accident. After we analyze the specifics of your case, we can determine how much your injuries and losses are worth, assign a value to your case, and seek compensation.
Wrongful Death Damages in Fatal Auto Collisions
If your loved one suffered fatal injuries in a car accident, we are sorry for your loss. Our Rochester wrongful death lawyers will take care of your family’s needs.
We will prepare your New York wrongful death claim to recover costs, such as your loved one’s:
- Final arrangements (funeral and burial/cremation costs)
- Accident-related medical care
- Lost household income
- Other related losses
We can explain how wrongful death actions work in New York and advise you on which family members can pursue recovery.
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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.
Other Ways Our Rochester Motor Vehicle Attorneys Can Help
Hiring a car accident lawyer can protect your rights and ensure a professional is looking out for your interests. Our skilled attorneys can help you navigate various legal roadblocks that could impede your claim, including:
- New York’s no-fault insurance system and its exceptions regarding when victims are able to pursue additional compensation for serious injuries.
- The 90/180-day rule, which allows claimants to sue if their injuries disrupted their everyday activities for at least 90 of the 180 days immediately following the accident.
- Comparative negligence and how it might impact the value of your claim.
- Preparing you for trial, if necessary.
How We Investigate the Accident and Determine Who Should Cover Your Damages
Everyone who drives in Rochester owes everyone else on the road a duty of care. If someone’s reckless actions caused the crash, you can hold them responsible. We will thoroughly investigate to learn how the accident occurred.
This involves collecting evidence, which can include:
- The police report
- Witness statements
- Expert witness testimony
- Items from the accident scene
- Cellphone records
- Traffic cam surveillance footage
We may also learn of other parties we can hold liable depending on the crash, such as:
- Auto manufacturers if a defective car part caused the crash, such as faulty brakes.
- Mechanic shops or service providers if workers made vehicle repairs incorrectly.
- Employers if a driver was working on the clock when the accident occurred.
- Government entities responsible for the road’s condition, signage, maintenance.
- Other road users, including other drivers, cyclists, or pedestrians.
New York Car Accidents Have a Filing Deadline
Another reason to talk with a Rochester car accident lawyer from our firm right after a car accident is that you have a limited time to file a damages lawsuit. New York generally allows only three years from the accident date or the decedent’s death date to seek financial recovery with a lawsuit (NY CPLR § 214(5)).
If you don’t meet this deadline, you risk losing your right to sue. If limited exceptions apply to your case, this could change your filing time. After we review your case, we can confirm whether you have more or less time to file.
Get Richmond Vona for Skilled, Fully Personalized Legal Guidance
With more than two decades of combined experience in personal injury law, our team has the knowledge and skill to handle your Rochester car accident claim and achieve the results you deserve. Contact us online or call 585-523-2336 today to schedule a free consultation with our top-rated attorneys.
