Are you suffering injuries from a car accident caused by another driver? At Scott C. Gottlieb & Associates, LLP, we take on the tough cases and win. Read about our recent victories so you know the level of compensation we are capable of achieving under the law for our injured clients.
Learn what not to do after a car accident in our slide show on the Five Steps to Avoid Losing Your Car Accident Case.
A car accident often leads to very serious injuries. It is imperative that your legal counsel be capable, experienced, and have a track record of high-value settlements and verdicts. Our legal team has exceptional qualifications. Our founder, Scott C. Gottlieb, as well as the other attorneys at our firm are all rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, the premier peer review lawyer rating service. You can be confident that we will do everything possible to help you achieve justice and the level of compensation to which you are entitled under the law. Whether your case involves brain injuries, spinal cord injuries or less serious types of damage, we will fight for full and fair compensation on your behalf.
35 Years of Experience in Car Accident Claims and Lawsuits
Our years of experience have proven to be of great benefit to those individuals we represent. We understand fully how insurance companies operate, and the various methods they use to attempt to reduce the value of a claim. Our tactics are professional and effective, and the end goal is full compensation for all damages.
We fully review every case to determine the likely level of compensation we will pursue. As our cases are taken on a contingency fee basis, you do not have to worry about paying attorneys’ fees until you receive compensation in a settlement or in a trial verdict. The client may be responsible for case disbursements.
We carefully prepare and present every case with full documentation and supporting evidence. The work we do early in your case could lead to a faster, higher level of compensation. Take the step to connect with us. Don’t delay. We are available to 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to serve you.
We Are Aggressive and Effective in Claims and at Trial
We are litigators, and have tried many personal injury trials in civil court with great success. Not all law firms in the Syracuse area are focused strictly on personal injury law, and many lawyers prefer not to go to court. Our car accident attorneys are both confident and well prepared when we present a case to a jury, and have no fear when we are forced to press forward and seek justice in court. When we accept your case, you will be working directly with one of our law firm partners, not a junior associate, assistant or paralegal. We believe that this is the level of service that our clients deserve.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome for other clients.
New York Car Accident Data
Every year, literally thousands of car accidents occur in the state of New York, many of which involve serious or fatal injuries. The numbers are staggering. In 2013 alone, there were:
- 304,804 total crashes
- 1,109 fatal crashes
- 124,505 crashes involving injuries
- 534,968 vehicles involved in accidents
- 1,188 people killed in car accidents
- 625 drivers who suffered fatal injuries
- 178 passengers who suffered fatal injuries
- 101,317 injured drivers
- 45,003 injured passengers
- 9,814 serious injury accidents
- 17,018 moderate injury crashes
- 82,880 minor injury crashes
These statistics show that the possibility of an injury or fatal crash is very real if you drive in the state of New York and in the Syracuse area. If you or your loved one has been injured or killed in a car accident, you need legal representation that helps you to fight for a fair level of compensatory damages.
The Syracuse car accident lawyers at Scott C. Gottlieb & Associates, LLP are steadfast in demanding fair compensation, and preparing cases for trial if the insurance company fails to make a fair offer within a reasonable period of time. Our aggressive approach has proven to be effective for our clients in the past, and we offer our services to you and your family. Call us or use our online form to submit the basic information about your case.
Syracuse Car Accident Lawyer: The Common Causes We See in Our Cases
Several situations commonly lead to serious or deadly car accidents, including the following types of negligent driving behavior:
Distracted driving
Drivers need to fully pay attention to the road when operating motor vehicles. Unfortunately, many drivers are distracted by daydreaming, talking or texting on cellphones, adjusting radio signals, eating, drinking, conversing with passengers, applying makeup, and many other types of distractions.
Driving too fast for conditions
Streets can be slick with rain, ice or snow, and visibility can be far lower under specific weather conditions. Some drivers just won’t slow down, and create a serious hazard for others sharing the streets or highways.
Mechanical failures
When a safety system on a vehicle fails, tragedy is often the outcome. Brakes, tires, accelerators, airbags and other safety systems that fail are the underlying cause in many auto accidents.
Drunk driving
Some drivers tragically choose to get behind the wheel and drive after consuming far too much alcohol. These drivers are responsible for many deaths and serious injuries, and must be held accountable for this terrible act of negligence.
Rear-end collisions
Drivers who are not paying attention to the road ahead are responsible for many rear-end accidents with disastrous outcomes. Whether speeding, distracted by in-vehicle systems, or texting or talking on a cellphone, these drivers put all others sharing the road at risk.
Icy Road Conditions
The winter season in Syracuse poses serious risks when a driver is sharing the road with an inexperienced driver, or someone who chooses to travel at an unsafe speed. The winter weather conditions add even more risk to drivers and their passengers, increasing the potential for an auto accident when another driver cannot control his or her vehicle.
Road rage
Aggressive drivers pose a serious risk to other vehicle operators and their passengers. A driver who tailgates, swerves in and out of lanes, or engages in other types of risky driving conduct puts all others in the area at high risk of injury or death.
New York Car Accident Law: The Facts about Filing a Claim
New York is a “no-fault” insurance state, which allows you to recover compensation for medical expenses and lost income from work. The law imposes various deadlines. First, you must file an accident report within 10 days. Second, you have 30 days to file a no-fault claim.
Other important requirements include:
- Multiple filing deadlines: File claims with the Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation, the entity responsible for no-fault benefits for those who were injured by driver without insurance.
- Multiple filing deadlines: File for lost wages.
- 30-day deadline: File for New York State Disability Benefits.
- 90-day deadline: File Notice of Claim (when applicable).
- As soon as possible: File a claim against the negligent driver.
- As soon as possible: File Supplementary Uninsured Motorists/Underinsured Motorist claim.
- Within three years: File a personal injury lawsuit. Earlier filing is advised, as it becomes more difficult to gather critical evidence to support the claim. Some minors may have the right to extend the three-year deadline.
New York No-Fault Insurance
If you are seeking compensatory damages beyond financial compensation for your medical bills or property damage, the injury you suffered must meet the legal criteria of being “serious.” Many New York car accident lawsuits are dismissed on these grounds, and the skills with which your case is prepared are a critical point in whether your lawsuit will move forward through the legal system.
Serious injuries include:
- Death;
- Dismemberment;
- Significant disfigurement;
- Fracture;
- Loss of a fetus;
- Permanent loss of use of a body organ, member, function or system;
- Significant limitation of use of a body function or system;
- A medically determined impairment or injury or impairment of a non-permanent nature which prevents the injured person from performing all of the material acts which constitute such person’s usual and customary daily activities for not less than 90 days in the 180 days immediately following the occurrence of the injury or impairment.
Contact a Syracuse Car Accident Lawyer Today
Our highly qualified and experienced team of top-rated attorneys is ready to take on your case. Whether your case is resolved through negotiating the terms of a settlement or presenting it at trial, we are knowledgeable about how to proceed and can advise you about the potential value of your settlement or verdict. Contact our firm to speak with us about your legal rights.
We will pursue the maximum level of compensation as allowed by state law. Your case will be given the full attention of your lawyer, and you can expect top quality service and compassionate representation. Call us or use our online form to get the answers you need in a free initial case review.
Resources:
- New York Department of Transportation
- New York State Department of Motor Vehicles
- 511NY.0rg – NY Traffic and Travel Related Information
- Safe-NY – NY Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee
Last Updated: January 6, 2015