Long Island Car Accident Lawyers
Car accidents on Long Island cause thousands of injuries and hundreds of deaths every year. In 2022, 254 people were killed in crashes across Nassau and Suffolk Counties — the highest level in decades and one-fifth of all traffic fatalities statewide. If you were injured in a car accident caused by someone else's negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. The car accident lawyers at Alonso Krangle LLP represent victims throughout Long Island and fight to recover the maximum compensation the law allows.
Car Accidents on Long Island
Long Island has some of the most dangerous roads in New York State. The combination of high-speed parkways, congested expressways, suburban intersections, and a large commuter population creates conditions that produce tens of thousands of accidents every year. According to the New York State Comptroller's 2024 report, motor vehicle fatalities statewide rose 25.8% between 2019 and 2022, reaching the highest level in a decade — and Long Island led the entire state in the number of deaths.
Traffic deaths on Long Island have increased approximately 40% since 2019. On a typical day, there are an average of 83 fatal or injury-causing motor vehicle accidents across Nassau and Suffolk Counties combined. The Southern State Parkway — a stretch sometimes called "Blood Alley" — is one of the most dangerous corridors, with oversized vehicles regularly crashing into low overpasses and high-speed rear-end collisions occurring near exits.
Suffolk County consistently ranks as one of the deadliest counties in New York for traffic accidents. The combination of rural backroads and high-speed arterials creates particularly dangerous conditions. Nassau County sees an enormous volume of rear-end collisions and multi-vehicle pileups, driven by congestion on the Southern State Parkway and the Long Island Expressway. Recent years have also seen a troubling rise in wrong-way driving incidents, alcohol-involved crashes, and fatal accidents involving teen drivers across both counties.
New York's No-Fault Insurance System
New York is a no-fault insurance state. This means that after a car accident, your own auto insurance company pays for your medical expenses and a portion of your lost wages — regardless of who caused the crash. These benefits, called Personal Injury Protection (PIP) or "first-party benefits," are available under Insurance Law § 5103.
Under Insurance Law § 5102(a), no-fault benefits cover up to $50,000 per person for: all necessary medical expenses (hospital, surgical, dental, ambulance, prescription drugs, physical therapy, and rehabilitation) without time limit, as long as treatment begins within one year of the accident; lost earnings up to $2,000 per month for up to three years; and other reasonable and necessary expenses up to $25 per day for one year. You must notify your insurance company within 30 days of the accident and file your no-fault application within 30 days as well.
The no-fault system provides quick access to funds for medical bills and lost wages. However, it has a critical limitation: no-fault benefits only cover economic losses. They do not cover pain and suffering, emotional distress, or loss of enjoyment of life. To recover those non-economic damages, you must meet New York's "serious injury threshold."
The Serious Injury Threshold: When You Can Sue
New York's no-fault law restricts your ability to sue the at-fault driver unless your injuries meet the "serious injury" standard defined in Insurance Law § 5102(d). This is the single most important legal concept in any New York car accident case. If your injuries do not meet this threshold, your case will be dismissed — regardless of how clearly the other driver was at fault.
Under § 5102(d), a "serious injury" is a personal injury that results in any of the following:
| Category | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Death | The accident caused the victim's death (wrongful death claim) |
| Dismemberment | Loss or amputation of a limb or body part |
| Significant disfigurement | Permanent scarring or disfigurement visible to others |
| Fracture | Any bone fracture caused by the accident |
| Loss of a fetus | Miscarriage caused by the accident |
| Permanent loss of use | Complete, permanent loss of use of a body organ, member, function, or system |
| Permanent consequential limitation | Permanent limitation of use of a body organ or member |
| Significant limitation | Significant limitation of use of a body function or system |
| 90/180-day rule | A medically determined injury that prevents you from performing substantially all of your usual daily activities for at least 90 of the 180 days following the accident |
Courts require objective medical evidence to prove that your injury meets the threshold — MRI results, range-of-motion measurements, physician evaluations, and diagnostic test results. Subjective complaints of pain alone are not enough. This is why having an experienced car accident attorney involved early in your case is critical: the medical documentation you obtain in the weeks and months following your accident directly determines whether your case can proceed.
Key Fact: The serious injury threshold does not apply to motorcycle accidents. Motorcycles are excluded from New York's no-fault system, which means motorcycle accident victims can sue for pain and suffering regardless of injury severity. It also does not apply when economic losses exceed the $50,000 no-fault cap.
Types of Car Accidents We Handle
The car accident lawyers at Alonso Krangle LLP handle cases involving every type of motor vehicle collision on Long Island, including:
Rear-End Collisions
The most common accident type on Long Island, particularly on congested parkways during rush hour. Rear-end crashes are frequently caused by distracted driving, tailgating, or sudden stops.
Head-On Collisions
Among the deadliest types of crashes. Head-on collisions are often caused by wrong-way driving, improper passing, or crossing the center line. Long Island has seen a troubling rise in wrong-way incidents.
Side-Impact (T-Bone) Crashes
These occur at intersections when a driver runs a red light or stop sign. T-bone accidents are statistically more dangerous than rear-end collisions because the side of a vehicle offers less structural protection.
Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents
Both Nassau and Suffolk Counties have higher rates of fatal pedestrian and bicycle accidents than the state average. Pedestrians and cyclists injured by a motor vehicle are covered by the driver's no-fault insurance.
Uber and Lyft Accidents
Rideshare accidents involve unique insurance and liability questions. Depending on whether the driver was logged into the app, carrying a passenger, or between rides, different insurance policies apply.
Distracted and Reckless Driving
Texting, phone use, speeding, tailgating, and aggressive driving are leading causes of crashes on Long Island. Distracted driving is the single most common contributing factor in New York traffic collisions.
We also handle cases involving multi-vehicle pileups, drunk and drugged driving accidents, construction zone collisions, sideswipe crashes, rollover accidents, uninsured and underinsured motorist claims, school bus accidents, accidents caused by defective vehicle parts, and accidents caused by dangerous road conditions. If your accident involved a commercial truck or motorcycle, separate legal rules may apply.
Injured in a Car Accident on Long Island?
The car accident lawyers at Alonso Krangle LLP serve victims in Nassau County, Suffolk County, and throughout Long Island. We offer free case evaluations and handle cases on a contingency fee basis — you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Common Injuries from Car Accidents
Even a low-speed collision can cause serious injuries, particularly to the neck and spine. Car accident injuries are not always immediately apparent — some develop over hours or days after the impact. This is why seeking prompt medical attention after any car accident is critical, both for your health and for your legal case.
Common injuries from car accidents on Long Island include: traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and concussions, which can result from striking the steering wheel, window, or dashboard, or from the force of the collision alone without a direct impact to the head; herniated and bulging discs in the cervical and lumbar spine; whiplash and other neck injuries, which are among the most common car accident injuries and can cause chronic pain and reduced range of motion; broken bones and fractures, including hip, wrist, rib, and facial fractures; spinal cord injuries that may result in partial or complete paralysis; internal organ damage and internal bleeding; lacerations, burns, and disfigurement; knee, shoulder, and soft tissue injuries; and post-traumatic stress disorder and other psychological injuries.
Many of these injuries meet the serious injury threshold under Insurance Law § 5102(d), allowing victims to pursue full compensation beyond what no-fault covers. An experienced attorney can help ensure your injuries are properly documented to meet this critical standard.
Proving Fault and Comparative Negligence
To recover damages beyond no-fault benefits, you must prove that the other driver was negligent — that they failed to drive with reasonable care and that their failure caused your injuries. Evidence used to prove fault in Long Island car accident cases includes police accident reports, witness statements, traffic camera and dashcam footage, photographs of the scene and vehicle damage, medical records, and accident reconstruction expert testimony.
New York follows a pure comparative negligence rule under CPLR § 1411. This means that even if you were partially at fault for the accident, you can still recover damages — but your award will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found 20% responsible for the accident and your total damages are $500,000, your recovery would be reduced by 20% to $400,000. Unlike some states, New York does not bar recovery even at high percentages of fault.
Key Fact: Insurance companies routinely attempt to assign partial blame to accident victims to reduce their payouts. Having an experienced car accident attorney handle communications with the insurance company from the beginning can prevent you from making statements that are later used against you to reduce your compensation.
Filing Deadlines
New York imposes strict deadlines for car accident claims. Missing these deadlines can permanently bar recovery.
| Action Required | Deadline | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Notify your insurance company of the accident | 30 days | Insurance Law § 5103 |
| File no-fault application (NF-2) | 30 days from accident | 11 NYCRR § 65-1.1 |
| File personal injury lawsuit | 3 years from accident | CPLR § 214 |
| File wrongful death lawsuit | 2 years from date of death | EPTL § 5-4.1 |
| Government vehicle/entity (Notice of Claim) | 90 days from accident | GML § 50-e |
| Government vehicle/entity (lawsuit) | 1 year and 90 days | GML § 50-i |
Government Vehicle Accidents: If your accident involved a government-owned vehicle (police car, municipal bus, county truck, school bus operated by a government entity), you must file a Notice of Claim within 90 days under GML § 50-e. This deadline is extremely short and strictly enforced. Missing it can bar your claim entirely, even if the government driver was clearly at fault.
What to Do After a Car Accident on Long Island
- Call 911 and report the accident. New York law requires that you report any accident involving injury, death, or property damage exceeding $1,000 to the police. A police report creates an official record of the accident that is critical evidence in your case.
- Get medical attention immediately. Even if you feel fine, get evaluated by a doctor as soon as possible. Many serious injuries — including traumatic brain injuries, herniated discs, and internal bleeding — are not immediately apparent. Delaying treatment creates gaps in your medical record that insurance companies will use against you.
- Document the scene. Take photographs of all vehicles involved, the accident scene, traffic signals, road conditions, skid marks, and your injuries. Get the names and contact information of all witnesses. Exchange insurance information with the other driver but do not discuss fault.
- Notify your insurance company within 30 days. Under New York law, you must notify your own auto insurance company of the accident and file a no-fault application (NF-2 form) within 30 days to preserve your right to PIP benefits.
- Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance company. The at-fault driver's insurer will contact you quickly. They are trained to get you to say things that reduce your claim. Politely decline and refer them to your attorney.
- Contact a car accident attorney. An experienced attorney can handle insurance communications, ensure your injuries are properly documented to meet the serious injury threshold, preserve critical evidence, and pursue all available compensation. Alonso Krangle LLP offers free consultations and handles car accident cases on a contingency fee basis.
Compensation Available in Car Accident Cases
Depending on the severity of your injuries and the circumstances of the accident, you may be entitled to recover several categories of compensation.
No-fault (PIP) benefits cover up to $50,000 in medical expenses, lost wages (up to $2,000/month for 3 years), and other expenses — regardless of fault. If your injuries meet the serious injury threshold, you can pursue a claim against the at-fault driver for: all medical expenses beyond the no-fault cap, including future medical care; lost wages and loss of earning capacity beyond the no-fault limit; pain and suffering, which is often the largest component of a car accident settlement; emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life; and loss of consortium (the impact on your spouse and family relationships).
In wrongful death cases, surviving family members can recover funeral and burial expenses, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship under EPTL § 5-4.1. In rare cases involving gross negligence or intentional misconduct, punitive damages may also be available.
New York requires all drivers to carry minimum liability insurance of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury. If the at-fault driver's insurance is insufficient to cover your damages, you may be able to recover additional compensation through your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, if you carry it.
Get Help from Experienced Car Accident Lawyers
Alonso Krangle LLP has been representing car accident victims across Long Island for over 20 years. Our offices are in Melville, and we serve clients in every community across Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Call today for a free case evaluation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Only if your injuries meet the "serious injury" threshold defined in Insurance Law § 5102(d). New York's no-fault system covers your basic medical expenses and lost wages through your own insurance, but to sue the at-fault driver for pain and suffering, your injury must fall into one of nine categories: death, dismemberment, significant disfigurement, fracture, loss of a fetus, permanent loss of use, permanent consequential limitation, significant limitation, or the 90/180-day rule. Courts require objective medical evidence to prove qualification.
The statute of limitations for personal injury claims is three years from the date of the accident under CPLR § 214. Wrongful death claims must be filed within two years. If a government vehicle was involved, a Notice of Claim must be filed within 90 days under GML § 50-e. You must also notify your own insurance company and file a no-fault application within 30 days of the accident.
No-fault (PIP) insurance covers up to $50,000 per person for medical expenses, lost earnings (up to $2,000/month for 3 years), and other reasonable expenses (up to $25/day for 1 year). These benefits are paid by your own insurance company regardless of who caused the accident. No-fault does not cover pain and suffering — that requires meeting the serious injury threshold and filing a separate claim against the at-fault driver.
New York follows a pure comparative negligence rule under CPLR § 1411. You can still recover damages even if you were partially at fault, but your award will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are 30% at fault and your damages total $300,000, your recovery would be reduced to $210,000. There is no threshold that bars recovery entirely.
No. The other driver's insurance company is working to minimize your claim, not to help you. They may ask you for a recorded statement, request broad medical authorizations, or try to get you to accept a quick settlement before you understand the full extent of your injuries. You should refer all communications from the at-fault driver's insurer to your attorney.
If your injuries meet the serious injury threshold, you can recover medical expenses beyond the $50,000 no-fault cap (including future medical care), lost wages and loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium. In wrongful death cases, families can recover funeral expenses, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship under EPTL § 5-4.1.
Alonso Krangle LLP handles car accident cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay no upfront fees, no hourly charges, and no costs out of pocket. We only get paid if we recover compensation for you. The initial consultation is always free and confidential.
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