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Car Accidents

Syracuse Car Accident Lawyer

Filing a Car Accident Claim in New York

Front of car smashed in after an accidentEvery day, thousands of people can be found driving in Syracuse and throughout Central New York—and every day, somebody will get into a car accident. Car accidents can result in serious injuries that have a major, lasting impact on the victims’ lives.

If you or someone you love was involved in a car accident, the Syracuse car accident lawyers at Cherundolo Law Firm, PLLC are here to help. We have a proven track record of helping injured victims secure the fair financial compensation they needed—and were owed—to get back on their feet.

We are committed to holding negligent motorists accountable and can help you seek a favorable resolution to your car accident case.

Contact Cherundolo Law Firm, PLLC online or call our office at (315) 544-3332 today to request a free consultation. We can travel to meet you if necessary.

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When Are Car Accidents the Result of Negligence?

Typically, car accidents are the result of another driver's negligence. When this is the case, injured victims and the loved ones of those wrongfully killed can seek financial compensation for their damages by filing personal injury or wrongful death claims. But how can you know when another motorist was negligent?

In some cases, it’s obvious that another person was negligent. This is true when someone clearly violates traffic laws, leading to an accident. In other cases, however, it can be more difficult to tell and/or prove that another driver’s negligence is what led to the crash.

Some of the most common causes of car accidents that can be attributed to negligence include:

  • Speeding
  • Distracted driving (including cell phone use/texting while driving)
  • Drunk driving
  • Fatigued driving or falling asleep at the wheel
  • Inexperience and errors
  • General carelessness
  • Failure to stop at red lights or stop signs
  • Traffic law violations, such as illegal turns, lane changes, etc.
  • Unsafe passing

This is not a comprehensive list; there are many, many causes of car accidents that can be categorized as “negligence.” Any time another motorist fails to uphold their duty of care to others on the road, that driver can be held legally liable for any accident and injuries that result.

Our Syracuse Car Accident Lawyers Are Ready to Help

At Cherundolo Law Firm, PLLC, we are well-versed in all types of auto accident claims, including very complex cases involving multiple vehicles, commercial trucks, motorcycles, and more.

Our Syracuse car accident attorneys have assisted victims of all types of collisions, including but not limited to:

  • Rear-end accidents
  • Head-on collisions
  • T-bone accidents
  • Sideswipes
  • Multi-vehicle accidents

A driver may have been texting at the time of the crash, or they may have been under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In other cases, the at-fault motorist was driving recklessly or engaging in road rage. In any case, our personal injury attorneys work tirelessly to hold negligent drivers accountable.

Common Injuries from Car Accidents

When you're in a car accident, even a small fender-bender, you can suffer a wide range of injuries. These injuries include:

  • Brain injuries
  • Back injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries/paralysis
  • Cuts
  • Burns
  • Internal injuries
  • Broken bones
  • Fractures
  • Whiplash
  • And more.

Even if you consider an injury to be minor, it's still a good idea to reach out to a personal injury lawyer to see how they can help. That minor injury could turn into a much larger issue down the line and be detrimental to your well being and livelihood.

Damages in New York Car Accident Cases

Injuries suffered in a car accident can lead to hospitalization, surgery, medication, and physical therapy. You may be left in pain and unable to work, resulting in a loss of income. More serious injuries—such as traumatic brain injuries or spinal cord injuries—can cause permanent damage and require lifelong care.

Additionally, during your recovery, you may be unable to return to work, resulting in lost wages/income. If your injuries are catastrophic or disabling, you may be permanently unable to return to your previous employment, meaning you will lose income over the course of your lifetime. And, of course, the immense physical pain and emotional distress that accompanies car accident injuries cannot be overstated.

At Cherundolo Law Firm, PLLC, we can help you seek fair compensation for all of your damages. These may include past and future medical expenses, lost income, and non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering.

How a Syracuse Car Accident Attorney Can Help You with Your Claim

Insurance companies usually make low-ball settlement offers, hoping to make claims go away quickly and cheaply. However, at Cherundolo Law Firm, PLLC, we investigate car accident claims and look for evidence of negligence. Sometimes the negligent parties include a manufacturer of a car or auto part that was defective.

We conduct exhaustive investigations and pursue all possible avenues of recovery; then, we bring your case to the insurance company and work to negotiate a fair settlement. When this isn’t possible, we are prepared to aggressively represent you and your best interests at trial.

Cherundolo Law Firm, PLLC is known for having the knowledge, experience, and resources needed to take on big cases—and win. We are proud of our case results, which include multimillion-dollar settlements and verdicts, because those results have helped clients get the financial compensation they needed to rebuild their lives.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, take the first step to protect your rights. Contact us to schedule a free consultation with one of our Syracuse auto accident attorneys. We will review your case, go over your options, and answer any questions you have.

Call (315) 544-3332 or contact our Syracuse car accident lawyers online to get started.

New York Car Accident FAQ

What's the Standard Percentage Lawyers Take After a Car Accident Lawsuit in New York?

Contingency fees will pay your injury attorney a percentage of your winnings. The percentage amount varies from case to case because it changes depending on the complexity and length of a case. However, on average, car accident attorneys are usually paid roughly 33% of the settlement or jury award given to their clients.
Some cases may go lower, around 25% or so, and some may go higher, up to 40% or so. At our law firm, we always make sure our clients fully understand the contingency fee percentage we apply to their case and why we set that amount before they sign any contract to hire us.

When Should I Hire an Attorney After a Car Accident?

You should hire an attorney after a car accident if you were seriously injured in the crash, you must miss weeks of work to recuperate, your car was significantly damaged, or the other driver is acting noncooperative.
Basically, if your crash was serious enough to worry you about what you are going to do now that it happened, then it is serious enough to warrant the hiring of a car accident lawyer. Get a free consultation with our firm to discuss whether or not you should have an attorney working on your case.

How is Pain and Suffering Calculated in a Car Accident?

“Pain and suffering” damages are non-economic damages in a car accident claim, which means that they don’t directly relate to a tangible cost, bill, or receipt. Your attorney will have to calculate them based on the specific details of your accident.
Although, there is a common “trick” that attorneys use to decide a fair amount for non-economic damages. This method relies on totaling your economic damages – like medical bills, vehicle repair costs, and lost wages – and then multiplying that total. The more you have arguably suffered, the higher the multiplier that is used.

What Questions Should I Ask My Car Accident Lawyer?

At our firm, we encourage our clients to ask any and all questions that come to mind. The more you understand about your case and how it is progressing, the more confidence you will have in the process.
To begin, though, you should feel free to ask us some basic questions about your case, such as how we feel about its odds of succeeding, what obstacles we can expect to be brought by the opposition, and how long your case might take to conclude.

How Does New York's No-Fault Law Affect My Claim?

New York’s no-fault law stops you from filing a personal injury claim against another driver unless you are “seriously injured” under the state’s definition of such an injury. Instead, you have to use your personal injury protection (PIP) insurance first to get compensated for your damages.
If your PIP insurance can’t cover all of your damages before it caps, and you have been seriously injured, then you can consider filing a fault-based claim against the other driver.

What is the Statute of Limitations for Car Accident Claims?

Most car accident claims in New York have a three-year statute of limitations that begins on the date of the crash. If the statute of limitations ends and you have not filed a claim for compensation, then the court will reject any claims you file after that point. If someone died in your car accident, then the claim will likely have a shorter two-year statute of limitations due to the inclusion of a wrongful death claim.

Don't wait to get help today. Contact our firm for a free consultation.

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Why Choose Cherundolo Law Firm?

Your Future Is Worth Fighting For
  • Maximized Case Value

    We are committed to maximizing the value of every case to ensure that our clients receive the necessary compensation to get back on their feet.

  • Experience on Your Side

    We possess decades of experience fighting for justice on behalf of people who have suffered serious injuries due to someone else’s negligence.

  • Direct Involvement in Your Case

    Our partners are directly involved in every case that we take on, ensuring that each client receives the dedicated attention he or she deserves.

  • Record-Setting Results

    We have secured many multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for our clients, including the largest award in Onondaga County.

Let Us Fight Your Battle

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