What no-fault auto insurance will cover if you are involved in a car accident in New York may be the first thing on your mind. However, what about your car? We’ll answer this in the following article.
If you have specific concerns or have been in a New York car accident, the lawyers at Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law are here to help. We have decades of experience and can be the difference between an unfair settlement or claim denial and getting the compensation you deserve.
Car or Property Damages in a New York Accident
While no-fault benefits are designed to easily take care of costs associated with injuries sustained in a New York car accident, property damage is not covered by no-fault benefits. This means that any property damage must be covered by the driver who caused the collision.
Drivers in New York are required to have $10,000 or more in property damage insurance. In order to receive compensation, the party that was at fault will typically need to file a claim with the at-fault driver's insurance provider.
No Fault Benefits in New York
These are benefits provided by the insurance company of the vehicle you were operating, riding in, or were struck by while a pedestrian, regardless of who was at fault in the accident. Generally, these benefits cover accident-related medical costs, prescription medications, lost wages, housekeeping, and/or transportation to and from medical facilities.
You only have 30 days from the accident date to submit an application for these benefits, which is a very narrow window of time, so make sure to file any claim for damages as soon as possible after an accident.
No-fault auto insurance is mandated by law in New York and covers a certain set of losses, such as medical bills, missed wages, and other expenses. Because New York is a "no-fault" insurance state, regardless of who was at fault for the accident, your own insurance typically covers your own losses. Medical bills and other damages that can occur after the accident will be covered by the insurer.
Additionally, the state of New York mandates that all licensed motor vehicles carry liability insurance with a particular minimum level of protection. This includes:
- $25,000/$50,000 for bodily injury per person
- $50,000/$100,000 for death
- $10,000 for property damage per accident
Who Can Obtain No-Fault Benefits?
No-fault benefits are accessible for a small cost. No-fault compensation in New York will pay for everything from medical expenses to lost income, but there are some limitations to that coverage. No-Fault insurance only provides personal injury protection (PIP), so it doesn't include costs to repair your car, the cars of any other party or any personal property. No-Fault serves as the primary to health insurance in the event that an injury is brought on by a car accident, which means it pays first.
Under this insurance, your insurer will provide financial protection for you and any household members against losses resulting from injuries sustained in motor vehicle accidents anywhere in the United States, its territories, or Canada. In New York, no-fault auto insurance also provides coverage for:
- Any passengers injured while traveling in your car in the state of New York
- Any out-of-state passengers from New York who sustain injuries while traveling in your car anywhere in the United States, its territories, or Canada.
Keep in mind that additional New York State no-fault auto insurance may be applicable and provide coverage for passengers.
Limitations To No-Fault Benefits
While no-fault benefits do simplify things, they are not without their limits. Benefits are limited to $50,000, which may not be enough to pay all of your costs, and does not cover the costs to repair your car or other property. You shouldn't rely only on no-fault insurance. It is not a replacement for health insurance.
It covers medical costs incurred as a result of a car accident. However, not all of the costs fall under the no-fault insurance. You could potentially file a personal injury claim against the liability insurance of the other driver. For cases like this, we recommend hiring a New York car accident lawyer like Brandon J. Broderick who has a history of successfully recovering damages for auto accidents.
No-fault benefits include:
- Medical costs
- 80% of lost income, up to $2,000/month for a maximum of three years
- Household assistance up to $25/day
- Funeral and burial costs
Call Brandon J. Broderick Today For A Free Consultation
The last thing you should do is attempt to handle your own car accident case if you've been injured in an accident. An experienced NY auto accident lawyer can represent you and protect your right to fair compensation. At Brandon J. Broderick, Personal Injury Attorney at Law, you can count on us to advocate for your best interests. We've helped people just like you get over injuries brought on by someone else's negligence.
Contact us immediately after your accident to discuss your accident. Schedule your free consultation today.