EIGHT THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOUR NEW YORK CAR ACCIDENT-PART TWO - THE SECOND FOUR QUESTIONS
From: New York attorney Gary E. Rosenberg (personal injury and accident attorney and lawyer; serving Brooklyn Queens Bronx; Brooklyn Accident Attorney)
1. Q: Does the car insurance company have to pay for all of my medical bills?
A: In New York, No-Fault insurance must pay only for the bills that are reasonable in charge, necessary to your recovery, and related to the accident. Also, the insurance company is not required to pay for more than it contracted for with the policyholder. For example, in New York, the standard (minimum) No-Fault insurance medical bill coverage is $50,000, which means that the No-Fault insurance carrier only need pay $50,000, even if the injured accident victim's medical bills are more.
2. Q: What if the other driver does not have any accident insurance? Can I still collect?
A: If the other driver has no insurance, or the car that injured you was stolen, or in the event of a hit-and-run accident, it may be fairly easy to collect by going against your own insurance company under the Uninsured Motorist coverage portion of your insurance policy. In New York, you can access this coverage through a process known as arbitration, which is fairly easy, quicker, and less expensive than if you had to bring an accident or personal injury lawsuit against another vehicle.
3. Q: Will using my own insurance increase my rates after an accident?
A: No in some states if you are not at fault for an accident, your insurance company cannot raise your rates, cancel your coverage or fail to renew you.
4. Q: Do I have to hire an attorney to help me with my accident claim?
A: No, any person can represent themselves, but there are many good reasons why you should not. Insurance company studies have shown that injured accident victims who represent themselves recover less money for their injuries than persons represented by attorneys, even after factoring in the attorney's fee. First consultations are usually free, so it usually does not cost any money to investigate whether you should retain an accident or personal injury attorney.
