New York City Traffic Collision Lawyer

Traffic collisions in New York City happen at a pace and scale unlike anywhere else in the country. Millions of vehicle trips, cyclist crossings, and pedestrian movements compress into one of the most densely packed urban environments in the world, and the results when something goes wrong can be severe. A New York City traffic collision lawyer at Mark David Shirian P.C. represents people who have been hurt in these crashes, from rear-end impacts on the BQE to intersection collisions in Midtown to pedestrian knockdowns in the outer boroughs. This firm exists to help injured people recover what they are owed, and that work requires something more than basic familiarity with personal injury law.

New York’s no-fault insurance system shapes every traffic injury claim in this city. Under that framework, your own insurer typically pays initial medical bills and a portion of lost wages regardless of who caused the crash, but that coverage has hard limits. When injuries are serious enough to meet the legal threshold for stepping outside the no-fault system, a separate claim or lawsuit against the at-fault driver becomes available, and that is where meaningful compensation actually lives. Missing that threshold analysis, or letting deadlines slide, can permanently damage a valid claim.

The attorneys at Mark David Shirian P.C. handle these cases with close attention to the details that shape outcomes. Attorney Mark D. Shirian built this firm around assertive advocacy paired with honest, direct communication, and the approach carries into every collision case the firm takes on.

What Makes These Crashes Costly and Complicated

New York City traffic collisions generate some of the most complex personal injury claims in the state. The city’s grid mixes commercial trucks making deliveries, taxi and rideshare vehicles cycling through high-turnover pickups, city buses operating on fixed routes, cyclists operating without dedicated infrastructure in many areas, and pedestrians crossing at corners where signals are poorly timed or absent. Each of those combinations produces a different liability picture.

When a rideshare driver causes a crash, the question of whether the driver’s personal policy or the rideshare company’s commercial policy applies depends on which phase of the trip the driver was in at the moment of impact. When a city bus or municipal vehicle is involved, a Notice of Claim must be filed within a strict 90-day window before any lawsuit can proceed against a public entity. When a commercial truck is at fault, liability may extend beyond the driver to the trucking company, the cargo loader, or a maintenance contractor. Sorting through that structure is not optional work. It directly determines who pays and how much.

Injury severity matters enormously in how a NYC traffic collision claim proceeds. New York’s serious injury threshold requires that a claimant demonstrate specific categories of harm, including significant limitation of a body function or system, fractures, or a medically determined condition that prevented daily activities for at least 90 of the 180 days following the crash. Documenting those conditions properly from the earliest medical visits forward is something an attorney needs to be involved in as early as possible.

Types of Traffic Collision Claims Handled in NYC

• Rear-end collisions: Among the most frequent crash types on highways like the FDR Drive, Major Deegan Expressway, and Staten Island Expressway, these often cause cervical and lumbar injuries that appear to worsen days after impact, making early medical documentation critical.
• Intersection crashes: Heavily traveled intersections throughout Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island generate a high volume of T-bone and angled impact collisions, many involving disputes over signal compliance and right-of-way.
• Pedestrian knockdowns: NYC’s density means pedestrians are struck with regularity, including by vehicles making turns across crosswalks, backing out of garages, or running red lights. Injuries in these crashes are frequently catastrophic.
• Bicycle collisions: Whether a cyclist is hit by an opening car door, a turning taxi, or a driver who fails to yield, these crashes often result in serious orthopedic and head injuries and may involve claims against multiple parties.
• Rideshare and livery vehicle crashes: Collisions involving Uber, Lyft, black car services, and traditional taxis involve layered insurance coverage questions that require specific knowledge of both state insurance law and platform-level policies.
• Commercial truck and delivery vehicle collisions: Large vehicles operated by logistics companies, freight carriers, and local delivery services can cause severe damage in an urban crash, and the corporate entities behind those drivers often carry substantial insurance coverage worth pursuing.
• Hit-and-run crashes: New York maintains a Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation program that provides a route to compensation when the at-fault driver cannot be identified, but that process has strict procedural requirements.

What to Do After a Traffic Collision in New York City

The first 72 hours after a collision are the most important for protecting a legal claim, and most people do not know that. If you were hurt, call 911 and insist that officers respond and generate a report. Obtain the accident report number before you leave the scene. Photograph the vehicles, the road conditions, any traffic signals or signage, and your visible injuries. Collect contact information from witnesses before they leave. All of this becomes evidence that may not exist a week later.

Get evaluated by a doctor that same day or the next morning, even if you feel only mild discomfort. Whiplash, spinal compression, and soft tissue injuries frequently do not produce their worst symptoms until 24 to 72 hours after impact. A gap between the crash and medical care creates an opening for insurance companies to argue the injury came from somewhere else.

Within 30 days of the crash, you are required to file a no-fault insurance application with your own insurer. Missing that window can result in denial of medical and wage loss benefits. If your injuries involve a city vehicle, an MTA bus, or any other vehicle owned by a public entity, a Notice of Claim must be filed within 90 days. These are not soft deadlines. They are hard cutoffs that courts enforce.

Traffic collision claims in NYC are handled in the New York Supreme Court for the relevant county. A Manhattan crash would be litigated in New York County Supreme Court at 60 Centre Street. A Brooklyn crash would proceed in Kings County Supreme Court. A Bronx crash goes to Bronx County Supreme Court. Queens and Staten Island have their own courts as well. Your attorney files the lawsuit, manages discovery, and prepares your case for either settlement negotiations or trial in the appropriate venue.

One common mistake is speaking with the other driver’s insurance company before consulting an attorney. That adjuster’s job is to minimize what the company pays out. Recorded statements given without legal counsel can be used to undercut your credibility and limit your recovery. A collision attorney in NYC can handle those communications so that nothing is said that closes doors later.

Why Mark David Shirian P.C. for Your Traffic Collision Case

Mark David Shirian P.C. was founded in 2016 by Attorney Mark D. Shirian with one clear purpose: to help people who have been wronged. The firm has built a record of millions recovered on behalf of clients across personal injury and other practice areas. Attorney Shawn D. Shirian serves as Senior Associate, giving clients the benefit of a dedicated team rather than a single-attorney operation handling everything alone.

What distinguishes this firm is not just courtroom capability but the way cases are handled from day one. Clients consistently describe the firm’s attorneys as attentive to the specific details of their situations, not just the broad legal issues. The firm treats its clients like family, a phrase that shows up repeatedly in client feedback, and it reflects a real operational commitment to returning calls, explaining status updates, and making sure clients understand what is happening with their case at every stage. For someone navigating the aftermath of a serious traffic collision while also dealing with medical appointments, lost income, and insurance calls, that kind of communication from a New York City traffic collision attorney matters practically, not just as a reassurance.

The firm’s approach is assertive, dependable, creative, and honest. In traffic collision litigation, creative problem-solving can mean identifying third-party defendants that most attorneys overlook, arguing for a broader definition of covered injuries under the serious injury threshold, or developing a discovery strategy that surfaces internal safety records from a commercial driver’s employer. These are the case-specific decisions that shape how much a client actually recovers.

Questions About NYC Traffic Collision Claims

How long do I have to file a lawsuit after a traffic collision in New York?

In most motor vehicle crash cases involving a private driver, New York’s statute of limitations gives you three years from the date of the collision to file a lawsuit. If the at-fault party is a government entity, the window tightens significantly. You have 90 days to file a Notice of Claim, and the lawsuit itself must follow within one year and 90 days. Missing either deadline typically bars the claim entirely.

What does New York’s serious injury threshold actually require?

To step outside the no-fault system and sue the at-fault driver directly, your injuries must qualify under one of the categories defined by state law. These include fractures, significant disfigurement, permanent consequential limitation of a body organ or member, significant limitation of a body function or system, or a non-permanent medically determined injury that prevented substantially all daily activities for 90 of the first 180 days after the accident. Meeting this standard requires proper medical documentation, and gaps in treatment can be used against you.

What if I was partially at fault for the crash?

New York follows a pure comparative negligence rule. Even if you were partly responsible for the collision, you can still recover damages. Your total compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault, but it is not eliminated. A driver found 30 percent responsible for a crash can still recover 70 percent of proven damages from the other party.

My no-fault insurer is denying my treatment. What can I do?

No-fault benefit denials are common and can often be challenged. The insurer may request an independent medical examination or peer review and then issue a denial based on those findings. Those denials can be disputed through arbitration or litigation. An attorney familiar with no-fault disputes can evaluate whether the denial was procedurally improper or medically unsupported and push back accordingly.

The other driver had no insurance. Am I out of luck?

Not necessarily. New York requires uninsured motorist coverage on all auto policies issued in the state. If you were in your own vehicle, your policy should provide a route to compensation through that coverage. If you were a passenger or pedestrian, there may be other avenues including the Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation process. The path depends on the specific circumstances, and an attorney can identify which route applies.

Can I sue the City of New York if a pothole or broken traffic signal contributed to the crash?

Yes, but the procedural requirements are strict. The city must have had prior written notice of the defective condition in most circumstances, and the 90-day Notice of Claim deadline applies. Gathering evidence of the road defect quickly, including photographs and any prior complaint records, is essential before evidence of the condition is repaired or lost.

What if I was hit while riding in a rideshare vehicle as a passenger?

As a passenger in a rideshare, you are generally not treated as a responsible party, so liability analysis focuses on the drivers involved. You may have claims against the at-fault driver, the rideshare company’s commercial policy depending on the platform and trip phase, and potentially your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. Rideshare crash claims involve multiple insurance carriers and typically require careful coordination from an attorney.

How is compensation calculated in a NYC traffic collision case?

Compensation in a traffic collision lawsuit covers both economic and non-economic losses. Economic damages include medical expenses already incurred and projected future treatment costs, lost wages during recovery, and reduced earning capacity if the injuries affect your ability to work long-term. Non-economic damages cover pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. New York does not cap non-economic damages in most personal injury cases, which means serious injuries can generate substantial compensation when properly documented and presented.

Should I accept the insurance company’s first settlement offer?

Almost never. First offers are typically made before the full extent of your injuries is understood and before all medical treatment has concluded. Settling early can close out your right to recover future expenses you have not yet incurred. An attorney can evaluate whether an offer actually covers projected costs and negotiate for a figure that reflects the real value of the claim.

How long does a traffic collision case in NYC typically take to resolve?

There is no standard timeline. A case that settles during negotiations before litigation begins may resolve within several months of the crash. A case that proceeds through the court system in New York Supreme Court typically takes one to three years, sometimes longer depending on court congestion, the complexity of liability issues, and whether the parties are genuinely negotiating or waiting for trial. Cases involving serious permanent injuries often take longer because it is important to understand the full medical picture before settling.

Serving Traffic Collision Clients Across New York City and Beyond

Mark David Shirian P.C. represents traffic collision clients throughout New York City and the broader state. In Manhattan, the firm works with clients from the Upper West Side, Harlem, Washington Heights, the East Village, Midtown, and the Financial District. In Brooklyn, clients from Flatbush, Bay Ridge, Crown Heights, Sunset Park, Williamsburg, and Bed-Stuy have worked with the firm. Queens clients come from areas including Astoria, Jackson Heights, Jamaica, Flushing, Forest Hills, and Bayside. The Bronx service area covers neighborhoods including Fordham, Pelham Bay, Mott Haven, and Riverdale. Staten Island clients from St. George, Tottenville, and New Dorp are also represented.

Beyond the five boroughs, the firm serves clients throughout New York State, including Nassau County, Suffolk County, Westchester County, Rockland County, and communities further upstate where serious collision injuries require assertive legal representation. No matter where in New York State the crash occurred, the firm’s attorneys are prepared to handle the claim.

Talk to a New York City Traffic Collision Attorney About Your Case

A serious collision changes everything quickly. Medical costs accumulate, time away from work adds pressure, and the insurance process tends to favor delay over fair resolution. Working with a New York City traffic collision attorney at Mark David Shirian P.C. puts an advocate in your corner who will assess your claim honestly, pursue every available source of compensation, and communicate with you directly throughout the process. Attorney Mark D. Shirian and Senior Associate Shawn D. Shirian are prepared to evaluate your situation and tell you plainly what your options are. Contact the firm today for a confidential case evaluation.