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Syracuse Car Accident Lawyer

Did you recently suffer minor injuries, more serious injuries, or experience the wrongful death of a family member in a car accident in Syracuse, New York? Our legal team at Passalacqua & Associates, LLC is here to help. You may be entitled to compensation. Contact our experienced Syracuse car accident lawyers today at (315) 500-6425 for a free consultation.

For over a decade, Passalacqua & Associates, LLC has been a fierce advocate for injury victims and families in Syracuse and throughout New York State. Backed by over 50 years of combined experience, we’ve helped our clients recover millions of dollars in settlements and jury verdicts.

We offer free consultations and are available 24/7 to take your call.

Why Choose Passalacqua & Associates, LLC for Help After a Car Accident in Syracuse, NY? 

Why Choose Passalacqua & Associates, LLC for Help After a Collision? 

Crash victims and families in Syracuse trust Passalacqua & Associates, LLC because we’re honest, experienced New York trial attorneys with a million-dollar track record of success. Focused on client rights and justice, our Syracuse personal injury lawyers have been recognized for excellence in personal injury law by Expertise.com, The National Trial Lawyers, and Avvo.com.

With more than 50 years of combined legal experience, our team has the skill, insight, and compassion needed to handle even the most complex accident cases. We’re known for our personalized approach and commitment to keeping clients informed every step of the way. A personal injury lawyer is a relentless advocates who never back down from a fight.

Count on us to build a custom case strategy that helps you maximize your compensation after a collision. There’s a limited time to take action, so call our legal team to set a time for a complimentary case evaluation.

How Can a Car Accident Attorney Help Me? 

When you ask for our auto accident lawyers to help, we will:

  • Promptly investigate the circumstances of your wreck
  • Gather evidence that can help to build a winning legal claim for damages, such as medical records, accident reports, forensics reports, witness statements, and dashcam footage
  • Calculate what your car accident claim is worth
  • Collaborate with expert witnesses whose specialized knowledge can support your quest for a top-tier financial recovery
  • Handle all administrative aspects of your claim, which can include submitting a demand letter to your insurance carrier, filing a claim with a third-party provider, and/or filing a complaint with the local Onondaga County court clerk
  • Answer questions and offer guidance so that you can make informed decisions about resolving your legal claim
  • Bring your lawsuit to trial if the defense refuses to make a fair settlement offer during negotiations

New York is a no-fault state for car insurance, which means you’ll have to file a claim with your insurer after a motor vehicle crash – even if you weren’t responsible for causing it. If your injuries are serious or in other specific circumstances, you can potentially seek compensation from the party that caused the wreck. 

How Much Compensation Can I Recover by Filing a Car Accident Claim?

How Much Compensation Can I Recover by Filing a Auto Accident Claim?

At a minimum, you can recover compensation up to your car insurance policy limits. New York state law requires drivers to carry at least $50,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits to cover medical expenses, lost wages, and other bodily injury-related damages in the event of a crash.

If the injuries sustained are serious as defined by Section 5102(d) of the New York Insurance Law (or if another exception to the no-fault rules applies, such as if your losses exceed your policy limits), you can seek additional compensation through a personal injury lawsuit.

Several factors can influence how much money you might be able to recover from a negligent or otherwise liable party.

  • What types of injuries have you sustained?
  • Have your injuries prevented you from working?
  • Are you temporarily or permanently disabled?
  • Do you share responsibility for the collision?
  • How old are you?
  • What out-of-pocket costs have you had because of the crash?
  • How has being involved in a collision affected your day-to-day life?
  • Do you suffer from anxiety, depression, PTSD, or other emotional distress because of the auto accident?

The more your life changes because of a car accident, the more money you can typically expect to recover through a personal injury claim. Working with an experienced auto accident attorney can help you understand what your case is worth and, in turn, make informed decisions about how to resolve your claim. 

At Passalacqua & Associates, LLC, we’ve helped our clients recover millions of dollars after life-changing accidents. You can benefit from our team’s 50+ years of collective experience and smart legal strategies by calling our Syracuse law office today.

What Is New York’s Serious Injury Threshold and How Can It Affect My Claim?

New York’s serious injury threshold is a legal standard that determines when an accident victim can file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver.

To qualify, the injuries must have resulted in:

  • Dismemberment
  • Death
  • Significant disfigurement
  • A bone fracture
  • Loss of a fetus
  • Permanent loss or limitation of the use of a body organ, member, function, or system
  • A medically determined impairment that prevents normal activities for at least 90 of the first 180 days after the crash

If the injury meets this threshold, you can pursue compensation beyond no-fault benefits — including damages for pain and suffering and other related losses.

How Long Do I Have To File a Personal Injury Lawsuit After a Car Accident in New York State?

New York law has strict limits for when a car accident claim can be filed:

  • Three years for claims involving personal injury
  • Two years for claims involving wrongful death

However, there are some exceptions. For instance, you’ll have a reduced timeframe to bring a government tort claim against the City of Syracuse or the State of New York. Claims involving injuries to children can be put on hold until the child reaches adulthood.

One thing is certain – you lose the right to recover maximum compensation if your claim isn’t filed within the applicable statute of limitations. Don’t let the filing deadline pass by without taking action. Protect your rights by calling Passalacqua & Associates, LLC for assistance as soon as you can after your car crash.

What Types of Damages Can I Recover by Filing a Car Accident Lawsuit in Syracuse?

What Types of Damages Can I Recover by Filing a Auto Accident Lawsuit?

You may be able to recover two types of compensatory damages after a collision: economic and non-economic. In a limited number of cases, punitive damages might be appropriate, too.

Here’s what you need to know.

What Economic Damages Can Be Awarded to Syracuse Crash Victims?

Economic damages are intended to help you handle the current and future financial losses related to your car accident, which might include:

  • Property damage
  • Lost wages and income
  • Diminished earning capacity
  • Medical bills
  • Nursing assistance
  • Rehabilitation
  • Funeral expenses
  • Costs paid out of pocket

New York permits an award of economic damages for related costs that can be verified by invoices, bills, receipts, and other documentation.

What Non-Economic Damages Can I Recover in New York State?

Non-economic damages are paid to help crash victims in Syracuse deal with the consequences of a collision that are more difficult to value.

This can include money for:

  • Chronic pain
  • Disfigurement
  • Disability
  • Loss of consortium
  • Reduced quality of life
  • Physical scarring
  • Emotional distress
  • Pain and suffering

Since these losses are so personal in nature, the value can range significantly from one case to the next. It’ll be important to have experts weigh in and help you demonstrate the ways in which your life has changed. Our auto accident lawyers will work closely with specialists and professionals whose insight can be invaluable as we work to recover a maximum monetary award on your behalf.

When Can I Get Punitive Damages After a Syracuse Car Accident?

When Can I Get Punitive Damages After a Crash?

New York law empowers juries to award punitive damages when there’s clear and convincing evidence that a defendant’s actions exhibited a “high degree of moral turpitude.” This tends to refer to conduct that was intentionally harmful or that displays a conscious disregard for another person’s civil rights.

For instance, a jury might decide that a driver whose BAC was well above the legal limit should be forced to pay punitive damages after they caused a fatal car accident.

How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?

How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Auto Accident Lawyer?

Most car accident lawyers in Syracuse work on a contingency fee basis.

Our fees are directly related to the results we achieve. We don’t get paid until we recover compensation for your claim. If we don’t win, you pay nothing. End of story.

We’ll help to ease the burden of litigation by fronting case-related costs, too. When we win, our fees and costs are simply deducted from your financial award. Fees are determined at the beginning of our attorney-client relationship and can vary depending on the specific circumstances of your case. 

Don’t hesitate to call our law office in Syracuse to learn more and to discover the considerable benefits of working with our award-winning team.

What Happens to My Settlement if I’m Partly Responsible for Causing a Car Accident in Syracuse?

What Happens to My Settlement if I’m Partly Responsible for Causing a Collision?

Sharing responsibility for a car accident won’t prevent you from recovering compensation. You can file a claim with your PIP insurance provider, no matter whose fault the collision was. However, it could affect how much money you can receive through a settlement or jury award in a claim against the at-fault party.

Under New York’s pure comparative negligence law, damages are reduced proportionately to fault. So, the more responsibility you share for an auto accident in Syracuse, the more of an impact it’ll have on your financial award.

For instance, if your third-party claim were valued at $100,000, you’d be able to recover $90,000 if your shared liability was 10 percent. Our award-winning auto accident lawyers will work to minimize the level of fault you are assigned, if any.

Will My Syracuse Car Accident Case Go to Trial?

Will My Auto Accident Case Go to Trial?

Even though a very small percentage of car accident lawsuits go to trial, there’s always a chance that your claim will end up in front of a judge and jury.

A lot can influence whether your case goes to trial:

  • Disputes regarding liability, including allegations of comparative negligence
  • Disagreements regarding the value of a claim
  • Allegations of bad faith insurance practices
  • Whether or not you’ve hired an experienced civil trial attorney to represent you

Hiring an attorney who’s known as a fierce and successful litigator can accelerate meaningful settlement negotiations and, in turn, potentially reduce the chances that your car accident claim goes to trial. When the insurance adjuster sees that you’ve taken steps to hire an experienced trial attorney, they’ll be more likely to put their manipulative playbook aside and work to resolve your claim swiftly and fairly.

What Should I Do After a Car Accident in Syracuse?

Once you’ve been involved in a collision in Syracuse, New York, it’ll be important to:

  • Call 911 to report the car crash to the local Syracuse Police Department
  • Stay near the scene of the crash and wait for the police and other first responders to get there
  • Exchange insurance information with other involved parties
  • Refuse to take responsibility for the crash, even if you think you’re to blame
  • Document the crash scene by capturing video footage and taking photos
  • Get prompt medical treatment if you’re not brought to the hospital for emergency medical care
  • Direct questions and requests to negotiate to your car accident attorney

The sooner you reach out to an experienced auto accident attorney in Syracuse, New York, for help, the better the odds of winning your claim and maximizing your recovery. 

We recognize that motor vehicle accidents are incredibly stressful. We want you to get the help you need when it matters most. That’s why our team is available to take your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Whether you’re injured in a rush hour crash or in the middle of the night, we’ll be there to answer your questions and offer the guidance you need.

Decades of Experience Handling All Types of Car Accident Claims in Syracuse

Decades of Experience Handling All Types of Auto Accident Claims

Every collision is different. The insurance company will have extensive experience handling all types of claims. You deserve to have skill, knowledge, and experience in your corner, too.

At Passalacqua & Associates, LLC, our Syracuse car accident attorneys have decades of experience helping clients recover compensation after all types of collisions and injuries. Whether you were hurt in motorcycle accidents, slip and fall accidents, intersection accidents, workers compensation, or car crashes, our team has the knowledge and resources to fight for the compensation you deserve. We handle cases involving:

Rollover Accidents

Rollover accidents tend to happen when drivers take turns or navigate curves in the road without slowing down. The higher the vehicle’s center of gravity, the more likely it is that the vehicle will overturn, especially if the road surface is slick. 

Our car accident lawyers know that rollovers can be violent and cause life-threatening injuries that carry high costs. We work hard to ensure that negligent drivers and insurance companies are held accountable.

Rear-End Collisions

Rear-end collisions tend to happen when drivers are distracted, in a rush, or following the vehicle in front of them too closely. Car accident victims of these types of collisions are at a high risk of whiplash and other soft tissue injuries, which can significantly limit their ability to work and enjoy their lives. 

Our auto accident lawyers help injured victims of rear-end crashes seek monetary justice from those at fault.

Head-On Crashes

Hit head on collisions don’t happen as frequently as other types of car accidents, but they do account for more than 10 percent of all car accident fatalities across the United States. Many times, these types of car accidents can be avoided, but happen because of a driver’s aggression or negligence. 

When factors like road rage, distraction, drug and alcohol use, or fatigue cause a head-on collision, our car accident attorneys fight to help victims recover the compensation needed to make things right.

Fatal Car Accidents

Car accident deaths have increased by more than 25 percent across New York state in recent years. When a car accident is fatal, surviving family members may have the right to obtain compensation for their losses and suffering. 

Our wrongful death attorneys stand beside families after fatal auto accidents, working hard to ensure that they’re awarded financial justice for their losses.

Who Can Be Liable for My Car Accident Injuries?

Who Can Be Liable for My Injuries?

New York law stipulates that anyone who causes a car accident can be liable for damages. This is true, even if the contribution to the crash is slight.

Following a thorough investigation into your car accident, our personal injury law firm might determine that one or more of the following parties are liable:

  • The driver of another passenger vehicle
  • A commercial vehicle driver
  • A transportation company
  • The government agency responsible for road safety
  • The company responsible for making or selling a defective auto part
  • A negligent party’s employer
  • A property owner
  • A bicyclist or pedestrian

Once liability is clear, we’ll work hard to make sure they’re held fully accountable for the costs and suffering you’ve experienced because of your car accident. 

Common Types of Car Accident Injuries in Syracuse, New York

Some of the most commonly reported injuries include:

  • Crush injury
  • Chest injury
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Concussion injury
  • Eye injury
  • Broken bones
  • Hearing loss
  • Head injuries
  • Internal bleeding
  • Nerve damage
  • Soft tissue injury
  • Back injury
  • Neck injury
  • Spinal cord injury
  • Paralysis
  • Thoracic injury
  • Knee injury
  • Leg injury
  • Burn injury
  • Amputation injury
  • Degloving injury
  • Catastrophic injury
  • Wrongful death of a loved one
  • and other injuries.

Several factors can influence the injuries you’re most likely to sustain in a Syracuse auto accident, as well as how severe they might be — including where you were sitting in the vehicle, the speed at which the crash occurred, what types of vehicles were involved, and the circumstances surrounding your accident date.

What Causes Most Car Accidents in Syracuse?

Research suggests that about 94 percent of car accidents are the result of human error.

At Passalacqua & Associates, LLC, we often find that acts of negligence and mistakes that commonly contribute to crashes include:

  • Distracted driving
  • Drunk driving
  • Following too closely
  • Excessive speed
  • Drowsy driving
  • Unsafe passing
  • Blind spot errors
  • Braking errors
  • Illegal turns
  • Failing to yield the right of way
  • Road rage

There are times when factors unrelated to human error cause motor vehicle accidents, too. Most often, these involve vehicle defects, driver fatigue, potholes or other road defects, road construction, or bad weather.

Schedule a Free Case Evaluation With an Experienced Syracuse Car Accident Attorney

Schedule a Free Case Evaluation With an Experienced Auto Accident Attorney

You shouldn’t have to figure out how to move forward after a Syracuse car crash on your own. Whether you’re working with your insurance carrier or seeking to recover damages from a third party, the claims process can be overwhelming. Make it easier by choosing Passalacqua & Associates, LLC to stand beside you.

As award-winning litigators, our Syracuse car accident attorneys have forced insurance companies, government agencies, property owners, vehicle manufacturers, and other parties to pay millions in settlements and jury awards. 

Now, we’re here to be your biggest advocate and guide you through the entire legal process to fight for the maximum auto accident award. Working with an experienced Syracuse personal injury attorney can make a significant difference in the outcome of your claim. Contact our team today to schedule a free consultation.

About Us

Passalacqua & Associates, LLC provides legal representation for individuals facing personal injuries and criminal charges. Our attorneys offer compassionate guidance and aggressive strategies, and we’re committed to achieving the best possible outcomes. We’ll protect your rights and navigate legal complexities on your behalf.

Areas We Serve

Passalacqua & Associates, LLC proudly serves clients in Utica, Syracuse, and the surrounding upstate New York communities. We are dedicated to providing accessible and effective legal services to those in need of experienced personal injury and criminal defense representation within these regions.

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