Fighting for the Compensation You Deserve After a Car Accident: How a Westchester Car Accident Lawyer Can Help
Car accidents can be a traumatic experience and cause serious injuries including bone fractures, back pain, neck pain, traumatic brain injury, catastrophic injury, and even death.
If you or a loved one was injured or killed in a car accident due to someone else’s negligence or a drunk driver, then a Westchester injury lawyer like Michael J. McConnell can pursue maximum money damages and compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
The Law Office of Michael J. McConnell offers free consultations for you to review your case with a car accident lawyer. You can schedule your free consultation by calling (914) 810-0510, emailing info@mcconnellinjurylaw.com, or submitting an online request.
This free consultation with Westchester County car accident lawyer Michael J. McConnell comes with no strings attached and will help you evaluate what to do after a car accident in New York. The free consultation can be done any of the following ways that work for you at the date/time of your choice, including nights and weekends:
- in person at the Law Office of Michael J. McConnell located conveniently in Ardsley, NY near Yonkers and easily accessible by major highways and public transportation from all of Westchester County, NYC, and Rockland County
- by phone
- by video
- at the hospital if you remain hospitalized for your injuries
Here is what you can expect at a free consultation with the Law Office of Michael J. McConnell:
- a compassionate lawyer who will hear and listen to everything you have to say and will answer any questions you have
- an honest evaluation and assessment of your case
- a detailed overview of how a car accident lawyer like Michael J. McConnell may be able to help you get compensated for your injury
Michael J. McConnell is a Westchester County car accident lawyer who understands that you just went through a traumatic experience, which is precisely why he takes a compassionate approach from the beginning at your free consultation. The consultation will be 100% confidential and Mike will take as much time as needed to assist you in making an informed choice moving forward regarding your accident. Contact Mike for your free consultation today.
What should I do after a car accident in Westchester County?
The shock of a car accident and any injury that results can leave you not sure what to do next. In general, there are a few basic things that are important to do immediately after a car accident in Westchester County while you are still at the scene.
- Check for injuries.
- Stay at the scene.
- Call the police.
- Exchange insurance information with the other driver.
- Take photos and video at the accident scene.
- Get witness names and contact information.
- Don’t admit fault.
- Seek immediate medical treatment.
In the days that follow your car accident, it will be important to follow the advice of your doctor and any other medical professionals who treated you for your injury so that you can begin a successful recovery. You will also need to contact your insurance company to file a claim. There can be strict deadlines for filing a claim, so you do not want to wait.
Should I hire a lawyer after a car accident in Westchester County?
Most Westchester County car accident lawyers offer free consultations, so the good news here is that you can make an informed choice about whether to hire a lawyer just by picking up the phone to get a free consultation. The Law Office of Michael J. McConnell offers free consultations in person, by phone, and by video at time that is convenient for you.
If you do ultimately need a lawyer for your car accident injury, you probably will want to know that sooner rather than later for a number of reasons. A free consultation costs you nothing and will help you make an informed choice about whether you need a lawyer right now. And if you do need one, early lawyer involvement in your case can be really important because the lawyer can immediately:
- Make sure you don’t overlook possible compensation.
- Protect you from the insurance adjuster employed by the other driver’s insurance company.
- Investigate and gather evidence.
- Ensure key evidence is preserved.
- Help guide you in making informed decisions about your case.
- File your lawsuit within the statute of limitations.
One of the last things you want is to wait too long before you decide to do a free consultation on your car accident case only to find out that important evidence is now no longer preserved or – even worse – that the statute of limitations has expired.
The decision of whether to hirea lawyer is always completely yours, but the Law Office of Michael J. McConnell strongly encourages you not to wait a second longer to get a free consultation.
Does New York being a “no-fault” state mean I can’t sue after a car accident?
While it is true that New York is a “no-fault” state when it comes to car insurance, that does not at all mean that a driver who injures you cannot be sued.
What “no fault” means is that each motorist is required to have their own car insurance that will generally pay up to a certain amount for any injury, lost wages, and medical treatment from an accident regardless of who is at fault. The logic behind a no-fault system is that the state of New York doesn’t want every person injured in a car accident to be required to go to court just to recover the first $50,000 of basic things like medical bills and lost wages. Litigation in court can be expensive and time consuming, which could prevent someone from being able to get basic medical care or pay the bills for it after an accident as they wait for the court case to unfold. That is where no-fault comes in and essentially says that if you are hurt in a car accident, your own car insurance company will cover some of these basic costs up to a specified policy limit depending on the amount of Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage you have – and they will pay this regardless of whether you or the other driver was at fault.
This no-fault system does not take negligent drivers who cause car accidents off the hook though. In New York, if you are injured in a car accident, then you can still sue under certain circumstances, including the following: 1) you suffer a “serious injury” in the accident as defined under New York law; or 2) your expenses from the accident exceed $50,000. Serious injuries can include:
- Bone fractures
- Death
- Dismemberment
- Loss of a fetus
- Medical determined injury or impairment of a non-permanent nature which prevents the injured person from performing substantially all of the material acts which constitute such person’s usual and customary daily activities for not less than 90 days during the 180 days immediately following the occurrence of the injury or impairment
- Permanent loss of use of a body organ or member
- Significant disfigurement
- Significant limitation of use of a body function or system
If you or a loved one has suffered from a serious injury in a car accident, please contact the Law Office of Michael J. McConnell for a free consultation.
How much money can I get for my car accident in New York?
Every case is different and the amount of money you receive as compensation for a car accident can really vary depending on the exact facts of your case. Here are just a few factors that can be important:
- How serious is the injury?
- What specific body parts were injured?
- In what ways has this injury impacted your life, your ability to work, and your ability to do the things you love?
- How clearly is the other driver at fault? And are they fully at fault or just partially?
- What is the amount of insurance available?
To be clear, the above is not an exhaustive list, so there could be a ton of other factors that ultimately impact how much your case is worth. A lawyer can often help increase the amount of compensation you receive through conducting a thorough investigation, gathering key evidence, and using that evidence to prove your case.
If you would like to know more about the compensation that might be available for your car accident, you can contact the Law Office of Michael J. McConnell for a free consultation.
Areas the Law Office of Michael J. McConnell serves for Car Accidents
Michael J. McConnell is a car accident lawyer who proudly serves the following areas:
Westchester County: Yonkers, White Plains, New Rochelle, Mount Vernon, Eastchester, Port Chester, Mamaroneck, Harrison, Ossining, Peekskill, Scarsdale, Bedford, Rye, Tarrytown, Dobbs Ferry, Ardsley, Mount Kisco, Sleepy Hollow, Pelham, Irvington, Tuckahoe, Bronxville, Larchmont, Elmsford, Valhalla, and more.
NYC: Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, and Staten Island.
Rockland County: Haverstraw, New City, Spring Valley, Monsey, Nanuet, Pearl River, Stony Point, Suffern, West Haverstraw, Valley Cottage, Airmont, Congers, Nyack, Tappan, and more.
Long Island: Nassau County and Suffolk County.
Page last updated 4/7/25.