# Vehicle
> Rear-end, intersection, highway, and uninsured-driver crashes — No-Fault, when you can sue for pain and suffering, and the NY deadlines that decide your case.

- Type: informational
- URL: https://autoaccidentlawyersnyc.com/motor-vehicle/
- Updated: 2026-08-20T00:46:25+00:00

## About this page
Rear-end, intersection, highway, and uninsured-driver crashes — No-Fault, when you can sue for pain and suffering, and the NY deadlines that decide your case.

## Key facts
- Phone: (212) 555-0100
- Location: New York, New York
- Logo: /storage/projects/27/files/lawlogo.webp

## Page content
A car crash in New York runs on two tracks at once. Your own insurance pays your early medical bills and lost wages through No-Fault, regardless of who caused the crash — and a separate claim against the at-fault driver may be available, but only if your injury clears New York's "serious injury" threshold.…
The free Accident Answer Engine walks through your situation and shows the legal issues, deadlines, and next steps that fit it. Open the Answer Engine →

## How New York law applies
- No-Fault (PIP) comes first. Under New York Insurance Law, your own auto policy pays up to $50,000 in "basic economic loss" — medical care, up to $2,000/month…
- You can sue for pain and suffering only if you meet the threshold. Insurance Law § 5102(d) lists nine categories of "serious injury," including a fracture…
- New York is a pure comparative-fault state. Even if you were partly at fault, you can still recover — your compensation is reduced by your share of…

## Who may be responsible
Liability often reaches beyond the obvious. Depending on the facts, responsible parties can include:
- The other driver (and, often, the owner of the vehicle)
- An employer, if the at-fault driver was working
- A municipality or contractor for a dangerous road or defective signal
- A vehicle or parts manufacturer in a defect case
- Your own Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage if the at-fault driver had little or no insurance

## Deadlines that matter
Most New York injury lawsuits must be filed within three years of the crash. But if a city bus, the MTA, or another public entity was involved, a Notice of Claim is generally due within 90 days and suit within one year and 90 days. Evidence fades fast, so earlier is always stronger.

## What to do now
- Get checked by a doctor right away, even if you feel "okay" — adrenaline hides injuries, and a gap in treatment is the first thing an insurer attacks.
- Open a No-Fault claim with your own auto insurer promptly; the application is generally due within 30 days of the crash.
- Photograph the vehicles, the street, traffic signals, and your injuries, and write down the police report number.
- Get names and numbers for every driver, passenger, and witness before anyone leaves.
- Keep a short daily note of pain, missed work, and out-of-pocket costs.

## Mistakes to avoid
A good case can be undercut in the first days. Watch for these:
- Giving the other driver's insurer a recorded statement, or accepting a quick settlement, before you know what your claim is worth — early offers are usually…
- Posting about the crash, your injuries, or your activities on social media.
- Letting treatment lapse; insurers read missed appointments as proof you weren't really hurt.

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