It surprises people, but after most New York car crashes your own auto insurance pays your initial medical bills and lost wages through No-Fault, regardless of fault. Knowing this — and acting on the 30-day application window — keeps medical bills from piling up while the larger liability question is sorted out.
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 pays first. Your own policy covers up to $50,000 in medical care and lost wages regardless of who was at fault.
- The application has a deadline. The No-Fault application is generally due within 30 days of the crash — missing it can jeopardize benefits.
- Other sources may follow. Health insurance, the at-fault driver's liability coverage, and liens can all factor in depending on the facts.
Who may be responsible
Liability often reaches beyond the obvious. Depending on the facts, responsible parties can include:
- Your own No-Fault (PIP) coverage
- Your health insurance
- The at-fault driver's liability insurer
- Your UM/UIM coverage if the other driver was uninsured
- Medical liens resolved within the claim
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 low and final.
- 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.
- Assuming you can't be helped because you have no health insurance — No-Fault may cover your bills.
What affects your case's value
No one can responsibly promise a number before reviewing your records. These are the factors that actually move it:
- Whether the No-Fault application was filed in time
- The type of vehicle and your role in the crash
- Available coverage layers
- Whether the injury meets the serious-injury threshold
- Outstanding liens
This is general information about how injury claims are evaluated — not a valuation or prediction of any outcome.
Frequently asked questions
I caused the crash. Will my bills still be covered?
Generally yes — No-Fault pays your medical bills and lost wages regardless of who was at fault, up to the policy's basic economic loss limit.
What if I'm a passenger, pedestrian, or cyclist?
No-Fault can still apply through the involved vehicle's insurance in many situations, even if you weren't the driver.
What happens when No-Fault runs out?
Health insurance and a liability claim against the at-fault party may cover further care; liens are sorted out when the claim resolves.
What's the most important first step?
File the No-Fault application promptly — the 30-day window is easy to miss while you're focused on recovering.