New York Car Accident Settlement Calculator

Car accident claims in New York benefit from the state’s pure comparative fault system, which never completely bars recovery based on fault. Your compensation is simply reduced by your share of responsibility. This approach means that even contested multi-vehicle accidents where fault is widely distributed can result in meaningful recovery for each injured party.

You have 3 years to file suit in New York, a deadline that is in line with the national average of 2.7 years. This is a standard timeframe, but acting sooner preserves evidence and strengthens your position. New York does apply a discovery rule, which can adjust the starting point of the limitations period when the injury was not immediately discoverable.

New York's no-fault insurance system changes how car accident claims work fundamentally. Instead of filing a claim against the at-fault driver, you first seek compensation through your own PIP coverage. To move beyond PIP and sue the other driver, your injuries must meet New York's serious injury threshold. Understanding this threshold is critical for evaluating whether your New York car accident case can proceed as a lawsuit or must be resolved through your PIP policy.

Drivers in New York must carry at least 25/50/10 in liability coverage — that’s $25K bodily injury per person, $50K per accident, and $10K property damage. While this meets the state minimum, a single ER visit can easily exceed these limits. The at-fault driver’s policy may not fully cover your losses in a serious accident. New York requires underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage, which provides additional protection when the at-fault driver’s limits are too low.

New York imposes a 90-day notice requirement for tort claims against government entities. If a government-owned vehicle caused your accident or a poorly maintained government road contributed to it, you must file a formal notice of claim well before the standard statute of limitations expires. Failure to provide timely notice is one of the most common reasons government tort claims are dismissed.