Content reviewed by:
Alex Shulman
At Shulman & Hill Injury Lawyers, we help people injured in motor vehicle collisions pursue compensation through careful investigation and preparation. If you need a car accident lawyer in Harrison, our team can determine who caused the crash, identify available insurance coverage, and explain your legal options.
Since our founding in 2013, we have built a practice focused on quality representation and a strategy tailored to each case. We handle insurance communications and build the evidence needed to support your claim.
Contact a Harrison personal injury lawyer at Shulman & Hill for a free, confidential consultation about your collision.
What to Do After a Crash in Harrison, NY
Start with safety and medical attention. Stop at the scene and call 911 if anyone is injured or there is immediate danger. Report crashes involving injury or death to police immediately, and accurately describe your symptoms to your medical provider.
If you can safely do so, take these steps:
- Exchange contact, registration, and insurance information with the other drivers.
- Photograph the vehicles, roadway, traffic signals, and visible damage.
- Ask witnesses for their names and contact information.
- Report the collision to your insurer and save related correspondence.
- Avoid guessing about fault or the extent of your injuries.
New York generally requires drivers to file a DMV accident report within 10 days when a crash causes injury, death, or more than $1,000 in damage to any one person’s property. A police report does not replace this obligation.
How New York No-Fault Insurance Works
New York’s no-fault system provides benefits to eligible parties regardless of who caused the crash. Basic personal injury protection, or PIP, generally covers up to $50,000 per person in combined covered losses, including necessary medical expenses, part of lost earnings, and certain other expenses. Legal limits and coverage requirements apply.
No-fault does not pay for pain and suffering or vehicle repairs. Drivers and passengers generally file with the insurer of the vehicle they occupied, while pedestrians generally file with the insurer of the vehicle that struck them. We help identify the appropriate coverage when insurance is missing or several policies are involved.
Written notice is generally required as soon as reasonably practicable and within 30 days of the accident, subject to limited exceptions. Separate deadlines apply to medical bills and lost-wage records. Opening a claim against another driver does not necessarily satisfy these requirements.
Establishing Fault for a Harrison Collision
A negligence claim generally requires proof that another driver failed to use reasonable care and caused your injuries and losses. Speeding, following too closely, failing to yield, distraction, and unsafe lane changes can support a claim when the evidence connects that conduct to the collision.
For crashes along I-287 or Westchester Avenue, we examine vehicle movements, road conditions, and the sequence of impacts. Intersection collisions may require a closer look at signal timing and visibility. Our Harrison, New York car accident attorneys also investigate whether an employer or another party shares responsibility.
Your own fault can affect recovery. For motor vehicle injury lawsuits subject to New York’s no-fault law and commenced on or after May 26, 2026, recovery is barred if your fault exceeds the defendants’ combined fault. Otherwise, shared fault generally reduces damages proportionately.
Injuries and Compensation Beyond No-Fault
We review your medical evidence and financial losses to determine whether you can pursue compensation beyond no-fault benefits. Different requirements apply to pain and suffering and additional economic losses.
New York’s Serious Injury Threshold
For claims subject to the serious injury threshold, pain-and-suffering damages generally require a qualifying injury. Examples include fractures, significant disfigurement, and certain permanent or significant limitations in bodily function. Medical findings and documented limitations help establish whether you qualify.
For lawsuits commenced on or after May 26, 2026, the former “90/180-day” category no longer applies. Restrictions on your usual activities for that period alone are therefore insufficient under the revised law.
Additional Financial Losses
With proof of liability and damages, you may recover economic losses beyond the statutory basic economic loss, even without meeting the serious injury threshold. These may include qualifying future treatment costs and lost earnings. A no-fault denial alone does not make an expense recoverable from another driver.
We evaluate supported future needs alongside existing bills. Property damage is generally handled separately from bodily injury benefits.
Evidence That Can Strengthen Your Claim
Useful evidence includes more than photographs of damaged vehicles. A police report can identify drivers, witnesses, and investigative details, but it does not conclusively determine fault. Business cameras, residential security systems, and dashcams may also have recorded the collision.
To help document your injuries and losses, preserve:
- Medical records, referrals, prescriptions, and treatment bills.
- Pay records and employer communications about missed work or reduced duties.
- Receipts for accident-related expenses.
- Original photographs, recordings, and messages.
- A factual record of symptoms and activity limitations.
Our car accident lawyers serving Harrison can request additional records and seek to preserve footage before it is overwritten. When needed, we consult accident reconstruction professionals to clarify vehicle movements and address disputed accounts.
Deadlines and Insurance Communications
Many New York car accident negligence lawsuits must be filed within three years of the accident. Wrongful death claims generally have a two-year deadline from death. Claims against public entities may require much earlier action, including a notice of claim within 90 days for many municipal claims. Exceptions apply.
Uninsured, underinsured, and hit-and-run claims can have separate insurance notice requirements. We review the policies and parties involved to identify your deadlines. Ongoing settlement discussions do not, by themselves, extend the time to sue.
Your own insurer may require cooperation, while another driver’s insurer has different interests. Before giving a recorded statement or signing a release, understand what is required and what rights you would give up. A settlement release may prevent you from seeking additional compensation later.
How Our Harrison Car Crash Lawyers Help You Evaluate Your Options
We begin by reviewing how the collision occurred, your injuries, and the available insurance. Our in-house investigations help us address disputed fault and document the losses we seek to recover from insurers.
Preparing Your Claim
We gather relevant records, communicate with insurers, and assess your ongoing treatment needs. If you were injured while working, we also evaluate whether workers’ compensation benefits are available and how they interact with your car accident claim.
Reviewing Settlement Offers
Our firm has recovered over $1 billion for clients. Past results do not predict your outcome. We assess each offer against the evidence, available coverage, and documented losses, then explain the proposed deductions and release terms before you decide.
Taking Your Case to Court
If negotiations do not produce a fair offer, we discuss litigation. Depending on venue rules, your case may proceed in Westchester County Supreme Court in White Plains. We explain what to expect from evidence exchanges, depositions, and trial preparation.
Discuss Your Case With a Harrison Car Accident Attorney at Shulman & Hill
Our consultations give you the opportunity to ask about liability, insurance coverage, and the next steps in your case. Share the records you have, and we can identify what additional information is needed.
Speak with a Harrison, NY car accident lawyer at Shulman & Hill through a free, confidential consultation. We handle injury cases on a contingency basis, with attorney’s fees contingent on recovery. If travel is difficult, we can discuss visiting you for the consultation.