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Washington Heights Motor Vehicle Accidents

Washington Heights Car Accident Attorney

Motor vehicle accidents include cars, trucks, vans, buses, SUVs, and motorcycles. They may involve one vehicle, multiple vehicles or pedestrians. When auto accidents are caused by another driver’s negligence or recklessness, Kerner Law Group, P.C. will investigate, prosecute and negotiate with the insurance company of the negligent party to settle your claim and obtain compensation for you based upon the severity of your injury and your pain and suffering. With over 25 years of experience in Washington Heights Auto Accident law, you can trust your case to us.

Types of Motor Vehicle Accident Claims:

Our Washington Heights car accident attorneys and legal team have experience in dealing with automobile related injuries  arising from problems such as:

  • Car Accidents – including head-on collisions, broadside, rear-end collisions and overturned vehicles.
  • Truck Accidents
  • Bus Accidents
  • Pedestrian Knockdowns
  • Motorcycle Accidents
  • Bicycle Accidents

What Makes up a Car Accident Claim?

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If you were involved in a car or other motor vehicle related accident in New York State, it is important for you to know that a motor vehicle related accident claim in has three (3) distinct parts. They are as follows:

Part 1- No Fault Insurance Claims

New York is a ” no-fault ” insurance State. This means that if you are injured in a car accident, you will be able to recover compensation for medical bills and lost wages even if the other driver had no insurance or you yourself, were partially responsible for the accident. It does not matter who’s fault the accident was. The vehicle you were in at the time of the accident (or the vehicle that struck you if you were a pedestrian) will pay for all reasonable and necessary medical expenses up to $50,000.00*, arising out of the accident as well as lost earnings up to $2,000* per month and up to $25* daily for other reasonable and necessary expenses. This applies to all cars, trucks, SUVs and vans. However, motorcycles are exempt. (*These are minimum amounts of PIP coverage. Higher amounts may exist depending on coverage).

The No-Fault claim must be usually filed within 30 days after an accident and all hospitals and doctors must file their bills in a timely manner in order to get paid. We assist with the filing of these claims.

Part 2 – Liability

Who caused the accident? In New York, fault is apportioned, meaning out of 100%, it is possible that each driver could share some percentage of liability.

Part 3 – Damages

In New York State we have what is known as a serious injury threshold. This means that one cannot legally bring a lawsuit for personal injuries unless those injuries are deemed “serious” under the law. This is an area of constant contention in court. Certainly, where there is death, dismemberment or disfigurement the injuries would automatically be considered serious. The same holds true for a fracture of any bone.

However, for a whole host of other injuries that are not in the first group, a plaintiff must show that the alleged injury is permanent, significantly limiting or has caused that person to be disabled for 90 days out of the first 180 days after the accident. However, some injuries, sometimes called “soft tissue” injuries to the neck, back, head and other body parts require the injured party to prove that these injuries will affect you over a very long period of time.


What To Do At The Scene of a Car Accident

There are many different roles that your attorney can play in the management of a successful personal injury claim but it is up to you to retain a lawyer sooner rather than later. Kerner Law Group, P.C. is here for you when it seems impossible to figure out how to move forward after an accident.
Common Questions About Motor Vehicle Accidents
How do I know if I have a case?
That depends. There are two distinct parts to a personal injury case: The first is to show that someone else is at fault or mostly at fault. The second is that you must prove that you suffered an injury. In auto accident cases, you must be able to prove that you have suffered a significant and /or serious injury. If you have both a clear liability picture and serious injuries, then you will most likely have a case.
How long will it take?
It depends if a case can be quickly settled or must go through the litigation and discovery process and eventually onto trial. Any case can settle at any time. Most cases that can show negligence and a significant injury usually do settle at some point. However, if a case is contested and a settlement can not be negotiated than due to Court congestion it can take several years until we go to trial. During the litigation process, we are working very hard to protect our client’s rights and to develop all the necessary elements to have a successful conclusion.
How do I know if I need an attorney?

If you have been seriously injured or if you are unsure as to the long-term impact of an injury, an experienced personal injury attorney should be consulted before giving any statement or signing any papers of any kind. This should take place as soon after the accident as possible.

If you suffer an injury or lost wages from an automobile accident, it is very important that you file a “no fault benefit application” within thirty (30) days of the accident.

There is a time limit, known as a “statute of limitations” that requires that a lawsuit be filed within a specific period of time, depending on the circumstances of your case. If you do not file within the time limits, you are prohibited from obtaining any compensation for your injuries. An attorney will help you stay well within the statute of limitations.

In certain situations, time limits can be as short as ninety (90) days in which a claim must be filed. Since there is no cost to you in contacting our office, we suggest that you call us to protect your rights.

How much is my case worth?

This depends on many factors. The most important factor is the severity of your injury. The severity of your injury includes, the injury, medical expenses, loss of wages/income and other elements. Another factor is the amount of insurance available. Finally, the degree of fault is also factored in.

How much does it cost to bring a personal injury lawsuit?

Personal Injury Law Firms in New York receive a fee on a contingent bases. This means that our Law Firm only gets paid if we recover monetary damages for you. This fee is 33 1/3 % . Also, we do not receive a fee unless we are successful in obtaining settlements or recovering compensation. Otherwise, you will not be billed for our services. All of our clients are provided with a written retainer agreement that clearly spells out this arrangement.

Prosecution and preparing a case also requires out-of-pocket costs: court and filing fees, investigation expenses, transcript costs, charges for medical records and reports, expert witness fees and other costs. In nearly all cases, our Law Firm advances these costs, knowing that most of our clients would find it burdensome to pay these expenses. This is called a disbursement. Once the case is completed, the expenses and legal fees in your case are deducted from the money we recover on your behalf and you and your family receives the remaining money from your settlements.

Have a different question?
Do You Have a Case? Find Out, It’s FREE!

Time may be limited to file an injury claim. Don’t wait. Let us help you seek the justice you deserve. We offer Free Consultations at your home, the hospital and in our office.

About Washington Heights
About Things To Do in Washington Heights Manhattan

Washington Heights is located in the county of New York, which is in the state of New York.

  • Population (approx.): 153,000
  • Geo coordinates: 40.8417°N, 73.9394°W

Washington Heights is a neighborhood in the uppermost part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is named for Fort Washington, a fortification constructed at the highest natural point on Manhattan Island by Continental Army troops to defend the area from the British forces during the American Revolutionary War. Washington Heights is bordered by Inwood to the north along Dyckman Street, by Harlem to the south along 155th Street, by the Harlem River and Coogan’s Bluff to the east, and by the Hudson River to the west. Washington Heights, which before the 20th century was sparsely populated by luxurious mansions and single-family homes, rapidly developed during the early 1900s as it became connected to the rest of Manhattan via the A, C, and 1 subway lines. Beginning as a middle-class neighborhood with many Irish and Eastern European immigrants, the neighborhood has at various points been home to communities of German Jews, Greek Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cuban Americans, and Russian Americans. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, White residents began to leave the neighborhood for nearby suburbs as the Black and Latino populations increased. Dominican Americans became the dominant group by the 1980s despite facing economic difficulties, leading the neighborhood to its status in the 21st century as the most prominent Dominican community in the United States. While crime became a serious issue during the crack cocaine crisis of the 1980s and 1990s, in the 2000s Washington Heights became a much safer community and began to experience some upward mobility as well as gentrification. Washington Heights is set apart among Manhattan neighborhoods for its high residential density despite the lack of modern construction, with the majority of its few high-rise buildings belonging to the NewYork–Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center. Other higher education institutions include Yeshiva University and Boricua College. The neighborhood has generous access to green space in Fort Washington Park, Highbridge Park, and Fort Tryon Park, home to the historical landmarks the Little Red Lighthouse, the High Bridge Water Tower, and the Cloisters respectively. Other points of interest include Audubon Terrace, the Morris–Jumel Mansion, the United Palace, the Audubon Ballroom, and the Fort Washington Avenue Armory. Washington Heights is part of Manhattan Community District 12, and its primary ZIP Codes are 10032, 10033, and 10040. It is served by the 33rd and 34th Precincts of the New York City Police Department and Engine Companies 67, 84, and 93 of the New York City Fire Department. Politically, it is part of the New York City Council’s 7th and 10th districts.

Airports Rail and Roads in Washington Heights Manhattan

Roads

  • Eleventh Avenue (Manhattan)
  • Lenox Avenue
  • Third Avenue
  • Tenth Avenue (Manhattan)
  • Audubon Avenue
  • Fort Washington Avenue
  • Catalonia
  • Trans-Manhattan Expressway
  • Interstate 95
  • Cabrini Boulevard
  • Cross Bronx Expressway
  • Harlem River Drive
  • Henry Hudson Parkway
  • New York State Route 9A
  • 155th Street (Manhattan)
  • St. Nicholas Avenue
  • 125th Street (Manhattan)
  • Seventh Avenue (Manhattan)

Bodies of Water

  • Hudson River
  • Hudson

Nearby Airports

  • John F. Kennedy Airport
Zoos and Parks in Washington Heights Manhattan

Parks

  • Holcombe Rucker Park which is on 280 West 155th Street, New York.
  • Fort Washington Park which is on Hudson River Greenway, New York.
  • Mullaly Park which is on 1055 Jerome Avenue, Bronx.
  • Bennett Park which is on W 183rd St &, Fort Washington Avenue, New York.
  • Highbridge Park which is on W 190th St &, Amsterdam Avenue, New York.
  • J. Hood Wright Park which is on W. 173 St &, Haven Avenue, New York.
  • Macombs Dam Park which is on E. 157 St &, West 161st Street, Bronx.
  • Jackie Robinson Recreation Center which is on 85 Bradhurst Avenue, New York.
  • Bridge Park which is on Sedgwick Avenue, Bronx.
  • Lily Brown Playground which is on 915 Riverside Drive, New York.

Museums

  • Morris-Jumel Mansion which is on 65 Jumel Terrace, New York.
  • Hispanic Society Museum & Library which is on 613 West 155th Street, New York.
  • The Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center which is on 3940 Broadway, New York.
  • Children’s Cultural Center of Native America which is on 550 West 155th Street, New York.
  • Monumento Héroes De Guerra which is on 3980 Broadway, New York.
  • Ruben M which is on 177 Fort Washington Avenue, New York.
  • QUEENSBORO COMMERCIAL QUALITY CORP which is on W 167th St, Bronx.
  • Nelson Avenue Graffiti Art Wall which is on 1100-1168 Nelson Avenue, Bronx.
  • Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art & Storytelling which is on 898 Saint Nicholas Avenue, New York.
  • Freemans Alley which is on 321 Edgecombe Avenue, New York.
Nearby Towns to Washington Heights Manhattan

Nearby Towns and Suburbs

  • Fort Lee is 1 mile to the west.
  • Inwood is 1 mile to the north.
  • Tremont is 1 mile to the east.
  • Morrisania is 1 mile to the south-east.
  • Melrose is 1 mile to the south-east.
  • University Heights is 2 miles to the north-east.
  • Edgewater is 2 miles to the south-west.
  • Harlem is 2 miles to the south.
  • Fordham is 2 miles to the north-east.
  • Morningside Heights is 2 miles to the south-west.
  • East Tremont is 2 miles to the east.
  • Cliffside Park is 2 miles to the south-west.
  • Leonia is 2 miles to the north-west.
  • Spuyten Duyvil is 2 miles to the north-east.
  • Palisades Park is 3 miles to the west.
  • Englewood Cliffs is 3 miles to the north.
Driving Directions To Kerner Law Group, P.C.

Washington Heights New York, NY, USA

Get on NY-9A N from Riverside Dr
5 min (1.0 mi)

Head southwest on Broadway/Juan Rodriguez Way toward Broadway/Juan Rodriguez Way
0.2 mi

Turn right onto W 165th St
0.2 mi

Turn right onto Riverside Dr
0.5 mi

Use the left lane to take the NY-9A N/H Hudson Pwky ramp to Bronx
0.1 mi

Follow NY-9A N to Henry Hudson Parkway East in Bronx. Take exit 20 from NY-9A N
4 min (3.2 mi)

Merge onto NY-9A N
Toll road
3.1 mi

Take exit 20 toward W 239 St
0.1 mi

Take Riverdale Ave to W 231st St
4 min (0.8 mi)

Merge onto Henry Hudson Parkway East
0.1 mi

At the traffic circle, take the 1st exit onto W 239th St
226 ft

Continue onto Riverdale Ave
0.5 mi

Turn left onto W 231st St
Destination will be on the left
0.1 mi

Kerner Law Group, P.C.
269 W 231st St, Bronx, NY 10463, United States

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Monday – Friday
9:00am to 5:00pm
Sat – Sun: By Appointment

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