Car Accident Lawyers - Personal Injury Lawyers

Car Accident Lawyers | $100+ Million Recovered

More than $100,000,000 recovered in Verdicts and Settlements for Victims of Personal Injury

The sooner you contact our attorneys, the sooner we can help you get the recovery you deserve.

Car Accident Attorney

We understand the devastating effects that a car crash can have. We know that automobile accidents can impair your mental, emotional, physical, and financial well being. When dealing with consequences such as inability to work, medical bills, and ongoing health concerns, financial resources can help you manage the demands of everyday life while you recover from catastrophic injuries.

At Denlea & Carton, we are ready to help you navigate the aftermath of your injury in order to recoup the financial damages you have suffered and to protect you and your family.

Is there a motor vehicle accident lawyer near me?

Our law firm has a car accident lawyer near you. We know that working with an accident lawyer near you can make a difference. We appear regularly in the State and federal courts in White Plains and are familiar with and knowledgeable about their procedures.

Our office is conveniently located in White Plains, and we will visit with you in the hospital or at home, and you are always welcome in our office.

Our personal injury lawyers are waiting to help you throughout the region, including White Plains, Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, Ossining, Port Chester, and Yonkers, as well as the rest of Westchester County and the surrounding counties of Albany, Orange, Dutchess, Rockland, Putnam and Sullivan.

Can I receive compensation after my car accident?

We will investigate the details of your motor vehicle accident to determine the compensation you are due. We understand the complexities and nuances involved in each collision, and, thus, the unique strategies best suited for each claim. This experience means we will help you obtain the best compensation for your auto accident claim.

If you suffer serious auto accident injuries, likely you will be able to recover more than basic economic loss. Our White Plains car accident lawyers can help you prove the severity of your injuries to ensure you receive the maximum recovery allowed by law.

Recoverable damages can include:

Current and future medical costs
Lost wages
Property damages
Pain and suffering

However, for all personal injury claims in New York, negligence is the central theme behind determining whether someone who has suffered an injury (in an auto accident or otherwise) can sue another person for those injuries.

Negligence has four elements:

A duty is owed: When someone drives a car they have a legal duty to drive in a safe manner. For example, drivers have a duty to pay attention to not exceed the speed limit and to stop at red lights.
The duty is breached: The other party did not comply with their duty while driving. For example, duty is breached if a driver texts while driving or runs a red light.
There must be actual damages: The driver, while breaching their duty, must have caused actual damages to property or inflicted a personal injury. For example, if a driver runs a red light and hits a car that was legally in the intersection, the damage to that car and driver and/or passengers would be actual damages.
Damages must be caused by the breach of duty: This is known as “proximate cause”. If, for example, the driver of either car had a broken arm prior to the accident, then the accident didn’t cause the broken arm. The broken arm is not caused by breach of duty. If the accident caused a broken jaw, that would be a case of proximate cause.

The work of our car crash attorneys is to not only offer you alternatives to the confusion and pressure that can come from insurance companies but to handle the investigation, filing and resolution of your case. We want you to focus on healing while we focus on your claims.

Do your lawyers deal with insurance companies?

Our motor vehicle accident lawyers can help you receive appropriate compensation from insurance companies. It is highly recommended to seek legal representation following a car accident.

An experienced personal injury attorney can help you obtain the money needed to cover all your losses related to an accident.

An insurance company may offer you a settlement worth far less than the value of your case. Working with a personal injury lawyer, you can assure yourself that you will get the best possible outcome for your case.

Can a personal injury lawyer help protect my rights?

Insurance companies may attempt to take advantage of you during the vulnerable time after you sustain injuries from car accidents or lose a loved one. As insurance companies push you to accept low and inadequate compensations they may work to coerce you into settling for less than you deserve. Even in the best of times, handling such relationships can be difficult and exhausting, and, in times of crisis and trauma, the push to do things like return to work quickly or agree to terms without understanding all options can be overwhelming.

We are trained and prepared to help you during such horrific times. Our car accident lawyers bring their passion and knowledge to ensuring your rights are protected and you receive the compensation you deserve.

How much does it cost to hire a personal injury lawyer?

You pay nothing unless we win. When you contact our office you will speak directly with a White Plains car accident lawyer. All of our consultations are 100% free. Fees are paid through an agreed upon portion of your settlement or verdict.

Is there a statute of limitations on filing a car accident claim?

We want you to protect your right to sue. In the state of New York, you must file your lawsuit within three years of the day the accident occurred. Time is of the essence and getting an investigation underway as soon as possible is always best. The longer the time period between the accident and investigation commencement, the more likely that memories will fade and evidence will be lost.

What are common causes of car accidents?

Car accidents are unfortunately common. The New York Department of Health reports that over 100,000 people in our state require emergency room attention each year due to unintentional motor vehicle-traffic related injuries. We see an average of 12,000 hospitalizations each year due to car crashes and, tragically, more than 1,000 New Yorkers die in auto-related accidents annually.

Many of these accidents are caused by inattention or negligence and are preventable. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, some common causes of car accidents include:

Distracted driving
Driving while intoxicated
Excessive speed
Driver inattention
Aggressive driving
Mechanical failure

Even if you are partially responsible for the accident, in New York, under Section 1411 of the Civil Practice Law & Rules, you may still have a claim for damages. The law allows for compensation, even if it is shown that there was contributory negligence. Even if you believe that you were partially at fault, you will not be barred from recovering some compensation. It is important to discuss your case with a car crash lawyer to determine liability. You should never make any statements to other parties or the insurance company about your responsibility.

While New York is a “no-fault” state, you still have a right to sue if you sustained serious personal injuries. Our auto accident attorneys can help you understand the complexities of your case and litigate on your behalf.

What are common types of motor vehicle crashes?

Common types of car crashes include:

Rear-end collision
Head-on collision
Side impact (side swipe and t-bone) collision
Hit-and-run accident
Rollover accident
Single vehicle accident (which may be caused by another vehicle not in the crash, such as if a car swerves, resulting in a roll-over, to avoid hitting another car.)

Our personal injury lawyers also represent clients seriously injured in auto accidents that involve busses, pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles and freight trucks.

What common personal injuries do car crashes cause?

While car accidents can sometimes result in minor injuries, many cause severe or catastrophic injuries. Catastrophic injuries are debilitating and make it difficult to return to gainful employment or your normal life. To obtain compensation for “non-economic loss,” like pain and suffering, a person must demonstrate that they suffered a serious or catastrophic injury.

New York Law defines serious injury as personal injury that results in:

Death
Dismemberment
Significant disfigurement
Fracture
Loss of a fetus
Permanent loss of a body organ, member, function, or system
Significant or permanent limitation of a body function or system
An injury or impairment lasting for 90 out of 180 days immediately following the incident (This is known as the 90/180 rule.)

In a car accident you may also be harmed by your own vehicle’s design or defects. Faulty systems or components can cause injury and accident. Issues such as airbag malfunction or vehicle roll-over due to tire defect or improper center-of-gravity may be part of your claim.

Our car accident attorneys can investigate the many factors in your case, allowing you time and energy to better respond to your injury or loss. We know that mobility may be an issue and our personal injury lawyers will meet with you at a location that is convenient and accessible for you.

What should I do after a car accident?

It is critical that you do not sign anything or submit to insurance company demands before speaking to an attorney. To learn more about whether you would benefit from filing a lawsuit because of your car accident, call the car accident lawyers at our firm. We are waiting to help you out.

The time after an injury can be very traumatic and, especially if you have sustained any type of traumatic brain injury, communication, comprehension, organization, and decision making might be exceptionally difficult. Calling an experienced car accident attorney means you have someone to help guide you through this time, communicate with all other parties, and protect you from being taken advantage of.

Here are actions you should take following a car accident:

Assess medical needs: Directly after the accident, if you are able, make sure everyone in your vehicle and any other people involved do not require medical attention. If anyone needs emergency medical attention, call 911 and request an ambulance.

Stay on the scene: If you do not need medical attention, do not leave the scene of the accident.
Call the police: It is a good idea to call the police even if the accident did not cause serious injury. It is likely that your insurance company will require a police report, even for claims around vehicle damage. Also, it is useful to know, New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law stipulates filing of an accident report for property damage of more than $1,000. The law also stipulates notification of the police immediately if anyone is injured or killed in the accident. All drivers and law enforcement must then file an accident report with the Department of Motor Vehicles. Make sure you get copies of any reports filed. Police can also help get emergency medical treatment to the scene.
Call your insurance company: Even if you are completely at fault it’s important to report the incident to your insurance company as soon as possible. Be sure to record the time and location that the accident happened.
Take pictures and keep notes: It’s important to take pictures of the scene of the accident and any damage to vehicles. Proof of the extent of damage can help with insurance claims. Also, should there be a dispute, photos can provide evidence. Much like pictures, notes record important details around the events and aftermath of the accident, including injuries. In the moments after an accident it can be especially hard to focus and our memories are not always reliable so be sure to capture events and the scene through photos and notes. It is also important to get witness contact information in case your attorney needs it for litigation.
Seek medical attention: Injuries that motor vehicle accidents cause are not always immediately apparent. In some cases the full extent of injuries may not be apparent until hours or even days after an accident. Your body may be in a state of shock from the traumatic event. Even small accidents can result in severe and/or permanent spinal cord injuries. Confusion or loss of consciousness, even for short periods of time, after a car crash can indicate concussion or traumatic brain injury. It is imperative, in such cases, to be seen by a medical professional and continue treatment until release by a doctor. Unless you are absolutely certain that you have not suffered any injuries, seek medical attention from your local emergency room or physician.
Limit whom you talk with: In the days and weeks after a car accident, refrain from speaking with insurance companies that represent other parties involved in your vehicle accident. If you have an attorney, they are better prepared to communicate with all insurance companies involved. If you do not have an attorney, contact us for a free case evaluation by one of our vehicle accident lawyers.
Do not accept the first settlement offer: The insurance company’s primary concern may not be your financial health. They may attempt to settle claims paying the least possible. Often, insurance companies repeatedly offer low compensations as a tactic to save money. Accepting the first offer may mean that you recover a tiny portion of what the law entitles you to and could forfeit your ability to file a lawsuit later on, even if you discover you have sustained greater injury than initially believed.
Keep records: Maintain records of all accident-related documents and information. Critical information includes:
Claim numbers
The name of the claims adjuster handling the claim
Names and contact information for all individuals and parties involved in the accident
Receipts for car rentals and any other car-accident-related expenses incurred
Any communications you have regarding the accident
Records of medical appointments
Contac an experienced car accident attorney: Even if you are partially at fault, you may still be able to collect. It is not your job to determine liability, our White Plains car accident lawyers will conduct an independent, thorough investigation to determine your legal options. The sooner you contact our attorneys, the sooner we can help you get the recovery you deserve.

Have your lawyers successfully litigated car accident claims previously?

Yes. And we want to talk to you about your case. Here are just a few of the results we have seen during our many years of practice:

$1,300,000 Rollover Accident Settlement: We recovered this for the estate of a 17-year-old young man after his death as a passenger in a vehicle rollover. New York law would have severely limited the recovery, due to the fact that, as a young student he had no earning history. However, we worked to have the case decided in Connecticut, where the estate recovered damages for “loss of employment for life.”
$550,000 Car Accident Settlement Package: A horrific car accident on the northbound Palisades Interstate Parkway destroyed our client’s car while she was on the way home from work. A car next to her drifted into her lane, causing the client to hit a tree head-on. She suffered serious, disfiguring, and debilitating injuries that required multiple surgeries and months of rehabilitation.
$400,000 Car Accident Trial: An inattentive driver exited a gas station and struck a vehicle that carried our client, a retiree from Putnam County, as a passenger.She sustained a shoulder injury and had difficulties with the activities of daily living. At a jury trial on the case, the jury rejected the defendant’s contention that a degenerative condition caused the injury and awarded damages to our client.

Why contact our law firm?

We grew up here and work here. We raised families here and live in the same communities that juries will be selected from. We will be present during your litigation process. Our offices are close by and we can also come to you. We practice regularly in the State and Federal courts in White Plains and appear frequently before the judges that sit on our local benches. If you have been in a car accident, call us today to speak with an auto injury attorney who can get you the compensation you deserve and knows the community in which you live.

Call a knowledgeable Westchester county car accident lawyer today. Our law firm’s goal is to help you attain the maximum recovery available for your case. We want to get started on your case.