Types of Car Accidents We Handle in West Seneca
Insurance companies classify accidents into neat categories that help them predict payout amounts and settlement timelines. We are ready to shatter those predictions. By treating every collision as a unique investigation requiring specialized evidence gathering and a custom legal strategy, we consistently recover compensation that exceeds what insurers initially offer.
Below are some of the most common types of car accidents our attorneys handle for clients throughout West Seneca and surrounding communities.
- Rear-end collisions
- Drunk driving accidents
- Distracted driving
- Ridesharing accidents (Uber/Lyft crashes)
- Fatal car accidents (wrongful death claims)
- Hit-and-run accidents
- Intersection and T-bone crashes
- Multi-vehicle pileups
- Uninsured or underinsured drivers
- Lane-change collisions
Whether your case involves simple liability or complex multi-party fault, we tailor our investigation and legal strategy to the specifics of your accident. Our law firm handles a wide variety of motor vehicle accident cases, including those involving trucks, motorcycles, and rideshare vehicles. This broad experience gives our attorneys a clear advantage in understanding the specific dynamics and evidence required in each type of crash.
Car Accident Lawyers Who Fight for Maximum Compensation
Insurance companies know which firms will go to court and which will not. Our personal injury attorneys in West Seneca are proven trial lawyers who prepare every case for the courtroom. That reputation changes everything.
When insurers see airtight evidence, credible experts, and filings ready for trial, they know low offers won’t work. This leverage forces fair outcomes and ensures our clients recover the full value of their losses, whether through a strong settlement or a powerful verdict.
Aggressive Advocacy From Your First Call
The strength of your case begins with early action. Your car accident lawyer immediately launches investigations, locks down evidence, and establishes the foundation for powerful negotiations or courtroom arguments.
Direct Access to Your Attorney
Large firms pass cases between multiple attorneys, paralegals, and support staff until nobody fully understands your situation. You get a dedicated car accident attorney who knows every detail of your crash, injury progression, and financial losses.
Comprehensive Legal Support
Car accidents rarely create isolated problems. Injuries may trigger disability claims, workplace issues, or long-term financial planning needs. Our firm provides integrated legal services across personal injury, Social Security Disability, and workers’ compensation.
We Have a No-Fee Guarantee
You never pay us upfront. We only get paid if we win for you, so our success is directly tied to yours.
Free Case Evaluation
Speak with a lawyer at no cost. We’ll review your situation, explain your options, and help you understand the best path forward.
You’re More than a Case
We treat every client like family, taking the time to understand your story and guide you through every step with care and compassion.
What Compensation is Available After a Car Accident?
Insurance adjusters excel at compartmentalization. They evaluate medical bills separately from lost wages, treat property damage as unrelated to injury severity, and ignore entirely how your accident altered your daily existence. We calculate total harm by connecting every financial loss, physical limitation, and emotional impact into a comprehensive damage presentation that insurers must address as a whole rather than cherry-picking which losses they’ll compensate.
New York requires every driver to carry no-fault insurance that covers medical treatment, rehabilitation costs, and lost earnings up to $50,000, regardless of fault. Once your damages surpass this threshold, or your injuries qualify as “serious” under state law, your attorney can pursue full compensation from the negligent driver who caused your crash.
You may be entitled to recover:
- Medical expenses (past and future)
- Lost wages (including reduced earning capacity)
- Property damage (vehicle and personal property)
- Rehabilitation and assistive devices (physical therapy, wheelchairs, home modifications)
- Travel and transportation costs related to medical care
- Home care or domestic assistance if injuries require someone to help at home
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress, anxiety, or depression caused by the accident
- Loss of enjoyment of life (inability to do hobbies, sports, social activities)
- Disfigurement or permanent impairment
- Loss of consortium (for a spouse or close family member if the injury affects the relationship)
- Wrongful death damages (funeral costs, loss of support, loss of guidance for minor children)
- Punitive damages (very rare, only if the at-fault party’s conduct was willful or egregious)
At Hiller Comerford Injury & Disability Law, we refuse to accept insurance industry shortcuts. A car accident attorney in West Seneca can build damage calculations that withstand adversarial scrutiny. We support every claimed dollar with documentation, expert analysis, and factual evidence that transforms subjective injuries into objective monetary values insurers cannot dismiss.
Why Work With a West Seneca Car Accident Lawyer?
The legal aftermath of a collision moves fast, and insurance companies profit from confusion, delay, and victim mistakes. Their business model depends on paying less than the claims are worth. Your car accident attorney in West Seneca becomes a shield against these tactics.
We take immediate command of the legal process, eliminating obstacles before they damage your claim and positioning your case for maximum financial recovery from day one. More importantly, we proactively build leverage that forces insurers to negotiate seriously or face expensive litigation they’re likely to lose.
✓ Maximizing no-fault benefits while building liability claims: We ensure you receive every dollar available under your Personal Injury Protection coverage while simultaneously developing strong claims against at-fault parties for damages exceeding no-fault limits.
✓ Professional accident reconstruction: Complex crashes require expert analysis. We engage specialists who examine physical evidence, analyze vehicle damage patterns, and create demonstrative exhibits that prove exactly how your accident occurred and who bears responsibility.
✓ Identifying every liable party: Many accidents involve multiple responsible parties, including negligent drivers, vehicle owners different from drivers, employers of commercial drivers, and government entities responsible for dangerous road conditions.
✓ Strategic medical documentation: Medical records must establish clear causation between the accident and your injuries while documenting severity and future treatment needs in specific language that maximizes claim value.
✓ Comprehensive harm valuation: We quantify obvious losses like ambulance bills alongside non-obvious damages like reduced earning capacity, permanent lifestyle changes, and ongoing psychological trauma from the accident.
✓ Litigation preparation as negotiation leverage: When insurers know we’ve already secured expert witnesses, completed discovery planning, and prepared for trial, settlement values increase dramatically because proceeding to court becomes riskier and more expensive for them than settling fairly.
Insurance companies profit when victims try to handle their personal injury claims alone. By retaining a car accident attorney in West Seneca, you gain an advocate who anticipates insurer tactics, counters delay strategies, and positions your case for maximum financial recovery, whether through settlement or courtroom verdict.
Injuries That Qualify for Compensation in an Auto Claim
The physical toll of a car accident extends far beyond broken bones and bruises. Some injuries announce themselves immediately with intense pain, while others develop gradually as damaged tissues, compressed nerves, or traumatic brain injuries reveal their full impact over weeks or months.
Insurance adjusters minimize injuries by calling them “soft tissue damage” or “temporary pain” regardless of how those injuries actually affect your life. Our car accident lawyers counter this tactic with comprehensive medical evidence that proves the true severity, permanence, and life-altering nature of your harm. Here are some of the most common injuries eligible for compensation in a car accident claim:
- Whiplash and neck injuries that cause chronic headaches, limited range of motion, and persistent pain
- Broken bones requiring surgical intervention, hardware implantation, or extended immobilization
- Traumatic brain injuries affecting cognitive function, emotional regulation, or physical coordination
- Back and spinal cord damage leading to partial or complete paralysis
- Internal bleeding and organ damage that may require emergency surgery and long-term monitoring
- Emotional and psychological injuries, including PTSD, driving phobia, and depression
- Severe cuts, road rash, and burns, causing permanent scarring
- Loss of limbs requiring prosthetics, home modifications, and lifelong adaptation
Insurance companies routinely claim injuries were pre-existing, unrelated to the accident, or less severe than medical records indicate. We dismantle these arguments with expert testimony, diagnostic imaging, and medical literature that establishes direct causation and documents the permanent nature of your harm. Your lawyer will present injury evidence so compelling that insurers cannot credibly argue for reduced compensation without risking substantial jury verdicts at trial.
Don’t Miss the Deadline to File a Car Accident Lawsuit
Legal deadlines operate with zero flexibility. New York statute of limitations typically allows three years from your accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit, but this standard timeline doesn’t apply universally. Crashes involving government-owned vehicles, municipal employees, or poorly maintained public roads trigger notice requirements as short as 90 days. Miss these deadlines, and your right to compensation disappears permanently.
Contacting a car accident attorney in West Seneca immediately after a car crash protects your claim from time-related vulnerabilities. We document evidence while it’s fresh, file all required notices, and build your case on a timeline that maximizes recovery rather than one that accommodates insurance company delay tactics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below, our West Seneca car accident attorneys answer the questions we hear most often, giving you additional guidance on what to expect. If you were involved in a car crash, contact our law firm today to get personalized legal assistance.
What should I do immediately after a car accident in West Seneca?
Knowing what to do after a car accident can protect your health and your right to compensation. First, ensure everyone is safe and call 911 for medical help if needed. Document the scene with photos, notes, and witness contact information. Seek medical attention promptly, even for minor injuries, and avoid giving statements or signing documents from insurance companies before consulting a car accident attorney. These steps help preserve evidence and strengthen your claim.
How does New York’s no‑fault insurance work, and when can I sue the at‑fault driver?
In New York, drivers carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance that covers medical bills, lost wages, and certain other costs up to $50,000, regardless of who caused the accident. You can pursue a claim against the at-fault driver only if your injuries are considered “serious” under state law. Serious injuries include fractures, permanent loss of a body part or function, significant disfigurement, or death. An attorney can assess whether your damages exceed the no-fault limits and guide you through filing a personal injury lawsuit if necessary.
Can I still recover compensation if I was partly at fault for the crash?
Yes. In New York, even if you share responsibility for an accident, you can still pursue damages under the state’s comparative negligence rules. Your payout is adjusted based on your portion of fault. For example, if a court values your losses at $75,000 and assigns you 30 percent of the blame, you could still recover $52,500.
Do I need a lawyer, and what will it cost me to hire one?
While it’s not required, working with a car accident lawyer in West Seneca ensures that your rights are protected, deadlines are met, and damages are fully calculated. Our lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning that you do not pay anything upfront; we are paid a percentage of any settlement or verdict obtained. If no compensation is recovered, you owe nothing.
What happens if the other driver has no insurance or is underinsured?
If the at-fault driver lacks sufficient coverage, you may still recover damages through your own underinsured motorist coverage, if included in your policy. This can cover medical bills, lost wages, and other losses that exceed the other driver’s limits. Your car accident attorney will review your policy and pursue claims to ensure you receive all available compensation.
Will my case go to trial, or will it settle out of court?
Most car accident cases settle, but settlement amounts are often higher when the opposing party knows you are prepared to go to trial. Every case is prepared with litigation in mind, including gathering evidence, consulting experts, and filing necessary documents. This approach gives you leverage in negotiations and ensures that, if a fair settlement is not reached, your case is fully ready for court.
What will the insurance company want from me, and how should I respond?
Insurance adjusters will often request statements, photos, or recorded interviews to evaluate liability and reduce payouts. It is important not to give recorded statements or sign documents before consulting a lawyer. Instead, provide basic facts about the crash and refer the insurer to your attorney for all official communication. This protects your rights and ensures that any offers reflect the full extent of your damages.
