How Hochul’s Proposal Could Hurt New York Car Crash Victims
If you’ve been injured in a car accident in New York, you may have heard about Governor Kathy Hochul’s new auto insurance proposal. These changes are being promoted as a way to lower insurance costs. But for many injured people, the proposal could make recovering fair compensation even harder.
Governor Hochul’s 2026 plan focuses on limiting certain injury damages, changing how fault is calculated, and expanding fraud investigations.
Recent investigative reporting shows that Uber and other large corporate interests are aggressively backing Governor Hochul’s insurance overhaul. Uber is investing millions to help Hochul secure reelection because the company supports limiting accident payouts—changes that would reduce compensation for crash victims. Additional filings show the company funneled nearly $3 million into an outside group that immediately spent $2.5 million on ads promoting Hochul’s insurance plan. This level of spending highlights who truly benefits from the proposal: not injured New Yorkers, but well‑funded corporations seeking to lower their own liability.
Key Takeaways:
- Pain and suffering damages may be limited if you are found mostly at fault.
- It may become harder to meet the serious injury threshold.
- Multi-car accident victims may recover less if a driver has low insurance.
- Claims may face more aggressive challenges.
Changes to Comparative Fault: If you are found more than 50% at fault, you may lose the right to recover non-economic damages.
A Stricter Serious Injury Threshold: Hochul’s plan would narrow what counts as a serious injury, limiting lawsuits and forcing many to rely only on no-fault insurance.
Limits on Joint and Several Liability: A driver less than 50% at fault would only owe their share of damages, reducing compensation in multi-vehicle crashes.
Expanded Fraud Investigations: More claim scrutiny could slow down legitimate injury claims.
What These Changes Mean for You: You may face lower compensation offers, more disputes, and stricter proof requirements.
What To Do After a Car Accident:
- Get medical care immediately.
- Follow treatments.
- Gather evidence.
- Get the police report.
- Speak with an attorney early.
Our firm opposes Governor Hochul’s proposal because it would further disadvantage injured motorists seeking fair compensation, while leaving untouched the significant profit margins of major insurance carriers. There is no credible indication that the cost “savings” created by these restrictions will ever be passed on to consumers. Instead, these changes are far more likely to strengthen insurance company profits at the expense of accident victims.
These proposed changes could significantly impact car accident victims across New York. If you’d like your elected officials to understand how this may affect people in your community, consider contacting your State Assembly member or Senator to express your concerns or ask how they plan to address these issues.
We’re Here To Help: If you were hurt in a car accident, our attorneys can guide you through the process and protect your rights
Contact Hiller Comerford today for a free consultation.
