What rights do you have after a car accident? While you can’t take another negligent driver to criminal court, you can hold that driver financially responsible for your losses. You can work alongside Derby car accident lawyers to file an insurance claim while preparing your case for civil court.
Richmond Vona, LLC wants to help car accident survivors like you overcome the financial burden these wrecks can place on your shoulders. We’ve won over $175 million for clients in the past and want to put our skills to work for you. You can schedule an initial case evaluation with the personal injury lawyers in Derby today.
You May Have the Right to a Civil Claim After a Car Wreck
How do you know whether or not you can take civil action after a car wreck? You and an attending Derby car crash lawyer need to assess the nature of your accident. If you want to bring your claim forward, you have an obligation to prove that another party’s negligence both resulted in your accident and caused you to endure economic losses.
You must further bring forward enough proof of both that negligence and your economic losses to meet the state’s burden of proof. If you can do so within New York’s personal injury statute of limitations, New York Civil Practice Law & Rules section 214, you may have the right to argue for compensation in civil court.
Does that sound difficult? It doesn’t have to be. Our attorneys know the ins and outs of New York’s civil court system thanks to decades of combined legal experience. We put that experience to use on our clients’ behalf on a daily basis. We can prepare you for the civil process and help you gather the evidence you need to make a stand.
Should You Reach Out to an Insurance Provider?
While you can take your car accident claim to civil court, your accident may also entitle you to support from the liable party’s insurance provider. If you want that support, you need to file an applicable claim with a provider within a few days of your accident.
That said, you need to be cautious when working with insurance claims adjusters. In an ideal world, these parties would accurately represent your losses and provide you with the support you need to recover. In reality, insurance claims adjusters may minimize your car accident losses to save their employers money.
Some insurance providers even try to deny rightful car accident claims in an effort to avoid paying out compensation.
What can you do in the face of bad faith behavior like this? Call on an attorney. Our team can appeal your denied car accident claim and restate the true value of your losses. Should a car insurance provider continue to act in bad faith, we can build a legal case against them.
For a free legal consultation with a car accident lawyer serving Derby, call (716) 300-5885
How to Take a Car Accident to Civil Court
New York’s personal injury statute of limitations gives you no more than three years to bring your losses to a judge’s attention. Both you and an attorney can put those three years to use, though. As mentioned, you have an obligation to meet the state’s burden of proof. You can do so by:
Assigning Accident Liability
It’s easy to assume that another driver on the road may bear the blame for your losses. If you want your car accident claim to move forward, though, you need to consider what story the evidence tells. That’s why attorneys and their investigators look at a range of evidence, including witness testimony and videos of the accident.
The evidence that our investigation brings forward may reveal that, yes, another driver’s negligence resulted in your accident. That said, we may also lay the blame for your losses on:
- Construction crews
- Corporate drivers and their employers
- Government officials
- Automotive manufacturers
- Automotive mechanics
- Shop owners
With that in mind, don’t make assumptions about liability, and don’t accuse anyone of fault without concrete proof. Once we have the data we need to accurately assign blame for your losses, we can more accurately argue that they owe you financial support.
Outlining the Value of Your Accident-Related Losses
You are as obligated to prove the value of your car accident losses as you are an accident’s fault. Fortunately, the evidence you bring forward to prove liability can also serve two purposes. You may have the chance to reuse that evidence to prove the value of losses like your:
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
- Lost wages
- Lost opportunities to pursue employment
- Medical expenses
- Property damage and restoration
- Stress
- Wrongful death, if applicable
- Funeral expenses, if applicable
As noted, you have the right to request damages for both your economic and non-economic car accident losses so long as you can tie those losses back to your accident. Our attorneys can help you establish a rough estimate of your case’s value long before we take your claim to a judge.
Derby Car Accident Lawyer Near Me (716) 300-5885
You Can Schedule a Free Case Evaluation With Richmond Vona, LLC Today
Do you want to demand damages after a car accident? You don’t have to go to civil court alone. The car accident lawyers in Derby, NY, can help you gather the data you need to hold a negligent party responsible for your losses. We make every effort to optimize your case so you can win the support you need to recover.
You can connect with Richmond Vona, LLC and team today for more information about the civil process. Our team offers to meet with you for free to discuss the nature of your most recent accident. Afterward, you get to decide whether or not you move forward with legal action with no pressure from us.
Reach out and schedule your free case evaluation today.
Call or text (716) 300-5885 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form