Motor Vehicle Accident Attorney in NYC

Attorney Michael Gunzburg

Who Needs a Motor Vehicle Accident Attorney in New York City?

Motor vehicle accidents happen every day across NYC's busy streets. You might need legal help if you were injured as a driver, passenger, or pedestrian in a collision involving cars, commercial trucks, city buses, taxis, or rideshare vehicles. Maybe you were rear-ended at a red light in Midtown, sideswiped by a delivery truck in Park Slope, or hit by a speeding cab in Astoria. Perhaps you suffered whiplash, broken bones, back injuries, or traumatic brain damage. If another driver's negligence caused your accident, whether through distracted driving, speeding, running a red light, or driving under the influence, you have the right to seek compensation. We represent accident victims throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, and Staten Island, including neighborhoods like Fordham and St. George.

What to Expect When You Work With Us

Step 1: Free Consultation

Call us at 212-725-8500 or fill out our online form. We'll listen to your story, review the facts of your accident, and give you an honest assessment of your case, at no cost to you.

Step 2: Thorough Investigation

We immediately begin investigating your accident. This includes visiting the crash scene, reviewing police reports, gathering witness statements, obtaining traffic camera footage, and consulting with accident reconstruction experts when needed.

Step 3: Medical Documentation

We work with your doctors to document every injury, from emergency room visits to ongoing physical therapy. We review medical records, imaging studies, and treatment plans to build a complete picture of how the accident has affected your health.

Step 4: Aggressive Negotiation

Insurance companies often try to minimize payouts or deny valid claims. We handle all communication with insurers, protecting you from tactics designed to reduce your compensation. Our 39+ years of experience mean we know exactly how to counter their strategies.

Step 5: Trial Preparation (If Needed)

While many cases settle, we prepare every case as if it's going to trial. This approach strengthens our negotiating position and shows insurance companies we're ready to fight for you in court if they won't offer fair compensation.

Step 6: Maximum Compensation

We fight to recover every dollar you deserve, medical expenses (past and future), lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and permanent disability compensation.

Benefits of Hiring Michael Gunzburg, P.C.

Maximum Compensation for Medical Bills and Lost Wages

Motor vehicle accidents often result in serious injuries requiring extensive medical treatment, emergency care, surgeries, rehabilitation, physical therapy, and sometimes lifelong care. We calculate the full cost of your medical expenses, including future treatment needs, and fight to ensure you're compensated for every dollar. We also recover lost wages if your injuries prevented you from working, and future lost earnings if you can't return to your previous job.

Protection from Insurance Company Lowball Offers

Insurance adjusters aren't on your side. They'll offer quick settlements that sound good but rarely cover your true losses. They may pressure you to give recorded statements, request unnecessary medical records, or claim you were partially at fault. We shield you from these tactics. With decades of experience handling insurance companies, we know their playbook, and we won't let them take advantage of you when you're vulnerable.

39+ Years of Trial Experience

Michael Gunzburg has been trying cases in New York courts since 1987. He's presented cases to juries, cross-examined defense witnesses, and secured multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements for injured clients. This courtroom experience matters. Insurance companies know we're not afraid to take cases to trial, which strengthens our negotiating position. You want a personal injury attorney who has actually stood before a jury and won, not someone who settles every case cheaply.

No Fees Unless We Win Your Case

You're already dealing with medical bills and lost income. The last thing you need is to pay legal fees upfront. We work on a contingency basis, which means you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. There are no hourly rates, no retainer fees, and no hidden costs. If we don't win, you don't owe us anything.

Personal Attention and Regular Communication

When you call our office, you're not just another case number. We return calls within 24 hours, keep you updated at every stage, and explain the legal process in plain language. Clients often tell us they appreciate how accessible we are, even when we're in trial on other cases. You'll always know what's happening with your case and what to expect next.

Frequently Asked Questions About Motor Vehicle Accident Cases in NYC

How long do I have to file a motor vehicle accident claim in New York?

In New York, you generally have three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, there are important exceptions. If you're filing a claim against New York City or another government entity (like if a city bus caused your accident), you may have as little as 90 days to file a notice of claim. That's why it's so important to contact an attorney right away. Evidence disappears, witnesses' memories fade, and critical deadlines can pass before you realize it. The sooner you call us, the better we can protect your rights and build a strong case.

What if the other driver doesn't have insurance?

New York is a no-fault insurance state, which means your own insurance policy's Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage should pay for your medical bills and lost wages up to $50,000, regardless of who caused the accident. If your injuries are serious and exceed that amount, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver. If that driver is uninsured or underinsured, you may be able to recover compensation through your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. We'll review all available insurance policies, yours, the other driver's, and any other potentially liable parties, to identify every source of compensation.

What compensation can I recover after a motor vehicle accident?

You may be entitled to recover several types of damages. Economic damages include medical expenses (emergency care, surgeries, hospital stays, medication, physical therapy, future medical needs), lost wages, and property damage to your vehicle. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and permanent disability or disfigurement. In some cases involving extremely reckless conduct (like drunk driving), punitive damages may also be available. The total value of your case depends on the severity of your injuries, the impact on your daily life, and the strength of the evidence proving the other driver's fault.

How do I prove the other driver was at fault?

Proving fault requires evidence. This typically includes the police accident report, witness statements, photographs of the accident scene and vehicle damage, traffic camera footage, cell phone records (if distracted driving is suspected), and sometimes expert testimony from accident reconstruction specialists. We investigate every angle of your case. For example, if the other driver claims they had a green light, we'll look for traffic cameras or witnesses who can confirm what actually happened. If they were texting while driving, we'll subpoena their phone records. Our 39+ years of experience means we know where to look for evidence and how to use it effectively.

What if I was partially at fault for the accident?

New York follows a "pure comparative negligence" rule. This means you can still recover compensation even if you were partially responsible for the accident, but your recovery will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you were found 20% at fault and your total damages were $100,000, you could still recover $80,000. Insurance companies often try to shift blame onto accident victims to reduce payouts. We gather evidence to show the other driver's negligence and minimize any claims that you contributed to the accident.

Will my case go to trial?

Most motor vehicle accident cases settle before trial. Insurance companies usually prefer to negotiate a settlement rather than risk a jury verdict that could be even higher. However, we prepare every case as if it's going to trial. This means conducting thorough discovery, deposing witnesses, retaining expert witnesses, and developing a trial strategy. This preparation strengthens our negotiating position, insurance companies know we're ready and willing to go to court if they won't offer fair compensation. If your case does go to trial, you'll have an attorney with 39+ years of courtroom experience fighting for you before a jury.

How much is my motor vehicle accident case worth?

Every case is different. The value depends on factors like the severity of your injuries, the amount of your medical bills, how long you were out of work, whether you have permanent disabilities, the strength of the liability evidence, and the available insurance coverage. Minor injuries with full recovery might settle for tens of thousands of dollars. Serious injuries requiring surgery, long-term treatment, or resulting in permanent disability can be worth hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars. During your free consultation, we'll review the specific facts of your case and give you an honest assessment of its potential value.

Schedule Your Free Consultation With a New York City Motor Vehicle Accident Attorney

Don't let insurance companies take advantage of you when you're hurt and vulnerable. You deserve an attorney who will fight for every dollar you're owed, someone with the experience, resources, and determination to take on the biggest insurance companies and win. At Michael Gunzburg, P.C., we've spent 39+ years securing multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements for accident victims just like you. We know how devastating a motor vehicle accident can be, and we're here to help you rebuild your life. Call us today at 212-725-8500 for your free, no-obligation consultation. We serve all five boroughs of NYC, and you pay nothing unless we win your case. Let us fight for you while you focus on healing.

Other Personal Injury services we offer:

• Pedestriam Accident Cases
• Bicycle Accident Cases
• Truck Accident Cases
• Construction Accident Cases
• Slip and Fall Accident Cases