If you have been injured in a car accident, the medical expenses for your injuries may be covered by no fault New York insurance. To learn about the impact on your claim, you should talk with a Staten Island car accident lawyer as soon as possible.
It would be in your best interest to seek legal counsel if your injuries are substantial and you face costly medical bills. When someone else has acted in a negligent manner and was at fault for an accident, he or she could be held liable for your injuries.
Understanding No Fault in New York
The state of New York has adopted a law in which it doesn’t matter who was at fault for an accident; the insurance company must pay for any expenses or losses that are related to the accident. This can include medical bills, lost earnings and other incidental costs.
Despite no fault in New York, insurance companies may still try to fight paying out benefits. This is why securing help from a Staten Island car accident lawyer is a good idea when you have been seriously injured.
No Fault New York Medical Exam
Because of the no fault New York law, the insurance company does have the right to order your medical exam through a doctor of their own choosing. If you refuse to see their doctor, you may not be able to receive benefits.
One of the concerns that many injured victims have is whether or not the doctor will diagnose them properly. When the insurance company selects its own doctor, the intent is to reduce or eliminate the amount of benefits it must pay.
Therefore, the doctor may not indicate the severity or extent of your injuries as they truly are. Despite this, you still must undergo the medical exam under no fault New York laws.
Just as you wouldn’t provide too much information to the insurance company, you should also limit the amount of information you share with the doctor. What you say could come back to harm you.
The only thing you should tell the doctor is the symptoms you experience, including any pain or limitations you have. This medical exam will not include x-rays, scans, blood work or other types of testing.
The goal is for the doctor to indicate you need further evaluation and/or medical treatment. If this doesn’t happen, the insurance company may try to deny coverage. This is when a Staten Island car accident lawyer can help.
If the doctor does indicate that you need to seek further treatment or another exam, your case will be in a much better position. However, in any event, you still likely would benefit from seeking legal counsel.
Help from a Staten Island Car Accident Lawyer
Injuries from an accident — whether it occurred down a side street or on the Staten Island Expressway — could lead to significant medical expenses, an inability to work and bring in earnings, along with other losses. All of these may be addressed through a claim.
When your injuries are disabling, severe or life-threatening, you will want to seek help from a Staten Island car accident lawyer. A lawyer will take the time to evaluate the details of your case carefully and determine if you should proceed with filing a claim against the other driver.
A lawyer may be able to help you with the completion of forms and paperwork, collection of evidence and other aspects of the claims process. Additionally, a lawyer may be able to utilize other resources that can help your case, such as a medical expert or an accident reconstruction expert.
Contacting a Staten Island Car Accident Lawyer
When you have sustained a serious injury or lost a loved one as a result of a car accident, you are entitled to seek compensation for your damages and suffering. Consulting with a Staten Island car accident lawyer can help you better understand your rights, determine liability for your injuries, and decide if filing a car accident claim is right for you.
At Gacovino Lake & Associates we have formed a dedicated network of car accident lawyers to serve clients nationwide. Our New York office serves residents of the 5 boroughs with their auto accident, medical malpractice, defective drug, premises liability, and Workers’ Compensation claims. For experienced help with your car accident claim, contact us today – 1-800-246-4878.
