New York Car Accident Lawyers

If you’ve been hurt in an auto accident because of someone else’s negligence, the attorneys at Block O’Toole & Murphy understand the pain and devastation that you may be experiencing. Our goal is to help our clients get the full and fair compensation they deserve – we are not satisfied with any other result. We fight tirelessly so our clients and their families can be properly compensated for damages such as:

• Medical treatment
• Pain and suffering (emotional and physical)
• Lost wages
• Property damage

The law firm of Block O’Toole & Murphy is known for landmark verdicts and settlements. Our lawyers have consistently attained some of the best results in New York car crash cases, including a $32.7 million record-breaking jury verdict for a pedestrian hit by a car and a $22.5 million settlement for a driver injured in a head-on collision. According to ALM VerdictSearch, every year since 2012, no other law firm in New York has attained more results exceeding $1 million than Block O’Toole & Murphy.

Keep reading to find out how we can help you after a car accident.

Need to Know:

• Car accident victims in New York State are entitled to have their accident covered up to $50,000 by no-fault insurance, but they must file a claim with their insurance provider within 30 days of the incident.
• New York State’s “Threshold Law” establishes the circumstances under which a car accident victim can file a lawsuit. Retaining an experienced attorney early can help you to interpret these guidelines and give you a better sense of whether you have a case.
• A successful car accident case requires early and thorough investigation and a willingness to think outside the box when it comes to finding evidence.

In This Article:

• Why Choose Block O’Toole & Murphy for Your New York Car Accident Case?
• Common New York Car Accident Questions
• Case Study: $3.25 Million Settlement for Woman Injured in Head-On Collision with NYCTA Bus
• Case Study: $13,500,000 Settlement for Young Mother Who Suffered Serious Car Accident Injuries
• Block O’Toole & Murphy’s Notable Verdicts and Settlements in New York Car Accident Cases

Why Choose Block O’Toole & Murphy for Your New York Car Accident Case?

If you’ve been seriously injured in a car accident, you want to be sure that the firm you hire can handle your case. The attorneys at Block O’Toole & Murphy have the specialized experience needed to fight for you.

• Block O’Toole & Murphy is well-known as a premier personal injury firm throughout New York State. From Buffalo to Brooklyn to Bridgehampton, our attorneys have handled car accident cases all over New York State.
• Our record of landmark verdicts and settlements is a powerful tool for negotiation. Our attorneys have achieved notable results for all kinds of car accidents in New York, including a $9,750,000 settlement for a rear-end accident on Long Island, a $5,160,916 verdict for a man injured in a side-impact collision in Queens, a $22.5 million settlement for an accident caused by dangerous roads in Westchester, and more. This shows the defense that we don’t settle for less than our clients deserve.
• We understand the importance of connection and communication with our clients. We aim to make sure each person we represent feels informed and comfortable at every step of their case. Additionally, by taking the time to truly know our clients, we can tell their stories with authenticity before a judge, insurance company, or jury.
• Our attorneys have been recognized with many awards for their work in personal injury law. For example,
  • In 2026, Block O’Toole & Murphy was added to Super Lawyers’ newly-created list of New York Metro Top Firms for Personal Injury Plaintiffs, recognizing the firm as one of the best of its kind in the region.
  • For more than a decade, Partners Stephen J. Murphy, Jeffrey A. Block, and Daniel P. O’Toole have been named to the Best Lawyers® list for plaintiff personal injury attorneys in New York. They were also each selected as “Lawyer of the Year” for Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs in New York City for 2022, 2023, and 2026, respectively.
  • For over a decade, Best Law Firms has awarded Block O’Toole & Murphy the prestigious Tier 1 rankingin Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs for the New York City region.

Common New York Car Accident Questions

If you have been injured in a car accident in New York, you may have questions like, “If I do have a case, how long do I have to bring it? Does it matter if I’m partially at fault for the accident? Will filing a lawsuit be expensive?” These are all common questions, and we can provide answers to them.

How does no-fault car accident insurance work in New York State?

New York State’s no-fault coverage is designed to help car accident victims have their immediate needs met without filing a lawsuit. There are three important things to understand about this policy:

• New York drivers are required to carry a “no-fault” insurance policy of $50,000, meaning that each driver involved in an accident can have related damages or medical expenses paid for through his or her own insurance company, regardless of fault.
• To receive this compensation, you’ll need to file a claim with your insurance provider within 30 days of the incident. Failing to do so could cause you to forfeit your right to coverage.
• If your accident meets New York State’s “serious injury” threshold, you can still file a personal injury lawsuit after filing a no-fault claim.

Does my injury meet the serious injury threshold?

There are several possible conditions under which your car accident injuries might meet the serious injury threshold, enabling you to file a personal injury claim.

• In New York State, certain injuries are “serious injuries” by default. These include death, dismemberment, fracture, trauma-induced miscarriage, and any permanent loss or limitation of a bodily organ or member. (A complete list of these injuries as defined by New York Insurance Law Section 5102 can be found here.) Any injury defined as a “serious injury” can serve as grounds for a lawsuit.
• An accident that incurs medical expenses beyond the $50,000 no-fault insurance policy limit could meet the serious injury threshold. However, property damage in excess of the insurance policy (for example, expensive damage to the car) does not serve as grounds to meet the serious injury threshold; any claim related to property must be filed under economic damages.

While these rules can give you an idea of what to expect, only an experienced personal injury attorney can tell you for certain whether your injuries meet this threshold.  A good attorney will be very clear about whether or not you have a case. You are acting responsibly by seeking legal advice. 

How much time do I have to file a lawsuit?

According to New York State law, the time limit to file a personal injury lawsuit after a car crash is typically three years from the date of the accident. This is referred to as a Statute of Limitations.

Additionally, In New York and many other states, car accidents involving a municipality may have a shorter period of time in which you are able to initiate a lawsuit. If you were hurt in a car accident, it’s best to speak with a personal injury attorney with a strong knowledge of traffic laws as soon as possible to discuss the laws that may apply to your specific case.

How long should I wait to contact a lawyer after a car accident?

Even if you technically have years to file a lawsuit, this does not mean you should delay contacting a lawyer. Crucial evidence may be lost if your lawyer does not begin investigating your case as soon as possible.

Our firm prioritizes early—if possible, immediate—investigation. Our attorneys, along with the investigators they retain, often travel to the location of the accident as soon as we’ve signed a case. This helps us to:

• Locate witnesses while the incident is fresh in their minds.
• Examine the accident scene and contextualize key facts.
• Collect footage from nearby security cameras which might otherwise be taped over or erased. In some cases, this footage has dramatically changed the direction of the case in favor of our client.

Can I afford to file a lawsuit?

Likely, yes. Most personal injury law firms take cases on a contingency basis, meaning they do not charge any fees unless and until they win your case. Additionally, they take their payment out of the settlement they win for you, so you won’t have to worry about paying legal fees out of pocket. 

Can I still make a claim if I believe I am partially at fault for the accident?

Yes, this is a possibility because of New York’s modified comparative negligence law. If you are partially at fault for an accident but the other driver is more liable, you may still have a case. Additionally, you may not be as liable as you think: you might be unaware of other factors contributing to fault for the accident, such as defective vehicle parts or hazardous road conditions.

What is my car accident case worth?

This varies depending on the details of each case. Typically, in an auto accident personal injury case, you may be able to make a claim for the following kinds of damages:

• Medical bills from care needed for injuries
• Pain and suffering, both physical and emotional
• Property damage, such as damage to your vehicle
• Lost wages, from not being able to return to work as a result of injuries
• Loss of quality of life

Your case’s worth will depend on the severity of these damages, among other factors. In most cases, your recovery is limited to the amount of insurance that the opposing driver and owner have. In some cases, insurance coverage can be as low as $25,000 and in others it may very well be $25,000,000. An experienced lawyer can obtain the relevant insurance policies and explain them to you after they have carefully reviewed them.

Should I speak to the other driver’s insurance company?

No. If the other party’s insurance company tries to contact you and ask for information, you should not speak to them until you have discussed your case with an experienced personal injury attorney. It is possible that the other party’s insurance will try to obtain information from you to minimize the validity of your claim.

Case Study: $3.25 Million Settlement for Woman Injured in Head-On Collision with MTA Bus in Brooklyn

In one case handled by Block O’Toole & Murphy, our client was a 32-year-old woman who was driving home one snowy evening when she became involved in a devastating car accident in Bergen Beach. She was driving down Avenue U and approaching the intersection at East 70^th Street when an MTA bus began to make a left turn and stopped in the intersection, blocking her path.

Though our client tried to brake and swerve out of the way, her car skidded in the snow and collided with the bus. The accident left our client with a fractured facial bone, a concussion, and severe shoulder, head and back pain. Eventually, she underwent a surgical spine fusion surgery, as the accident had exacerbated her previous back issues.

Prior to the accident, our client had been a very active and outgoing woman who loved going to the gym and spending time with her family and friends. Tragically, beyond the physical effects of the accident, our client also suffered emotionally and mentally.  She developed extreme anxiety about leaving her house, making it even more difficult for her to work or enjoy life.

Building a Brooklyn Car Accident Case

Upon signing this case, Partners Frederick C. Aranki and Scott Occhiogrosso, along with Associate Kristian Krober, immediately collected all the evidence they could about the accident. Unfortunately, the bus involved in the accident was not equipped with a camera, and after visiting the accident scene, they confirmed there were no surveillance cameras in the area.

However, by filing a FOIL request, they were able to obtain an official investigation report which included an MTA diagram that showed the bus was over the double yellow line when the impact occurred.

Additionally, our attorneys helped our client navigate her medical care and find a doctor who was able to properly diagnose her with scapular winging and treat her shoulder pain. Not only did this give her physical relief, it strengthened her case for medical damages.

Arguing for Liability and Negotiating a Settlement

The MTA diagram, which the bus driver agreed was a fair depiction of the accident, became essential to this case. According to VTL § 1141, a driver making a left turn “shall yield the right of way to any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction which is within the intersection or so close as to constitute an immediate hazard.”

To build their argument, our attorneys researched and cited relevant case law such as:

• Gause v. Martinez 91 A.D.3d 595 (2nd Dept, 2012), which states that a plaintiff driver is entitled to judgment as a matter of law on the issue of liability if he or she demonstrates that the sole proximate cause of an accident was the defendant driver’s violation of VTL § 1141;
• Ahern v. Lanaia, 85 A.D.3d at 696, 924 N.Y.S.2d 802, which states that the operator of a vehicle with the right-of-way is entitled to assume that the opposing driver will obey the traffic laws requiring him or her to yield, and
• Yelder v. Walters, 64 A.D.3d 762, 764, 883 N.Y.S.2d 290, which states that “a driver with the right-of-way who has only seconds to react to a vehicle which has failed to yield is not comparatively negligent for failing to avoid the collision.”

While our arguments regarding liability were solid, settling this case was still difficult, as the MTA was initially unwilling to offer our client adequate compensation. The case proceeded to trial, but ultimately settled after jury selection for $3.25 million.

Case Study: $13,500,000 Settlement for Young Mother Who Suffered Serious Car Accident Injuries

In one of the largest car accident cases Block O’Toole & Murphy has ever handled, a 24-year-old single mother was walking by the side of a dark road on Long Island when she was suddenly struck by a car. As a result of the collision, she suffered multiple fractures and severe brain trauma. Unthinkably, our client, who had once provided for her two young children, was now totally unable to care for herself.

Our hearts broke when we spoke to our client’s sister, who had taken her in along with her children. She told us that our client was still well aware that she was their mother—she had once crawled up a flight of stairs when she heard the sound of her baby crying, despite being unable to walk and barely able to speak.

We knew that our client deserved the best compensation possible in order to improve her quality of life and secure a future for the children she loved so much.

Preparing for a Catastrophic Car Accident Case

Partners Scott Occhiogrosso and Daniel P. O’Toole knew that the defense would likely claim that our client was responsible for the accident because of her decision to walk on the road at night. To rebut this, they needed to demonstrate that the driver of the car that hit our client was able to see her on the road and had a responsibility to stop.

To build this case, our attorneys:

• Hired experts who could provide insight into how the incident unfolded. One of these experts, a U.S. Naval Officer who specialized in visibility and contrast, was able to help determine what the driver that hit our client might have seen. Additionally, a biomechanical expert explained how the impact had caused our client’s injuries.  
• Provided the jury with an accident reconstruction that refuted the driver’s claims. Another expert analyzed our client’s resting place at the site of the accident and the debris items at the scene to determine how fast the defendant was driving at the time of impact. Though the driver stated she was traveling 25 to 30 mph, this proved she was traveling closer to 50 mph.
• Worked with other attorneys at the firm to stage an accident reconstruction of their own. Accounting for the time of night, the weather, and even the position of the moon in the sky at the moment of the accident, a small group of attorneys traveled to the accident scene, bringing with them several items of clothing that had been cut from our client’s body following the impact. O’Toole had purchased a car of the same make and model as the one that hit our client, which Partner Frederick Aranki drove while a professional videographer sat in the passenger seat. Partner Christina Mercado, who is roughly the same height as our client, clipped the items of clothing on over the clothes she was wearing and walked where our client had walked.

Although one of our crash experts observed the reconstruction, our attorneys are not themselves accident reconstruction experts, and the resulting video would not have been admissible as evidence had the case moved to trial. But it helped O’Toole and Occhiogrosso gain deeper insight into the circumstances of the accident—insight which helped them to argue their case effectively, armed with a better understanding of the visibility of our client on the night in question. They were also able to observe driver behavior at the scene, which gave them a better understanding of the fact that drivers making the turn often drove over the shoulder of the road, which was where they believed that the driver had hit our client.

That willingness to go the extra mile helped them to achieve a $13,500,000 settlement, to this day the largest reported personal injury settlement in Suffolk County. This settlement helped to pay for the nursing care our client would need for the remainder of her life, while also ensuring that her two young children were provided with the resources they needed.

Block O’Toole & Murphy’s Notable Verdicts and Settlements in New York Car Accident Cases

Block O’Toole & Murphy’s dedication and reputation have led to a strong track record of car accident results, including:

• $32,756,156 jury verdict in a Long Island case for a pedestrian who suffered life-threatening head trauma after he was hit by a drug-impaired driver.
• $22,500,000 settlement for a driver hit by a vehicle coming from the opposite direction in upstate New York.
• $20,181,484 verdict for an IT executive injured in a collision caused by icy roads in Westchester County, New York.
• $12,500,000 settlement for a client who suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) after being run over while crossing the street.
• $12,000,000 settlement in a Brooklyn car accident case for a child who was standing on the sidewalk when he was hit by a car.
• $9,750,000 settlement for a 37-year-old tow truck operator who suffered leg and head injuries after he was struck by a drunk driver.
• $9,500,000 settlement in a Brooklyn case for a client who suffered catastrophic injuries, including partial leg amputation, after he was hit and dragged by an NYCTA bus.
• $9,263,326 jury verdict for a passenger in a New York City taxi cab who suffered spinal nerve damage after the taxi was involved in a multi-vehicle rear-end collision.
• $8,000,000 settlement for a pedestrian who was struck by a Transit Authority bus and as a result, suffered a traumatic leg amputation above the knee.
• $7,525,000 settlement in a Suffolk County wrongful death case for the surviving family after a tragic car crash killed two members of their family.
• $6,000,000 settlement for a 54-year-old injured in a New York City motor vehicle accident.
• $5,160,000 verdict for a driver who suffered herniated discs after another car ran a stop sign and crashed into his car in Queens, New York.
• $5,000,000 settlement for a woman who suffered aggravation of a pre-existing condition after a multi-car collision in Levittown, New York.
• $4,600,000 settlement for a 53-year-old man with a spinal injury after he was involved in a serious car crash in Babylon, New York.
• $4,400,000 settlement for a New York City sanitation worker who suffered injuries after his vehicle flipped over on an icy road.
• $4,250,000 settlement for a 42-year-old man who sustained leg and back pain after a rear-end collision in Westchester County, New York.
• $4,100,000 jury verdict for a 54-year-old passenger who suffered herniated discs after a rear-end accident on the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge.
• $4,000,000 settlement for a driver who suffered permanent disability from his job as a result of a car crash in Woodhaven, Queens.
• $4,000,000 settlement for a client who sustained permanent injuries after he was hit by a vehicle in Forest Hills, Queens.
• $4,000,000 settlement for a pedestrian who sustained foot and ankle injuries after she was knocked down by a car in the Bronx.
• $4,000,000 settlement for a rideshare driver who was rear-ended by a commercial van.
• $3,800,000 recovery in a Suffolk County case for a truck driver who sustained multiple injuries after an accident involving a defective vehicle.
• $3,750,000 settlement for a laborer who was injured after being hit by a reversing truck while removing guardrails on a roadway.
• $3,500,000 settlement for a bus operator who sustained neck, back, and shoulder injuries after the bus was rear-ended by a sanitation truck owned by the City of New York in Brooklyn.
• $3,500,000 settlement in a Queens case for a client who was unable to return to work after his car was sideswiped by another vehicle, causing him to swerve and crash into a parked vehicle.
• $3,500,000 settlement for a driver whose car was struck by another vehicle at an intersection in the Bronx.
• $3,500,000 settlement for a client who suffered multiple injuries requiring surgery after his sedan was struck by a driver that sped through a stop sign in Queens.
• $3,450,000 settlement in a Queens case for a pedestrian who was crossing the street within a crosswalk when he was hit by a bus.
• $3,400,000 settlement for a 44-year-old whose car was rear-ended by a commercial vehicle.
• $3,375,000 settlement for a driver who was rear-ended by a truck while he was stopped at a red light in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.
• $3,369,066 verdict for a front-seat passenger who sustained injuries requiring cervical fusion surgery after a car collision in Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn.
• $3,250,000 settlement for a Brooklyn driver who suffered back and shoulder injuries as a result on a head-on accident
• $3,175,000 settlement for a 38-year-old worker who suffered knee and spinal injuries after he was hit by a forklift in Jamaica, Queens.
• $3,000,000 settlement in a Brooklyn case for a 39-year-old worker whose vehicle was struck by an NYC Sanitation Department snow plow.
• $3,000,000 settlement for a man who required a total hip replacement after he collided with an MTA bus in Flatlands, Brooklyn.
• $3,000,000 settlement in a wrongful death case for the family of an entrepreneur who tragically died in a car crash in Suffolk County, New York.
• $3,000,000 settlement for a man who injured his knees, neck and back when he was rear-ended by an Access-a-Ride bus.
• $2,840,000 recovery for a driver who suffered cervical radiculopathy after a sudden car collision in Manhattan.
• $2,760,000 settlement for a front-seat passenger who suffered injuries to his neck and back after the car was hit by a commercial truck in Brooklyn.
• $2,750,000 settlement for a car accident victim with injuries requiring multiple surgeries, including an arthroscopic knee surgery, after a rear-end crash on the Bruckner Expressway.
• $2,750,000 settlement in a Queens case for an auto accident victim who suffered herniations to the L3-4 and L4-5 discs.
• $2,700,000 settlement for a client who suffered serious leg injuries after he was hit by a commercial truck in Babylon, New York.
• $2,650,000 recovery for a van driver who suffered a herniated disc to his lumbar spine with radiculopathy after he was involved in a rear-end collision.
• $2,625,000 settlement for the estate of a married couple from upstate New York who were fatally struck by a tractor-trailer.
• $2,558,000 settlement for the family of a victim who died as a result of being struck by a drunk driver in Brownsville, Brooklyn.
• $2,500,000 settlement in a Bronx case for a driver who was rear-ended by a distracted driver.
• $2,500,000 settlement for a client whose car was hit by a vehicle exiting a parking spot in Cypress Hills, Brooklyn.
• $2,500,000 recovery in a Bronx case for a client who suffered degenerative disc disease after a serious collision.
• $2,500,000 verdict in a Nassau County case for a passenger who sustained burns and multiple fractures after the vehicle lost control.
• $2,500,000 verdict for a driver hurt in a side-impact collision with a cement-mixing truck near a Brooklyn construction site.
• $2,400,000 settlement in a Supreme Queens case for a 39-year-old man who sustained serious neck injuries after a rear-end crash on the Long Island Expressway.
• $2,250,000 award for a victim who sustained a brain hemorrhage and other serious injuries as a result of a head-on collision in Westchester County, New York.
• $2,225,000 settlement for a 55-year-old passenger who suffered lower back pain after she was involved in a car crash in Manhattan.
• $2,150,000 recovery in a Nassau County case for a driver who collided with another vehicle making a left turn at an intersection.
• $2,000,000 settlement for a client who was riding in a car that was rear-ended by an MTA bus in Queens.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, the attorneys at Block O’Toole & Murphy are here to help. We serve all five boroughs of New York City as well as the entirety of New York State. Contact the skilled attorneys at Block O’Toole & Murphy by calling 212-736-5300, or by filling out our online contact form.