Injured in a Car Accident? We have a Lawyer that Can Help You.
Car Accident Attorney Craig Z. Small • Serving Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse, New York
Many things can distract a driver from the road or lead to an auto accident. Cell phones, the radio, the weather, eating food, inexperience, and/or excessive speed are just a few. If a driver suspends his attention for even a couple of seconds, it could lead to an accident. When injuries occur, you may need an attorney to recover compensation for the damages.
Contact Small Law Firm online for a free consultation
or call us at 716.847.2600.
At Small Law Firm, we focus on the best interests of the client. Mr. Small is a sole practitioner with more than 14 years of experience as a personal injury lawyer. He works one-on-one with each client, taking a personal interest in their long-term well-being.
If you were in a car accident, please make sure to see a doctor right away. You may not even realize that you were injured. It is best to proceed with extreme caution for your own health and safety.
Symptoms may take days to appear. Not only can a delay in treatment be life-threatening, but the longer you wait, the more difficult it may be to relate those injuries to the accident.
Two points about New York's "No Fault" law:
- Under the "no-fault" system, you may only recover from the negligent driver if the auto accident caused a "serious” injury. A “serious” injury is defined as a fracture, a significantly or totally disabling injury, or a disfiguring injury. It must cause an objectively measurable injury leading to a diminished enjoyment of life.
- If your injuries are not "serious," then your "no-fault" insurance policy should pay your medical bills and wage loss for time lost from work. Sometimes, the insurance company refuses to pay pursuant to the policy. If that happens, you may file a complaint against your own insurance company for benefits.
We represent individuals injured in all types of accidents. Attorney Craig Small is experienced with car accidents as well as bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, motorcycle accidents and truck accidents.
In a caring and compassionate environment, we represent clients with injuries ranging from simple fractures to seriously disabling injuries. In the event of a fatal car crash, we will handle the wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the estate of the deceased.
Western and Central New York are high-traffic regions. Unfortunately, many of our clients are injured in car accidents along major roads such as the New York State Thruway (I-90), I-290, I-190, Route 33 (Kensington Expressway), Route 5 (Main Street), Route 78 (Transit Road), Route 62 (Sheridan Drive), Route 219 (Springville), Route 490 and 390 (Rochester), and Route 81 (Syracuse).
What Is "SUM" Coverage?
If the driver who causes your accident does not have enough insurance to cover your damages, you may be able to draw coverage from your own insurance company under Supplemental Uninsured Motorist (SUM) coverage. You should make sure that you have purchased adequate SUM coverage in your policy. Check with your insurance agent to make sure.
For example, if the defendant who caused your accident has minimum insurance coverage of $25,000.00, and you have purchased SUM coverage of $100,000.00. then your policy would provide an additional $75,000.00 of coverage for your injuries and damages. In other words, there would be a total of $100,000.00 of insurance available to you. If you did not have SUM coverage, you would be limited to $25,000.00 from the defendant's insurance company.
Unfortunately, insurance providers often neglect to tell policyholders about SUM coverage. The additional coverage only costs a few extra dollars a month and is well worth the price. Check with your agent to make sure you have adequate SUM coverage
For a free consultation to discuss your case with an attorney at The Small Law Firm, contact us online or call us at 716.847.2600.
