You are driving down Lafayette Avenue toward the Bruckner Expressway on-ramp, stopped behind a line of cars at the light, when the impact from behind throws you into the steering wheel. For a second, everything goes quiet except the sound of your own breathing.
You get out to check the damage, and the other driver is already out too, saying it was not their fault before you have said a word. By the time the police arrive to write up the report, you are standing on the shoulder with cars speeding past on the Bruckner overpass above you, wondering how you are supposed to prove what actually happened.
Greenspan & Greenspan Injury Lawyers know how disorienting those first few hours after a crash can feel. As your advocate, we step in immediately to secure the evidence that builds your case, so you can focus on healing while we handle the fight over who pays.
What Does a Soundview, Bronx Personal Injury Lawyer Do First?
A Soundview accident of any type often starts with confusion over who is responsible and who pays the medical bills. If it is an auto accident, New York requires your own auto insurance to cover your initial costs through no-fault benefits. A construction accident may mean workers’ compensation covers your initial losses, but a third party may also be at fault. Or a slip-and-fall may mean a property owner should cover your damages. As your lawyer, we help you file these claims correctly, then pursue the person responsible for your injuries.
Which Cases Does a Bronx Personal Injury Lawyer at Greenspan & Greenspan Handle?
Car accidents make up a large share of the injury claims we see from Soundview, but they are far from the only ones. We handle:
- Car and truck accidents,
- Motorcycle and bicycle accidents,
- Pedestrian and rideshare accidents,
- Bus and construction accidents, and
- Wrongful death claims.
A Soundview, Bronx personal injury lawyer can quickly tell you whether your situation fits one of these or something else entirely.
How Does New York’s No-Fault Process Work After a Car Accident?
New York is a no-fault state, which means your own auto insurance pays your initial medical bills and a portion of lost wages regardless of who caused the crash. Basic no-fault coverage provides up to $50,000 in benefits per person for medical treatment, therapy, and lost income.
How Does Fault Affect Your Case in New York?
New York changed how shared fault works in car accident cases this year, though the older rule still applies to all other types of injury claims.
Car Accident Claims
If you were 50% or more at fault for the crash that hurt you, New York prohibits you from recovering any money. However, below that line, your damages are reduced only by your share of fault, meaning if you were 20% at fault, you would receive 80% of the compensation awarded to you. To sue beyond your no-fault benefits with your insurance company, your injury also has to meet the state’s definition of a serious injury, which includes a broken bone, permanent loss of use of a body part, or a significant disfigurement, among other categories.
Every Other Injury Claim
Aside from car accidents, New York still follows pure comparative negligence. This means your percentage of fault reduces your compensation, but even if you are found mostly responsible, up to 99%, you can still be awarded that last 1%.
The Detail a Car Accident Lawyer in Soundview, Bronx Wants You to Know
Here is what most guides to Bronx car accidents skip: the Bruckner Expressway corridor through Soundview produces frequent chain-reaction, rear-end crashes, and adjusters sometimes pin blame on whichever driver is easiest to target, including you.
Ask whether an MTA bus was nearby, since most city buses, including the Bx27 along Westchester Avenue and Soundview Avenue, carry onboard cameras that can show who struck whom first. A car accident lawyer can request that footage quickly, and under the new fault rule, that evidence carries significant weight.
How Long Do You Have to File a Lawsuit in New York?
New York gives you three years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit for personal injury. That deadline comes sooner than you think, especially as you heal and continue managing your day-to-day life. Missing it means you cannot pursue a claim at any time. Bring your case to Greenspan & Greenspan, and we can help you protect that deadline.
Soundview, Bronx Personal Injury Attorney: Six Decades in the Bronx
We keep a presence in the Bronx because we believe injured clients deserve an advocate who understands their neighborhood, not just New York State law in the abstract. Soundview families researching a personal injury attorney that residents trust often find us through word of mouth.
Founded in 1959, our firm has spent more than six decades building relationships across the suburbs and boroughs we serve, earning a 4.9-star Google rating from over 200 reviewers and an American Association for Justice Commendation. Our bilingual staff serves Soundview’s Spanish-speaking residents directly, without translation delays.
Talk to a Personal Injury Attorney in Soundview Before You Talk to the Insurance Company
Greenspan & Greenspan are ready to hear what happened and explain your options at no cost. Schedule a free consultation so we can review what the insurance company is offering before you decide. The conversation costs nothing, and it could change everything.
Legal References Used to Inform This Page
To ensure the accuracy and clarity of this page, we referenced official legal and other resources during the content development process:
- Definitions, N.Y. Ins. Law § 5102(a), (d) (2026).
- Notice of claim for no-fault benefits, N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 11, § 65-1.1 (2021).
- Causes of action for personal injury, N.Y. Ins. Law § 5104(a) (2026).
- Damages recoverable when contributory negligence or assumption of risk is established, N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 1411 (2026).
- Actions to be commenced within three years: for non-payment of money collected on execution; for penalty created by statute, N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 214(5) (2022).