Sideswipe Accident Attorney in New York City

We help you get full compensation for your accident.

Sideswipe Accident Attorney NYC

What Our Clients Say

Who Needs a Sideswipe Accident Attorney in New York City?

You need a sideswipe accident attorney if another driver made contact with the side of your vehicle and caused injuries that are affecting your life. This includes situations where a driver changed lanes without checking their blind spot, a taxi or rideshare vehicle cut across lanes in Midtown, a bus or commercial truck squeezed through a narrow stretch in Brooklyn or the Bronx, or a driver drifted out of their lane on a busy highway like the BQE or I-95. Sideswipe accidents also injure cyclists and motorcyclists when vehicles pass too closely. If you were injured anywhere across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Staten Island, or in Nassau or Suffolk County, you have the right to seek compensation.

What to Expect When You Hire Us

Getting legal help after a sideswipe accident follows a clear process. Here's what we do from start to finish.

Step 1: Free Case Review

We talk through the details of your accident, your injuries, and the circumstances that caused the crash. There's no cost and no obligation. You leave the call knowing exactly where you stand.

Step 2: Investigation and Evidence Gathering

We collect police reports, surveillance footage, witness statements, and vehicle damage records. In NYC, traffic cameras and dashcam footage can be critical to proving fault in a sideswipe case, and this evidence must be preserved quickly before it disappears.

Step 3: Medical Documentation

We work with your treating physicians and, when needed, independent medical experts to fully document your injuries and project the cost of future care. Insurance companies will try to minimize your injuries. We make sure the full picture is on record.

Step 4: Insurance Negotiation

We handle all communication with the at-fault driver's insurer. We know the tactics adjusters use, and we push back hard to get you a fair settlement. If they won't budge, we take it to court.

Step 5: Trial or Settlement

Every case at Michael Gunzburg, P.C. is prepared for trial from day one. That preparation gives us leverage. If we can reach a fair settlement, we will. If we can't, we are ready and willing to fight for you in front of a jury.

Benefits of Working With Michael Gunzburg, P.C.

You Pay Nothing Unless We Win

We work exclusively on a contingency fee basis for personal injury cases. There are no upfront costs, no retainers, and no fees unless we recover money for you. This lets you get the same quality legal representation as the insurance companies, without having to drain your savings.

39+ Years of Results That Speak for Themselves

Michael Gunzburg has spent nearly four decades securing wins for injury victims across New York City. Our results include a $1.3 million jury verdict for a Nassau County rear-end crash victim, a $275,000 settlement for a driver struck on the side of her vehicle whose airbag deployment caused severe wrist fractures, and a $450,000 settlement for a passenger pinned into a cement divider by a commercial truck. When insurance companies see our name on a case, they know we mean business.

A CPA Background That Protects Your Financial Recovery

Michael Gunzburg is not just an attorney. He is also a Certified Public Accountant, which gives him a distinct edge in calculating lost wages, future earnings, and the long-term financial impact of your injuries. Most attorneys estimate these numbers. We calculate them precisely, and we know how to present them persuasively in court.

Direct Communication, Always

You will hear from us. We return calls within 24 hours. We send regular email updates. You are involved in every decision about your case because this is your life, not ours. Our clients have told us they actually miss hearing from us after their cases conclude. That says everything.

Trial-Ready From Day One

Insurance companies know which lawyers will fold and which ones will fight. We prepare every sideswipe accident case for trial from the very first day. That approach gives us real leverage at the negotiating table and signals to insurers that a lowball offer won't fly.

Common Questions About Sideswipe Accidents in NYC

Who is at fault in a sideswipe accident?

The driver who left their lane, failed to check their blind spot, or merged without yielding is typically at fault in a sideswipe collision. In New York, fault is determined by evidence including police reports, witness statements, surveillance footage, and vehicle damage patterns. Even if the other driver denies responsibility, physical evidence often tells a different story.

Can I still recover compensation if I was partly at fault?

Yes, you can still recover compensation even if you were partially at fault. New York follows a pure comparative negligence rule, meaning your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault. So if you were found 20% at fault, you can still recover 80% of your total damages. Do not assume that sharing some blame ends your case.

What injuries are common in sideswipe crashes?

Sideswipe accidents commonly cause whiplash, cervical and lumbar herniated discs, shoulder injuries, rib fractures, head trauma, and traumatic brain injuries. These injuries may not be immediately obvious at the crash scene. Symptoms like neck stiffness, back pain, and headaches often appear hours or days later. Get medical attention right away, even if you feel fine initially.

How much time do I have to file a sideswipe accident claim in New York?

You have three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim against a private party. If your crash involved a city-owned vehicle, a city bus, or another government entity, you must file a Notice of Claim within 90 days of the accident. Missing that deadline can permanently bar your right to compensation.

What compensation can I recover after a sideswipe accident?

You can recover compensation for medical bills, future medical care, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and property damage. If your injuries are severe, the value of your claim may be significantly higher than what an insurance company initially offers. We work to recover every dollar you're entitled to.

Does no-fault insurance cover sideswipe accidents in New York?

Yes, New York's no-fault insurance law requires your own auto insurer to pay for medical expenses and a portion of lost wages regardless of who caused the crash. However, no-fault benefits are capped and do not cover pain and suffering. To pursue full compensation, your injuries must meet New York's "serious injury" threshold, which includes fractures, herniated discs, significant disfigurement, and permanent limitations.

What should I do right after a sideswipe accident in NYC?

Call 911, request police and EMS, and stay at the scene. Exchange insurance and contact information with the other driver. Photograph the damage to both vehicles, the lane markings, any skid marks, and visible injuries. Get the names and contact information of any witnesses. Do not admit fault to anyone at the scene. Then seek medical attention, even if you feel okay, and contact an attorney before speaking with any insurance adjuster.

How do you prove fault in a sideswipe accident?

Fault in a sideswipe crash is proven through a combination of police reports, photographs showing point-of-impact damage on the side of your vehicle, surveillance or dashcam footage, witness testimony, and accident reconstruction when necessary. In New York City, traffic cameras and building security cameras often capture these crashes. We move fast to preserve that evidence before it is recorded over or lost.

Areas We Serve

Michael Gunzburg, P.C. represents sideswipe accident victims throughout New York City and the surrounding region. We handle cases in all five boroughs, including Manhattan (Midtown, the Upper East Side, Financial District, and Greenwich Village), Brooklyn (Park Slope, Williamsburg, Flatbush, and Brooklyn Heights), Queens (Astoria, Flushing, Jamaica, and Long Island City), the Bronx (Fordham, Riverdale, and Pelham Bay), and Staten Island. We also serve clients in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. No matter where your crash happened across the New York City metro area, we are here to help.

Other Car Personal Injury Legal Services We Provide

• Car Accident Attorney
• Motor Vehicle Accidents
• Truck Accidents
• Motorcycle Accident
• Uber Accident Attorney
• Hit and Run Accident
• Distracted Driving Accident