Buffalo, NY Car Accident Lawyer

50 Fountain Plaza, Suite 1400

Buffalo, New York 14202

(716) 703-0000

Although the Buffalo area offers many occupational, cultural, and recreational opportunities, it also has one of the highest densities of motor vehicle traffic to be found between Manhattan and Cleveland. This also means that your chances of being involved in an auto accident are statistically higher than if you were driving in a more rural area of the state. On this page, the Buffalo car accident lawyer at the Doan Law Firm will review some of the more important legal issues to confront drivers in the Buffalo area.

Accidents Involving Canadian Citizens and/or Vehicles Insured in Canada

It is no secret that many Canadian citizens consider the Buffalo / Upstate area to be among their favorite destinations for shopping and recreational opportunities. Unfortunately, this also means that there is also the possibility that you might be involved in an accident with a driver who is from Canada and that their automobile insurance is from a Canadian insurer. Fortunately, the insurance laws of both the Canada and New York are not radically different.

Like New York, most Canadian provinces (and especially Ontario) require motor vehicle owners to carry some form of “no fault” insurance. In this type of insurance, an injured party must first file a claim for damages with their own insurance company rather than begin legal action against the other driver’s insurance company regardless of which party is later judged to be “at fault.”

In theory, “no fault” insurance is intended to make sure that an injured party’s medical and other accident-related expenses are met quicker and without the need for expensive legal wrangling over liability. It also means that there is a fairly good chance that, should it become necessary to file a lawsuit related to your accident, you can be fairly certain that your injuries will be covered by the other driver’s insurance. But, as in other aspects of life, nothing should be taken for granted.

Anyone injured in an accident involving a Canadian driver and, by extension, a Canadian insurance company, would be wise to retain the services of a Buffalo car accident lawyer if for no other reason than to ensure that they will not fall victim to one of the intricacies of international business law. By retaining a local attorney, you can rest easier in knowing that your rights will be defended regardless of your citizenship standing.

Time Limits and Buffalo Auto Accident Injury Lawsuits

Like all other states, New York Civil places time limits for filing car accident personal injury lawsuits. These time limits, known as statutes of limitations, are intended to assure that lawsuits are filed while the details of the accident are still relatively fresh in mind and that any witnesses will be easier to locate.

The statutes of limitations that apply most often in car accident cases are:

• Wrongful death lawsuits must be filed by a surviving family member within 2 years of the date of the victim’s death.
• Non-fatal personal injury lawsuits must be started within 3 years of the date on which the injury occurred.
• Lawsuits seeking compensation for damage to personal property, such as an automobile or motorcycle, must be filed within 3 years of the date the damage occurred.
• Claims for negligence that did not involve another motor vehicle or driver, such as damage caused by road conditions, must be filed within 3 years of the incident.

New York law does not allow claims filed after the time limit set forth in the statutes of limitations has expired, regardless of the merits of that claim. Since the statutes of limitations are subject to change by the state legislature, the current length of these statutes should always be confirmed by speaking with a Buffalo car accident lawyer.

To Protect Your Rights After an Accident, Contact Our Buffalo Car Accident Lawyer

Regardless of the season of the year, driving in the Buffalo area can be a challenge to even the most experienced and cautious auto mobile driver. For this, and many other, reasons anyone who has been injured in an automobile accident should consider contacting our Buffalo car accident lawyer at the Doan Law Firm for a no-cost evaluation of their personal injury case.

At the Doan law Firm, your first consultation is always free and does not obligate you to hire our firm to represent you. If you decide to retain us as your legal counsel, we are always ready to assume responsibility for all aspects of preparing your case for trial at our own expense in exchange for an agreed-to percentage of the final settlement that we will win for you.

If you have been injured in a car accident in the Buffalo area, your first step in receiving the compensation due you for your injury is to contact the Buffalo car accident lawyer at the Doan law Firm today!