Buffalo Car Accident Lawyer

If you’ve suffered injuries or lost a family member in a recent Buffalo, New York, car accident, don’t hesitate to contact the attorneys at O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers by calling (716) 222-2222.

You have rights as a crash victim, including the opportunity to seek monetary damages from an insurance company or at-fault party.

Our top-rated Buffalo car accident lawyers are here to help you get the life-changing financial recovery you deserve.

O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers has been trusted by crash victims and families in Buffalo, NY, since our founding back in 2012.

Our respected New York trial attorneys have over 84 years of collective experience taking on insurance companies, government agencies, and other powerful entities on behalf of clients like you.

Our million-dollar and multi-million-dollar results speak volumes about just how much we care about the people we represent.

Force a fair fight by putting our award-winning legal team in your corner. Contact our Buffalo car accident attorneys today. Your initial case evaluation is free.

How O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help You After a Car Accident in Buffalo, NY

Your world has just been turned upside down because someone else was careless. Now, you have to figure out how to deal with debilitating injuries, sky-high medical bills, and a potential loss of income. You also have to deal with the emotional distress and anguish you’re experiencing as a victim. However, you need to know that you’re not alone.

Our Buffalo personal injury lawyers are here to help you assert your rights and fight to obtain compensation to help you move on with your life.

At O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers, there’s a reason we’ve been recognized as Western New York Legal Elite and Top 50 Upstate New York Super Lawyers. Our approach to litigation is determined, tenacious, and client-centric. We utilize our considerable resources and experience to press insurance companies into offering crash victims higher settlements. In turn, we’ve helped our clients win tens of millions in monetary awards.

As your advocate, you’ll be able to count on our Buffalo car accident attorneys to:

• Thoroughly explain your legal rights and options and keep you updated on your car accident claim throughout the process
• Be available to take your call and answer your questions 
• Promptly investigate your crash to determine why it happened and how it could have been avoided
• Bring in experts in car accident reconstruction, forensics, medicine, psychology, and other specialties to consult on your case
• Calculate what your damages are worth so we know if you’re being lowballed by the insurance company
• Represent you during any conversations with other parties and the insurance carrier
• Press the insurer to engage in honest conversations about your case in an effort to secure a top-dollar settlement on your behalf
• File your car accident lawsuit with your local Erie County court and bring your fight to a jury, if necessary

During a time when it’s hard to know who to trust, know that O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers will be there to support you every step of the way. We’ll put your best interests front and center as we fight to get the accountability you deserve.

We offer a free consultation, so don’t hesitate to contact our law office in Buffalo, NY, for help today.

Why Should I Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?

You may have the right to pursue compensation after a car accident in Buffalo, but the process itself can be a challenge. You’re already dealing with so much, so it makes sense to ask for help.

Hiring a car accident attorney has considerable benefits, including:

• Increasing the odds of winning your case and walking away with up to 3.5 times more in compensation (compared to handling the claim on your own)
• Having expert witnesses weigh in and offer testimony to support your case
• Forcing the insurance company to handle your claim in good faith
• Having the law firm’s resources invested into your case can help to level the playing field against a powerful insurance company or corporation
• Knowing that you’ll be protected against victim-blaming tactics specifically designed to hurt your ability to obtain a monetary award
• Giving yourself the time and opportunity to really concentrate on recovering from your car accident injuries and moving forward with your life

When thinking about which car accident attorney in Buffalo you should hire, it’s important to consider their experience, track record, willingness to go to trial, and whether they’re genuinely invested in making a difference in your life. Choose O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers and you’ll get all that and more.

Contact our law office in Buffalo today to learn more about why you will want us to fight for you. Your first consultation is free.

How Much Money Can I Get From a Car Accident Case?

Every crash is different. Every victim will have a different experience and story to tell. As a result, the value will vary (often significantly) from one claim to another.

Many factors will play a part in determining how much money your car accident case might be worth:

• What specific physical injuries have you suffered?
• What part(s) of the body has been affected?
• Will you need long-term medical care or treatment?
• Are you disabled?
• Have you been unable to work since the car accident?
• Have you experienced a reduction in your income?
• Are you getting blamed for the accident?
• How old are you?
• How has your quality of life been affected?
• What insurance benefits are available to you? What are those policy’s limits?
• Has the auto accident aggravated any pre-existing medical issues?
• What’s your life expectancy?

You can expect the type and severity of your injuries to have the biggest potential impact on the value of your car accident case. According to the National Safety Council, the average comprehensive cost of a crash can vary significantly, depending on how serious an injury is. In 2021, the cost of a crash causing possible injuries was $120,000, while the cost of a fatal crash was more than $12 million. If a crash caused disabling injuries, the average cost exceeded $1 million.

Of course, even if your case is worth a lot, comparative fault, a failure to mitigate damages, and other factors can adversely affect how much money you’re ultimately awarded.

Get a sense of what your case is worth and protect your opportunity to obtain a maximum financial award by calling O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers, for help. Members of our team are available to help 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Lawsuit in New York?

New York limits the amount of time a plaintiff will have to sue after a car accident. For victims who suffer physical injuries in a Buffalo crash, a three-year statute of limitations applies. When a crash is fatal, surviving family members will have just two years to pursue damages through a wrongful death lawsuit.

There are some exceptions to these general rules. Typically, they apply to situations when a child is injured in a car accident or when a government agency is liable. However, this could give you more or less time to act, depending on the circumstances.

Don’t miss the deadline that applies to your specific case. If you fail to file a claim on time, you’ll lose the right to demand compensation from a liable party.

What Types of Damages Are Available After a Car Accident?

As the plaintiff in a car accident lawsuit, you will have the opportunity to seek compensatory damages from an insurance company or another liable party.

Compensatory damages include two types of awards: economic and non-economic. Each is designed to compensate for a different type of loss.

Economic Damages

Economic damages help you handle the financial impact of your car accident. 

You can potentially get money to help cover the following:

• Current and future medical bills
• Rehabilitation and therapy
• Disability
• Lost wages
• Diminished earning capacity
• Out-of-pocket costs, such as the cost of a rental car
• Property damage
• Nursing care
• Funeral expenses if a Buffalo car accident is fatal

Your losses must be documented and verifiable. Future losses can be awarded, but projections must be based on trustworthy evidence and testimony.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages help you cope with the aftermath of a car accident that isn’t easily valued in terms of dollars and cents.

Non-economic damages may include:

• Loss of consortium
• Embarrassment
• Reduced quality of life
• Mental anguish
• Chronic physical pain
• Disfigurement
• Pain and suffering
• Post-traumatic stress disorder

These types of damages are very subjective and personal. The value will vary substantially from one case to another. Our Buffalo car accident attorneys will enlist expert witnesses to help us fully appreciate how your auto accident has affected your life so that we can be prepared to leverage a meaningful financial recovery on your behalf.

How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?

It costs nothing out-of-pocket to hire our car accident lawyers in Buffalo, NY.

Our law firm represents crash victims on a contingency fee basis. We front the costs of pursuing your claim. Our fees are entirely dependent on the result. You’ll only pay if we win compensation for your car accident case.

You can typically expect a car accident attorney to receive between 33 percent and 40 percent of your financial recovery, less case-related costs.

This structure allows you to get the legal help you need without added financial stress.

Contact our Buffalo law office to learn more about our fee structure and to understand the considerable benefits of having our New York car accident attorneys fight for you.

Can I Get Compensation If I’m Partly At Fault for a New York Car Accident?

It’s possible, yes. However, since New York operates under a system of pure comparative negligence, shared fault will limit how much money you can recover.

The greater your role in causing the collision, the more of an impact it will have on your financial award. 

Damages are reduced proportionately to fault. If you’re assigned 25 percent of the blame for a recent Buffalo auto accident, any settlement or jury award will automatically be reduced by 25 percent.

As you can see, even sharing a fraction of the blame can really jeopardize your financial recovery. That’s why our Buffalo car accident lawyers will anticipate the insurance company’s attempts to shift blame and limit your payout. We’ll be ready with facts, evidence, and smart arguments to limit how much – if any – liability is assigned to you.

Will My Car Accident Case Go to Trial?

While only four to five percent of civil personal injury lawsuits go to trial, the path your car accident case takes is ultimately up to you.

You have the power to accept a settlement offer, extend a counteroffer, or reject it altogether.

Several factors can influence your decision:

• What does the insurance company value your car accident case to be worth?
• What does your attorney believe your damages are worth?
• How far apart are those figures?
• Has the insurance company handled your claim in good faith?
• How strong is the evidence you have supporting your case?
• Do you want to avoid the cost, expense, and potential risk of going to trial?

One way to decrease the odds of going to court is by hiring an accomplished and respected New York trial attorney to handle your car accident case. When you make it clear that you’re not afraid of going to court, the insurance company will take notice. As a result, the insurance adjuster might be eager to offer a more substantial settlement to make you happy. The last thing the insurance carrier wants is to take the fight to an empathetic jury and risk a multi-million dollar loss.

At O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers, we’re skilled and successful trial attorneys who always prepare as if we’re going to end up in front of a jury. This helps us put the best foot forward in every case and help our clients win substantial awards. Call our Buffalo law office to find out how we can help you, too.

What Should I Do After a Car Accident in Buffalo?

Getting into a car accident is stressful and overwhelming. However, it’s still important to try to maintain a level head and make smart decisions in the aftermath. The things you do and say will affect your ability to recover compensation in the future.

Take the following steps after an auto accident: 

• Report your car accident to the Buffalo Police Department by calling 911 right away
• Remain at the scene or nearby in a safe location until the police and other first responders arrive 
• Exchange insurance details with other parties or provide it to the officer on the scene
• Refuse to acknowledge fault or accept blame for the accident, even if you wholeheartedly believe you’re at least partly to blame 
• Take pictures of damaged property, vehicle damage, physical injuries, and the accident scene if you can
• Seek prompt medical treatment at the closest hospital if you’re not transported from the scene by an ambulance
• Contact an experienced car accident attorney near you in Buffalo for help as soon as you can
• Direct all conversations to your attorney to stop the insurance company from preying on you during this stressful time

Car accidents are anything but convenient. They can happen in the middle of the night, over the weekend, or during rush hour. No matter when and where your accident happens, O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers will be available to help. Members of our team are standing by 24 hours a day to take your call. Reach out to us to set up a time for a free consultation now.

Types of Car Accident Claims We Handle

Choosing O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers means hiring attorneys who have over 84 years of combined experience representing clients in all types of car accidents, including:

Hit and Run Accidents

Despite requirements to stay at the scene after an accident, some drivers flee because they’re drunk, hiding from the police, or afraid of the consequences of their actions. In a hit-and-run accident it can make the process of getting compensation more challenging for victims.

Intersection Accidents

Statistically speaking, more than half of all car accidents unfold at or near an intersection. Buffalo, which has some of the most dangerous intersections in Western New York, has its fair share of intersection crashes every year.

Rollover Accidents

Rollovers tend to impact vehicles with high centers of gravity – like SUVs and pickup trucks. When a vehicle makes a sharp turn at high speeds or trips on an object in the road, it can roll to its side and cause significant damage to occupants inside.

Rear-End Collisions

Nearly 20 percent of all traffic accidents in Buffalo are rear-end collisions. Many times, victims of rear-end crashes struggle with debilitating soft tissue injuries like whiplash. 

Frontal Collisions

In 2022, at least 120 head-on collisions were recorded in Buffalo, New York. Frontal crashes account for a fraction of all collisions but are responsible for 14 percent of fatal crashes nationwide.

Sideswipes

Side-impact collisions can be particularly dangerous because there is very little to protect occupants from severe trauma. Many times, sideswipes and other side-impact accidents are the result of improper maneuvers at an intersection.

Accidents with Uber and Lyft Rideshare Vehicles

Uber and Lyft services can provide a great way to get around and explore a city like Buffalo. However, since Uber and Lyft drivers aren’t professionals, there’s no guarantee that rideshare trips will be safe. In an Uber or Lyft accident, getting compensation can be challenging if multiple parties are involved.

Collisions Involving Uninsured Motorists

Roughly 11 percent of New York drivers don’t have car insurance, despite legal requirements to carry a policy with certain coverage. When an insured driver is involved in a wreck, it can become difficult for a victim to obtain necessary compensation. An experienced car accident attorney in Buffalo can help to make the process of obtaining damages easier.

Who Could Be Liable For My Car Accident Injuries?

Negligence is the primary cause of car accidents in Buffalo, New York. There are times when more than one person’s careless actions might contribute to a wreck. Under New York state law, anyone who causes a car accident can be held financially responsible for resulting damages.

However, it’s important to note that New York has a no-fault car insurance system. As a motorist, you’re legally required to purchase minimum amounts of car insurance coverage before you can drive. When there’s an accident, you’re required to seek benefits from your insurer first. If your injuries are severe, you can then set your sights on seeking additional damages from a liable party.

Potentially liable parties might include the following:

• The driver of another passenger vehicle
• Motorcyclist
• Pedestrian
• Bicyclist
• Vehicle passenger
• Mass transit driver
• Truck driver
• Mass transit company
• Government agency
• Property owner
• Vehicle manufacturer
• Negligent party’s employer

Our New York car accident attorneys in Buffalo will thoroughly investigate your crash to determine the cause and liability. Once fault is clear, we will actively work to demand accountability from those at fault.

Common Types of Car Accident Injuries

Crash victims in Buffalo can suffer debilitating injuries, including:

• Concussion injury
• Traumatic brain injury
• Eye injury
• Whiplash injury
• Neck injury
• Soft tissue injury
• Back injury
• Paralysis injury
• Spinal injury injury
• Nerve damage
• Broken bones
• Chest injury
• Leg injury
• Knee injury
• Amputation injury
• Degloving injury
• Crushing injury
• Catastrophic injury
• Wrongful death of a family member

Take prompt action after your car accident and call O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers for help. Our Buffalo car accident attorneys are here to help you see damages for all the trauma you’ve suffered in a recent wreck.

Most Common Causes of Car Accidents

Motor vehicle accidents tend to happen when people are careless, make poor decisions, or are in a rush. That’s why the primary legal cause of action for most car accident claims is negligence.

Most often, these factors contribute to or cause auto accidents in Buffalo:

• Speeding
• Texting and driving
• Other forms of distracted driving
• Drunk driving
• Tailgating
• Improper passing
• Illegal turns
• Failing to yield the right of way
• Running red and yellow lights
• Rolling stops
• Failing to signal before turning
• Braking errors
• Vehicle defects
• Road defects
• Driver fatigue

Knowing the cause of your Buffalo car accident is half the battle. Our personal injury attorneys will dig into the details of your crash to understand exactly why and how it happened. When the cause is clear, we can begin to develop a strategy to help you get the compensation you deserve.

Buffalo Car Accident Statistics

Buffalo has been called the city in New York with the worst drivers. Accident statistics might back up these insurance company findings. According to data published by the city, 8,092 traffic accidents were reported in Buffalo, NY, in 2022. On average, that’s 22 traffic accidents a day in Buffalo.

Roughly 29 percent of these collisions caused an injury or death. In total, 24 fatal collisions were reported across the city of Buffalo that year.

What Are the Most Dangerous Intersections in Buffalo, NY?

While any stretch of road or intersection can be dangerous, some see accidents more often than others. 

Some of the most notable dangerous intersections in Buffalo include:

• Porter Ave and Jersey Street and Normal Ave
• Humboldt Parkway and East Ferry Street
• Church Street and State Highway 5
• Bailey Ave and Broadway Street
• Bailey Ave and East Delavan Ave
• Orchard Park Road and University Ave
• Mid County Drive and Breem Street

Knowing where accidents are most likely to happen in Buffalo can help you potentially avoid a wreck. Exercise extra caution when traveling through these notoriously dangerous crossroads.

Call Our Buffalo Car Accident Lawyers Today For Help

Injured in a car accident in Buffalo, New York? Call O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers.

Our Buffalo car accident lawyers have a combined 84 years of experience and a proven track record of success. We’ve helped clients win tens of millions in monetary awards.

Now, it’s time to find out how we can help you maximize your car accident recovery, too.

We offer a free consultation, so contact our Buffalo law office today.