Koenig is passionate about representing injured people against giant insurance companies who use their endless resources to deny coverage to maximize profits. Suppose you or a loved one have suffered severe harm caused by a negligent driver within the New York Metropolitan area. In that case, you are entitled to damages for your pain and suffering, medical expenses, and lost wages. Your road to victory includes a free consultation with a dedicated New York car accident attorney who is ready, willing, and able to answer all your questions and alleviate your concerns. His top priority is helping you achieve a complete physical, mental, and financial recovery. He is fully committed to providing his clients with high-quality legal services and allowing them to traverse the civil justice system.

Car Accidents

New data from the final quarter of 2021 confirms that 2021 was the deadliest year on New York City streets since 2013. With 73 fatalities between October and December, crashes killed 273 people total in 2021, a 33 percent increase over 2018, the safest year in New York City’s recent history. From 2014 to 2021, crashes killed 1,885 people across the five boroughs. 

Truck Accidents

A collision between a passenger car and a commercial truck can cause long-lasting or permanent injuries. The type of truck accidents includes tire blowout accidents, jackknife truck accidents, under-ride truck accidents, hazmat truck accidents, and unsecured loading accidents.

In 2019 there were 80 Fatal crashes involving large trucks and passenger vehicles, 23 fatalities involving large trucks and pedestrians, six fatalities involving large trucks and bike riders, and two fatalities involving large trucks and motorcycles in New York.Generally, truck accidents are handled differently from a collision between passenger vehicles. There can be multiple defendants in a truck accident case. It is important to identify who they are in order to navigate the legal landscape.

If you have suffered serious injuries in a truck accident in New York, Koenig Pierre is here to fight for the maximum compensation you deserve. Contact this New York truck accident lawyer today.

Motorcycle Accidents

For many, motorcycle riding is a thrilling pastime. Unfortunately, statistics show that motorcycle riders are at greater risk for fatalities than drivers of passenger vehicles. Motorcyclists are more likely to be killed or severely injured in a crash. According to the NHTSA, motorcycle riders are overrepresented in fatal traffic crashes. In 2020, 5,579 motorcyclists died in traffic accidents throughout the United States.

Motorcyclists in New York City are at disproportionate risk of death. Only 2 percent of registered vehicles in New York City are motorcycles, yet from 2010-2014, motorcyclists accounted for 14 percent of traffic fatalities. in New York City. New York City’s fatal crash rate for motorcyclists is nearly twice the rate for New York State motorcyclists. Koenig Pierre will provide the high-quality legal assistance that you need after a motorcycle accident. He will help you understand all of your legal options. If you have been injured in a serious accident, don’t delay starting the legal process until you recover.

Hire Koenig Pierre, a New York motorcycle accident lawyer, who will defend your interests from start to finish.

UBER /LYFT Accidents

Like most residents of major cities throughout America, New Yorkers have come to rely on rideshare services, notably Uber and Lyft. While rideshare services are helpful in reducing the number of drunk driving incidents, research suggests that ridesharing has led to more accidents.

Here are some steps you should take after a rideshare accident.

Step 1: Remain at the accident scene until police arrive.

Step 2: Make sure your name is on the police report and give a statement.

Step 3: Report the accident on the Uber or Lyft app.

Step 4: Contact a New York ride-share attorney.

Koenig Pierre is a New York ride-share attorney that can help you understand  your legal options for compensation after a ride-share accident within the New York

Metropolitan area regardless if you are:

• An UBER / LYFT driver

• An UBER / LYFT passenger

• A 3rd party (e.g., pedestrian, cyclist, another driver) was struck by an UBER / LYFT driver.

Bus Accidents

Bus companies owe a duty of care to passengers and the general public to operate their buses in a safe and prudent manner. When bus companies and their drivers fail to operate the buses reasonably and an ordinary ride turns into a catastrophe, victims may sue for full compensation for any and all injuries which may occur. The standard of care for public and privately-owned buses are numerous, and include:

• Vehicle maintenance inspections at least every six months according to standards from the NY DOT.

• Keep buses in safe operating conditions at all times.

• Hire, train and retain competent bus drivers.

• Bus safety and exit requirements.

• Require drivers to perform pre-trip inspections.

Who may be liable in a bus accident?

• Bus Operator

• Bus Manufacturer

• Bus Maintenance and Repair Depot

• Another Driver

Put a devoted NYC car accident lawyer to work on your bus accident claim. Contact Koenig Pierre to schedule a free consultation.

If you have been involved in a car crash in New York City or within its surrounding areas, it is important that you are informed of the best course of action.

New York State law requires certain actions to occur, and insurance companies have the right to reject claims if certain steps are not taken in the correct order after an accident.

If you have any questions regarding your accident or need guidance from an able NYC personal injury lawyer, contact Koenig Pierre, Esq. today for a free consultation regarding your situation.

The seven steps you should follow after a car accident include the following:

Step 1: Get to Safety

After a collision, if your vehicle is operable, pull over to the side of the road to avoid creating a hazardous condition. 

Step 2: Report the Accident

Call 9-1-1 and obtain an accident report. The police report may be crucial to your personal injury claim. Make sure your version of events is documented within the report. If certain corrections need to be made, you can obtain an amended report.

Step 3: Seek Medical Attention

Check yourself for injuries and check on the well-being of your passengers. If you’ve been injured, call 9-1-1 or ask another ablebody to do so. In the event you’ve been seriously injured, try not to move and wait for emergency services.

Take care of yourself and others as needed until help arrives; however, do not attempt to perform any First Aid routines that you are not trained to perform, and don’t move an unconscious or immobile person unless necessary to save their life.

Step 4: Exchange Insurance Information

If you are in good condition after the accident, New York State law requires you to stay at the scene and exchange information with the driver or drivers involved in the crash.

You should collect as much relevant information as possible, such as information concerning the identity, address, phone number, insurance company, policy number, driver’s license number, plate number, model of the vehicle, and owner of the vehicle if it’s not the driver.

Throughout this process, it is important to remain calm and avoid saying or doing anything at the scene of an accident that may be used against you.

If there are any witnesses to the accident, consider exchanging information with them as well. Having more than yourself to attest to your version of the events may prove useful if the at-fault driver or their auto insurance company is refusing to cooperate.

Step 5: Gather Evidence

Take photos or videos of the accident scene with your cell phone, and capture the damages caused to your vehicle, as well as its location in relation to other vehicles.

If there were witnesses to the accident, ask them for their names and phone numbers. Regardless of how well you feel after the accident, it is important to schedule an appointment with your primary care physician, they will be able to confirm your well-being.

Take photos or videos of the accident scene with your cell phone, and capture the damages caused to your vehicle, as well as its location in relation to other vehicles.

If there were witnesses to the accident, ask them for their names and phone numbers. Regardless of how well you feel after the accident, it is important to schedule an appointment with your primary care physician, they will be able to confirm your well-being.

Remember to Get a copy of the police report, take pictures, write down the names and addresses of all parties involved, and talk to witnesses.

Step 6: Start the Claims Process

Written notice of the accident must be given to your insurer within thirty days of the accident. Written notice may be done by simply informing the insurer in a letter that there was an accident at a particular time and place, you were injured, and you intend to file a claim. Any further details may be unnecessary.

You have 90 days to file with the Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation (MVAIC). They handle claims in which the driver who is at fault does not have insurance.

Step 7: Call a NYC Car Accident Lawyer

Koenig Pierre is a knowledgeable NYC car accident lawyer serving the New York metropolitan area; he will help you receive the compensation you deserve for your injuries, pain, and suffering. Apart from car accidents and “slip and fall” lawsuits, Koenig Pierre will also handle personal injury cases that involve medical malpractice, elder abuse, dog bites, construction accidents, bicycle accidents, wrongful death, truck accidents, and other work-related injuries.

He is committed to serving every client with personalized attention, compassionate customer service, and professionalism. Before you get carried away, call him today!

1. Driver Inattention / Distraction

Distraction and inattention by drivers is an increasing cause of motor vehicle accidents. The most common distractions while driving include operating a cellphone, focusing on the activities of passengers, changing the radio, climate control or other function within the vehicle, eating or drinking.

2. Tailgating

A situation where one vehicle follows another vehicle too closely. In such a situation the trailing vehicle fails to give the driver that is leading ample time for stopping without risk of a collision.

According to VTL 1129(a) the driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent. A driver must  have regard for the speed of other vehicles and the traffic condition of the highway.

In New York, a rule of thumb says you should leave at least two seconds of braking distance between yourself and the car you are trailing. Under poor road conditions, such braking time should be extended to three or four seconds.

3. Failure To Yield The Right Of Way

When a driver fails to yield to another vehicle or person, they may be guilty of causing an accident by not following the right-of-way laws as outlined in the New York Vehicle and Traffic Law Code. The resulting accident may lead to personal injuries to drivers or pedestrians or even wrongful deaths.

4. Turning Improperly

Governed by VTL 1160, improper turns are a leading cause of car accidents. Such turns represent negligent and reckless behavior. Following the rules of the road is essential to protect yourself and the safety of all motorists, passengers, and pedestrians. When motorists fail to follow such regulations, including proper turning, they place a greater risk of car accidents. If another driver’s negligence leaves you injured due to an illegal turn, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and property damage. Schedule a free consultation, and let’s start working on your case.

5. Unsafe Lane Changing

Improper lane changing is a form of reckless driving that may result in three points on your license and a calamitous motor vehicle accident that results in serious injury or death. This unsafe practice leads to thousands of accidents annually in New York City.

New York State’s VTL § 1128 holds that changing lanes is a traffic violation unless the vehicle’s driver can safely do so. An unsafe lane change that causes a car crash may subject the driver to civil penalties, as well as liability for injuries and property damages that may result.

6. Traffic Control Disregarded

Failure to obey a traffic control device is one of New York’s most common causes of motor vehicular accidents. Such a violation applies to “all signs, signals, markings, and devices” (NY VTL 153) placed by the municipality to control traffic. For instance, a common scenario involves a driver who fails to yield to a Stop sign and T-bones another car that has the right of way. This violation can cost you a hefty fine and points on your license, insurance hikes and more importantly result in a serious car accident.

Drivers are required to obey traffic signals unless a law enforcement officer is directing traffic. Often, drivers disregard traffic signals because they are impatient, inattentive or simply reckless resulting in crashes due to their negligent behavior.

7. Alcoholic Involvement / DWI 

The number of drunk driving accidents in NYC (or driving while under the influence of a narcotic substance) is appalling. According to statistical records from the New York City police department, every month, approximately 100 traffic accidents occur in New York City that involve alcohol alone.

Most civil cases are brought against the intoxicated driver. In some circumstances, a lawsuit may also be filed against a negligent third party, such as a bar that continued to serve alcohol to someone who was visibly drunk. They may be liable for an accident under “dram shop laws.”

In New York, if a drunk or impaired driver causes a car accident that injures another person, the driver may be charged with vehicular assault. Vehicular assault in the second degree is committed when a person causes a severe physical injury to another person as a result of driving a motor vehicle while intoxicated, impaired by drugs, or impaired by the combined influence of drugs or alcohol.

8. Driver Inexperience

Drivers between the ages of 16 to 20 years old have a higher rate of involvement in fatal crashes than any other demographic. Driver inexperience is the primary factor in car accidents involving teenage drivers.

9. Reversing Unsafely

VTL 1211 governs the limitations of backing up a motor vehicle. Similar to the vehicle traffic laws concerning changing lanes, backing up a motor vehicle is a movement that should only be performed when such a movement can be done safely without interfering with traffic.

 Most New York City drivers look behind them before backing up by turning around in their seats to make sure no vehicles or people are behind them. Some may glance into their rear-view mirror instead of turning around or look at their side-view and rear-view mirrors if they have difficulty twisting around enough to see clearly behind them.

Drivers who back up into another vehicle or individual can be cited for improper backing and possibly additional charges if they cause serious physical injury or aggravated damage.

10. Vehicle Defects

Failure to properly service and maintain the vehicle is a significant cause of automobile lawsuits, frequently seen in a commercial vehicle setting. Usually, the defect will involve a breakdown of a part of the car, truck, or bus due to the failure of the owner or a service company to maintain and service the car or truck properly. Such a failure can lead to disastrous results.  

Conduct A Thorough Investigation

Every case must first begin with a thorough investigation to obtain a full understanding of how the car wreck occurred and to determine fault and damages. All of the parties involved with your loss must be identified and their liability thoroughly assessed. Koenig will identify all of the other parties that may be held liable for your injuries, include other motorists, the manufacturer of the motor vehicle, the municipality, or a 3rd party responsible for designing or maintaining the roadway.  

Gather Evidence

Material evidence that fully supports your claim will be gathered, including witness statements, photographs and video recordings of the accident scene, footage of the crash from dashcams or security cameras of nearby homes and businesses, meteorological conditions, medical records and expert opinion concerning accident reconstruction.

Negotiating A Settlement

If the insurance company decides not to play fair, makes a lowball settlement offer, delays your compensation, or denies your claim, Koenig will pursue your case to court. Koenig Pierre is experienced with dealing with insurance carriers and negotiating with them to secure the best possible results for his clients. If an early settlement is not in your best interest, a personal injury lawsuit will be filed to received maximum compensation for any serious injuries you have suffered such as as a spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury or any other catastrophic injuries following a motor vehicle accident.