New York’s recent changes to motor vehicle and insurance laws may significantly impact the rights of injured accident victims — especially those pursuing personal injury claims after a crash.
Among the most concerning revisions is the elimination of the “90/180-day” category under New York’s Serious Injury Threshold. Previously, injured individuals who were unable to perform their normal daily activities for at least 90 out of the first 180 days after a crash could still qualify to pursue compensation for pain and suffering. Removing this category creates even fewer ways for victims to meet the Serious Injury Threshold.
These changes may disproportionately affect individuals suffering from injuries that are serious, painful, and life-altering, but harder to prove through imaging alone — including traumatic brain injuries, soft tissue injuries, and other conditions that require detailed medical documentation.
Additional proposed and enacted revisions also include:
- Limiting damages for individuals found primarily at fault under comparative negligence rules
- Restricting recovery for uninsured drivers involved in certain conduct
- Narrowing access to compensation beyond No-Fault benefits
Now more than ever, having an experienced MCV Law Personal Injury Attorney Matters
Successfully pursuing a motor vehicle injury claim increasingly depends on:
- Proper medical documentation from the beginning
- Physicians who understand the legal standards required in injury cases
- Detailed records connecting injuries directly to the accident
- Experienced legal representation that knows how to build and present serious injury claims under the changing law
At MCV Law, we closely monitor changes in New York injury law and fight to protect the rights of accident victims. If you were injured in a crash, it is critical to speak with an attorney as early as possible to protect your claim and ensure the necessary medical and legal evidence is properly documented.
About the Author: Alicia L. Loomis, Esq. is a Personal Injury Attorney at MCV Law representing injured clients across Syracuse and the greater Central New York region in matters involving motor vehicle accidents, motorcycle crashes, construction and labor law injuries, premises liability, and complex negligence claims. She graduated magna cum laude from Syracuse University College of Law. Ms. Loomis proudly serves as the President of the Central New York Women’s Bar Association and a member of the LGBTQ+ Law Section of the New York State Bar Association. Contact Alicia: [email protected]