New York State No-Fault Insurance FAQs

It’s important to know that if you have been hurt in an automobile accident, New York State No-Fault insurance benefits can help with many of your costs. While pursuing your claim for damages with the help of Harding Mazzotti, LLP, against the at-fault driver, we will make sure that you get all that you are entitled to from No-Fault.

The following commonly asked questions and answers will help you to understand what No-Fault insurance coverage is, what you have to do to collect No-Fault benefits, when and how No-Fault pays, and what expenses it covers. If you are in need of assistance or more information, please contact us today!

No-Fault Video FAQs

No-Fault FAQ – What Are New York State No-Fault Benefits?

What Are New York State No-Fault Benefits?

Hi, I’m Dan Dagostino, supervising attorney for Martin, Harding & Mazzotti. What are New York State no-fault benefits? We get calls every day from people that don’t understand what New York State no-fault benefits are, and that’s okay. There’s a lot of attorneys in the state, in the country that don’t understand what no-fault benefits are either.

What New York State is established is when you’re involved in an automobile accident, if you’re a pedestrian in an automobile accident, if you’re on a bicycle in an automobile accident, New York State has set up a way in which you can get your medical expenses, as well as your wages paid for. Also, out-of-pocket expenses, mileage expenses. However, you’re going to get a lot of forms in the mail. And when these forms get to you, they can be confusing. And our team at MHM, we have a dedicated staff to each department that can help you fill out these forms so that you can ensure that your benefits are protected. And you don’t have to worry about your medical expenses or wages when you’re involved in an accident.

What do You Have to do to Get No-Fault Benefits?

What Do You Have To Do To Get No-Fault Benefits?

What would someone have to do to get their no-fault benefits? I’m Dan Dagostino, Supervising Attorney from Martin, Harding and Mazzotti. You are gonna receive a no-fault application in the mail. It’s gonna be several pages ,have probably 15-20 questions on the form. And what you need to do is, is that form needs to be filled out. It’s important that it’s filled out correctly. Our staff at MHM who’ve been doing this for many, many decades, we fill out the forms in a certain way so we can ensure that your medical expenses are paid for, your wages, if you have mileage going to and from the doctor’s appointments, as well as out-of-pocket expenses. We wanna make sure that you get everything you are entitled to get.

No-Fault FAQ – Who is eligible for No-Fault benefits in New York?

Who’s eligible for New York State No-fault benefits?

When we have someone call our office, asking this question, we have to look into, you know, what happened first. You know, so we have our staff that will ask them, “How did the accident happen?” Once we determine how the accident happened, we can determine who’s eligible. For instance, if you’re driving in an automobile. If you’re a passenger in an automobile. If you’re, you know, on a bicycle. If you’re a pedestrian. You are entitled to these no-fault benefits. We have to convey that information over to the insurance carrier so that they know that you qualify, you get the benefits you deserve.

No-Fault FAQ – If I exhaust My No-Fault Benefits is There Additional Coverage Available?

If I exhaust my no-fault benefits, is there additional coverage available?

If you exhaust your no-fault benefits. The basic no-fault coverage in New York State’s $50,000. So often, we have people that contact our office. They’re involved in incredibly serious injuries where medical treatment goes well above the $50,000. They spend time in the hospital. They’ve surgeries. And what we tell them is, we say, “One, let’s sit. Let’s talk. See what other insurances you have, or the person potentially responsible for the accident.” There are coverages called additional personal injury protection benefits. Also, optional basic economic loss. These will help you obtain additional medical coverage as well as wages and potentially other out-of-pocket expenses. In the worst-case scenario, obviously, if there is no insurance available we look to private health insurance and also, obviously, the responsible party’s insurance coverages to cover all the losses you’ve sustained.

No-Fault FAQ – Am I Entitled to No-Fault Benefits if I Was on a Motorcycle?

Am I entitled to No-fault benefits if I was on a motorcycle?

We get people often that call our office that’ll say, “You know, I was on a motorcycle. Am I entitled to no-fault benefits?” If you are an operator of a motorcycle and you’re involved in an automobile accident, unfortunately, there are no no-fault benefits. However, there are additional insurance coverages that we look at. You know, our staff is well trained. They know to look for medical payment coverage. There could be additional coverage on the responsible party’s insurance policy. Also, we want to put your private health insurance, if you have it, on notice so that we can make sure you get the medical treatment that you need. And at the end of the case, we can look at everything that’s been paid and determine what the responsible party has to pay.

No-Fault FAQ – Am I Entitled to No-Fault Benefits if I Was on a Bus?

Am I entitled to No-Fault benefits if I was on a bus?

If you’re on a bus and you’re involved in an accident, whether it’s the responsibility of the bus or whether it’s the responsibility of another driver, what do you do? The bus has unique rules with respect to no-fault. With no-fault, you first have to look, do you have an auto insurance policy in your household? If you don’t have an auto insurance policy, do you live with a relative that does? And you would look, contact those insurance companies, fill out the no-fault application, the no-fault forms. If, for some reason, there are no relatives, or you don’t have an automobile insurance policy in your house then you can make arrangements with the bus company, or if it’s owned by a school district, to contact them for your no-fault benefits. This information can get overwhelming, especially when you’re involved in a bus. When we handle bus crashes in our office we have dedicated staff that deals with just these issues.

No-Fault FAQ – How Do I Know Which Insurance Policy Provides My No-Fault Benefits?

How do I know which insurance policy provides my No-fault benefits?

We get calls everyday where people say, “I was involved in a catastrophic accident. How do I know which insurance policy covers my no-fault benefits?” We have staff that gets into in-depth conversation. Often I’ll get on the phone and we get to know them. We have to find out, were you in the car with somebody else? Do you have your own automobile insurance policy? Were you walking? Were you a pedestrian? Who is the other party’s insurance? We do an in-depth investigation to determine who’s gonna be responsible to pay your medical bills, who’s gonna be responsible to pay your wages, your out-of-pocket expenses, mileage, things that you should not have to pay for.

No-Fault FAQ – Do New York State No-Fault Benefits Ever Expire?

Do No-fault benefits ever expire?

This question comes up every day. We have people that are involved in serious, catastrophic car accidents. And they ask us, “Do they expire? Do I have these benefits for life?” And at Martin, Harding & Mazzotti, we have in-depth conversations with people. We have to determine, you know, how much no-fault coverage is available. Do you have any additional coverage may be in your household? Did the responsible party? Did they have additional coverage available to pay for your medical expenses? Pay for your wages? Pay for household help that you can no longer do because of your catastrophic injuries? We determine that through an in-depth analysis so that if you do have benefits available, all of them are being used. And if we do resolve your case, if there’s a jury verdict in your case, that these benefits will continue as long as there are benefits available.

More No-Fault FAQs

What is No-Fault Insurance?

No-Fault is insurance that is designed to compensate an injured person, regardless of who might be at fault for the accident, for economic losses such as medical expenses, lost earnings, and other reasonable and necessary expenses incurred as a result of a motor vehicle accident. The basic No-Fault coverage is $50,000 per injured person.

Am I Eligible for No-Fault Benefits?

You are eligible to receive No-Fault benefits if:

  • You are injured in an automobile accident;
  • You are a pedestrian, bicyclist, or snowmobile rider struck by an automobile, motorcycle, or ATV (all-terrain vehicle); or
  • You are hurt during the use, operation, or maintenance of a motor vehicle unless you are injured in the course of the business of repairing or maintaining a vehicle.

Operators and passengers of motorcycles and ATVs are not eligible for No-Fault benefits.

What Do I Do First?

To begin the No-Fault process, you must report your claim and file a No-Fault application with the No-Fault insurance carrier. The No-Fault insurance carrier is the insurance company which covers the motor vehicle in which you were an occupant or, if you were a pedestrian, the car that struck you. The law requires that written notice setting forth details sufficient to identify you and the time, place and circumstances of the accident must be given to the No-Fault insurance carrier as soon as reasonably practicable, but in no event more than 30 days after the date of the accident. Failure to file the application in a timely manner may result in a denial of benefits. The Application for No-Fault benefits should be provided by the No-Fault insurance carrier – the insurance company that insured the car you were in or struck by at the time of the accident. Usually, the No-Fault insurance carrier will mail you the application and other no-fault forms directly. Harding Mazzotti, LLP® can provide the application form and assist you with filing the application.

What Information Will I Need to File for No-Fault Benefits?

You will be asked for identifying information such as your name, address, telephone number, date of birth and social security number. You will also be asked information regarding the date, time and place of the accident and for a description of how the accident occurred. With regard to your injuries, you will be asked to describe your injury, and list all medical providers and facilities that have provided treatment to you. The No-Fault insurance carrier should send appropriate forms to each of the medical providers that you identify. Once the medical providers have the name of the No-Fault insurance carrier and your claim number, they will most likely send the bills for your medical treatment directly to the No-Fault carrier. In order to be reimbursed for lost wages, you must indicate that you have lost time from work, identify your employer, and provide your gross average weekly earnings and how often you work. Your employer will be sent an Employer’s Wage Verification Report. Your employer must submit this report within 90 days after your work loss was first incurred in order for you to recover lost wage benefits from the No-Fault insurance carrier.

What If, After Filing The Application, I Go To A New Medical Provider For Treatment?

Give the new medical provider the name and address of the No-Fault insurance carrier and your claim number so that they can submit their bills for payment. If you receive any bills for your medical treatment related to the accident, you should send them to the No-Fault carrier and contact the medical provider’s billing office to advise them to send the bills to the No-Fault insurance carrier. Once your No-Fault application has been filed, the No-Fault insurance carrier assumes responsibility for the medical bills resulting from the accident if the bills were submitted timely. Medical bills must be submitted to the No-Fault insurance carrier within 45 days of the date of treatment.

What If My Child Is Hurt In An Accident?

If a minor (someone under the age of 18) receives medical treatment as a result of an automobile accident, the parent or guardian is legally responsible for the medical bills. Thus, the parent or guardian must file the No-Fault application, and forward the minor’s medical bills to the No-Fault insurance carrier, just as they would their own. Again, the No-Fault application must be filed within 30 days of the accident, or No-Fault benefits may be denied.

Besides Medical Bills, What Other Costs Can I Recover Through No-Fault?

You may be reimbursed by the No-Fault insurance carrier for lost wages, prescriptions, travel expenses for medical treatment and household help while you are recovering from your injuries – including costs of child care while you visit medical providers.

Will No-Fault Cover All Of My Lost Income?

Basic No-Fault coverage reimburses lost wages at a rate of 80 percent of your gross earnings up to a maximum of $2,000 per month for no more than 3 years from the date of the accident. However, you may have “additional” No-Fault coverage on your automobile insurance policy that provides a higher monthly wage benefit. Harding Mazzotti, LLP® can review your policy to see if you have additional No-Fault coverage.

What About New York State Disability Benefits?

New York State Disability benefits are temporary benefits paid to an eligible worker when the worker is disabled by an off the job injury. No-Fault income benefits are paid less any amount you are entitled to receive under the New York State Disability Benefits Law so it is important that you apply for disability benefits if you are entitled to receive them. To file for New York State disability benefits, you must file a Notice and Proof of Claim for Disability Benefits within 30 days after you became disabled. You complete a portion of the Notice and Proof of Claim and your doctor completes part. The Disability Benefits Application Form is included with your No-Fault application, or may be provided by your employer. You must file this Notice and Proof of Claim with your employer or your employer’s disability insurance carrier. After a one-week waiting period in which no benefits are paid, the disability benefits insurance carrier pays at a rate of 50 percent of your average weekly wage up to a maximum of $170.00 per week. Benefits are paid for a maximum of 26 weeks of disability during 52 consecutive weeks.

Wait A Minute – Will Both The New York State Disability Carrier And No-Fault Carrier Reimburse Me For Lost Wages?

Yes. You may receive reimbursement for lost wages from both sources. However if you are receiving New York State disability payments, you must tell the No-Fault insurance carrier by providing a copy of the benefit check. The No-Fault insurance carrier will then make the proper deduction before sending your No-Fault lost wage benefit. It is very important that the No-Fault insurance carrier is told about the New York State Disability lost wage payments. Failure to inform the No-Fault carrier of your state disability payments constitutes fraud.

What If I Am Working When I Have An Automobile Accident?

If you are injured in an automobile accident while in the course of your employment, you must apply for Workers’ Compensation benefits. Workers’ Compensation will pay two-thirds of your average weekly wage, up to the maximum benefit. For accidents prior to July 1, 2007, the maximum benefit is $400 per week. For accidents taking place between July 1, 2007 and June 30, 2008, the maximum weekly benefit is $500 per week. It is important to note that you may also be entitled to excess benefits from the No-Fault carrier – the difference between Workers’ Compensation two-thirds benefit, and No-Fault 80% benefit up to the maximum monthly No-Fault wage benefit.

I’m Self-Employed. How Do I Go About Recovering My Lost Income?

You must provide verification of your income by filling out the verification form provided by the No-Fault insurance carrier. You may also be asked to provide copies of your income tax returns to verify your earnings.

What About Reimbursement For Medicine?

Simply send a copy of the prescription and receipt to the No-Fault carrier. Be sure to provide the name of the doctor who prescribed the drug as well as your No-Fault claim number.

How Much Of My Non-Medical Expense Is Covered By No-Fault?

As a general rule, No-Fault pays a maximum of $25 per day for all non-medical expenses. However, you should check your policy for “additional” coverage. Non-medical expenses include, but are not limited to, cost of transportation to and from medical appointments, household help and childcare. The No-Fault carrier is required to make these payments for one year. You must send documentation of all non-medical expenses to the No-Fault carrier in order to be compensated. It is important to make sure that your No-Fault claim number is clearly visible on all mailings. You should keep for your own records, copies of all paperwork sent to the No-Fault insurance carrier.

And What About Travel Expenses?

You are entitled to reimbursement for mileage to and from a medical provider. You must keep a log of where you went, the dates you went and round-trip mileage. A “Mileage Statement,” available from Harding Mazzotti, LLP®, will help you to document your travel expenses. The insurance carrier will verify that you were treated with the medical provider by reviewing your medical records or bills before it will reimburse you for your travel expense.  If you use a taxi cab service to transport you to and from a medical appointment, you are also entitled to reimbursement. You must send the receipt for the ride to the No-Fault insurance carrier for reimbursement. However, you must remember that basic No-Fault insurance pays a maximum of $25 per day for all non-medical expenses.

Can I Recover The Expenses Of Hiring Household Help During My Recovery?

Yes, but you must first get a letter from your doctor stating that this help is a medical necessity. You must keep track of the rate you paid the household aide and the number of hours he or she worked. Our “Household Help Statement” will aid you in documenting this expense for submission to the No-Fault carrier. Please note that you generally cannot recover cost for household help if the aide resides in your household.

Will The No-Fault Carrier Take My Doctor’s Word About My Disability?

Not necessarily. The No-Fault insurance carrier may ask that you undergo a Medical Examination by a doctor of its choice. If you receive a letter telling you that the insurance carrier wants you to be examined by a doctor, it is very important that you keep this appointment because the insurance company may deny you any future no-fault benefits if you do not. If the doctor finds that you no longer need medical treatment or are no longer disabled from work, the No-Fault carrier will stop paying for your medical treatment and/or stop reimbursing you for lost wages.

What Happens If The No-Fault Insurance Carrier Cuts Off My Benefits?

If No-Fault denies or stops paying your medical bills, you should then submit them to your own health insurance carrier. However, you should continue to submit your medical bills to the No-Fault carrier, and should tell your medical providers to continue to submit your medical bills to the No-Fault carrier. You should do this because you can file for arbitration against the No-Fault insurance carrier asking the arbitrator to rule that your medical bills be paid. However, the arbitrator can only rule on medical bills that have been submitted for payment, and the No-Fault carrier has refused to pay. If the No-Fault carrier denies your claim for lost wages, you must continue treatment with your medical care providers to document that you are still disabled from work in order to contest the No-Fault carrier’s denial. Without medical proof of your disability, you do not have the evidence that you will need to contest the denial.

What Is My Recourse Against The No-Fault Carrier?

If you and your doctor feel that you were unfairly denied No-Fault benefits, you can bring the carrier to arbitration. An independent arbitrator will determine whether or not the denial of benefits was correct. If the arbitrator finds that the denial was improper, he or she will specify which medical bills should be paid and for what period of time you should receive lost wage benefits. Because the arbitrator can only rule on medical bills and lost wages that were submitted and the No-Fault carrier refused to pay, it is important that you continue to submit your medical bills to No-Fault. To maintain a claim for lost wage benefits, your doctors must continue to document in your medical records that you are disabled from your employment. You have six years from the date of the accident to begin the arbitration process. It is advisable to wait to file for arbitration until after your claim for personal injuries against the at-fault driver has been resolved since the arbitration decision may affect the proof that you are allowed to present in your case against the at-fault driver. Harding Mazzotti, LLP® is available to answer your questions regarding whether you should file for No-Fault arbitration.