When You Definitely Need an Attorney
New York's no-fault system handles medical bills through PIP. But it does NOT compensate you for pain and suffering, permanent disability, or lost future earnings. For those damages, you need a personal injury claim — and an attorney.
Hire a PI attorney if you have:
- Fractures, disc herniations, torn ligaments, TBI, or injuries requiring surgery
- Ongoing pain and functional limitation
- Significant missed work time
- Emergency room treatment or hospitalization
- An uninsured or underinsured at-fault driver
- Pressure from insurers to settle quickly
What a PI Attorney Does
A personal injury attorney investigates liability, negotiates with insurers, files suit when necessary, and calculates your full damages. Critically, they coordinate with your medical team to ensure your clinical documentation supports the legal claim.
NY's Serious Injury Threshold
To sue for pain and suffering in New York, injuries must meet the "serious injury" threshold under Insurance Law §5102(d): significant limitation of a body function, permanent consequential limitation, or a medically determined injury preventing normal activity for 90 of 180 days. Your medical records must establish this threshold clearly.
MAIC produces attorney-ready documentation. Causation narratives, functional assessments, and expert reports built for legal use. Call 866-404-MAIC.