If you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident in New York and have suffered personal injuries, you will need to complete and file a New York No-Fault Application with the proper motor vehicle insurance company. This brief article will explain the important aspects of that application that may be a little confusing to you.
First, it is important to understand that if you were a driver, passenger, pedestrian or bicyclist involved in a motor vehicle accident and have medical bills, No-Fault insurance is your primary source of medical and disability coverage for your accident-related medical bills and lost wages. Should you accidentally submit bills to your private health insurance carrier, they will be denied.
A No-Fault Application is a standard government form known as New York State Form NF-2. The form can be downloaded from the New York State Department of Financial Service’s website. This form must be completed, signed and returned to the appropriate motor vehicle insurance carrier within 30 days of your accident. It is important that you send the application to the correct motor vehicle carrier. If you are an operator or a passenger in a vehicle, the application should be filed with the insurance carrier of the owner of the vehicle you were occupying at the time of your accident. If you were a pedestrian or a bicyclist, the application must be filed with the insurance carrier of the vehicle that struck you.
The first portion of the application asks for basic pedigree information such as your name, address and phone number. It also asks for a description of the accident. This should be kept brief. You can refer to the Police Accident Report’s description of the accident if you are unsure of what to write.
The application will next ask for a description of your injuries. It is important that you provide a complete list of your injuries. Failure to list all injuries could cause an issue down the road should the insurance carrier start receiving bills for injuries that were not reported on the application.
The application will also ask for information on any medical treatment you received to date. It is important to disclose this information so that the healthcare providers can be paid.
Next the application will seek information about your employment and missed time from work. Since you are eligible to receive reimbursement for your lost wages, it is important to complete this section accurately. Please note that if your accident occurred while you were working you should also contact your employer’s worker’s compensation carrier as that insurer will be primarily responsible for your medical bills and lost wages. However, even though worker’s compensation is primary to No-Fault insurance, you should still complete the No-Fault application because it may provide additional benefits not covered by worker’s compensation insurance.
The final section of the application requires your signature. Prior to signing your application, you should review it to assure that it is fully completed and accurate.
Many insurance carriers allow you to complete your No-Fault Application online through a website portal. Should you choose to take advantage of this option, make sure that you save your confirmation number for future reference in case your application is lost. If you are sending your application through the mail, make sure to send it using certified return receipt mail. Again, maintain proof that the application was received just in case the insurance carrier should misplace the application.
The No-Fault application can be confusing for many and difficult to file within 30 days of an injurious accident. That’s why some law firm’s, like Long Island’s Law Firm Palermo Tuohy Bruno, P.L.L.C., handles No-Fault claims for their clients.