Southold Car Accident Lawyers
Hurt in a crash in Southold? We handle serious-injury and wrongful death claims for drivers, passengers, pedestrians and cyclists throughout the Town of Southold, from our office in Huntington.
- Office
- 44 Elm Street, Huntington
- Court
- Supreme Court, Suffolk County
- Fee
- No fee unless we recover
Source: New York State DMV crash data, 2024. Covers the town outside its incorporated villages, which report separately.
Crashes in the Town of Southold
In 2024 the Town of Southold, outside its incorporated villages, had 543 police-reported crashes, the ninth-highest total among Suffolk County towns. 90 of them injured someone and one was fatal. From 2021 to 2024, injury crashes went from 105 to 90 and fatal crashes from 1 to 1.
Among the injury and fatal crashes, the most common types were 18 left-turn crashes, 17 rear-end collisions, 16 right-angle (T-bone) crashes, 2 head-on collisions and 2 overtaking crashes. Much of the traffic runs on Route 25 (Main Road) and County Road 48.
Incorporated villages report separately. In 2024 the largest were Greenport (40).
After a crash in Southold: who to call and how to get the report
- Police. The Southold Town Police Department patrols the town.
- The police report. Ask the department that responded for the report, or order a copy from the DMV. We can obtain it for you.
- Your own report to the DMV. If anyone was hurt or killed, or property damage exceeded $1,000, each driver must file a Report of Motor Vehicle Accident (MV-104) within 10 days (Vehicle and Traffic Law § 605).
- Medical care. The nearest state-designated trauma centers include Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead (Level III) and Stony Brook University Hospital (Level I).
New York rules that decide car accident cases
New York is a no-fault state. Your own auto policy pays medical bills and most lost wages up to $50,000, regardless of fault, but you must file the no-fault application within 30 days of the crash. To recover for pain and suffering from the at-fault driver, an injured person must have a “serious injury” as defined in Insurance Law § 5102(d), such as a fracture, significant limitation of a body function or system, or an injury that prevented normal activities for 90 of the first 180 days.
Most claims must be filed within three years (CPLR 214). If a town, county, village or other public vehicle was involved, or a road defect caused the crash, a notice of claim is usually due within 90 days (General Municipal Law § 50-e). A wrongful death claim must be filed within two years of the death (EPTL 5-4.1). Southold cases are filed in Supreme Court, Suffolk County, in Riverhead or Central Islip.
Pedestrians and cyclists
Four crashes in the Town of Southold in 2024 involved a pedestrian or cyclist. A pedestrian or cyclist hit by a car can usually claim no-fault benefits for medical bills and lost wages, and can bring a claim against the driver when the injury meets the serious-injury threshold. Drivers must exercise due care to avoid pedestrians and cyclists (Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1146).
Other Suffolk County areas we serve
Serving the Town of Southold and its communities
Cutchogue · Greenport · Mattituck · Orient · Peconic · Southold
Questions families ask
How do I get the police report for a crash in Southold?
Ask the department that responded for the report, or order a copy from the DMV. We can obtain it for you.
Do I need a lawyer if the other driver’s insurer has already called?
You do not have to give the other insurer a recorded statement. It is wise to speak with a lawyer first, especially if you were hurt badly enough to need ongoing treatment.
What if I was partly at fault?
New York uses pure comparative fault (CPLR 1411). Your recovery is reduced by your share of fault but not barred.
What does it cost?
No fee unless we recover.
Attorney Advertising. This page provides general information, not legal advice for any specific situation. Facility and crash data are reproduced from public CMS and New York State sources as of the dates shown and are not a statement by the firm about any facility’s care of any particular resident. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.