Of all the clocks that start ticking after a New York crash, this is the fastest and the least known: the no-fault application, generally due within 30 days.
Miss it, and here's what can happen. Your own insurance company, the one you've paid for years, can refuse to cover your crash-related medical bills and lost wages. Not because you did anything wrong in the crash, but because a form was late. People find this out weeks later, sitting on a stack of ER bills, and by then the fix is hard.
Thirty days sounds like plenty of time, but it isn't. You're in pain, dealing with a wrecked car, missing work, and nobody at the scene hands you a to-do list. The deadline passes quietly.
What no-fault actually is
New York is a no-fault state. In plain words: after most car crashes, your own insurance pays your basic medical bills and part of your lost wages, no matter who caused the crash. This coverage is called PIP, short for personal injury protection.
Basic no-fault coverage in New York is generally up to $50,000 per person. It covers things like:
- Hospital and doctor bills from the crash
- A portion of your lost earnings
- Some other reasonable costs, like transportation to treatment
What the 30-day rule requires
The form
To get those benefits, you generally must file a no-fault application with the right insurance company within 30 days of the crash. Usually that's your own insurer. If you were a pedestrian or a passenger, it may be the driver's insurer.
What counts as filing
Sending the completed application, in writing, to the correct company. Calling your agent to mention the crash is not the same thing. Get proof that you sent it and when.
Who is not covered
No-fault has gaps. Motorcyclists, for example, are generally not covered by no-fault at all. Different rules can also apply with government vehicles, out-of-state policies, and work-related crashes.
What to do right now
If your crash was less than 30 days ago
Act today. Call your insurer, ask for the no-fault application (form NF-2), fill it out, and send it back with proof of mailing or delivery. Then see a doctor if you haven't. Not sure what else to do first? Start with the checklist.
If you're past 30 days
Don't give up. Late filings are sometimes accepted with a reasonable written excuse, and other coverage may still apply. But this is now a problem to solve fast, with help.
One caveat on all of this. These are the general rules. Your deadline may be different. That is exactly why you should get advice now, not later.
One free call can protect your coverage
We help people with exactly this, for free. Call us and we'll figure out where your 30 days stand, what form goes where, and what else is on your clock, like the 90-day notice for city-involved crashes and the general 3-year lawsuit window. It costs nothing to ask, and asking early protects your claim.
Questions New Yorkers ask us
What is form NF-2?
It's the New York no-fault application, the form that opens your PIP benefits. Ask your insurer for it, fill it out, and send it back in writing with proof of when you sent it.
What does basic no-fault cover in New York?
Generally up to $50,000 per person: hospital and doctor bills from the crash, a portion of your lost earnings, and some other reasonable costs like transportation to treatment. It pays no matter who caused the crash.
Who is not covered by no-fault in New York?
Motorcyclists generally are not covered by no-fault at all, and different rules can apply with government vehicles, out-of-state policies, and work-related crashes. If the driver fled or had no insurance, read what to do after a hit-and-run.
Where does your 30 days stand? Get your free case review or call (347) 526-1246. A real person answers, 24/7.
