Car accidents come with all kinds of troubles. On top of the injuries and property damage, there’s paperwork, car accident record, fines, insurance agencies, and uncertainty about your financial wellbeing in the future. 

Beyond all this, there’s the question of your driving record and increased insurance rates, even when the accident isn’t your fault! As frustrating as it is, it can be helpful to know more about how a car accident impacts your driving record.

Talk to a Car Accident Attorney

 Information about car accidents you’ve been in can be found on your record for years to come. Therefore, you should make sure it accurately reflects the events of the accident. 

If you’ve recently been in an accident and are concerned about how it could affect your driving record, speaking with qualified legal representation could help you prove another party was at fault. More importantly, a skilled New York car accident attorney can help you fight for a settlement that adequately covers your damages.

Carner & DeVita have been fighting for the rights of Long Island car accident victims for over 60 years and have helped win hundreds of cases like yours. Don’t get taken advantage of by powerful insurance companies. We’re here to fight for the compensation you deserve. Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with a Long Island car accident lawyer at (631) 543-7070.

What’s in a New York Driving Record?

In New York, there are different types of driving records that a single driver may have:

Standard Driving Record

Your standard driving record contains the information the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is required to keep. This is usually just the information related to your record for the last 3-5 years. The amount of time an offense stays on your record is dependent on the type of offense (more on this below).

Lifetime Driving Record

A lifetime driving record contains all the driver history information that the DMV has available on any given driver, including information that they are not required to keep. This is information such as suspensions, restrictions, and revocations older than the typical 3-5 years.

Commercial Driving Record

Commercial records contain expanded driver history information, including all convictions, suspensions, and revocations in any state or vehicle. These are typically for drivers who are licensed to operate commercial vehicles.

Which Driving Record Should I Be Most Concerned About?

In most circumstances, the one you’ll need to be concerned about is your standard driving record. It represents a general picture of your driving history in a recent time frame. The standard record will show any accidents or convictions within the last four years, refusals to take chemical tests for five years, and DWI for 15 years. 

Some more serious violations can remain on your standard driving record longer than that, such as vehicular homicide.

Your standard New York driving record will contain information about any accidents you’ve been in and whether or not you were at fault. It will also show any convictions, bail forfeitures, suspensions, or revocations associated with your license.

Finding the Right Defense After a New York Car Accident

If you’re concerned about a recent accident leaving a bad mark on your driving record, you should fight against unfair tactics opposing insurance companies may use to reduce the amount they pay. Not only can going into a car accident case defenseless hurt your driving record, but it may also mean missing out on the maximum compensation you have a legal claim to. 

Carner & DeVita will help you fight against unfair marks on your driving record while pursuing the maximum amount in damages possible. Call (631) 543-7070 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with a Long Island car accident attorney any time, day or night.