A taxi crash in Long Island City rarely happens on a quiet street. It happens at the foot of the Queensboro Bridge, at a crowded crosswalk on Jackson Avenue, or on a narrow Hunters Point block where an Uber just stopped short to let someone out. The next 72 hours decide a surprising amount: whether video still exists, whether your no-fault benefits start on time, and whether you can later prove who was at fault. This guide walks through that window hour by hour, with the 2026 changes to New York law built in.
Need the bigger picture on who pays and how a case is built? See our main page for a taxi accident lawyer in Long Island City. This article stays focused on what to do, and in what order.
Why the First Three Days Carry So Much Weight Now
For motor-vehicle injury lawsuits filed on or after May 26, 2026, New York’s new CPLR 1411(b) bars recovery for any claimant whose fault is greater than the defendant’s. A claimant who is 50% or less at fault can still recover, reduced by that share. On top of that, Insurance Law § 5104 now requires the fact-finder to decide fault before it even looks at whether your injury is serious enough to sue. Put simply, the fault question comes first, and the evidence that answers it is most available right after the crash.
Surveillance footage gets recorded over. Witnesses go home. Dashcam files get overwritten. The 72-hour window is about catching evidence before it disappears.
Hour Zero: At the Scene
If you can move safely, these are the moves that matter most. If you cannot, let emergency responders do their work; your health comes first and the rest can be reconstructed.
- Call 911. Ask for police and, if anyone is hurt, an ambulance. A police report creates an early, neutral record.
- Get the cab’s identifiers. For a yellow or green taxi, note the medallion or license number on the roof light, hood or door. For an Uber, Lyft or other for-hire vehicle, note the plate and screenshot the trip in the app.
- Photograph everything. Vehicle positions, damage, skid marks, traffic signals, street signs and your visible injuries.
- Look up. LIC is full of residential towers, storefronts and office lobbies. Note any cameras pointed at the street.
- Collect witness contacts. Names and phone numbers, not just descriptions.
- Keep statements short. Do not guess about speed or apologize. Stick to facts.
Hours 1 to 24: Medical Care and the Paper Trail
Adrenaline masks pain. Neck, back and head injuries often show up the next morning. Get checked the same day if you can, whether in an emergency room, urgent care or with your own doctor, and tell the provider plainly that you were in a car crash.
That first visit matters legally as well as medically. To sue for pain and suffering in New York, you must show a “serious injury” under Insurance Law § 5102(d). The 2026 budget removed the old category based on days of missed activity, leaving eight categories, including fracture, significant disfigurement, permanent consequential limitation of use of a body organ or member, and significant limitation of use of a body function or system. Most of those depend on objective medical findings, which start with the records made in the first days.
- Keep every discharge sheet, prescription and imaging referral.
- Write down symptoms each day, even small ones.
- Follow up with the referrals you are given; gaps in treatment get used against injured people.
Hours 24 to 72: Locking In Benefits and Evidence
Start the no-fault claim
Your no-fault (PIP) application is due within 30 days of the accident under 11 NYCRR 65-1.1. Do not wait until day 29. PIP pays medical bills, lost earnings and other basic economic loss regardless of fault. Passengers generally claim from the vehicle they were riding in; pedestrians and cyclists generally claim from the vehicle that struck them. For TLC-licensed vehicles, including yellow and green cabs, Uber and Lyft, the PIP requirement is $100,000 per person as of March 1, 2026, following a TLC rule that reduced the earlier requirement. The state minimum for private cars is $50,000.
Send preservation requests
Buildings and businesses typically keep video for a limited time before it is overwritten. A written request to preserve footage, sent quickly, can make the difference. The same goes for the cab company’s records and any app-based trip data. This is a step we handle for clients as soon as we are retained.
Report where required
If you were driving one of the vehicles, the New York DMV accident report (Form MV-104) may be required. If a city or MTA vehicle was involved — an MTA bus on Jackson Avenue, for example — a notice of claim must be filed within 90 days under General Municipal Law § 50-e. You can also file a complaint about a licensed driver through the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission.
Your 72-Hour Checklist at a Glance
| Window | Do this | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| At the scene | 911, photos, cab ID, witnesses, camera locations | Fault is now decided first in court |
| First 24 hours | Medical evaluation; keep all records | Supports the serious injury categories |
| 24–72 hours | Start PIP claim; send video preservation requests | Benefits flow sooner; evidence survives |
| Within 30 days | No-fault application submitted | Late filing can jeopardize benefits |
| Within 90 days | Notice of claim if a city or MTA vehicle was involved | Required before suing a public entity |
| Within 3 years | Personal injury lawsuit filed | Statute of limitations under CPLR 214(5) |
Mistakes That Hurt LIC Taxi Claims
- Giving a recorded statement to the other side’s insurer before you understand your injuries.
- Posting about the crash or your weekend plans on social media.
- Skipping follow-up care because the pain “seems better.”
- Assuming the old rules apply. The 2026 changes cover lawsuits filed on or after May 26, 2026, even for accidents that happened earlier (DFS Circular Letter 2026-01).
- Ignoring a damages cap that could apply to you. Under new Insurance Law § 5104(d), an at-fault claimant who was driving uninsured, was convicted of impaired driving, or was convicted of a felony committed while driving faces a $100,000 cap on non-economic damages. It does not cap economic damages, others’ claims or wrongful death.
On the Waterfront: Gantry Plaza State Park, the Pepsi-Cola Sign and MoMA PS1
Gantry Plaza State Park is LIC’s front porch: restored railroad gantries, piers and lawns along the East River in Hunters Point, with the red Pepsi-Cola sign rising at the north end and an unobstructed view of the Midtown skyline. It is a magnet for sunset photos, dog walks, dates and out-of-town visitors. A few blocks inland, MoMA PS1 on Jackson Avenue near Court Square brings a steady crowd of art lovers, especially on weekends.
For taxis, these destinations mean concentrated drop-offs and pickups. Along Center Boulevard and the streets leading to the river, cars stop wherever there is a gap, riders step out on the traffic side, and drivers circle back for the next fare. Near PS1, drop-offs on Jackson Avenue mix with buses, delivery vans and people hurrying to the Court Square station entrances. If your crash happened in either spot, think about which building lobbies, shops or residential entrances faced the street; that is where the video is.
A Hypothetical 72 Hours, Done Right
The following scenario is hypothetical and is not based on any real client or case. Imagine a rider leaving the waterfront at dusk in an app-based car. As the car pulls off Center Boulevard, a yellow cab making a U-turn strikes its side. The rider screenshots the trip, photographs both vehicles and the cab’s roof number, notes a building lobby camera across the street, and gets a witness’s phone number. The next morning, with worsening neck pain, the rider sees a doctor and describes the crash. By day three, a lawyer has sent preservation letters and the no-fault application is underway with the carrier for the rideshare vehicle. Whatever happens next, the evidence on fault exists, the medical record started on time, and no deadline is at risk.
Taxi Accident FAQs: The First Few Days
Should I talk to the cab company’s insurer if they call me?
You can give basic contact information, but avoid recorded statements or discussing fault or injuries in detail until you have spoken with a lawyer. With fault now decided first, early statements can carry real weight.
I felt fine at the scene. Is it too late to see a doctor?
No. Many injuries surface a day or two later. Go as soon as you notice symptoms, and tell the provider about the crash so it is documented.
Which insurance covers my medical bills as a rideshare passenger?
Passengers generally claim no-fault benefits from the vehicle they occupied. For TLC-licensed vehicles, the PIP requirement is $100,000 per person, effective March 1, 2026.
How fast do I need to file for no-fault?
Within 30 days of the accident. Start well before that if you can.
Can I still sue if I was crossing against the light?
Possibly. Under CPLR 1411(b), for motor-vehicle suits filed on or after May 26, 2026, you may recover if your fault is 50% or less, with your award reduced by your share. If your fault exceeds the defendant’s, recovery is barred.
What if a loved one died in the crash?
A wrongful death action in New York generally must be filed within two years under EPTL 5-4.1, and damages remain limited to pecuniary losses. Please call us so we can explain the process with care.
About Long Island City: Local FAQs
How do I get to Gantry Plaza State Park without a car?
The 7 train’s Vernon Blvd–Jackson Av station is a short walk from the park. The LIRR’s Hunters Point Avenue station and NYC Ferry service at Hunters Point South are other options.
Which subway stop is closest to MoMA PS1?
Court Sq, served by the 7 and G, and Court Sq–23 St, served by the E and M, are both close to the museum on Jackson Avenue.
Which precinct handles crash reports in LIC?
The NYPD’s 108th Precinct, which also covers Sunnyside and Woodside.
What are the main ways into LIC by car?
From Manhattan, the Queensboro Bridge and the Queens Midtown Tunnel; from Brooklyn, the Pulaski Bridge over Newtown Creek. The Long Island Expressway starts at the tunnel and heads east.
Where are LIC injury lawsuits usually heard?
Many are filed in Queens County Supreme Court, though venue depends on the parties. The New York State Unified Court System site has court locations and general information.
Is it easy to catch a cab near the waterfront?
Rideshare pickups are common there, and yellow and green cabs pass through. If you are getting in or out, use the curb side and wait for the car to stop completely.
Inside Your 72 Hours? Call Us Now
Yakov Mushiyev & Associates, P.C. can start preserving evidence and setting up your no-fault claim right away. Call 718.775.3110 — phone intake runs 24/7 — or reach us online for a free case review. We meet at our office, at your home or hospital, or by video, in English, Russian or Spanish, and there is no fee unless we win.
Want to go deeper? Read about our car accident representation, our broader Long Island City injury practice, our settlements page and our general FAQ. Riding through nearby? We also cover taxi crashes in Sunnyside.
Yakov Mushiyev & Associates, P.C.
1 Cross Island Plaza, Suite 325, Rosedale, NY 11422
718.775.3110 · Mon–Fri 9–6 · Phone intake 24/7
Attorney Advertising. This is general information about New York law, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case turns on its own facts. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.