Why Choosing the Right Car Accident Lawyer Matters
It is a Saturday in late June, and the Belt Parkway is bumper to bumper by 10 a.m. Near Gerritsen Beach, a family in a minivan bound for the Rockaway beaches is rear-ended at the Knapp Street exit by a driver with Ohio plates whose eyes were on a GPS screen. That evening on the Shore Parkway below Dyker Heights, a tourist in a rental SUV swerves across two lanes toward the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge ramp and clips a sedan headed home from Manhattan Beach. Both families now need car accident lawyers in Brooklyn who can answer two questions: which state’s insurance rules apply, and who actually pays?
Summer puts more cars on the road. In its June 17, 2026 holiday forecast, AAA projected that 61.4 million Americans would travel by car during the Independence Day week of June 27 through July 5, out of 72.2 million total travelers. An earlier Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) analysis of federal crash data from 1998 through 2014 found that July and August were the deadliest months on U.S. roads, averaging 116 deaths per day, and that July 4 was the deadliest single date.
When the at-fault driver lives in another state, the adjuster may work from an office hundreds of miles away. Some suggest the policy covers only what the driver’s home state requires, or steer the injured person toward a rental company that may not be responsible. A recorded statement given that first week can later be used to argue the injuries are minor.
The right attorney can make the difference between:
- Accepting a home-state policy limit and confirming the coverage New York law requires
- Chasing a rental company the Graves Amendment shields and pursuing the parties who are actually liable
- Losing track of a visitor who has flown home and serving that driver through New York’s Secretary of State
- Missing the 30-day no-fault notice while sorting out insurers and getting medical bills paid on time
New York stacks state and federal rules on one summer collision. No-fault coverage pays early medical bills and part of lost earnings regardless of fault, but a pain and suffering lawsuit requires a “serious injury” under Insurance Law §5102(d), which the state budget enacted in late May 2026 narrowed by eliminating the 90/180-day category for newly filed cases. That law also added CPLR §1411(b), barring recovery by a claimant found more at fault than the defendants. Owner liability under Vehicle and Traffic Law §388, a federal carve-out for rental companies, and Insurance Law §5107 complete the picture, and the firms below were judged on their ability to manage every layer.
June 2026 Rankings
| Rank | Law Firm | Lead Attorney | Client Satisfaction | Notable Settlements | Years Experience | Specialization Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kucher Law Group | Samantha Kucher, Esq. | 99% | $2,500,000 Head-On Collision; $1,400,000 Motor Vehicle Settlement | 15+ | Car Accident & Personal Injury |
| 2 | Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf | Ben B. Rubinowitz | 97% | $71 Million Car Accident Verdict | 100+ | Personal Injury & Car Accident |
| 3 | Rosenbaum & Rosenbaum, P.C. | Rosenbaum Meier Attorney Team | 95% | $22,000,000 Motor Vehicle Accident | 40+ | Car Accident & Personal Injury |
| 4 | Duffy & Duffy, PLLC | Michael E. Duffy | 94% | $1,400,000 Commercial Vehicle Accident | Since 1996 | Car Accident & Medical Malpractice |
| 5 | Cellino Law | Ross Cellino | 93% | Multi-Million Recoveries | Decades | Car Accident & Personal Injury |
#1 Kucher Law Group
Why They’re #1: Summer crashes in Brooklyn often bring a stranger into the claim: a driver with Pennsylvania plates, a rental company’s insurer, or a carrier that has never handled a Kings County lawsuit. Kucher Law Group’s New York City car accident lawyers sort out who owes what, and the firm’s record includes a $2,500,000 result for a head-on collision that led to cervical spine surgery. Quick responses, a dedicated trial attorney, and a phone line that stays open overnight secure first place for June 2026.
Firm Overview
The firm was organized as RRK Kucher Law Group PLLC on December 10, 2019. Today a staff of 10 to 19 supports clients from a Bedford-Stuyvesant office on Pulaski Street and a second office at 26 Broadway in Lower Manhattan. By its own count, the firm has recovered more than $50 million, over $20 million of it through settlements, with a 99% success rate. Google reviewers rate it 4.99 out of 5 across 81 reviews, and it works only on contingency.
Notable Case Results
- $2,500,000 : Head-on collision with a cervical spine injury that required surgery
- $1,400,000 : Settlement in a motor vehicle accident case
- $1,800,000 : Sidewalk trip and fall that required surgery
- $650,000 : Fall down building stairs resulting in a broken ankle
- $1,400,000 : Fall down stairs at a construction site
Legal Team Excellence
When an insurer from another state tests whether a Brooklyn claim will really reach a courtroom, Michael Roitman is the firm’s answer. As its primary trial attorney, he holds a BA from NYU and a JD from Cooley Law, appears in New York and New Jersey courts, and is admitted in both the SDNY and EDNY, which matters because a defendant’s out-of-state residence can open the door to federal court. He was recognized among the Top 50 PI Settlements in New York for 2023, and his family’s flight from Ukraine shapes how he guides clients through an unfamiliar system.
Samantha Kucher, admitted to the New York bar in 2015, studied at NYU and New York Law School after growing up at the Milton Hershey School. She was a Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2020, has been named to the National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40, and received NAOPIA honors in 2024 and 2025. Attorney Kucher advises clients in English, Russian, and Spanish. Alex Rybakov completes the partnership with an NYU BA, a Seton Hall JD, New York admission in 2010, and more than a decade devoted solely to personal injury.
What Sets Them Apart
- 24/7 Availability: A crash on the drive home from the beach can happen at 11 p.m. on a Sunday, and a firm that answers then can start locating dashcam video, witness contacts, and rental agreements right away
- No Upfront Fees / Contingency Only: No retainer and no hourly billing, because the fee comes only from a recovery
- Brooklyn Knowledge: Attorneys who work in the borough and know the Belt Parkway’s exits, the local precincts, and the Kings County courts
- Personalized Service: A small team handles each file, so a family calling from another state reaches someone who knows the case
- Out-of-State and Rental Car Claims: Experience working through the Graves Amendment, owner liability under VTL §388, and the coverage an out-of-state policy must provide in New York
Client Testimonials
One parent described how the firm helped after a Brooklyn crash involving a college student from out of state:
“Needed some quick advice regarding a car accident in Brooklyn involving our out-of-state college student and Samantha responded within hours with exactly the info I needed. We have since used this firm when we got into an accident ourselves. Very helpful and compassionate attorney.” Grace Peterson, Google Review
Why Choose Kucher Law Group
A summer crash far from home, or one caused by a driver who lives several states away, can leave a family unsure which insurer to call first. Kucher Law Group answers that question quickly and backs it with seven-figure motor vehicle results and a trial attorney admitted in federal court. Residents of Dyker Heights, Gerritsen Beach, and the rest of Brooklyn, along with visitors hurt here, can start with a free consultation and owe nothing unless the firm wins.
Contact: (929) 563-6780 | 463 Pulaski St #1C, Brooklyn, NY 11221
#2 Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf
Why They Made Our List: Some parkway collisions leave people with injuries that shape the rest of their lives, and those cases call for a firm with deep trial resources. Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf publishes a $71 million car accident verdict for a client who sustained a spinal cord injury, along with several other nine-figure results, which keeps the firm in second place for June.
Firm Overview
According to its website, the firm has more than 100 years of experience and has recovered more than $5 billion for clients. It practices from 80 Pine Street in Lower Manhattan. The firm has no Brooklyn office, but it accepts Brooklyn cases and keeps a page dedicated to Brooklyn car accidents. Representation is contingent on a recovery, and the firm says its fee is usually 33.33%.
Notable Achievements / Case Results
- $71 million : Verdict in a car accident case involving a spinal cord injury
- $272.5 million : Wrongful death recovery tied to the Tribeca crane collapse
- $182+ million : Results arising from the Valhalla train crash
- $120 million : Medical malpractice verdict ranked first in New York for 2023 by TopVerdict
Lead Attorney / Team
Ben B. Rubinowitz is the firm’s Managing Partner, and Howard S. Hershenhorn is one of its partners. The firm reports that Super Lawyers ranked Mr. Rubinowitz first in the New York Metro area from 2024 through 2026 and named the firm a 2026 Top Firm for personal injury in New York. Best Lawyers Lawyer of the Year honors are also listed for members of its team.
Service Approach
The firm’s practice centers on serious, heavily contested injury litigation, and its published results range from vehicle collisions to construction and rail disasters. For a Brooklyn family facing a catastrophic injury, that history shows a willingness to take complex cases all the way to verdict. A Spanish-language version of the site is available, the firm has been mentioned in Forbes, and it lists more than 110 Google reviews. Free case reviews begin with a call to the Pine Street office.
Contact: 212-943-1090 | 80 Pine Street, 34th Floor, New York, NY 10005
#3 Rosenbaum & Rosenbaum, P.C.
Why They Made Our List: Rosenbaum & Rosenbaum, P.C., which practices as Rosenbaum Meier Personal Injury Lawyers, brings a Brooklyn address and a long list of motor vehicle results to this ranking. Its largest published crash result is $22,000,000, and several others exceed $2 million.
Firm Overview
The firm cites more than four decades of practice. Its Brooklyn office sits at 32 Court Street, Suite 704, near Borough Hall. Reviewers give it 4.8 stars on Google across more than 260 reviews, and its website is also offered in Spanish. The firm states that clients pay no upfront costs.
Notable Achievements / Case Results
- $22,000,000 : Motor vehicle accident
- $14,100,000 : Motor vehicle accident
- $5,200,000 : Motor vehicle accident
- $3,625,000 : Motor vehicle accident
- $2,400,000 : Motor vehicle accident
Lead Attorney / Team
The car accident pages we reviewed do not identify individual attorneys and instead describe a firm-wide team. The site displays recognition from Super Lawyers, the Multi Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and the National Trial Lawyers Top 100, plus memberships in the American Association for Justice and NYSTLA. It also shows an Avvo 10.0 rating and an A+ from the Better Business Bureau.
Service Approach
Cases are handled on contingency, so the firm is paid only from a recovery. Its published list of motor vehicle outcomes lets prospective clients review a range of results before calling, and the Court Street office gives both residents and injured visitors a local place to meet with the team.
Contact: 917-920-7332 | 32 Court Street, Suite 704, Brooklyn, NY 11201
#4 Duffy & Duffy, PLLC
Why They Made Our List: Duffy & Duffy, PLLC has handled New York City car accident claims since 1996 and publishes specific results, including a $1.4 million recovery for a cervical spine injury in a low-speed commercial vehicle crash.
Firm Overview
The firm’s offices are at 1370 RXR Plaza in Uniondale on Long Island and 388 Canal Place in the Bronx. It does not maintain a Brooklyn office and represents Brooklyn clients as part of its citywide practice. Its fee follows the standard one-third contingency, with no payment required upfront.
Notable Achievements / Case Results
- $1,400,000 : Low-speed commercial vehicle crash, cervical spine injury
- $975,000 : Wrongful death settlement from a motor vehicle accident
- $109 million : Medical malpractice verdict for a brain injury
Lead Attorney / Team
Partners Michael E. Duffy and Sean M. Duffy lead the firm. Its website displays logos from Best Lawyers, U.S. News Best Law Firms, the American Association for Justice, and TopVerdict, the last tied to a 2022 New York City jury verdict.
Service Approach
Duffy & Duffy pairs its car accident practice with a substantial medical malpractice docket, experience that helps when a crash case turns on detailed medical proof of a neck or spine injury. Brooklyn clients can begin with a phone call to the Uniondale office.
Contact: (516) 394-4200 | 1370 RXR Plaza, Uniondale, NY 11556
#5 Cellino Law
Why They Made Our List: Cellino Law has a Brooklyn office on Fulton Street and reports that it has supervised more than $2 billion in settlements across its practice.
Firm Overview
Describing itself as one of the most well established firms in its region, Cellino Law says it has served injured clients for decades. Its location at 1409 Fulton Street, Suite 101, offers a local meeting point for people across central Brooklyn.
Notable Achievements / Case Results
The firm refers to millions in recoveries but does not list individual car accident results on the pages we reviewed.
Lead Attorney / Team
The firm names Ross Cellino and Timothy Cellino as its attorneys. The pages we reviewed do not detail their individual credentials.
Service Approach
Cellino Law accepts cases on contingency with no upfront fees, so an injured resident or visitor can start a claim without paying out of pocket. Consultations can be requested by phone or through the firm’s online form, and the Fulton Street office is available for in-person meetings.
Contact: (347) 756-4245 | 1409 Fulton Street, Suite 101, Brooklyn, NY 11216
Understanding Brooklyn Car Accident Cases
Summer changes who is on Brooklyn’s roads and where they are going. Beach traffic, visitors, and rental cars each bring their own crash patterns and coverage questions.
Beach Traffic on the Belt and Shore Parkways
On warm weekends, eastbound drivers bound for the Rockaway beaches leave the Belt Parkway at Flatbush Avenue for the Marine Parkway Bridge, while others exit at Knapp Street beside Gerritsen Beach or head for Manhattan Beach, where curbside parking along Oriental Boulevard fills early. Stop-and-go queues, sudden lane changes near exits, and drivers worn out after a day in the sun set up rear-end and sideswipe crashes.
Visitors on Unfamiliar Ramps
At the western end of the Shore Parkway, between Dyker Heights and the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, merges for the bridge and the Gowanus Expressway come quickly. Out-of-state motorists following GPS prompts may brake hard or cut across lanes after a missed exit.
Rental Cars and Borrowed Vehicles
Visitors arriving at JFK often pick up a rental and head west on the Belt past Bergen Beach before they know the car or the road. Relatives also lend cars for beach days. In New York, VTL §388 generally makes an owner liable for the negligence of anyone driving with permission. Rental and leasing companies are different. Under the federal Graves Amendment, 49 U.S.C. §30106, a company in the business of renting vehicles is not liable simply because it owns the car, unless it was itself negligent or engaged in criminal wrongdoing. The Appellate Division, Second Department, upheld that rule in Graham v Dunkley (2008). The statute preserves state financial responsibility and insurance laws, so the coverage attached to the rental and the driver’s own policy remain central to the claim.
Out-of-State Plates and Coverage
A driver from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, or farther away may carry a policy written under another state’s rules. Insurance Law §5107 requires insurers authorized to do business in New York, and their affiliates, to make the policies they sell elsewhere satisfy New York’s financial security requirements and provide no-fault benefits when the vehicle is used here. New York’s minimum liability limits are $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, $50,000 and $100,000 for death, and $10,000 for property damage. If a visiting driver must be sued, VTL §253 treats driving in New York as appointing the Secretary of State to receive the summons.
Who Can Be Held Liable
- The at-fault driver, resident or visitor
- The vehicle’s owner under VTL §388, when someone else drove with permission
- A rental or leasing company, only where its own negligence or criminal wrongdoing is shown
- An employer whose employee was driving for work at the time
- A government agency responsible for a dangerous roadway condition, subject to notice rules
Critical NYC Requirements
- No-fault notice: Written notice to the no-fault insurer is generally due within 30 days of the accident under 11 NYCRR 65-1.1
- Serious injury threshold: Pain and suffering claims require a “serious injury” under Insurance Law §5102(d), and for lawsuits filed after the late May 2026 budget reform took effect, the 90/180-day category no longer qualifies
- Modified comparative fault: Under new CPLR §1411(b), an injured person whose share of fault is greater than that of the defendants is barred from recovery in a no-fault-covered injury lawsuit
- Non-economic loss cap: Insurance Law §5104(d) now limits non-economic recovery to $100,000 for claimants who were driving uninsured or were convicted of impaired driving or a related felony, except in death cases
- Statute of limitations: Most car accident lawsuits must be filed within three years under CPLR §214
- Government vehicles and roads: A notice of claim is generally due within 90 days when a city vehicle or roadway is involved
- Out-of-state policies: Insurance Law §5107 requires covered insurers’ policies to meet New York minimums when the car is driven here
Selection Criteria
PRFire News reviewed Brooklyn car accident firms for June against the standards below, with added attention to claims involving visitors, rentals, and out-of-state insurers.
Case Results and Recovery Amounts. Motor vehicle outcomes that firms publish on their own websites carried the most weight. A documented seven-figure crash result outweighed a larger number from an unrelated practice area, and firms without published figures were described in general terms rather than credited with estimates.
Client Satisfaction. We read the text of reviews, not only star averages. Comments about fast callbacks, clear explanations, and compassion during a stressful stretch counted most, especially from clients who needed answers quickly or from a distance.
Legal Experience and Expertise. A summer crash claim may involve no-fault rules, the serious injury threshold, owner liability under VTL §388, and the Graves Amendment all at once, now joined by the May 2026 changes to the threshold and fault rules. Years in practice, bar admissions, and a focus on motor vehicle work showed which teams handle that mix routinely.
Trial Readiness. An insurer based in another state may test whether a Brooklyn claim will actually reach a jury. Published verdicts, designated trial roles, and federal court admissions helped separate firms with similar settlement records, since a defendant’s out-of-state citizenship can move a case into federal court.
Brooklyn Community Connection. Knowing which Belt Parkway exits back up on a beach Saturday, and which precinct took the report, speeds an investigation. We list every firm’s actual office address and say clearly when a firm serves the borough from somewhere else.
Professional Recognition. Awards from Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, and trial lawyer organizations offer outside validation. Each honor was dated so older recognition was not presented as current, and awards counted for less than documented results.
Accessibility and Communication. Visitors may fly home within days of a crash. Around-the-clock intake, prompt replies, phone consultations, and service in more than one language earned credit, because a family in another state cannot easily stop by an office.
Fee Structure and Transparency. Every ranked firm works on contingency. Firms that state their percentage and explain how case expenses are handled scored higher, since out-of-town clients often compare their options by phone.
Scope of Services. One collision can create a no-fault claim, a lawsuit against a driver and owner, an uninsured or underinsured motorist claim, and a dispute with a rental company’s insurer. Firms able to handle each piece under one roof ranked higher.
Moving Forward
A summer crash can turn a beach day into months of treatment, and the paperwork multiplies when the other driver lives in another state or was behind the wheel of a rental. Whether the collision happened at a Belt Parkway exit near Bergen Beach, on Oriental Boulevard in Manhattan Beach, or along the Shore Parkway by Dyker Heights, the first steps are similar: get medical care, call the police so a report is filed, photograph the other car’s plates and any rental paperwork, and send written notice to the no-fault insurer within 30 days.
Every firm on this list takes car accident cases on contingency, and most offer a free consultation, so cost should not delay a call. Compare results, responsiveness, and experience with out-of-state insurers and rental claims, then choose the attorney best positioned to protect your recovery.
About Our Rankings: Southwick News’ monthly rankings recognize excellence in specialized practice areas. Our evaluation process examines case results, client satisfaction, professional experience, and community impact. Rankings are based on verified data and are updated monthly to reflect current performance. Enhanced profiles are available but not required for ranking consideration.
For Attorneys: To nominate yourself or a colleague for future rankings, please email editor@southwicknews.com.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Each case is unique, and results depend on specific facts and circumstances.
As Editor-in-Chief of Southwick News, Dhruv Patel combines his background in computer science from UC Berkeley with his Stanford journalism training to pioneer innovative approaches to digital news delivery.
