Accidents move fast. This guide doesn't. Every step below is attorney-reviewed, specific to New York City, New York law, and written in plain language instead of legal jargon — with each answer linked to its source, so you don't miss what matters.
New York is a no-fault state. That means in the first weeks after a NYC crash, you do not chase the other driver's insurer to get your medical bills paid, you file a no-fault (PIP) claim with your own auto insurer, and it pays regardless of who caused the accident. If you were a passenger or a pedestrian struck by a car, you are still covered, usually through the insurer of the vehicle involved. The one thing that ends this coverage fastest is missing the 30-day filing deadline, which runs whether or not your injuries have fully appeared.
This guide applies to New York State law.
In New York, your own auto insurer's no-fault (Personal Injury Protection, or PIP) coverage pays your accident-related medical bills and a portion of lost wages, regardless of who was at fault and regardless of whether you have health insurance, up to $50,000 per person.
- 1File the NF-2 within 30 days. Send the written Application for No-Fault Benefits (Form NF-2) to your auto insurer within 30 days of the accident under 11 NYCRR Part 65 (Reg 68). Missing this is the single most common way victims lose coverage.
- 2Get treated and tell every provider it was a car accident. No-fault is the primary payer for crash injuries, so give providers your auto insurer and claim number, not your health insurance.
- 3Submit medical bills within 45 days of each treatment, and proof of lost wages within 90 days of your first missed workday.
- 4The insurer must pay or deny within 30 days of receiving your proof under NY Insurance Law § 5106.
No-fault pays economic losses only (medical care and lost wages). It does not pay for pain and suffering, that requires a separate liability claim and meeting New York's serious injury threshold (§ 5102(d)). Whether any of this applies to your specific injuries is a question only a licensed New York attorney who reviews your file can answer.
Quick Answer: Source Index3§ 2 LAW◎ 1 GOVclaim-level sources
NY Insurance Law § 5102: Basic Economic Loss / PIPNY Insurance Law § 5102: Basic Economic Loss / PIP✓ Official (source-only)
NY Insurance Law § 5106: Payment of Benefits (30-day rule)NY Insurance Law § 5106: Payment of Benefits (30-day rule)✓ Official (source-only)
NY DFS Regulation 68 (11 NYCRR Part 65): No-Fault Claim ProceduresNY DFS Regulation 68 (11 NYCRR Part 65): No-Fault Claim Procedures✓ Official (source-only)
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What You're Experiencing
You were hurt in a NYC crash and the medical bills are starting to arrive. You're not sure whose insurance pays, whether you're covered if you have no health insurance or the crash was partly your fault, and what you have to file (and by when) so you don't get stuck with the bill.
What This Likely Means
- If bills are coming to you directly → Your providers likely billed health insurance (or no one) instead of your no-fault auto insurer; for crash injuries no-fault is the primary payer
- If you have no health insurance and are afraid to get treated → No-fault PIP pays crash-related medical care up to $50,000 regardless of health coverage; treatment should not wait
- If you were a passenger or pedestrian → You are still covered, usually through the insurer of the vehicle you were in or the vehicle that struck you, not your own health plan
- If you've missed work → PIP pays 80% of lost wages up to $2,000/month; you must file proof within 90 days of the first missed day
Your Options
You Can Do This
- •File the NF-2 application with your auto insurer within 30 days of the crash
- •Give every provider your auto insurer name and no-fault claim number, not health insurance
- •Keep copies of every bill and submit medical bills within 45 days of treatment
- •Document missed work and submit lost-wage proof within 90 days of the first missed day
Attorney Handles
- •Files and tracks the NF-2 and follows up on the 30-day pay-or-deny window
- •Disputes improper no-fault denials and independent medical exam (IME) cut-offs
- •Coordinates no-fault with health insurance and the at-fault liability claim once $50,000 is exhausted
- •Builds the serious injury threshold record needed to pursue pain and suffering separately
Avoid Doing This
- •Missing the 30-day NF-2 deadline is the leading cause of no-fault denial. Late notice is excused only with written proof of a clear and reasonable justification, so treat 30 days as firm and file promptly.
- •A no-fault denial is not the end, denials over missed IMEs or 'no medical necessity' are routinely challenged. Attorneys advise reviewing any denial before accepting it.
- •Signing a general release to settle the property-damage or liability claim can affect injury benefits. Attorneys advise legal review of any 'release of all claims' language.
- •Exhausting the $50,000 PIP limit does not end your care, health insurance or a liability claim becomes the next source. Plan the transition rather than stopping treatment.
What This Typically Costs
No-fault PIP covers up to $50,000 per person in combined medical care and lost wages, paid regardless of fault.
Typical NYC crash care that PIP absorbs:
- ER visit: $1,500 to $5,000+
- MRI: $1,200 to $3,500
- Physical therapy: $150 to $300 per session
- Orthopedic or neurology follow-up
Once the $50,000 is exhausted, which is the most likely cap to hit in a serious-injury case, continuing care shifts to your health insurance or a liability claim against the at-fault driver.
Lost earnings are paid separately at 80% of wages, up to $2,000 per month, for up to three years.
When to Get Help
Many situations on this page are manageable on your own. The Your Options section above shows what people commonly handle themselves and where an attorney typically adds value.
These signals usually mean it is time to talk to a licensed attorney:
- 1
If the 30-day NF-2 window is closing and you have not filed → Submit the NF-2 to your auto insurer today, even with incomplete information. Late notice is the leading cause of denial.
- 2
If a provider is billing you directly or refusing no-fault → Give them your auto insurer and claim number in writing; no-fault is the primary payer for crash injuries in New York.
- 3
If your no-fault benefits are denied or cut off after an IME → This is challengeable. Many attorneys advise an immediate review rather than accepting the denial.
A consultation is information, not a commitment. Free consultations are standard at New York personal injury firms.
Key Numbers
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| NF-2 written notice deadline | 30 days from accident | statute11 NYCRR Part 65 (Reg 68) |
| Basic economic loss (PIP) coverage | Up to $50,000 per person | statuteNY Insurance Law § 5102(a) |
| Lost-earnings benefit | 80% of wages, up to $2,000/month (3 yrs) | statuteNY Insurance Law § 5102(a)(2) |
| Other reasonable expenses | $25/day, up to 1 year | statuteNY Insurance Law § 5102(a)(3) |
| Deadline to submit medical bills | 45 days from treatment | statute11 NYCRR Part 65 (Reg 68) |
| Deadline to submit lost-wage proof | 90 days from first missed workday | statute11 NYCRR Part 65 (Reg 68) |
| Insurer pay-or-deny window | 30 days from proof of claim | statuteNY Insurance Law § 5106 |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- 1
Mistake #1: Giving your medical providers your health insurance instead of your auto insurer.
For crash injuries in New York, no-fault is the primary payer. Hand providers your auto insurer's name and your no-fault claim number. Billing health insurance first creates coordination-of-benefits tangles that delay care and can leave you exposed to copays no-fault would have covered in full.
- 2
Mistake #2: Waiting to file the NF-2 until you know how badly you're hurt.
The 30-day clock runs from the accident date, not from when symptoms appear. File the NF-2 immediately, even with an incomplete picture. Delayed pain is common and does not extend the deadline.
- 3
Mistake #3: Assuming you're not covered because you have no health insurance or the crash was your fault.
No-fault pays regardless of fault and regardless of whether you carry health insurance. Passengers and pedestrians are covered too. The benefit attaches to the vehicle, not to your personal coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who pays my medical bills after a car accident in New York if I have no health insurance?▼
New York no-fault (PIP) pays your accident-related medical bills regardless of whether you have health insurance, up to $50,000 per person, through the auto insurer of the vehicle you were in (or, if you were a pedestrian, the vehicle that struck you). You file an NF-2 application within 30 days. No-fault is the primary payer for crash injuries, so health insurance is not required to get treatment covered.
Does New York no-fault pay if the accident was my fault?▼
Yes. The defining feature of no-fault is that PIP medical and lost-wage benefits are paid regardless of who caused the crash. Fault matters for a separate liability claim (pain and suffering), but not for your own basic PIP benefits under NY Insurance Law § 5102.
What is the deadline to file a no-fault claim in New York?▼
You must give your insurer written notice using Form NF-2 within 30 days of the accident under Regulation 68 (11 NYCRR Part 65). Medical bills are then submitted within 45 days of treatment, and lost-wage proof within 90 days of your first missed workday. The insurer must pay or deny within 30 days of receiving your proof of claim (§ 5106).
Does no-fault cover lost wages?▼
Yes. PIP pays 80% of your lost earnings up to $2,000 per month, for up to three years, under NY Insurance Law § 5102(a)(2). You submit proof of lost wages within 90 days of your first missed workday. This is separate from, and on top of, your medical coverage within the $50,000 limit.
Are motorcyclists covered by New York no-fault?▼
No. Motorcycle operators and passengers are excluded from no-fault PIP under NY Insurance Law § 5103(a). A motorcyclist injured by another vehicle generally must pursue the at-fault driver directly rather than through no-fault. Cyclists and pedestrians struck by a car, however, are typically covered by that vehicle's no-fault benefits.
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Reviewed by: Not Yet Claimed · NY Bar #0000000 · Data as of: Jun 2026 · Next review: 2026-Q4.
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Sources & Citations
- statute[1] NY Insurance Law § 5102: Basic Economic Loss / PIP ↗
- statute[2] NY Insurance Law § 5106: Payment of Benefits (30-day rule) ↗
- .gov[3] NY DFS Regulation 68 (11 NYCRR Part 65): No-Fault Claim Procedures ↗
This guide applies to New York State law.
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