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How long does an accident stay on your record?

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Kantrowitz, Goldhamer, Graifman, Perlmutter & Carballo, P.C.

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Written/Reviewed By:

Barry S. Kantrowitz, Esq.

Last Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Read Time: 3 mins

Under most circumstances, an accident will stay on your record for up to three years. This is important because it could impact your insurance rates—even if you were not responsible. In addition, some factors could cause an accident to remain on your record for far longer than three years. While it won’t remain forever, the impact could be significant. Dealing with insurance complications is only one aspect of a car accident that will require your attention. If you were injured, a Rockland County car accident lawyer could help you pursue compensation for your injuries.

Understanding how long accidents remain on your record

Often, the length of time that your accident will stay on your record will depend on the nature of the crash. The New York Department of Motor Vehicles classifies all accidents as either minor or serious, and this designation will determine how long it will remain on your record.

If you were involved in a minor accident, it would remain for the rest of the current year as well as the three years after that. It is then removed on January 1^st of the following year.

However, serious accidents will follow you for much longer– up to 10 years. State law does not provide a direct definition of a serious accident. In practice, this designation is reserved for accidents that result in severe injuries or death. Collisions involving drug or alcohol use could also qualify.

What an accident means for your insurance rates

Unfortunately, having an accident on your record will likely have a negative impact on your insurance rates. In some cases, it could raise your rates by as much as 30 percent. This is true no matter who was at fault. The police often ticket the driver responsible with a moving violation. If that happens to you, your rates could go up even more.

Lowering rates after an accident

Rate increases after an accident might be unavoidable, but there are steps you could take to bring them down. The easiest way to lower the cost of insurance is by taking a defensive driving course. Another option is to seek out additional discounts from the insurance company. There are many ways you could secure a discount, including switching to paperless billing or setting up your payments on auto-draft. Every insurance company has different options.

Contact us for a free consultation

If you were injured in a car accident, you have more to deal with than just insurance coverage issues. If it occurred through no fault of your own, you could be entitled to recover a monetary award from the negligent driver.

Pursuing a personal injury lawsuit after a car accident can be physically and emotionally draining. However, by putting your case in the hands of a car accident lawyer, you can focus on healing. At Kantrowitz, Goldhamer, Graifman, Perlmutter & Carballo, P.C. we are proud of our track record of success in representing injury victims. If you are ready to move forward with your injury lawsuit, contact us right away for a free consultation.

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150+ Reviews

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Client Reviews

    
 
 
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   LWelsh 
 8 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Clever and efficient.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   Kenny Perlow 
 29 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. KGG Law, and Barry Kantrowitz in particular, set the bar high for what a thorough, practical, strategic, compassionate and smart lawyer can be. Everything about Barry's advice and representation was exemplary and the stress mitigation that resulted was invaluable. On top of that, the ultimate result Barry achieved was beyond what was reasonable to expect and we are forever grateful. Often, people say that you hire a lawyer to prevent a problem. Sometimes, unfortunately, you need an attorney to solve a problem and I could not recommend Barry and his firm any more highly in that regard.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   Aliza Ali 
 93 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. My dad had a great experience with this law firm. From the very beginning, the team was professional, knowledgeable, and always willing to answer our questions. They kept us informed throughout the entire process and made what could have been a very stressful situation much easier to handle. We truly appreciated their dedication, honesty, and hard work. Thanks to their support, my dad felt confident every step of the way. We are very grateful for everything they did and would highly recommend this firm to anyone looking for reliable legal representation.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   Jana Montero 
 96 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had a wonderful experience working with Sam Smith. He was very responsive, thorough, and easy to work with from start to finish. He walked me through everything clearly and made what started as a very stressful situation for me into something completely manageable. I would not hesitate to recommend him and the firm!
  
 
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   Mike Sakmann 
 102 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I sought legal advice regarding an employment matter and had an excellent experience working with Sam Smith, Esq. at KGG Law. Sam was thorough, attentive, and took the time to listen carefully to my concerns before providing clear, thoughtful guidance. I appreciated the professionalism and care shown throughout the process, and I would confidently recommend KGG Law to anyone in need of legal assistance.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   Liz Hecker 
 108 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I can't say enough about this firm. They manage to comfort you during the whole legal process while staying professional and doing what is right. I would recommend them to anyone and also hire them again if I need legal help.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   Brandy Miller 
 131 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Kate is the best. She helped me very quickly, and was very attentive with all of my needs. So thankful for her
  
 
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   Mike Greenspan 
 144 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Kate Carballo is a dedicated, passionate, and creative attorney whom I had the pleasure to lecture with at a state trial lawyer's conference. Kate's lecture demonstrated how she uses her innovative and "out-of-the-box thinking" to achieve outstanding results for her injured clients. That Kate is certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a civil trial attorney is a testament to her skills, experience and commitment to excellence.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   Jonathan Sampson 
 151 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Was referred to KGG law by a friend and could not have asked for better legal representation. They walked me through every step of the process after my accident and began every call with “ how are you feeling” which was just one example of how much they care about their clients. They handled my case very efficiently, professionally and courteously. My attorney Kate Carballo was a rock star! So clearly experienced, she consistently made me feel at ease with the process. Highly recommend
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   Vinnie Kung 
 154 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had a great experience with the team at KGG Law. While it was a traumatic time for our family, they made it very easy for us and explained all of our options. They even performed due diligence to make sure that after our settlement, there would be no further issues which I think is even more important than the settlement itself. Thank you!

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How long does an accident stay on your record?

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