What Is Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation (“MVAIC”)?

Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation (“MVAIC”) was created in 1958. MVAIC is a last resort to provide no-fault benefits and/or bodily injury coverage to innocent automobile accident victims who were injured by an unidentified or uninsured motor vehicle. MVAIC comes into play when there is no other available insurance coverage.

Unsure whether your case would qualify, then talk to a car accident lawyer today about your options.

MVAIC Eligibility

In order to make a claim with MVAIC, there are certain eligibility requirements.

• You were involved in a motor vehicle accident in New York.
• You were a resident of New York when the accident occurred (with a few exceptions).
• You have no other automobile insurance available to you (meaning neither you—nor a relative you live with—owns an insured motor vehicle).
• You were not the owner of the uninsured vehicle that was involved in the accident.
• You were not the spouse of the owner of the uninsured vehicle that was involved in the accident.

Here are some scenarios when MVAIC may be applicable:

• You are a pedestrian hit by an unidentified car (i.e., pedestrian hit-and-run).
• You are a pedestrian hit by an uninsured car.
• You are a bicyclist hit by an unidentified car (i.e., bicyclist hit-and-run).
• You are a bicyclist hit by an uninsured car.
• You are the passenger in a vehicle that is uninsured.

Filing a Claim with MVAIC

There are several steps to filing a claim with MVAIC.

1. Report the accident. If the claim involves a hit-and-run driver, you must report the accident to the police within twenty-four hours or as soon as reasonably possible (a police report is not necessary, however).
2. File a notice of intention to make a claim with MVAIC. For a hit-and-run accident, the notice of intention must be filed within 90 days of the accident. For an uninsured vehicle, the notice of intention must be filed within 180 days of the accident.
3. File a no-fault application within 30 days of the date of the accident.
4. File a household affidavit to verify that there is no other automobile insurance available to you.

MVAIC Coverage

MVAIC provides the statutory minimum insurance coverages.

• No-Fault Coverage – Up to $50,000 to pay medical expenses, lost earnings, and other reasonable and necessary expenses.
• Bodily Injury Liability Coverage – $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident.

Call a Car Accident Lawyer After Your Motor Vehicle Accident

If you or a loved one was the victim of an accident with an unidentified or uninsured motor vehicle, the car accident attorneys at Greenstein & Milbauer, LLP are here to help. We have close to 30 years of experience handling MVAIC claims. We will work hard to get you the compensation you deserve.

Our firm’s motto is, “Don’t Be A Victim Twice.” If you are a victim of an accident involving an unidentified or underinsured motor vehicle, call 1-800-VICTIM2 (842-8462) to schedule a confidential consultation. The call and the consultation are free. You don’t pay us unless we are successful. That’s, “Our Fee Guarantee—No Fee Unless Successful.”