New York is a no-fault car insurance state; to obtain compensation for injuries sustained in an accident, you need to comply with that system. Unless your injuries meet the threshold to qualify as "serious" under state law, you cannot sue the at-fault party and instead must seek no-fault benefits from your insurer. This requires filing a claim under your no-fault policy within 30 days of the accident. When you have suffered a serious injury, which would allow you to step outside the no-fault system, you must bring a lawsuit within three years of the accident.