If you were injured in a Monroe County crash, you can file a no fault claim by submitting a NF-2 application for no fault benefits to the applicable insurer within 30 days after the accident under 11 NYCRR 65-1.1. Filing on time preserves up to $50,000 per person in basic economic loss under Insurance Law section 5102, which pays your medical bills and 80 percent of your lost earnings up to $2,000 per month regardless of who caused the Rochester crash. Below is what those benefits actually cover, how the form works, which insurer must receive it, and where the claim ends if your injuries support a lawsuit.
At William Mattar, P.C. our team has focused on motor vehicle accidents for more than 30 years, with attorneys and offices and intake locations across the state.
Key facts about no fault claims in Monroe County
- Every insured New York vehicle carries at least $50,000 per person in no fault coverage, defined as basic economic loss in Insurance Law section 5102(a).
- The NF-2 application is due to the correct insurer within 30 days of the accident under 11 NYCRR 65-1.1, the state no fault regulation.
- Lost earnings are paid at 80 percent, capped at $2,000 per month for up to three years, under section 5102. There can be additional first-party coverage if APIP or OBEL is purchased.
- Pain and suffering is never a no fault benefit. It requires a serious injury under section 5102(d) and a separate claim against the at fault driver. William Mattar, P.C.’s representation is focused on helping injured motorists recover compensation for pain and suffering.
What no fault pays under Insurance Law section 5102
New York calls no fault benefits basic economic loss, and section 5102(a) caps them at $50,000 per person. Within that cap the coverage is broad. It pays all necessary medical and hospital expenses from the crash, wage reimbursement at 80 percent of what you actually lost up to $2,000 per month, and up to $25 per day for one year of other reasonable costs such as rides to medical appointments. Some Monroe County drivers also carry optional basic economic loss coverage or APIP, which can add additional benefits.
| Benefit | Limit | Source |
| Medical, hospital, and rehabilitation expenses | Included within the $50,000 per person cap | Insurance Law 5102(a) |
| Lost earnings | 80 percent of actual loss, up to $2,000 per month for three years | Insurance Law 5102(a) |
| Other necessary expenses | Up to $25 per day for one year | Insurance Law 5102(a) |
| Optional added coverage | An extra $25,000 if purchased with the policy. APIP can also be available as a separate coverage. | Insurance Law 5102(a)(5) |
| Death benefit | $2,000 in addition to basic economic loss | Insurance Law 5103(a) |
The NF-2 form and the 30 day rule
The NF-2 is the New York application for motor vehicle no fault benefits, and it is the document that opens the claim. Under 11 NYCRR 65-1.1, written notice of the claim must reach the insurer as soon as reasonably practicable and not more than 30 days after the accident, unless you later provide written proof of a clear and reasonable justification for the delay. The form covers the accident details, your injuries, your medical providers, and your employer. Filling it out accurately matters because the insurer will match every later bill against it. The firm's page on how to apply for no fault benefits explains each part of the application, and insurers handling Rochester claims accept it by mail, fax, or their online claim portals. Again, William Mattar, P.C. does not handle no-fault claims on behalf of clients, but our attorneys understand how no-fault claims can impact third-party claims for pain and suffering. That is why it is important to ensure that a no-fault carrier is on notice as required under regulations.
Which insurer pays after a Rochester crash
The NF-2 goes to the insurer of the vehicle you occupied, because Insurance Law section 5103 attaches first party benefits to the vehicle rather than to the person at fault. Determining the applicable insurer is critical; sometimes, there is more than one insurer that must be put on notice. A driver hurt on any Monroe County road files with the insurer of the car they were driving. A passenger files with the insurer of the car they rode in, not with the other driver's carrier and not with their own health plan. A pedestrian or cyclist struck by a car files with that vehicle's insurer. Motorcyclists are the major exception, since section 5103 excludes riders and their passengers from no fault entirely. When no vehicle policy exists anywhere in the picture, as in some hit and run cases, section 5106 directs qualified residents to the Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation.
Pain and suffering requires a different claim
No fault stops at economic losses. Section 5102(c) labels pain and suffering as non economic loss, and no NF-2 filing will ever pay it. Compensation for the injury itself comes from a liability claim against the at fault driver, and New York allows that claim only when your injuries meet the serious injury definition in section 5102(d). The listed categories include death, dismemberment, a fracture, significant disfigurement, loss of a fetus, and permanent or significant limitations of use. That liability claim also runs on its own clock. CPLR 214 generally requires a personal injury lawsuit to be started within three years of the accident, no matter how long the no fault file stays open, though every case is unique. Sometimes time limitations as short as 90 days–in the case of a notice of clam-may apply. Under these circumstances, there must be a sense of urgency after a Monroe County crash.
If your Monroe County case becomes a lawsuit
When settlement talks fail in the bodily injury liability claim for pain and suffering, a crash case from Rochester or the surrounding towns is usually filed in the Supreme Court in Monroe County, the trial level court that hears personal injury cases in Rochester. The no fault claim keeps paying qualified bills while the lawsuit moves forward, which is one reason to keep both files clean and consistent.
Frequently asked questions
How do I file a no fault claim after a car accident in Rochester?
Get the NF-2 application from the insurer of the vehicle you were in, complete it, and return it within 30 days of the accident. The insurer then assigns a claim number, which you give to every treating provider so medical bills go straight to the carrier. Proof of lost wages goes to the same insurer, usually with a form completed by your employer.
What does no fault insurance cover after a Monroe County crash?
Up to $50,000 per person in basic economic loss under Insurance Law section 5102. That includes necessary medical and hospital care, 80 percent of lost earnings up to $2,000 per month for up to three years, and up to $25 per day for other reasonable expenses during the first year. It does not include pain and suffering or vehicle damage.
Can I still sue the other driver if no fault pays my bills in Monroe County?
Yes, if your injuries qualify. No fault pays economic losses regardless of fault, and a separate liability claim for pain and suffering is allowed when the injury meets the serious injury definition in section 5102(d), such as a fracture or a permanent limitation. That lawsuit generally must be filed within three years under CPLR 214.
What is the deadline for a no fault claim in Monroe County?
Thirty days from the accident for the NF-2 application under 11 NYCRR 65-1.1. The deadline for a pain and suffering claim is different from the deadline for a no-fault claim. Were you hurt in a car accident in Rochester or anywhere in Monroe County? The attorneys at William Mattar, P.C. are available 24/7 with no fee unless your case recovers money. Call (844) 444-4444. Offices and intake locations across New York State.
About William Mattar, P.C.
William Mattar, P.C. is a New York law firm that only handles motor vehicle accident cases and has represented injured people for over 30 years. The firm’s principal office is in Williamsville, with offices and intake locations throughout New York State, with free case reviews available 24/7 at (844) 444-4444.
Related reading from William Mattar
- How Much Does a Lawyer Cost for a Car Accident in New York
- What Happens in a Car Accident Lawsuit
- The Three-Year Clock. A Guide to New York’s Car Accident Statute of Limitations
- A Guide to No-Fault Claims in Nassau County
Each of the above is part of William Mattar’s New York State accident resource library.
Sources
- New York Insurance Law sections 5102, 5103, and 5106, via the New York State Senate, nysenate.gov
- New York Civil Practice Law and Rules section 214, via the New York State Senate, nysenate.gov
- 11 NYCRR 65-1.1, New York no fault regulation, via Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute
- William Mattar, P.C., how to apply for no fault benefits and Rochester car accident lawyer pages, williammattar.com, reviewed July 2026
Attorney Advertising. This article provides general information about New York law and is not legal advice for any specific situation. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Last updated July 2026.