For countless Long Island families, Thanksgiving means packing up the car, hitting the road, and heading off to spend time with those you’re grateful for. Maybe you’ll travel west on the LIE to visit relatives in New York City, make a trip upstate, or even cross state lines to enjoy a long holiday weekend.

But no matter your plans, the last thing anyone expects is for their Thanksgiving road trip to end in a car accident.

If the unthinkable happens to your family this Thanksgiving, being prepared for what comes next is just as important as preparing for the trip itself. 

The holiday season may be all about gathering with loved ones, but in order to get to the dinner table, you’ll have to share the road with millions of other travelers first.

Last year, AAA projected 81.8 million people would travel at least 50 miles away from home for Thanksgiving. And of those travelers, at least 73 million were expected to venture by car, representing nearly 90% of all Thanksgiving travelers.

And on Long Island, where roads are already notoriously congested, the increased volume can be particularly noticeable. In 2025, The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey even issued a travel advisory, sharing that a record 8.8 million travelers were expected to use its airports and vehicular crossings during the 8-day peak Thanksgiving travel period.

For families heading off Long Island, that can mean additional congestion along the Long Island Expressway, Northern State Parkway, and Southern State Parkway, not to mention the bridges and tunnels connecting the region to neighboring destinations.

Of course, heavier traffic doesn’t automatically mean an accident will occur. But in the event your journey does take an unexpected turn, it’s crucial to know how to respond, especially when the people you care about most are involved. 

Whether your crash takes place on Long Island or hundreds of miles away, your first priority should always be everyone’s safety. Immediately following the crash, move your vehicle out of active traffic if possible, turn on your hazards, and begin checking yourself and your passengers for any injuries.

If anyone is hurt, dial 911 and follow the dispatcher’s instructions. And if anyone appears to have sustained an injury to their head, neck or spine, avoid moving them unless they are in immediate danger.

Now, keep in mind that not all injuries may be apparent immediately. Car accidents are shocking events under any circumstances, but when they happen on a holiday, they can leave you feeling especially shaken. This rush of adrenaline might temporarily mask pain, and symptoms could take hours or even days to appear.

It’s also worth noting that children can have a particularly difficult time communicating exactly how they feel. That’s why, even if your loved ones insist they’re okay, it’s important to seek medical attention. Getting evaluated will identify injuries that might’ve otherwise gone unnoticed and establish documentation that could become crucial if you choose to pursue a personal injury claim later.

Once everyone’s immediate safety has been addressed, begin documenting the scene if you’re physically able to do so. Take pictures of the vehicles involved, any visible damage, the surrounding area, road conditions, traffic signals, and any other details that could help establish what happened. Additionally, make sure you exchange contact and insurance details with the other drivers involved and collect any contact information from witnesses.

If you’re traveling somewhere unfamiliar for Thanksgiving, don’t forget to record the exact location of your accident as well. Make note of the highway or roadway, nearest exit or intersection, and the responding police department, if they were notified. Moreover, obtain a copy of the police report for your records.

And throughout this whole process, simply try to stay calm, cooperate, and be mindful of what you say. The best thing you can do to protect your rights is avoid admitting fault, speculating about the cause of the accident, or making any statements you aren’t entirely certain about. 

One of the most stressful realities of a family car accident is the possibility that multiple people may require medical treatment. If your partner, kids, or other relatives are all injured in the same crash, then suddenly, you may be facing numerous medical bills, appointments, and questions about insurance coverage.

Thankfully, New York State operates under a no-fault insurance system, which allows individuals injured in motor vehicle accidents to receive certain timely compensation, regardless of who caused the collision.

Standard no-fault coverage typically provides up to $50,000 per eligible person for accident-related medical and rehabilitation costs. Additionally, eligible accident victims may receive reimbursement for 80% of lost wages (capped at $2,000 per month) for a maximum of three years.

Most importantly, this protection isn’t limited to just those behind the wheel. Passengers, including spouses, children, and other relatives, may also qualify for no-fault benefits. In New York, injured occupants generally just have to seek their benefits through the insurance policy covering the car they were traveling in.

In the wake of a car accident that leaves multiple family members with mounting medical bills, the no-fault benefit system can help provide essential financial support while questions of fault and liability are still being sorted out.

Just keep in mind that written notice of no-fault benefit claims generally must be submitted to the insurance company within 30 days of the collision. 

While no-fault benefits can help cover certain immediate expenses following a crash, they don’t necessarily account for the full impact a severe accident can have on your family.

Consider a family of four traveling from Huntington to Queens for Thanksgiving dinner when another driver runs a red light and crashes into their vehicle. Maybe one spouse suffers a significant head or back injury, while one child requires moderate medical treatment. Additionally, their car winds up with extensive damage.

Even after claiming no-fault benefits, that family may continue facing ongoing medical treatment, unexpected expenses, and increased stress as a result of the accident. So, depending on the circumstances, there may be grounds to pursue a personal injury claim against the driver responsible for the collision.

Victims who choose to file a claim can seek additional compensation for medical expenses or lost wages that go beyond the no-fault benefit caps. Plus, they can also pursue damages for pain and suffering if they meet New York law’s definition of a serious injury.

Per Section 5102(d) of New York Insurance Law, serious injuries include:

● Death ● Dismemberment ● Significant disfigurement

● Fractures

● Loss of a fetus

● Permanent loss of use of a body organ, member, function, or system

● Permanent consequential limitation of use of a body organ or member

● Significant limitation of use of a body function or system

Now, it’s crucial to understand that every injured family member may have their own separate personal injury claim. Determining whether you’re entitled to compensation will also require careful examination of the accident and who’s at fault.

Any evidence of distracted driving, speeding, impairment, or other negligent behavior from surveillance cameras, dashcam footage, and/or witness accounts may help establish liability. However, insurance companies are still notorious for disputing responsibility and questioning injury severity.

That’s why, if you believe you may have a case, the best thing you can do is partner with an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible. They’ll investigate the case from every angle, review all available evidence, and evaluate the potential claims of each injured family member. 

Thanksgiving is ultimately about spending time with the people who matter most. But if the unexpected does happen this holiday season, know that you don’t have to navigate the aftermath alone.

At Langella & Langella Personal Injury Attorneys, we’ve spent decades fighting for injured individuals and families across Long Island. We’re committed to helping you understand your options and pursue the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a Free Consultation at (631) 348-9500.