Maximizing Recovery in Transportation Losses: A Strategic Imperative for New York Operators

Ethan Gerber is an Executive Partner at Abrams Fensterman, LLP and leads one of the largest transportation law practices in New York State. He advises taxi, limousine, ambulette, bus, and trucking companies on regulatory compliance, catastrophic loss defense, insurance solutions, and corporate matters, with a focus on helping clients protect their financial stability through effective recovery strategies.

For New York’s transportation industry—whether for-hire vehicles, ambulettes, buses, or trucking fleets—the true cost of an accident is rarely confined to the repair bill or insurance premium. Every collision or claim carries ripple effects: downtime, regulatory scrutiny, reputational risk, and most importantly, unrecovered losses. Too often, operators focus exclusively on risk prevention while overlooking the equally critical step of maximizing recovery after a loss through a process called subrogation.

What is subrogation and why it matters.

Subrogation is the process by which insurers recover money from 3rd parties legally responsible for an accident. For Transportation businesses this means pursuing reimbursement when another driver, vendor or party causes damages.

Let Ethan’s team evaluate your claims confidentially

If you have insurance losses, we can help you recover.

For New York’s transportation industry—whether for-hire vehicles, ambulettes, buses, or trucking fleets—the true cost of an accident is rarely confined to the repair bill or insurance premium. Every collision or claim carries ripple effects: downtime, regulatory scrutiny, reputational risk, and most importantly, unrecovered losses. Too often, operators focus exclusively on risk prevention while overlooking the equally critical step of maximizing recovery after a loss.

The Hidden Cost of Missed Recoveries

When an accident is caused by another party, operators have a right to seek reimbursement. Yet in practice, many claims go unpursued or are only partially recovered. These missed opportunities represent a silent erosion of capital that can run into hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.

Transportation operators already operate on thin margins. Every unrecovered dollar is not only a direct financial loss—it is a missed opportunity to reinvest in fleet safety, compliance programs, and workforce support.

Why New York Transportation Companies Are Especially Vulnerable

The regulatory environment in New York adds unique challenges, often making the recovery processes especially burdensome. Without qualified legal guidance, operators often find themselves writing off losses they are legally entitled to reclaim.

Strategies for Maximizing Recovery

To shift from reactive to proactive recovery, transportation companies should adopt a deliberate strategy:

Maximizing recovery is not simply about dollars and cents—it is about business sustainability. Every dollar recouped supports operational stability, strengthens compliance posture, and reduces the pressure of rising insurance costs. In an industry where financial margins are slim and external pressures are mounting, effective recovery can be the difference between survival and long-term growth.

The Abrams Fensterman Advantage

One of the greatest advantages of working with Abrams Fensterman is the sheer strength and scale of our Transportation Law Department. With over 115 attorneys firmwide, we are the largest transportation law practice in New York State—giving our clients not only deep industry knowledge, but also the resources to pursue the full value of their claims. Insurance carriers know the name Abrams Fensterman, and they know that if they fail to meet a rightful demand, our litigation team is prepared to file suit the very next day. That level of leverage changes negotiations, ensuring operators don’t simply take what is offered, but recover what they are owed.