Glen Oaks Motor Vehicle Accident Lawyer
Common Causes of Motor Vehicle Accidents
Some common causes of motor vehicle accidents in New York include:
Distracted Driving
Anything that does any of the following may be a distraction that can contribute to a motor vehicle collision:
- Takes a driver’s hands off the steering wheel
- Takes a driver’s eyes off the road
- Takes a driver’s mind off the mental task of driving
Impaired Driving
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 28% of fatal motor vehicle collisions in 2016 involved a drunk driver.
Speeding
In 2018, 9,378 were killed in accidents involving speeding, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Speeding increases the likelihood of a serious injury if an accident occurs because the force of impact is stronger.
Reckless Driving
Speeding can be one form of reckless driving, which may also include:
- Street racing
- Abrupt acceleration
- Illegal U-turns
- Weaving in and out of lanes without signaling
- Sudden braking
Weather Conditions
Rain, snow, fog, sleet, ice, and other precipitation can impair visibility and make roads more dangerous to travel on.
Road Conditions
City governments and other entities are responsible for maintaining roadways so that they are safe for all motorists. Road conditions like the following may cause motor vehicle collisions:
- Potholes
- Debris on the roadway
- Uneven roads
- Loose gravel
- Faulty traffic lights
- Obstructed traffic signs
Defective Vehicles
A defect in a vehicle may cause an accident, such as:
- Defective tires more susceptible to blowouts
- Steering systems that lock up
- Ignition switches that spark
- Brakes that fail
- Airbags that do not deploy
- Seat belts that do not restrain the passenger
Our Glen Oaks motor vehicle accident lawyers can investigate the cause of your accident and identify all parties that may be potentially liable for the damages you sustained.
Types of Motor Vehicle Collisions
There are a number of different types of motor vehicle collisions that may result in different types of injuries and harm. Our firm can help you with all types of motor vehicle collisions, including:
- Head-on collisions
- Rear-end collisions
- Side-impact crashes
- Wrong-way crashes
- Single-vehicle collisions
- Multi-vehicle accidents
- Impaired driving collisions
- Rideshare program collisions
- Trucking accidents
- Distracted driving accidents
New York’s No-Fault Insurance Laws
New York is a no-fault insurance state, meaning your own insurance company reimburses you for damages regardless of who is at fault for the accident. Commonly referred to as “personal injury protection,” this insurance covers certain economic losses, and the victim does not have to prove anyone was negligent in order to recover this compensation. According to the New York Department of Financial Services (DFS), all drivers must have no-fault coverage.
No-fault insurance benefits can be used to cover a variety of expenses you may incur due to the accident, such as:
- Ambulance expenses
- X-rays
- Surgeries
- Hospitalization
- Rehabilitation services
- Physical therapy
- Prescriptions
- Mental health treatment
- Medical assistive devices
- Transportation costs to medical appointments
- Burial expenses
- Lost wages, up to 80% of your average wages
In addition to no-fault coverage, drivers must also have liability coverage in the following amounts:
- $25,000 for bodily injury or death to one person
- $50,000 for bodily injury or death to more than one person per accident
- $10,000 for property damage per accident
Drivers must also have uninsured motorist protection in the same amount as their bodily injury liability policy.
You may only have 30 days to file a claim with your own insurance company, so do not delay. Contact our team to see how our Glen Oaks motor vehicle accident lawyers can help with your claim.
Compensation that May Be Available in a Personal Injury Lawsuit
In some situations, your damages may exceed the amount of your insurance, and you may suffer a serious injury that allows you to sue the negligent party for your damages. If you seek our personal injury lawyers in Glen Oaks, they will explain more about the types of compensation you can pursue in a personal injury case following an auto accident. These damages are generally divided into two groups:
Economic Damages
Economic damages are those that can be clearly linked to a monetary figure, such as:
- Medical expenses for past treatment, ongoing care, and future medical expenses that are reasonably anticipated
- Income from lost wages you incurred while recovering from your injuries and attending medical appointments
- Work benefits like sick leave you had to use because of your injuries
- Lost earning capacity if you are unable to return to the same job after your accident because of your injuries
- Property damage to repair or replace your vehicle
Non-Economic Damages
New York tort law also allows you to seek compensation for your non-economic damages, which are damages that cannot be easily quantified, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Disfigurement
- Scarring
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Our team will calculate the full extent of damages that you have sustained in your accident and fight for fair compensation. If the insurance company does not offer you a reasonable settlement that covers your damages, we will discuss the possibility of taking further legal action to seek compensation.
See How Our Glen Oaks Motor Vehicle Accident Lawyers Can Help with Your Claim
If you were injured in a motor vehicle crash, our Glen Oaks motor vehicle accident lawyers are here to help. We can discuss your potential claim during a free consultation. We will thoroughly investigate your claim, identify all potential sources of compensation, and handle communication with the insurance company while you focus on your medical recovery. We work on a contingency-fee-basis, so you do not pay any attorney fees unless we recover compensation on your behalf. Contact the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP at (866) 878-6774 to learn more about how we can help.
