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Request A Call HereSideswipe accidents might sound like more of an annoyance than anything else – most people picture two cars just bumping into one another and scraping paint off. But the truth is that these car accidents can spin or push the victim off of the road, or into oncoming traffic, resulting in serious injury or death.
Keep reading to learn more about car accident cases in New York.
If you actually stop to think about it, driving any motor vehicle really is an amazing thing. The majority of lanes are only 10 feet wide, which leaves only a few feet on either side of any vehicle. Yet we are capable of maneuvering these machines that weigh thousands of pounds at high speeds through congested traffic without a thought. That is until the driver stops paying attention to the road in front of them and drifts outside of their lane.
Sideswipe accidents don’t “just happen” – there is always a reason. The at fault driver may be:
How often have you been driving, had a close call with another driver, and then noticed that they had a phone in one of their hands? This is hardly a surprise since research has shown that texting while driving increases the risk of being involved in a car accident by 23 times.
When a driver looks down at their phone, their eyes are taken off of the road for an average of at least five seconds. This means that their car might travel the entire length of the football field before they look back up. Even a slight turn of the hand could mean that their car will drift into another lane without them noticing.
Being exhausted means that the body’s reactions to certain stimulation is slower and that there is an increased risk of falling asleep behind the wheel of the car.
It’s a known fact that alcohol impairs a person’s muscle movements, judgment, speech, and cognitive thinking. It can make many people feel much more confident than they should be in their ability to steer a car safely. This confidence leads to 28 deaths due to drunk driving accidents every day.
Speeding, sudden lane changes, and failing to yield are all considered forms of reckless driving. In the United States, reckless driving is punishable by fines, suspending the driver’s license, or imprisonment.
New York is considered a “No-Fault” state, which means that when a car accident occurs, the drivers of each vehicle turn to their own car insurance for compensation. This law was enacted so that time would not be wasted over litigation to determine who was at fault.
While your insurance company might pay for your medical insurance initially, there are limits to every policy. When serious injuries are sustained, the cost of medical care can be extremely high, reaching hundreds of thousands of dollars. Once the policy limit is reached, the insurance company will inform you that they will no longer pay for the care that you need.
It can be difficult to prove who caused a sideswipe accident. More often than not, it is the testimony of witnesses that saw the accident happen which will ultimately help the police and other professionals determine who caused the accident.
Additional clues may be obtained from tire tracks, the damages to both cars, and any security or traffic cameras in the area. It is important to consult with an attorney as soon as possible, as they may be able to help you obtain a copy of a video of the accident.
Yes. A car accident lawyer can help you prepare for any recorded statements you give the insurance companies, advise you as to what you do and do not need to provide the insurance companies, and help you get the compensation that you both need and deserve.
Banville Law is licensed to practice in the state of New York with a primary focus on the boroughs and counties of Queens, The Bronx, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and Manhattan. Their years of successfully representing clients in personal injury suits gives them the experience and expertise needed to assist New York residents.
When you come to your first consultation with us it is very important that you bring any information that relates to your accident. This will most likely include the police report, witness contact information and statements, medical records from all doctors treating you, the insurance information for all drivers involved, and the name and contact information for any person or business that has a camera that may have captured the details of the accident.
Our firm works on a contingency fee basis, which means that you won’t pay us anything until we win your case. Our fees will come directly out of any compensation that you receive. If you don’t receive compensation, then you owe us nothing.
See further reading on The Dangers Of Texting And Driving.
