Car Accident
In New York, car accident claims are a regular occurrence. These busy streets make it all the more likely that you will experience a car accident that could potentially leave you with serious injuries and cause you to suffer emotionally.
In particular, T-bone accidents can leave NYC car accident victims with catastrophic injuries that may have life-long impacts. When these tragic events occur, it will always result in financial difficulties for the victims.
Fortunately, if you have been in a car accident, you have the right to recover compensation from the at-fault party. A personal injury lawyer in New York can help uphold your legal rights and fight for your fair compensation.
The Law Offices of Robert E. Brown, P.C. is well-versed in representing car accident cases and standing up for the rights of victims in these scenarios. Attorney Robert E. Brown served as an NYPD captain prior to retiring from the force and is a Harvard graduate. With the help of a NYC car accident lawyer from our firm, you will have someone to negotiate with the insurance company and help you recover after a devastating car accident. Contact an experienced car accident attorney from our law firm today for a free consultation to discuss your legal options.
Why Must You Contact a NYC Car Accident Lawyer?
One of the biggest issues with car accident cases in New York is that fault is almost always disputed. There may be discrepancies on the police report or the other driver may be arguing that you were the one who broke traffic laws, causing your own car accident injuries.
Even though you can still recover compensation when you are partially at fault, this will reduce your payout. You shouldn’t settle for less when you’ve done nothing wrong. Depending on the injuries sustained, you may have a long road ahead to your recovery. In some circumstances, these injuries may be permanent and impact the entire rest of your life. It isn’t fair that you should be stuck absorbing these additional costs when someone else drove negligently.
Another reason you’ll want car accident attorneys to take over your case is that you will need to file your car accident lawsuit before the car accident statute of limitations runs out. This is three years from the date of your car crash and resulting injuries. Since most injury victims tend to start by filing a car accident claim with their insurance company, time will become a factor. Once all the dust settles, you may find you’re either offered an inadequate settlement or that the insurance company denies your claim.
When your auto accident claim is going nowhere, it is wise to get legal advice from an experienced car accident lawyer who won’t back down in the pursuit of what is just and fair for you. Contact the car accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Robert E. Brown, P.C. to discuss your car accident case.
What Are Some Common Causes for Car Accidents in New York?
In a NYC car accident, there are a variety of factors that lead to these incidents, though some are far more common than others. Our car accident attorneys generally see these causes most commonly when representing car accident victims.
Distracted Driving
When there is a New York City car accident, the most common cause is due to distracted driving. It’s only grown worse as technology has improved since many drivers disregard their duty of care by texting while driving. Beyond the use of technology, distracted driving also occurs when drivers fumble for items out of their reach, eat or drink, adjust the radio or GPS navigation, groom their appearances, or even converse with the passengers in their vehicle. Safe driving requires that hands stay on the wheel, eyes stay on the road, and the mind is fully focused on the task at hand.
Weather and Traffic Conditions
The weather is beyond anyone’s control, which is why all New York drivers are urged to be vigilant when rain, snow, ice, sleet, fog, or even glare from the sun make it harder to see. While you can’t change the weather, you must adjust your driving habits when these conditions arise to avoid an automobile accident. Every person behind the wheel of a motor vehicle must adapt to whatever the weather may bring. This means driving more slowly than the posted speed limit to avoid car accidents.
Impaired Driving
Sadly, in New York car accidents, many people get behind the wheel when they’ve had too much to drink or taken other mind-altering substances. If you have incurred serious injuries at the hands of an intoxicated driver, our car accident attorneys will hold them accountable for their dangerous actions.
Reckless Driving
It’s certainly true that New York drivers often lack patience. Still, it’s no excuse to operate a motor vehicle in a negligent way. While it may be frustrating when traffic is heavy, those who tailgate, weave in and out of traffic, and act aggressively towards others are often the root cause of a NYC car accident.
Drowsy Driving
Driving a motor vehicle while exhausted is another common reason behind a New York City car accident. Many people work late hours and don’t get the sleep they need to be fully aware when they get behind the wheel. This is a dangerous practice because drowsiness can slow reaction time as much as being impaired by alcohol or drugs. A responsible driver gets enough rest or uses public transit instead of driving while drowsy.
Vehicle Defects
When a motor vehicle has defects either from the manufacturing process or because of a faulty part, you will not want to proceed without car accident lawyers on your side. It can be incredibly difficult to prove that a vehicle either was not maintained or was maintained improperly. When crucial systems such as brakes or tires fail, it may involve multiple liable parties whom you can seek compensation from for your medical bills and other damages.
If you have a car accident claim, it is best to speak with a car accident lawyer to fully understand your options. You can count on your New York car accident attorney with the Law Offices of Robert E. Brown, P.C. to provide you with the honest and compassionate representation you deserve after your motor vehicle accident.
Common Car Accident Injuries in New York
In auto accident cases, some victims are lucky to only experience bruising and other minor injuries. Others will wind up with serious injuries in their personal injury claim. Most personal injury cases involving car accidents tend to leave the injured parties with the following types of injuries.
Broken Bones
Sometimes, you may know right away you have this serious injury when your arms or legs are bent into an unnatural position. Other times, the only way you’ll know you suffered injuries with broken bones is when you get x-rays taken at the hospital. Broken bones may heal easily on their own if there is a clean break. However, they may also have complications while healing, which may leave you with chronic pain for years to come.
Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injuries, often called TBIs, can range in severity from mild cases that involve a brief period of unconsciousness, such as a concussion, or be so severe that they cause permanent damage. If you notice that you feel confused, have issues moving normally, headaches, or other symptoms after your car accident, you should seek immediate medical care. Left untreated, these types of brain injuries could worsen, and you could wind up getting less than you deserve for your injuries because of it.
Spinal Cord Injuries
In serious New York car accidents, spinal cord injuries may arise. This lifeline in your body can be severed in a crash, which may mean you will never walk again or lose mobility in another part of your body. You would need constant care and require rehabilitation to learn how to move forward in your life with these new challenges. If your car accident case involves these types of injuries, our New York accident lawyers will fight for what is fair on your behalf.
Whiplash
When the head is whipped back and forth in a rough way, such as during a car accident, whiplash can occur. The weight of the head can add to the aggravation of the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the neck. It may take several months for whiplash to heal, though some victims in these accidents will wind up with a lifetime of pain.
Internal Bleeding
Blunt force in a car accident may not cause any visible injuries, which is another reason why you are always urged to either go to the hospital or see a doctor after an auto accident. You may notice bruising on your abdominal area caused by your seatbelt. This is something you should take very seriously as internal bleeding can be life-threatening.
Psychological Impacts
In an auto accident, regardless of the severity of the injuries, it has the potential to leave you with psychological impacts that can last long after your physical injuries heal. Anxiety, fear, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are all quite common for those who have endured the shocking events of a New York City car accident.
Your injuries, both physical and mental, will also impact your financial standing. With so many medical expenses, you deserve to get maximum compensation for the painful injuries caused by someone else’s careless driving actions. After your New York car accident, make sure you speak to an attorney from our law firm to get the personal attention and compassion you deserve when seeking justice for your injuries.
New York Car Accident Statistics
According to the New York City Police Department (NYPD), these traffic statistics city-wide are eye-opening. In total for 2024, there were 7,438 car accidents that resulted in 4,029 injuries for motorists, passengers, cyclists, and pedestrians. Since the beginning of this year, these auto accidents have resulted in 20 deaths.
The most common reason for these traffic accidents was listed as driver distractions followed by failure to yield and following too closely. A New York City car accident will most likely result in some of the injuries listed above. The insurance company will certainly try an array of tactics to avoid giving you the full worth of your case.
After an automobile accident, contact the Law Offices of Robert E. Brown, P.C. to learn more about how to file a personal injury lawsuit and get the money you deserve for the painful injuries someone else has caused you.
Who is Responsible for Damages After a Car Accident?
Since New York is a no-fault insurance state, you should first look to your own insurance company to cover your medical bills. Unfortunately, in New York, there is a limit as to how much they will pay out, and they will look for any way to reduce that even further.
In a New York City motor vehicle accident, you may get coverage for your medical bills up to a certain point. After that, you can seek compensation from the other driver in certain circumstances, if your injuries are severe. The law defines this as situations when the accident has caused the death of a loved one, disfigurement, broken bones, permanent loss or limitation of a vital organ or limb, loss of pregnancy, or a non-permanent injury that would keep you from performing ordinary tasks for at least 90 days out of 180 following the accident.
Some injured victims find out the hard way that they should have had uninsured motorist coverage as an extra measure of protection. Although against the law, many drivers throughout New York City, New York State, and Staten Island do not have even basic auto insurance coverage. When they have no coverage for your medical costs or property damage and your injuries meet the metrics mentioned, contact our attorneys to help you file a lawsuit to recover your damages.
What Compensation Can You Expect After an Accident in New York City?
The compensation you receive after an accident in New York City can vary widely from one case to the next. It will depend on multiple factors including the type and severity of your injuries, along with several other factors. Generally, you can calculate your economic and non-economic damages with the help of law firms who will have a better idea of the worth of your case.
Your economic damages will be the direct costs associated with your accident that can be traced to the exact dollar amount. In New York City, this will most often be your medical bills and any lost wages. It can also include your future medical bills if you will be out of work for an extended duration or you are permanently injured and unable to work in your former capacity, or at all.
Lost wages can be proven through pay stubs while medical costs can be proven through your bills, receipts, and medical records. You can seek compensation for your prescriptions, medical devices, property damage, and anything else that cost you out of your own pocket from this accident.
Non-economic damages are a little different because they are more difficult to prove. This is because they have no set dollar amount assigned to them. The value of your non-economic damages is based on your economic damages as well as the severity of your injuries and the expected impact they will have on your life.
You may endure pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, disfigurement, and other non-economic damages. It is essential to have a New York State attorney who will help you fight for what is fair to restore your life to the condition you enjoyed prior to the accident as much as possible.
What To Do After You’ve Had a Car Accident in New York
When you’re in an accident in New York, it is important to know the steps you need to take to protect your own legal rights. Even though you’ll likely be shocked by the sudden impact, try to remember what you need to do. It all starts with calling the police who will come to the accident scene and create an accident report to document what happened.
Additionally, calling the police will alert emergency medical services to arrive to treat injuries either on the scene or they will transport you to the hospital for urgent medical care. If you are capable of doing so, it is ideal to take photos and videos of the accident. Try to show how the cars are positioned, skid marks, or any other relevant details.
You should also make a note of what you remember leading up to the accident. It may be helpful to make a voice recording on your phone rather than try to type it up in your notes. Additionally, you will be required to exchange information with the other driver. This includes their New York insurance and vehicle registration information.
One of the most important things you should do is not admit any fault after a crash. Many injured victims mistakenly apologize when they’ve done nothing wrong. This can be detrimental to your case. You can ask if the other driver is okay, but beyond that, stick to the facts of what happened and refrain from admitting fault or making accusations.
When a crash in New York happens, it is always wise to protect your best interests. You can do that by contacting an attorney who specializes in representing car accident victims. You’ll find the team at the Law Offices of Robert E. Brown, P.C. to be compassionate to your needs while being aggressive in the pursuit of your compensation.
Contact a New York Car Accident Lawyer From Our Personal Injury Law Firm
While the tips above are helpful after an accident, there may be circumstances that prevent you from following them. Often, many victims in these crashes are rendered unconscious. In this type of situation, you would be transported from the crash scene to the nearest NYC hospital for treatment.
Once you have been stabilized, it is essential to contact a car accident lawyer. When injuries are this serious, you must have someone else navigating the legal landscape on your behalf. The reason you are encouraged to capture evidence on the scene is that it will disappear in time. It makes it much more difficult to fight for your compensation when there is no evidence to prove what occurred.
Your attorney will immediately get to work gathering evidence from your accident. They will hire accident reconstructionists, gain access to traffic surveillance footage, and speak with the witnesses who saw the accident as it happened. They will bring in medical experts to discuss your injuries and how these injuries will impact the course of your life.
It’s not something most people can do on their own. While an accident resulting in minor injuries may easily be handled through insurance, this is simply not the case if you’ve been seriously injured in this event.
At the Law Offices of Robert E. Brown, P.C., you can have the confidence that we are looking out for your best interests and that we will advocate for your legal rights. When other drivers act negligently behind the wheel by texting, driving drunk, engaging in reckless actions, or not driving in accordance to the weather, we will hold them accountable to get you the money you deserve.
A car accident can be much more than just an inconvenience in your day. It could be the event that, in just seconds, changes your life from active to painful. You may never be the same again and it is up to us to stand up for you and others like you who have endured serious and pain-inducing injuries that now make your life difficult.
You do not deserve to go into deep debt to pay for all these medical treatments or because you had to miss work. Allow the Law Offices of Robert E. Brown, P.C. to fight for your settlement or verdict in your car accident case. Our attorneys are ready to assist with a free initial consultation to help you understand your legal options. Schedule one today!
