Traffic accidents occur in New York on a daily basis due to highly congested roads and distracted driving. After facing an auto accident in New York, victims are left to handle a number of things like claiming insurance and handling medical conditions. Having to face a traumatic experience while trying to manage your daily activities is challenging and stressful. This is particularly more difficult for victims of auto injuries.
If you are trying to figure out how to get your life back after a frightening car crash that has forced you to undergo medical treatment, auto injury lawyers New York can help you out.
Causes of Auto Accidents in NYC
The cause of a car accident is crucial for documenting evidence for your case. A car accident lawyer in NYC who is experienced in handling traffic accident cases can pinpoint the causes of different types of auto accidents ranging from fender-benders to major accidents.
Some of the common causes of auto accidents in New York are given below.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is one of the main reasons for NYC car accidents to happen frequently. These accidents can happen due to talking or texting on a mobile phone while driving.
Speeding and Tailgating
Another reason why auto accidents occur in NYC is speeding. Most drivers who engage in speeding also tailgate vehicles to avoid traffic lights. More than 10% of auto accidents in New York are caused by tailgating.
Intoxicated Driving
Driving under the influence (DUI) is a major cause of auto accidents. According to the New York State Police, more than 30% of fatal crashes are caused by drunk drivers. Over 17,000 deaths occur annually in the New York state due to intoxicated driving.
Defective Vehicles
Irresponsible drivers who refuse to maintain their motor vehicles by checking factors such as lights, tires, brakes, wheel alignment, and engine lights, can eventually end up causing an accident. Many at-fault drivers tend to drive damaged vehicles while being aware of underlying issues.
Auto Injuries Commonly Found in New York
Your auto injury lawyer in NYC can sue the at-fault party if your auto injury belongs to the “serious injury” category as defined by the New York law. Auto injuries that qualify as serious injuries are given below:
- Fractures
- Loss of a fetus
- Dismemberment
- Permanent loss of a body organ or bodily functions
- Permanent consequential limitations of body organ/member use
- Significant limitation of use of a body function/system
- Death
Proving the seriousness of certain personal injuries can be quite tricky. This is where a personal injury lawyer in NYC who is experienced in addressing such cases comes in to argue the case with documented evidence.
The Role of an Auto Injury Lawyer in an NYC Accident
At the post-accident stage, your insurance company will try to get you to accept a lowball settlement if your auto injury does not seem to fall under the serious injury threshold. This is where an auto injury lawyer in New York can step in to communicate with your insurance company for you.
An experienced auto injury lawyer can review your auto accident and investigate whether you should sue for personal injury, property damages, pain and suffering, or wrongful death.
An auto injury lawyer in New York is responsible for gathering evidence from the accident scene and documenting witness statements before the deadline for filing the insurance claim and a personal injury lawsuit should the need be.
No-fault insurance does not cover non-economic damages like pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and loss of quality of life. An accident lawyer has to represent you in court and argue the case to pursue compensation.
Since car accident lawyers can work with accident reconstruction experts and expert witnesses in the medical field, you have a better chance of securing deserving compensation.
A personal injury lawsuit has to be filed within three years following the auto accident while a no-fault insurance claim should be filed before a period of 30 days of the accident. An auto injury lawyer will collect all the necessary evidence, required forms and reports, and help you with any other auto accident legal services you need in New York without exceeding the deadline.
Cost of a New York Auto Injury Lawyer
It is expected for you to be worried about having to spend more money on a car accident lawyer after losing money on damages to your vehicle and medical expenses in addition to income loss.
However, by hiring auto injury lawyers who work on a contingency basis, you’ll only have to pay fees if they win the case for you.
This is a good way to ensure that you receive maximum compensation from your insurance company. Without a car accident attorney, you might eventually end up getting a lower compensation and lose money anyway.
To have a free initial consultation with trusted auto injury lawyers in New York who use a transparent contingency based fee structure, contact Alex Yadgarov & Associates.