There are a number of different types of car accidents that occur on our roadways each year. Unfortunately, many if not all have the potential to result in major injuries or even deaths. When we examine the common causes of car accidents, it becomes apparent that a number of these incidents are caused by negligence or incidents involving wrongdoing such as reckless or impaired driving. If you or a loved one has been injured in a New York car accident, you may be able to receive compensation for the injuries, damages and losses suffered. An experienced New York car accident lawyer will be able to help you evaluate your legal rights and options.
New York Motor Vehicle Accident Statistics
According to the New York State Department of Transportation, motor vehicle accident injuries are the fourth leading cause of injury-related deaths in New York State. Each year, about 1,098 New York State residents are killed in traffic accidents of which about 292 are occupants of vehicles, 312 are pedestrians, 141 are motorcyclists, 36 are bicyclists and 316 are unspecified. Also, on average, there were 12,093 hospitalizations each year due to traffic accident-related injuries, hospitalizing 61.5 of every 100,000 New Yorkers. The rates were highest for males and New Yorkers ages 20 to 24 followed by those ages 65 and older.
Four Common Types of Car Accidents
Here are the four most common types of car accidents our auto accident attorneys see in New York State:
1. Side-Impact Collisions: These types of crashes occur when one vehicle crashes into the side of the other. These accidents account for about one-fourth of all vehicle passenger deaths in the country, according to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety. These are also known as a broadside crash or a T-bone crash when one vehicle perpendicularly strikes the side of another vehicle. Side-impact collisions may occur in a number of scenarios including when a car runs a red light or stop sign or when one vehicle fails to yield the right of way to another.
2. Rear-End Accidents: According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), rear-end crashes are the most frequent type of collisions that occur on our roadways, making up for nearly one-third of all traffic accidents. Rear-end accidents may range from low-speed fender-benders to high-speed crashes that result in catastrophic injuries. There are a number of reasons why rear-end crashes occur, but some of the most common causes include excessive rate of speed, inattention, following too closely (tailgating) and distracted driving.
3. Head-on Collisions: Head-on crashes are among the most dangerous, and often involve fatalities. They usually occur at high speeds and result in major if not lethal injuries. Head-on collisions typically involve two vehicles and may happen when one of the vehicles crosses or enters the opposing traffic lane. Head-on crashes may also occur when drivers make unsafe turns at intersections or for example, when an impaired driver goes the wrong way.
4. Multi-Vehicle Collisions: These involve three or more cars and are common on busy roads and highways. These are extremely dangerous because cars may receive multiple impacts from different angles. Such accidents tend to occur due to inclement weather, speeding or distracted or otherwise negligent drivers etc., who don’t have sufficient time to stop the vehicle in order to avoid the crash. These crashes may also result in serious or fatal injuries.
Compensation for Injured Victims
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, or if you have lost a loved one in a car crash caused by a distracted or negligent driver, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you.
For over 46 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. Our law firm recently recovered $5,600,000 for a bicyclist who was hit by a van, and $2,550,000 for another victim of a truck accident, and $3,000,000 for a pedestrian who was hit by a car, and the full $1,000,000 insurance policy for a pedestrian who was hit by a truck, and $4,625,000 for a driver who was in a car and was hit by a van, and $2,500,000 for a man who fell through an improperly secured hole.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury cases in New York, Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com