A horrific van rollover accident on the New York State Thruway sent more than a dozen people, most of them children, to the hospital with injuries. According to a report on Patch.com, the auto accident occurred the afternoon of May 31 in the town of New Windsor. State Police found that a van was traveling south when it crashed into the back of another vehicle that was slowing for traffic. The van then rolled over, coming to rest in the left lane, while the other vehicle spun onto the right shoulder and struck a sign post, officials said.
Injuries and Investigation
The van was carrying 15 passengers including 12 children ranging in age from one to 12 years. Firefighters extricated a female who was riding in the front passenger seat of the van. She was transported to a regional center with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver and other passengers in the van were also treated in local hospitals for non-life-threatening injuries.
The driver of the vehicle that was struck by the van was also injured, but is expected to survive. State police issued the driver of the van tickets because five of the children in the van were not properly restrained, according to officials. Our thoughts and prayers are with all who were injured in this crash. We wish them all a speedy and complete recovery. The investigation into this van rollover crash is still ongoing.
What Are the Rights of Passengers in a Car Accident?
If you are a passenger injured in a car accident your first priority should be seeking medical attention, even if injuries seem minor. Once safe, document the scene, take photos, gather contact information of drivers as well as witnesses, and obtain insurance details from all parties involved. As a passenger, you typically have the right to file a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance — whether it’s the driver of the vehicle you were in or another involved vehicle.
Passengers are considered innocent parties in car accidents. So, they generally have the right to pursue compensation for medical bills, lost wages and benefits, past and future pain and suffering, etc. You may file a personal injury claim with one or both drivers’ insurance companies, depending on who was at fault. If multiple drivers share fault, you can seek compensation from each in proportion to their responsibility.
You also have the option to file a claim under your own health or auto insurance policy, especially if uninsured motorist protection applies. It would be in your best interest to consult a personal injury attorney to help navigate liability issues and ensure you receive fair compensation. Most importantly, do not speak with insurance companies without understanding your full rights and the long-term impact of your injuries, and without speaking with an experienced personal injury lawyer right after the accident; and before communicating with any insurance company.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
Injured victims of negligent (careless) drivers can seek compensation from at-fault parties for damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, lost wages and benefits, hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc. Families that have lost loved ones in car accidents can seek compensation for damages such as lost future income, medical and funeral costs, pain and suffering, etc.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident or pedestrian accident, or if you have lost a loved one in an auto accident caused by a negligent (careless) 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 53 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. We 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 $2,000,000 in a hit-and-run accident, 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. Also, one of our clients obtained a verdict for $43,940,000 and another of our clients got a verdict for $23,500,000, both in medical malpractice cases.
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, lead poisoning and medical malpractice cases including, brachial plexus palsy (Erb’s palsy) and cerebral palsy cases in New York, New 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
Source: https://patch.com/new-york/midhudsonvalley/17-mostly-kids-taken-hospitals-i-87-rollover-van-crash-nysp