Suffolk County saw 113 car accident fatalities in 2020, the most of any county in the state, according to Newsday’s review of preliminary data from the Albany-based Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research. Right behind Suffolk County were Queens and Nassau. Suffolk also recorded the most traffic accidents in the state in 2020 with 32,154. The data also shows that speed was the number one factor in fatal crashes on Long Island.
Spotlight on Negligent (careless) Drivers
Suffolk County’s total is still lower than in 2019 when it recorded 42,485
accidents, but there were fewer vehicles on the roadways in 2020 because of state-ordered COVID-19 restrictions. Nassau had the second-most car accidents in the state last year — 29,666, a drop from 41,862 in 2019. Queens recorded the most accidents in 2019 with 43,830.
The data also shows that a number of deadly accidents continue to be caused by driver negligence (carelessness). Of the total police-reported accidents in Suffolk last year, 27, 308 or 85% were caused by “human-related” factors such as speed, with 87 of them fatal. In one fatal accident, a black box recovered from the driver’s vehicle showed he was driving 130 mph when he crashed. In 2020, unsafe speed was listed as a contributor in 38 car accidents in Suffolk and 20 in Nassau. Other crash factors with deadly consequences include failure to yield the right of way, pedestrian and bicyclist error or confusion and improper passing.
Both Suffolk and Nassau county officials say they have plans in place to reduce the number of crashes and fatalities. Suffolk police plan to launch a new safe-driving initiative in October that includes targeted enforcement patrols to issue more summonses for speeding, aggressive driving and cell phone use or distracted driving. Since 2019, Nassau has invested $50 million in infrastructure improvements such as traffic signals, pavement markings, signage and other traffic safety devices on roadways. Nassau police have also said they have renewed efforts to crack down on reckless drivers.
Compensation for Injured Victims
For many car accident victims who suffer major injuries, the road to recovery can be long and arduous. Those who suffer spinal injuries may face significant medical bills and expenses with regard to treatment, care and rehabilitation. They may require long-term care and physical therapy or even occupational therapy. Some car accident victims may also suffer lifelong injuries or disabilities that prevent them from going back to work or earning a livelihood. It is important to remember that these crashes, which are caused by someone else’s negligence (carelessness) and were avoidable, can end up turning an individual’s or family’s life upside down.
Injured victims of speeding or reckless 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 pedestrian accidents can seek compensation for damages such as lost future income, medical and funeral costs, pain and suffering, etc.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
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 50 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. 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 and/or medical malpractice 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://www.newsday.com/long-island/transportation/suffolk-crashes-fatalities-nassau-1.50371084