Auto Accidents Attorney In Yonkers & Manhattan

Contact Sayegh & Sayegh, P.C. to schedule a consultation with a lawyer today. 914-968-5800

Types of Car Accidents in Yonkers

There are nearly 240,000 miles of roads throughout New York. Moreover, there’s about one crash every two minutes throughout the state.

For those of us who drive the highways and streets in and around Yonkers, the Bronx and Westchester, Dutchess, Putnam, Orange and Ulster Counties, among the busiest and most congested in the US, this statistic comes as no surprise. Any accident has the potential to injure drivers and passengers, even at relatively low to moderate speeds. And every type of Yonkers car accident brings with it a specific danger about which all New York drivers should be aware:

Sideswipe collisions

Sideswipe is defined as “to strike a glancing blow along the side.” The most common type of sideswipe happens when two vehicles are traveling parallel to each other and one car pulls out (while attempting to change lanes, for instance), swiping the car next to it.

In this case, if neither driver loses control, the damage to the vehicle is usually relatively minor. If either driver loses control, it may result in serious injury.

Rear-end collisions

Rear-end collisions account for nearly half of all accidents between two vehicles, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

While many of these fall into the “fender-bender” category in which there are no significant injuries, that same report states that as many as 1,700 people a year are killed in the US in rear-end accidents. Tailgating, speeding, faulty or failing brakes and distracted driving are among the causes of rear-end collisions.

Side-impact collisions

Often called T-bone or broadside collisions, this type of accident is one in which one vehicle strikes another at an angle other than from the front or the rear. They occur when cars are traveling perpendicular to one another.

The two most common places for side-impact collisions are parking lots, when a car is backing out, and intersections, where one car may have run a red light or a stop sign or otherwise failed to yield. Size, speed, vehicle safety features and point of impact all play into the extent of vehicle damage and severity of injuries. Of the 6,122 “angle” collisions reported in 2016, 17.8 percent were fatal.

Rollover accidents

While one study cites that rollovers account for only 2.1 percent of all accidents involving automobiles, SUVs and pick-up trucks, rollovers account for 35 percent of all fatalities.

SUVs, vans and similar vehicles with a high center of gravity are at risk for rollovers, but passenger cars are not immune. Rollovers can result from a “tripped rollover,” which occurs when a vehicle slides sideways and plows into soft soil or a snowbank, rolls down a steep slope or hits a guardrail.

Head-on collisions

While only 2 percent of all vehicular accidents are head-on collisions, they account for more than 10 percent of all fatal crashes in the U.S. They are also often a leading cause of some of the most severe injuries, including traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal injuries and paralysis.

The physics of a head-on collision state that a vehicle will exert many times its own weight when it meets another oncoming vehicle—which is why even if one was to survive one of these accidents, the injuries would be of the most severe types, including traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal injuries or paralysis.

The main causes of head-on collisions include drunk or impaired driving, improper passing, fatigue or falling asleep behind the wheel, going the wrong way (such as on a one-way street) and distracted driving.

Single car accidents

When only one automobile is involved in a crash, it is a single car accident. Commonly, these accidents happen when a vehicle runs off the road, is hit by falling rocks, runs over or tries to avoid debris in the road.

In our area, deer running into the road are a constant threat and a major cause of single car accidents. Weather—especially heavy rain, fog, ice and snow—can create dangerous conditions.

Other causes: vehicle defects or poor vehicle maintenance and reaction to the move of another vehicle, causing you to swerve.

Multi-vehicle pile-ups

Some of the most dramatic multi-vehicle pile-ups involve dozens, or even more than 100, vehicles. In fact, the world’s largest pile-up happened in 2011 when more than 300 vehicles were involved in a multi-car accident in Brazil.

Closer to home and more recently, 21 vehicles crashed near Buffalo in January 2018, with a total of at least 75 vehicles involved in the accident.

A common reason for these massive accidents is weather, including blizzards, downpours, ice and dense fog, as well as glare, which affects visibility. Heavy traffic, high speed, and driving too close also contribute to multi-vehicle pile-ups.

No matter what type of Yonkers car accident, we advocate for you

If you have been injured in a Yonkers car accident because of someone else’s negligence or reckless behavior, you should be compensated for your medical expenses, loss of wages, property damage and more. We make sure that you are. To learn more about how we can help, please contact us or call our office at 914-968-5800 to schedule a free consultation.

What causes most car accidents?

Any number of factors can play a role in causing a motor vehicle crash. In general, if you sustain injuries or other damages that result from negligence, carelessness, or recklessness of some sort, you may have the basis for an auto accident claim. All motorists on the road share a responsibility to drive safely and attentively, and failure to do so could be considered negligent. Likewise, car manufacturers and those maintaining roadways have a responsibility to provide safe vehicles and safe driving conditions. Consider the following negligent behaviors and related circumstances that could cause an accident:

• Speeding or ignoring other traffic laws/signs
• Becoming distracted by passengers or scenery
• Falling asleep at the wheel
• Talking or texting on a mobile phone
• Eating or drinking behind the wheel
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• A vehicle that malfunctions due to a flaw in design or production
• A dangerous roadway with no effort given to eliminate hazards and/or alert drivers

Common Car Accident Injuries in Yonkers

When severe injuries occur because of a car accident, the price of treatment can be extremely costly. Emergency medical treatment, hospitalizations, surgeries, and sometimes extensive follow up care all come at a steep price. This is why Americans who were injured in a car accident because of the negligence of another person have the right to file a personal injury claim and seek compensation for the damages.

The five most common injuries from automobile accidents in New York

The types of injuries that can happen in a car accident are as various as the cars on the road. However, some of the most common injuries from car accidents include:

• Whiplash. When a vehicle comes to a sudden stop or sharp turn the head can “whip” back and forth, injuring tendons and muscles in the neck. Most whiplash heals with time, but some cases can be more severe.
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI). A concussion is a TBI that heals in a short period of time, but often bruising, tearing and other injuries to the brain can cause debilitating problems.
• Broken bones. The sheer impact and blunt force of car accidents often causes broken bones in the extremities, such as the arms, legs, feet and hands. As people age, broken bones take longer to heal and can cause lasting disabilities.
• Internal bleeding. The impact from an accident can tear or rupture internal organs, causing internal bleeding that requires surgery, and in worst-case scenarios, is fatal.
• PTSD. Being involved in an accident can be a scary, stressful and sometimes horrifying experience. As a result, people often suffer from psychological and emotional injuries long after the physical injuries have healed. This can include symptoms like depression, anxiety, stress, and a reduced interest in life.

Suffering from an injury in a car accident can drastically change your life. If the accident wasn’t your fault, you shouldn’t have to pay the price monetarily as well.

Filing a claim after your accident in New York

The statute of limitations on car accidents in Yonkers and throughout NY is three years—that means that you have three years in which to file a lawsuit should you choose to do so. But the sooner you file, the sooner you might obtain some relief from the undue financial stress your accident caused. The process may seem relatively straightforward, but it often involves in-depth investigations and analyses, acquisition of documents, expert testimony, negotiation, and other stages that your lawyer will know best how to execute to your advantage.

The damages you can receive in a claim may be quite extensive, depending on the details of your unique case. Consider the following payment you may be entitled to after an auto accident:

• Reimbursement of current medical bills and estimation of future medical costs
• Lost wages from missed work due to injury
• Coverage for vehicle and other property damage
• Consideration for emotional anguish, pain and suffering
• Punitive damages in cases of DUI, reckless driving, or other gross negligence
• Death-related expenses if you lose a loved one

Contact an experienced Hopewell Junction auto accident attorney for help with your injury case

With more than 85 years of combined experience advocating for victims of negligence, the attorneys of Sayegh & Sayegh, P.C. offer unmatched support throughout your car accident case in Dutchess County or elsewhere throughout NY. To learn more about how we can help, contact us online or call 914-968-5800 today to schedule a free consultation.