In New York State alone, there are over 300,000 car accidents each year. These accidents result in over 116,000 personal injuries and over 1,100 fatalities each year. A serious car accident can result in significant injuries making it a very traumatic and difficult experience. The physical, emotional, and financial burdens can be simply overwhelming for you and your family.
Whether your car accident was a minor collision or a serious wreck, you should always contact an experienced attorney to evaluate your claim. Your attorney will help guide you through the legal process to protect your rights to seek compensation for your injuries, pain and suffering, and property damage.
A car accident is generally premised on a theory of negligence. Negligence is a legal theory that imposes a duty of care on an individual’s conduct. If that individual’s conduct falls below the standard of care in which a reasonable prudent person would exercise under similar circumstances, that individual is said to breach the standard of care and can be liable for any reasonably foreseeable harm or damages. There are many different types of negligent conduct that may cause a car accident, including some of the following dangerous causes:
- Excessive speed;
- Failing to yield;
- Failing to stop at a stop sign or red light;
- Distracted driving such as texting, phone calls, GPS devices, or playing with the stereo;
- Fatigued or drowsy driving;
- Drunk driving;
- Tailgating or following too closely;
- Improper lane changes;
- Negligent left turns;
- Improper roadway design or maintenance;
- Defective motor vehicle parts; and
- Excessive speed for weather conditions.
Due to the various kinds of negligent conduct referenced above, there is a broad spectrum of car accidents that could occur. Each type of car accident brings with it different challenges and liability required to prove your case effectively. Some of the types of car accidents our experienced law firm has handled include the following types of collisions:
- T-bone collisions;
- Rear-end collisions;
- Head-on collisions;
- Side impact collisions;
- Sideswipe crashes;
- Roll-over accidents;
- High-speed collisions;
- Low-speed collisions;
- Multiple-car collisions;
- Flipped vehicle accidents; and
- Hit and run collisions.
Your experienced attorney must not just understand the law, but also the anatomy and pathology of your injuries. Similarly as different types of collisions result in different liability, these collisions can also cause different types of injuries. For instance, a rear-end collision will have a different affect on the human body than a T-bone collision. As such, our experienced law firm has handled car accidents involving these types of injuries:
- Back and spinal cord injuries;
- Whiplash injuries;
- Traumatic brain injuries;
- Fractured bones;
- Amputation of limbs, fingers, and/or toes;
- Deep lacerations;
- Soft-tissue injuries;
- Severe burns;
- Disfiguring scars;
- Loss of vision, hearing, or smell;
- Nerve damage;
- Tendon or ligament damage;
- Internal organ injuries; and
- Death.
The statute of limitations under New York law is just three (3) years from the date of the accident; this can be just ninety (90) days if the accident was caused by the State or a municipality. In addition, No-fault applications are due within thirty (30) days following your accident.
The Hudson car accident attorneys at Greenberg and Greenberg handle cases throughout New York State, including Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, and Albany County. Our legal team has earned a reputation for dedicated service to our clients injured in New York personal injury accidents. Please contact us today to receive a FREE case evaluation by dialing locally to 518-828-3336 or call toll free at 877-469-9300.