Car accidents, in general, can be a frightening experience and traumatic for the victims. Unfortunately, with so many vehicles on Queens roads, car accidents have become an everyday hazard for many Queens residents. Although some car accidents are unavoidable, many car accidents are usually caused by another driver’s negligent actions and can be prevented.
So, if you have sustained serious injuries in a car accident caused by another’s person negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. Therefore, it is important that you call experienced Queen’s car accident lawyers to learn more about your rights to compensation.
The article discusses the many types of automobile accidents that lawyers handle in Queens.
Are Automobile Accidents a Major Problem in Queens?
According to the New York Department of Health, automobile accidents were the fourth-leading cause of death and the second-leading cause of severe injuries in Queens. In August 2020, according to NYPD crash statistics, about 5,303 people were reported to be involved in approximately 2,656 automobile accidents in Queens.
In a single month, about 659 drivers and 407 people were injured in Queens as a result of auto accidents. Every year, Queen’s car accident victims incur about $106.3 million in hospitalization costs and emergency room costs.
This is aside from the wages listed by several accident victims while they are recovering and does not include the cost of ongoing medical treatment, rehab, and physical therapy. So, Queens residents are at risk of automobile accidents on a daily basis.
Types of Injury Accidents Involving Automobiles in Queens
Where every crash is unique, there are several ways these accidents happen, especially with automobiles. Therefore, it is important that you are aware of them so that you can carefully avoid them.
Here are the most common types of auto accidents in Queens.
Rear-End Collisions
This type of car accident usually results from drivers following another vehicle too closely or refusing to pay attention to the road. In addition, when a driver does not create enough space for the vehicle in front of traffic, the rear driver might lack the space or time to avoid a collision if traffic ahead stops abruptly.
Distracted driving, impaired driving, and drowsy driving are all major contributors to rear-end collisions. Most times, the rear driver usually causes the accident by being too close to the vehicle in front. However, they are not always at fault.
For example, the driver in front might be at fault if they stop abruptly or reverse without reason in an active lane. The injuries sustained in a rear-end collision usually range from minor to severe injuries.
Even if the driver is driving at low speed, rear-end accident victims can still sustain severe injuries such as neck injuries, damage to the spinal cord, and broken bones.
Head-On Collisions
Another dangerous kind of car accident is a Head-On collision. Although this type is less common than other types of car accident cases, the impact is significant. This is because both vehicles are moving towards each other regardless of the speed, and so the force of impact is usually magnified.
Head-on collisions usually result in death or severe car accident injuries, most times compared to other types of auto accidents. The common causes of this type of car accident include driver fatigue, speeding, reckless driving, driving while impaired and distracted driving.
Some of the car accident injuries usually sustained from head-on collisions include spinal cord damage, broken bones, spinal organ damage, and brain injuries, among others.
Side-Impact Collisions
This auto accident happens when one vehicle moves in one direction and hits another at a perpendicular angle. This is especially dangerous, especially for anyone at the other end of the vehicle.
This is because the sides of automobiles have more mass to absorb any collision impact compared to the rear ends and front of a vehicle. This type of car accident is usually the result of drivers failing to stop or yield at intersections or ignoring traffic signals and signs.
Any driver who is impaired, driving recklessly, or distracted can cause a side-impact collision. The driver at fault can be held accountable for the injuries that other may have sustained in the crash.
Sideswipe Accidents
This type of car crash occurs when two or more vehicles are traveling parallel to one another, and one vehicle collides with the side of the other vehicle. Most times, drivers fail to turn their heads and check their blind spots before changing or merging lanes, resulting in sideswipe accidents.
The injuries resulting from a sideswipe accident can be severe, especially when there is a secondary impact after the collision. This type of collision usually occurs as a result of recklessness, distraction, impairment, inattention, and speeding. Some of the injuries include spinal cord damage, head injuries, whiplash, internal organ damage, and traumatic brain injuries.
Single-Vehicle Accidents
This is a very common type of car accident case in Queens. This type of crash occurs when a driver hits something in their path, such as debris, animal, or dropped cargo on the road. A single-vehicle accident can happen when an obstacle causes the vehicle to swerve off the road.
The vehicle might hit another obstacle, a street light, roll over, or even fall into a ditch, depending on where the crash occurs. Even though the accident involves only one vehicle, injuries can be quite severe, especially when the vehicle rolls over or hits a large or heavy object.
Some of the common causes of single-vehicle accidents include speeding, poor weather, animals on the road, drivers drunk or under the influence of drugs, and drivers driving while fatigued. In addition, this type of accident is often caused by another driver’s negligence, such as reckless driving or an improperly designed road.
Multi-Vehicle Accidents
A multi-vehicle accident involving three or more automobiles can be disastrous. Multi-vehicle only means that there are more people who will be injured and probably more insurance policies to compensate the victims.
The main reason why multi-vehicle accidents occur is that there was a chain-reaction rear-end collision. In essence, when one vehicle is caught between two other automobiles, the people in the middle vehicle might suffer severe injuries.
Rollover Accidents
This type of accident happens under different circumstances and is likely to cause severe injuries. When it happens, the force of the rollover usually inflicts disastrous injuries on anyone inside the vehicle.
In addition, this type of accident can lead to vehicle fires as a result of cargo igniting or spilled fuel. This can also inflict more injuries or death, especially if the vehicle explodes. This type of collision can also lead to the passenger or driver’s ejection, which can cause serious injuries on impact.
Some of the causes of rollover crashes include distracted driving, impaired driving, speeding, driving while tired, etc.
Blind Spot Accidents
Drivers are supposed to always check their blind spots before merging or changing lanes. However, not everyone does this consistently. When drivers do not check their blind spots, they can collide with other vehicles, which can lead to a blind spot accident.
This attitude of not checking for a blind spot is also one of the many causes of sideswipe accidents in Queens. Most times, motorcycles and smaller automobiles are usually vulnerable to accidents because they can disappear in the blind spot of a bigger vehicle.
In addition, large trucks also have larger blind spots that can pose a serious risk for other road users. However, it depends on the speed, angle of impact, and other factors; this type of car accident case often leads to serious injuries.
Low-Speed Accidents
Even at low speeds, a vehicle can still generate a forceful impact on other vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists. Regardless of the speed, it is the angle of impact that matters most time. Some of the injuries from a low-speed accident include crust injuries, neck and back injuries, broken bones, whiplash, serious bruising, and head or face injuries.
Merging Accidents
Merging accident is another common type of automobile accident. Most times, drivers try to merge into active traffic, which can lead to an accident if they don’t check their blind spots or drive recklessly.
In other situations, other drivers may cause this type of accident when they try to cut another driver trying to merge on an active road. This type of accident usually happens at fairly high speeds, so the injuries sustained are most severe.
Why You Need an Automobile Accident Lawyer After an Automobile Crash in Queens?
If you were hurt in an automobile crash as a result of another driver’s negligence, you are entitled to compensation for lost wages, medical bills, and many more. However, fighting for this compensation is usually the last thing on your mind, especially if you are seriously hurt. As a result, many crash victims tend to settle for settlement as they do not want the stress of a legal battle.
The fact is, not every auto accident will end in court. Even if you can recover compensation for your injuries and lost wages through settlement with insurance companies, you need legal help. Here are reasons why you need to work with dedicated car accident attorneys to help with your case.
- Experienced car accident lawyers will help you understand everything you need to expect from the whole compensation process and keep you informed of your case at every step.
- They will help you with the evidence such as witness testimony, police reports, videos, and more that you need to strengthen your lawsuit
- They will help you work with experts to ensure that your demand includes every dollar you deserve
- They will help you work to hold everyone accountable for the parts they played
- In addition, auto accident lawyers will handle every negotiation with the insurance company and court to secure maximum compensation for you. They understand the legal system and will work to protect your legal rights.
What Are the Causes of Automobile Accidents in Queens?
Here are a few common causes of auto accidents.
Distracted Driving
When drivers are distracted while driving, they are more likely to cause car accidents. Some of the driving distractions include drinking/eating, using GPS devices, watching videos, brushing hair, using cellphones, reading books, and many more.
Texting While Driving
Drivers who text using their cell phones usually have both eyes and hands focused on the phone and are distracted from the road.
Therefore, there is a high chance that the driver can get into a crash when they are texting and driving at the same time.
Drowsy Driving
Most times, when drivers don’t get enough sleep, they are more susceptible to being involved in auto accidents. Our body needs rest to be alert enough to be able to prevent an accident. A drowsy accident is a common cause of accidents and is dangerous as well.
Drugged and Drunk Driving
When drivers are under the influence of hard drugs that may impair one’s reaction time, judgment, and motor skills have a higher chance of causing accidents. Therefore, driving under the influence of drugs is a serious threat to drivers’ safety and is considered a negligent action.
Like drugged driving, drunk driving is a common cause of automobile accidents. If a driver’s mind is impaired, their ability to drive clearly also becomes impaired. Most times, drunk driving accidents usually have a horrible impact on many victims.
Speeding
This is one of the many common causes of auto accidents. This is because drivers don’t have time to avoid or stop collisions when they are speeding. Hence, speed limits are always in place in Queens to reduce the chance of accidents and keep drivers safe.
Contact a Car Accident Lawyer in Queens for Help.
Queens car accident attorneys understand every rule of the road and can help you unravel how an auto accident occurred. If you wait too long before taking legal action after a car crash, getting the evidence you need to support your claim might become difficult.
If you or a loved one have been injured due to no fault of yours and need specialized and proactive personal injury representation in the New York region, contact Elliot Ifraimoff & Associates, PC, for a free consultation today.
You can reach us through any of the following means:
Elliot Ifraimoff & Associates, PC
Toll-Free:
(888) ASK-ELLIOT / (888) 275-3554
Telephone: (718) 205-1010
Facsimile: (718) 205-2066
