If you have been injured in a side-impact collision, it is essential to seek the expertise of a Brentwood personal injury lawyer at Friedman & Simon, L.L.P. Our skilled Brentwood car accidents lawyer is experienced in handling the complexities of side-impact collisions and will work diligently to secure the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your case and explore your legal options.
- How Your Side-Impact Crash Happened
- Lane Changes and Sideswipes
- T-Bone Crashes
- Tailgating
- The Unique Risks of Side-Impact Collisions
- Side-Impact Injuries
- Wrongful Death
- How We Help Prove Negligence
- Evidence We Will Use
- No More Surprises — We Keep You Informed
How Your Side-Impact Crash Happened
Every car accident is a unique product of the drivers and circumstances involved. However, there are some common causes of side-impact collisions, usually due to one driver’s violation of a traffic law. These causes could include:
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Turning incorrectly
- Changing lanes unsafely
- Merging incorrectly
- Driving while under the influence
- Driving while distracted
- Following too closely (tailgating)
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Lane Changes and Sideswipes
Changing lanes, passing, drifting, or merging can all result in side-impact collisions, as well as sideswipe accidents. Sideswipes occur when two cars are driving parallel to each other and collide. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has reported that 9% of motor vehicle crashes reported to police are lane change incidents, and many of those incidents cause side-impacts or sideswipes.
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T-Bone Crashes
One of the more dangerous side-impact collisions you can experience is a T-bone crash. These often happen at intersections when one car is turning from one direction, and another vehicle continues going straight from the other direction. A full quarter of all traffic violations are caused by improper left turns, according to AARP. Depending on the speed of the crash, T-boning can result in serious injury and even death. Speeding, running red lights or stop signs, and driving under the influence or while distracted are common contributing factors to T-bone collisions.
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Tailgating
While some people may not associate tailgating with side-impact crashes, this type of collision can be a consequence suffered by a third party when a driver follows another car too closely. Because a tailgating car has less time and distance to stop if the front car suddenly brakes, a tailgater may have to turn into another lane to avoid rear-ending the front car. Unfortunately, by attempting to prevent one collision, a tailgating driver may cause another type of crash, colliding with the side of a car in another lane.
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The Unique Risks of Side-Impact Collisions
All car accidents carry the risk of injury. However, while front-end and rear-end collisions are cushioned by the hood and the trunk, sideswipes, and side-impact crashes are only cushioned by the doors. As a result, instead of the car absorbing some of the impact, your body bears much of the brunt. Side-impact collisions can also cause a vehicle to roll over.
Side-Impact Injuries
The injuries caused by being struck on the side can vary depending on where you were located in the car, where the car was struck, and how the car moved after the accident. A sideswipe will naturally have very different consequences compared to a T-bone accident or a rollover. That being said, some common injuries include:
- Bruises and lacerations
- Soft tissue injuries
- Seatbelt and airbag injuries
- Whiplash
- Broken bones
- Crush injuries
- Brain (TBI) and spinal injuries
- Lost limbs (Traumatic amputation or subsequent necessary surgical amputation)
- Wrongful death
You may have suffered head and neck injuries from banging against the side or top of the vehicle. Furthermore, whiplash can occur from a side-impact; the spine can suffer painful consequences from being jarred at an odd angle. Side collisions can crush limbs, requiring surgery or even amputation. Any of these injuries could be grounds for a personal injury lawsuit.
Side-impact collisions do not just happen. Someone behaved in a way that left you suffering these consequences. Do not suffer in silence. A Brentwood side-impact collision lawyer will evaluate your injuries and will provide you with information on your rights to pursue compensation, as well as the window of time you have to file under the statute of limitations set by New York Civil Practice Laws & Rules (CVP) §214. In addition to the statute of limitations, we will make sure other applicable deadlines are met in an appropriate and timely manner. We also recognize that evidence such as witness statements and dash-cam or surveillance video should be obtained as soon as possible. The longer one waits to obtain such items, the more likely they may become unavailable for a variety of reasons. Simply stated, the sooner you contact us, the greater our opportunity to protect your rights and build the strongest case possible for you.
Wrongful Death
New York averages over a thousand deaths per year from motor vehicle crash injuries. If you tragically lost a loved one to this kind of vehicle collision, we extend to you our heartfelt condolences. Please contact the office of Friedman & Simon, L.L.P. for more information: (516) 932-0400. You could be entitled to compensation for your loss. We are dedicated to winning the compensation you need and the justice your departed loved one deserves.
How We Help Prove Negligence
In claiming another driver was negligent in their actions, you will have to produce evidence that they did so. In other words, the burden of proof is on the victim. Because the accident itself is not necessarily evidence of negligence, we will help gather proof that the other driver failed to take proper precautions, directly leading to the accident and your injuries. Examples of negligent behavior are:
- Driving while intoxicated
- Talking on the phone while driving
- Texting while driving
- Eating while driving
- Falling asleep at the wheel
- Ignoring traffic signals
- Speeding
Any of these scenarios could cause a driver to drift into someone else’s lane, run through red lights, change lanes abruptly, or turn incorrectly. These are the actions that kickstart the chain of cause and effect.
Evidence We Will Use
We will demonstrate these acts of negligence through some or all of the following:
- Phone records
- Text conversations
- Photo evidence
- Video surveillance
- Witness testimony
- Police reports
- Traffic citations
- Accident reconstruction
- Expert analysis
Experts can include those in the medical field, rehabilitation specialists, economists, and authorities on this type of accident. The combination of respected testimony and witness statements can create a comprehensive narrative of events that led to the crash. Supporting evidence from records, photos, and reports round out the picture.
No More Surprises — We Keep You Informed
You were caught off guard by your side-impact collision. The team at Friedman & Simon, L.L.P. doesn’t want you to feel that way again. With us, you will be kept in the loop throughout your case by your Brentwood side-impact collisions lawyer and the rest of the legal team. Contact us today to get started with your free consultation: (516) 932-0400.
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