At over eight-million people, New York is crowded. Every minute of the day feels like a rush hour. This makes intersections in NYC even more dangerous and the laws surrounding the right-of-way can be confusing. As a result, intersection accidents are commonplace.
First piece of advice: If you are injured in an accident, your best bet is to hire a personal injury attorney.
Why Are Intersections So Dangerous?
Rather than slow down and exercise caution when approaching a yellow light, many drivers tend to speed through them instead of exercising caution.
Reasons intersection accidents include:
- Trying to beat yellow lights
- Running stop signs
- Unsafe turns
- Distractions
- Texting
- Speeding
- Tailgating
- Ignoring relevant traffic laws
- Pedestrians and bicyclists entering intersections improperly
Who is At Fault in an Intersection Accident?
In New York, anyone who was even partly to blame for an accident can be held financially responsible. Potentially responsible parties include:
- Negligent drivers
- Pedestrians and bicyclists who were careless, or jaywalking
- Employers of drivers in cases of busing accidents
- In some cases, even agencies responsible for the intersection design
To identify all responsible parties, a full investigation of the accident will need to be done and a proper lawyer will need to oversee your case.
What about injury compensation? The severity of injuries sustained in an intersection accident often depends upon the speeds and the nature of the crash. Sadly, many of these accidents prove to be fatal.
Find a lawyer that will help you with reimbursement for injuries including, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, internal injuries, soft tissue damage, burns or loss of limbs. You can also be compensated for the death of a loved one in a wrongful death lawsuit.
Injuries can prevent you from working and that on top of mounting medical bills makes it even more important to get a lawyer who can help you.
What is the Statute of Limitations for Intersection Accidents?
New York statute of limitations is three years from the date the accident. However, if transit authority or government entity is responsible, you have just 90 days to file a notice with the city.
If you wait and the statute of limitations is up, you can not be compensated, even if your injuries were serious.
Dealing with Insurance Companies After Intersection Accidents
Regardless of fault, you are entitled to compensation for medical bills and lost earnings up to the limit of your policy under New York’s no-fault insurance law.
In New York, you can hold any negligent party liable for their share of the accident after you have exhausted your own insurance policy. You must show that another party was negligent to obtain additional compensation.
Insurance companies often try to use scare tactics to get people to drop claims by saying the accident was their fault. You don’t lose your right to hold other negligent parties accountable if you are partially at fault for the crash. However, your damages award may be reduced by your proportionate fault.
How an Intersection Accident Lawyer Can Help
Depending on how seriously you were injured, your settlement or verdict will be worth more or less. Find a lawyer who will work to identify everything you deserve including:
- Medical bills and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and lost future earnings
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Physical and emotional pain
- Diminished quality and enjoyment of life
- Wrongful death damages
- Damage to vehicle or property
It is always the insurance companies’ goal to prevent you from getting all the money you deserve. Lawyers should do everything they can to maximize your compensation when negotiating.