Car accidents occur in a number of different ways and a variety of different places. Regardless of how your accident occurred, if it was caused by another driver’s negligence and you suffered serious injury in the process, you can seek compensation.
If you are involved in an accident, call 911 as soon as possible and take pictures and video at the scene. Once you leave the seen, go directly to your nearest emergency room and get the care your condition requires.
After you have received medical treatment, call the Flatbush car accident lawyers at The Carrion Law Firm as soon as possible at (718) 841-0083 to receive your free initial case evaluation.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in Flatbush
Any negligence or recklessness while driving has the potential to cause a car accident. There are, however, certain practices that account for a higher proportion of crashes in Flatbush than others. If you were injured in an accident involving any of the following types of negligent driving behavior, speak to a dedicated Flatbush car accident lawyer as soon as possible.
Speeding
Speed limits exist for a reason: to keep the pace of traffic at a level that allows drivers the ability to slow down or stop at lights, turns, and other potential obstacles in the road. When drivers go above the speed limit, they not only increase the chances of a collision, but they add to the potential severity of injuries caused by such a collision.
Tailgating
When drivers become frustrated with traffic, they may engage in the dangerous practice of tailgating, which is when a driver moves right up behind the vehicle in front of them. This provides little or no time to react to changes in speed, leaving the driver and passengers of the car in front in serious danger of a rear-end collision.
Swerving
Another driving behavior frequently brought on by traffic is the rapid changing of lanes, often without the use of turn signals. Drivers who shift lanes erratically without checking their blind spots or indicating their change of direction to others put everyone on the road at risk.
Texting
These days, nearly everyone has a smartphone in their hand at all times. The worst place to be on your phone is behind the wheel of a car, when even the slightest distraction can lead to a serious accident. Texting while driving is a crime in New York, but it is also grounds for a personal injury lawsuit if you sustain serious injuries in a car accident caused by a distracted driver.
Weather
Inclement weather changes the way that a vehicle’s tires interact with the surface of the road. In any situation where there has been heavy rainfall or where ice may have formed on the road, drivers are obligated to adjust their driving practices to account for these volatile conditions. If they fail to do so, they may be liable for the consequences.
Driving Under the Influence
Getting behind the wheel while drunk or under the influence of drugs is one of the most reckless decisions that anyone can make. It is so reckless, in fact, that many courts choose to award additional punitive damages in cases where drunk driving caused an accident. Discuss your case with your Flatbush car accident attorney to determine what damages may be available to you.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Flatbush
It can be difficult to concentrate on securing your recovery abilities in the immediate wake of a traffic collision. That is why you should familiarize yourself with these key steps provided by our Melville car accident attorneys that describe how you can benefit both your physical condition and financial security.
Get Out of the Road
The priority immediately after an accident is to make sure that it doesn’t compound itself. If you can operate your vehicle, slowly pull off to a shoulder or other side street that is out of the way. If you cannot move the car or the accident occurs in low visibility conditions, turn on your hazards and deploy flares if you have them before getting yourself and your passengers to the side of the road.
Call 911
You should always call for emergency services after any car accident, no matter how serious you believe it is at first. The dispatcher will send law enforcement officers to the scene to take down critical information, which they will include in their official accident report. You can also request an ambulance if anyone at the scene has injuries that require immediate attention.
Talk to Other Parties and Witnesses
Exchanging contact and insurance information with the other driver or drivers involved is standard practice after an accident. The other driver is legally required to provide you with this information before leaving the scene. You should also do your best to get contact information from any potential eyewitnesses to the accident who could help sustain your claim later on, as these individuals are substantially more difficult to track down after they leave the scene.
Take Pictures and Video
While you might ultimately not need it, visual evidence of the accident may prove vital in your later pursuit of compensation. You should attempt to document the damage to the vehicles, road and weather conditions, and tire tracks left on the road at the scene.
Go to an Emergency Room
Once you leave the scene, the first place you should go is your nearest emergency room or urgent care facility. While you may want to wait for an appointment with your primary care doctor, you should know that this may take some time. Additionally, many primary care physician’s offices will not treat car accident injuries, as they may be unable to accept car insurance coverage for payment.
Call Your Flatbush Car Accident Lawyer
You should not waste any time in reaching out to an experienced Flatbush car accident attorney. The earlier you start working on your legal claim, the more likely you are to succeed and the sooner you will receive your compensation. You should get medical care for your injuries first, however, as your lawyer can use your medical record to estimate potential damages.
Get Help Today from The Carrion Law Firm
To get a free initial case assessment from our Flatbush car accident lawyers, call The Carrion Law Firm today at (718) 841-0083.