Patchogue, NY Car Accident Lawyer
Many car accidents occur each year in Patchogue, NY. Victims of car accidents can undergo serious physical pain, financial hardship, and emotional anguish. Furthermore, some injuries caused by car accidents may never fully heal.
Accordingly, those who have been injured because of car accidents in Patchogue may be entitled to financial compensation. The process for pursuing damages can differ depending on the source of your accident and the injuries you sustained. A car accident lawyer can help explain what you must do to recover monetary damages related to a crash.
If you were injured because of a car accident in Patchogue, NY, get help recovering the compensation you deserve. Contact our experienced Patchogue car accident lawyers by calling The Carrion Law Firm at (718) 841-0083 for a free case review.
No-Fault Car Insurance Laws in Patchogue, NY
The State of New York follows no-fault car insurance laws. This means, after most car accident, victims must pursue benefits from their own insurance company. Typically, these benefits will cover medical expenses, lost wages, and some out-of-pocket financial expenses incurred because of a crash. Damages for pain and suffering cannot be sought under your own insurance policy after accidents in Patchogue. Our Patchogue car accident lawyers can offer help when filing an insurance claim.
However, in cases where accident victims suffered “serious” injuries, lawsuits may be filed against other, at-fault drivers. In lawsuits against other drivers, all categories of damages can be pursued – including damages for physical pain and emotional suffering.
What Constitutes a Serious Injury in a Patchogue, NY Car Accident Case?
In order for your injury to be considered serious by Patchogue courts, it must fall under one of the following five categories of injuries:
- Notable disfigurement
- Broken bones
- Permanent restriction of use of a body organ or member
- Serious restriction of use of a body system or function
- Significantly full disability lasting at least 90 days
Victims who suffer any of these injuries may file lawsuits against the drivers who caused their accidents. Some of these categories of injuries may appear broad and difficult to interpret. Our experienced Patchogue car accident lawyers can help determine if your injuries qualify as serious during a free case review.
Common Causes of Car Crashes in Patchogue, NY
A great number of car accidents happen in Patchogue because of drivers’ careless or reckless behavior. Drivers should exercise reasonable care in the operation of their vehicles. When drivers fail to exercise reasonable care, catastrophic crashes can occur. The following are common examples of negligent behavior that lead to car crashes in Patchogue, NY:
Failing to Use Turn Signals
Failing to use turn signals is a common cause of car crashes in Patchogue. Many motorists will fail to use the turn signals to indicate a proper lane change on busy highways. Improper lane changes on highways can lead to severe side and rear collisions.
Furthermore, many drivers fail to use turn signals to indicate their intention to make a turn at an intersection. When motorists fail to use a turn signal at an intersection, serious head on collisions can occur. Our Patchogue car accident lawyers can help recover compensation after accidents caused by drivers who failed to use their turn signals.
Speeding
Speeding is also a common cause of car crashes in Patchogue, NY. Drivers operating their cars at high speeds will be unable to properly react to other vehicles and hazards on the road. Additionally, accidents that happen at high speeds have a higher propensity to produce serious injuries.
Tailgating
Tailgating refers to the action of following a vehicle in front of you too closely. This act is particularly common on highways during high traffic periods. Tailgating drivers will be unable to react in time if the car in front of them needs to brake. Accordingly, tailgating is also a common cause of rear-end collisions. Our experienced Patchogue car accident lawyers can help recover damages after crashes caused by tailgating drivers.
Driving Drunk
The emergence of rideshare applications such as Lyft and Uber have made it very easy to avoid drinking and driving. Still, numerous accidents occur in Patchogue, NY each year occur because of drunk drivers. Drunk drivers will exhibit poor motor skills and reckless decision-making. Drunk drivers will usually be held liable for accidents they are involved in.
Defective Car Parts
In some cases, accidents are caused by defective car parts. Malfunctioning wheel components or faulty steering systems can cause serious accidents. In such cases, lawsuits may be pursued against manufacturers for damages caused by their defective products. However, such cases can be difficult to pursue and often require extensive amounts of evidence. Our Patchogue car accident lawyers can help seek compensation from a car part manufacturer.
Driving Distracted
Distracted driving is one of the most common causes of car accidents in Patchogue. There are several types of activities that regularly distract drivers:
- Texting
- Eating
- Talking to other passengers
- Browsing social media on a cellular phone
- Adjusting the music
- Interacting with a GPS
However, there are many other activities that can potentially lead to distracted driving accidents. A driver is considered distracted if they engage in any activity that takes their attention off the road. Our Patchogue car accident lawyers can help gather evidence to prove that a crash was caused by distracted motorist.
Reckless Driving
Reckless driving in Patchogue refers to conduct that interferes with the free and proper use of public roadways or unreasonably endangers other drivers. For example, a frustrated driver who begins travelling at high speeds down the shoulder of a highway may be guilty of reckless driving.
Running Red Lights
Lastly, many car accidents in Patchogue are also caused by drivers who run red lights. This is another form of negligence that is particularly common during high-traffic periods. Drivers that run red lights risk causing devastating collisions with vehicles traveling in other directions.
If You Were Injured Because of a Car Accident in Patchogue, NY, Our Lawyers Can Help
If you were injured because of a car accident in Patchogue, NY, seek support from our experienced Patchogue car accident lawyers by calling The Carrion Law Firm at (718) 841-0083 for a free case review.