Upper West Side Car Accident Lawyer
Sadly, car accidents happen in New York every day. People are often very badly injured in car crashes, and those injuries are going to require medical attention. Unfortunately, victims of car crashes are going to be the ones burdened with paying for that medical care, all because someone else was negligent and simply did not do what they were supposed to do.
Luckily, you do not have to face the aftermath of a car crash alone. Our attorneys know how to handle these cases, so we can do the important legal legwork while you focus on recovering from your injuries and getting back to living your life.
The Carrion Law Firm offers free case reviews from our car accident lawyers when you call us at (718) 841-0083.
Types of Car Crashes in the Upper West Side
Car accidents can happen in lots of different ways. At first, something like the exact type of car accident you experienced can seem like a superficial detail. However, getting every single detail about your crash can only strengthen your claim. Moreover, determining the type of car accident you experienced can also reveal potential causes and potential defendants for you to file your claim against.
Head On Collisions
A head-on collision is when two cars traveling towards each other crash, well, head-on. While the good news is that these accidents involve impacts on arguably the most protected part of a car, the bad news is that the area being impacted is the driver’s seat, so there is still a high chance that the driver is going to get very badly hurt in these accidents.
T-Bone Accidents
A T-bone accident refers to when one car strikes another perpendicularly to create a shape resembling a T at the point of impact. T-bone accidents can lead to nasty injuries, as there is simply less car in between a vehicle occupant and an oncoming vehicle than there would be in a head-on collision.
While T-bone accidents can happen anywhere, they are more bound to happen at intersections like Columbus Ave and West 85th Street. A car that runs a red light can easily hit an unsuspecting vehicle in the side and seriously injure people.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions are, in a lot of ways, the opposite of head-on collisions. They happen when a vehicle traveling behind another car impacts that car. AT first glance, this may seem like it is entirely the fault of the rear vehicle. However, that is often not the case. For example, if the front car suddenly stops, the rear vehicle driver may not have enough time to hit the brakes and avoid an accident.
Pile Ups
Car pile-ups involve multiple vehicles and are very dangerous. These accidents are more likely to happen on busy streets like JFK Boulevard during rush hour, but again, these accidents can happen anywhere. Not only can lots of people get hurt in vehicle pile-ups, but the sheer mass of multiple cars crushing each other can make injuries much worse for the victims of these accidents.
Turning Accidents
People do not always watch where they are going while driving, especially when making a turn. If a driver is not paying attention when they turn onto a street like Amsterdam Avenue without checking to see if it is clear first, they can easily hit another vehicle or get hit themselves.
Damages from Car Accident Lawsuits in Upper West Side
Once you have built your case and taken it to court, you will be awarded damages if you prove that the defendant is liable for your injuries. Damages are how courts try to turn back the clock on events so that plaintiffs are “made whole” again. Of course, this is not always literally possible, so financial compensation is the form that damages take.
When building your lawsuit, it can be useful both to our lawyers and to the court to categorize the damages you are seeking.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are derived from things with actual monetary value that can be quickly displayed. Items like medical bills, lost wages, and property damages are included in economic damages. Proving the value of economic damages is arguably the easiest out of the three; you simply present evidence denoting their worth and ask for appropriate compensation.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are different from economic damages in that their value is not immediately apparent. This category includes things like pain and suffering, mental anguish, and emotional distress. So, while you can get economic damages for painkillers you had to get a prescription for, you would seek non-economic damages for the actual pain itself. There is not going to be a bill showing the value of something like “physical pain,” as that is going to be different for each and every person. Therefore, you and our lawyers will have to calculate these damages and prove their worth to the court.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are different from economic or non-economic damages in that they are intended to punish defendants, not make you whole. The idea is to deter defendants from doing very bad things and ensure that plaintiffs get all the compensation they are owed. To get these damages, you have to prove more than mere negligence on the part of the defendant. Therefore, it will not always make sense to seek punitive damages. That being said, you should not worry about getting inadequate compensation if you do not seek punitive damages, as our lawyers can just request a greater amount of compensatory damages to ensure that you get the compensation you need.
Get Assistance from Our Upper West Side Car Accident Lawyers
Call The Carrion Law Firm at (718) 841-0083 and discuss your case with our car accident lawyers today.