New York Lane Departure Crash

Each year in New York State there are over 200,000 car crashes. These crashes involve a variety of different scenarios including lane or roadway departure crashes. A lane departure crash is a collision that occurs when one vehicle crosses the median or center line and strikes an oncoming vehicle. A lane departure crash also occurs when a vehicle crosses an edge line and drives off the road. Lane departure crashes are among the most dangerous types of crashes because they often involve head-on collisions, roll-overs or crashes into trees, polls or other stationery objects. These types of car accident can lead to devastating injuries such as a traumatic brain injury such as a severe concussion, or a spinal cord injury. While some lane departure collisions may be caused in part to poor weather conditions or vehicle malfunction, many such accidents are caused by driver negligence. Fortunately, victims who suffer a personal injury from a car accident, medical malpractice, or some other type of negligence have the right to seek damages through a personal injury or wrongful death claim. If you are in need of a New York Injury Lawyer because you or a loved one was injured in a lane departure crash, it is important that you immediately contact an experienced New York Lane Departure Crash Injury Lawyer who will review your case and explain to you your options for filing a personal injury or wrongful death claim in order to seek damages the losses you suffered as a result of the car accident.

As with other types of car accidents, there are a number of causes for lane departure collisions. Some of the most common causes include distracted driving, driving while impaired, failing asleep at the wheel, tire blow out, hitting a pothole or other road hazard, or swerving to avoid a road hazard.

Under New York Vehicle and Traffic Law section 1128 when a road has been divided into multiple lanes that are clearly marked, drivers are required to drive within a single lane and are not permitted to move out of that lane until the drivers has checked to confirm that the lane change can be safely made. If a driver negligently changes lanes and as a result a lane departure crash occurs, the negligent driver would be legally liable.

Lane departure crashes often leave victims with traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, and broken bones. Such serious injuries require extensive costly treatment. Through a personal injury claim there are several types of damages that you may be able to recover from the person responsible for the accident. You may be entitled to receive compensation to cover your medical bills- past and future. If you missed worked while recovering from your injuries, you may be entitled to receive compensation for the wages your lost as well as loss of future earning capacity. Furthermore, you may be entitled to compensation for personal property that may have been destroyed or damaged in the accident such as your car or valuable items that were in your car. You may also be entitled to non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, and loss of consortium. In special cases punitive damages may be available as well.

It is important to understand that New York law has a specific time limit for filing a claim in a personal injury case. If you do not file your claim within the time period, you will be forever barred from collecting damages even if your case has merit. In addition, if the party responsible for your injury was a government entity then there are special procedures you must follow to file a claim.

If a family member was killed in the accident, the law allows the decedent’s personal representative to seek damages through a wrongful death claim.

Lane departure accidents can have serious consequences, particularly when the vehicles involved are travelling at high speeds. Under New York law you can pursue compensation from the party responsible for the injuries you sustained in a lane departure crash. If you or a loved one was injured in a lane departure crash, contact an experienced attorney who understands both the legal issues associated with personal injury cases as well as the medical issues associated with vehicle accidents. The staff at Stephen Bilkis and Associates has extensive experience representing clients injured in car accidents, truck accidents as well as other types of vehicle accidents. Contact us at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your car accident.