New York Sideswipe Accidents

Sideswipe car accidents happen when two vehicles are traveling next to one another and the sides of the two vehicles contact one another. Sideswipe accidents often happen when one driver makes a lane change without first looking to make sure there is no car already in the other lane. Other times, a driver may carelessly drift into another lane because the driver is distracted. Many sideswipe collisions occur where two lanes merge, where one driver does not make sure there is enough space to safely merge an accident is likely to happen. There have even been cases where one vehicle sideswipes a parked vehicle. While a sideswipe accident may seem like a type of accident that is not serious, sideswipe accidents often result in serious injuries. A victim of such a car accident may suffer a serious injury such as a brain injury, contusions, broken bones, internal injuries, amputations, paralysis, or spinal cord injury. However, New York law gives victims of car accidents as well as victims of other types of personal injury such as medical malpractice the right to seek compensation for their losses. If you or a family member was injured in a rollover car accident caused by another person’s negligence, it is important to contact an experienced New York sideswipe accidents lawyer who will help ensure that the person responsible for your losses is held accountable.

As with failure to yield accidents, parking lot accidents, and rollover accidents, there are a number of causes for sideswipe accidents. Some of the most common causes include:

• Distracted driving
• Texting and driving
• Driving while intoxicated
• Falling asleep at the wheel
• Tire blow out
• Hitting a pothole or other road hazard
• Swerving to avoid a road hazard

If a driver negligently drifts into another lane, then the driver would have violated New York law. 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 driver has checked to confirm that the lane change can be safely made. As an experienced New York sideswipe accidents lawyer can explain, if a driver negligently drives into another lane ends up sideswiping another car, then that driver would be legally liable for the injuries and property damage that result from the accident.

Sideswipe 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 both your past and future medical bills related to the injuries sustained in the accident. 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. An experienced sideswipe accidents attorney in New York will let you know which types of damages to which you would be entitled.

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.

Sideswipe 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 sideswipe accident. Stephen Bilkis & Associates has extensive experience representing clients seriously injured in vehicle accidents. Contact an experienced sideswipe accidents attorney serving New York at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your car accident. We serve clients in the following locations: Westchester County, Suffolk County, Staten Island, Bronx, Brooklyn, Long Island, Manhattan, Nassau County, and Queens.