Drunk Driving Accidents

Drunk driving is a choice. Each one of us is aware of the risk involved when drinking and driving, yet too many people decide to take the chance. Tragically, drunk driving is one of the leading causes of injuries and death on our nation’s roads today. When a driver chooses to break the law and operate a vehicle after drinking, they have just chosen to gamble with someone’s life.

Drunk driving car accidents often result when a driver speeds, drives too slowly, makes an improper turn in front of oncoming traffic, fails to stop at a red light or stop sign, drives on the wrong side of the road or rear-ends another vehicle. In some cases, the supplier of the alcohol may be found negligent as well.

The victim of a drunk driving accident is often left with overwhelming emotional trauma as well as expensive and sometimes debilitating personal injuries. Injuries can range from minor scratches to complete paralysis or death.

Head-On Collisions

We are experienced New York car accident attorneys and have seen first hand the devastation a head-on collision can have on an injury victim and his/her family. According to the U.S Census Bureau, head-on collisions are among the most dangerous and deadly of all motor vehicle accidents. The injuries that result from these accidents can often result in lasting disability or death for their victims.

Side-Impact Collisions 

Side-impact collisions are very serious and common accidents. They are responsible for approximately 8,500 deaths per year. A side impact collision occurs when the front of an oncoming vehicle strikes the side of your vehicle. This is also known as being t-boned. Most of these incidents occur at intersections as the result of a failure to yield at a stop sign or red light.

The seriousness of side-impact collisions depends on several factors, including the speed and weight of the oncoming vehicle, and where that oncoming vehicle collides with yours. Fatalities due to side impact collisions can be reduced when a vehicle is equipped with side airbags. It is important to understand that children under the age of 12 should not ride in the front seat. The power with which an airbag deploys can cause death to a child, regardless of the severity of the impact.

Asleep at the Wheel 

Falling asleep at the wheel is very common. Nearly four percent of deadly crashes nationwide involve sleepy drivers, and hundreds more are injured every year from drivers who have fallen asleep at the wheel. Any accident involving a fatigued driver is preventable. If you are driving and feel as though you may fall asleep at the wheel, please pull over into a rest area. Although it may be inconvenient, the caution far outweighs the consequences.

Truck drivers are a huge concern for they repeatedly drive while fatigued. Fortunately, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has implemented rules limiting the hours a driver may be on the road. The FMCSA estimates the new rule will save up to 75 lives and prevent as many as 1,326 asleep at the wheel accidents every year.

Road Rage

Reckless driving is when someone drives unsafely, with deliberate disregard for safety and with the full knowledge that their driving may cause an accident. A reckless driver could be found reckless, if he or she drives in a threatening or harassing manner out of “road rage” and causes a car accident. Road rage is an assault with one motor vehicle against the operator or passenger(s) of another motor vehicle. Criminal charges will also stem from such behavior.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) defines aggressive driving as a progression of unlawful driving actions such as:

•Speeding
•Improper or excessive lane changing
•Failing to signal intent
•Improper passing

What should you do when confronted by an aggressive driver?

•Stay calm and relaxed.

•Make every attempt to get out of the way safely. Don’t escalate the situation.

•Put your pride in the back seat.

•Do not challenge an aggressive driver by speeding up or attempting to hold your position in your travel lane.

•Wear a seat belt and encourage your passengers to do the same.

•Avoid eye contact.

•Ignore harassing gestures and refrain from returning them.

•Report aggressive drivers to appropriate authorities by providing a vehicle description, location, license plate number and direction of travel.

•If an aggressive driver is involved in a crash, stop a safe distance from the crash scene. When police arrive, report the driving behavior you witnessed.

Falling asleep at the wheel is very common. Nearly four percent of deadly crashes nationwide involve sleepy drivers, and hundreds more are injured every year from drivers who have fallen asleep at the wheel.

Any accident involving a fatigued driver is preventable. If you are driving and feel as though you may fall asleep at the wheel, please pull over into a rest area. Although it may be inconvenient, the caution far outweighs the consequences. Truck drivers are a huge concern for they repeatedly drive while fatigued. Fortunately, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has implemented rules limiting the hours a driver may be on the road. The FMCSA estimates the new rule will save up to 75 lives and prevent as many as 1,326 asleep at the wheel accidents every year.

Rollover Accidents 

If a member of your family has been injured or killed because of a vehicle rollover accident, the road conditions or even the vehicle itself could have caused the accident. To prove a road defect was present or that there was a design or manufacturing defect, you need an experienced personal injury attorney.

High-Speed Collisions

High-speed collisions played a role in approximately 30% of all fatal crashes in 2004 according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In high-speed collisions, a vehicle undergoes such force that its structure cannot possibly protect its passengers from serious injury.

When You Speed

•The distance traveled after seeing an emergency and actually reacting to it increases.
•The distance needed to stop a vehicle is increased.
•The severity of a crash increases as the speed increases.
•An airbag and seatbelt are less effective when speeding is involved.
•For the innocent survivors of high-speed car accident, the physical and emotional recovery process can be horribly painful and unbelievably expensive.