Winters are stunning in Manhattan, but this icy season does cause hazards for road users. Snow, sleet, ice, and increased numbers of drunk drivers around the holidays all raise the risk of getting into a serious car crash. Even if winter conditions contributed to your accident, negligence on the part of the other driver may still have played a key role. Additionally, municipalities that failed to plow or de-ice roadways in a timely or effective manner may also be liable for damages stemming from a crash.
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The Importance and Role of a Winter Car Accident Lawyer
Having an experienced lawyer on your side increases your chance of receiving maximum compensation in the aftermath of a crash. The benefits of working with an attorney include:
- You Can Focus on Your Recovery: After an accident, your primary focus should be on getting better. Our personal injury law firm can connect you with quality medical care and take care of all legal matters for you, so that you can prioritize your health.
- We Investigate Your Crash: The strength of the evidence collected and preserved can make or break a case. Strong evidence will be needed to prove the other party’s fault. A detailed investigation by our firm can help injured persons counter claims from the insurance company.
- Negotiations: Insurance companies often delay negotiations as a tactic. The goal is to get injured persons frustrated and desperate enough to take whatever they offer. Hiring an attorney might deter insurers from employing this strategy and ensures that there’s a professional in your corner to protect your interests.
Common Injuries in Winter Car Accidents
Winter car accidents can happen to anyone. Not even the most experienced driver is immune to the effects of black ice or someone else’s poor reaction. Here are some of the many injuries you or your loved one might face:
- Physical: Injuries vary from cuts and bruises to bone fractures, organ damage, and spinal cord injuries. Some of these can lead to long-term consequences such as chronic pain or disability. Severe cases may lead to death.
- Mental: An accident can be a traumatic experience that causes emotional distress, depression, and anxiety. Severe cases may even lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These conditions deserve professional treatment to ensure recovery.
Regardless of the type of injury or its severity, if another party’s negligence was the cause, you deserve fair compensation. At Friedman, Levy, Goldfarb, Green & Bagley, P.C., our dedicated New York winter car accident attorneys have the experience and resources to successfully settle or litigate winter accident cases.
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Common Causes of Car Accidents During the Winter
Winter weather brings a host of challenges for drivers, leading to an increase in car accidents. These factors fall into four main categories:
- Weather Conditions: Snow, ice, and sleet can make roads slippery. Winter conditions can also cause poor visibility.
- Vehicle Maintenance: Winter car accidents also occur due to malfunctions or lack of proper maintenance. Brakes, tires, wipers, and other essential components must function correctly for safe winter driving.
- Driver Negligence: Sometimes, drivers operate their vehicles above the recommended speed limit for specific driving conditions. Some people drive impaired.
- Animal: Deer and other animals can make winter conditions even more dangerous. Drivers can lose control of their vehicles when swerving on ice.
What Is Black Ice?
“Black ice,” also known as “clear ice,” is a thin, transparent layer of ice on a road surface. Because of its transparency, the black asphalt on the road is still visible, making the dangerously icy conditions extremely hard to spot. As a result, drivers usually can’t avoid it and might travel over it at regular speeds. Learn more from our team about who is at fault for car accidents on black ice.
The Legal Process and Your Rights
After a winter car accident, victims may have the right to claim compensation for their injuries and losses. Every case is different, but these are some steps injured persons may follow:
- Reporting the Accident: You may need to file a police report if the cost of damages is high and the accident involves another vehicle or person. You should also report the accident to your insurance company.
- Pursuing Compensation: If you are seriously injured, it’s likely that your medical bills and other damages, such as lost wages, will far exceed what you can collect on your insurance policy. If another party was at fault for your accident, you may be eligible to bring a claim against them for compensation. In addition to economic losses, plaintiffs in personal injury cases may be able to pursue compensation for other damages such as pain and suffering, loss of quality of life, loss of consortium, and more.
- Negotiating a Settlement: Our attorneys have a long track record of winning cases just like yours. We take the burden of litigation off your shoulders, negotiating with the insurance companies and at-fault parties on your behalf. We believe in full transparency and open communication, and we will always act only in your best interests.
Our car accident and icy sidewalk accident lawyers are dedicated to pursuing justice for our clients. We will not settle for anything less than full and fair compensation.
Why Choose Friedman, Levy, Goldfarb, Green & Bagley, P.C.
Our team brings decades of experience to your case. We have a track record of success and have secured multi-million-dollar settlements for our personal injury clients. Past results do not dictate future results, but they do show what our team is capable of. Schedule your free consultation today to see what we can do for you.
