Unfortunately, car accidents are common occurrences on Long Island. The confusion, physical harm and damages people experience as a result of car accidents often play havoc with their lives.
Suffolk police reported an accident on August 17, 2015 in Dix Hills where a driver sideswiped a tractor-trailer on the Long Island Expressway. Newsday reported that after the sideswipe, the van also hit a Honda, which sent the van rolling over.
Fortunately, neither the driver of the van or Honda suffered life-threatening injuries. Both were treated at local hospitals. The truck driver suffered no injury at all.
Who was at fault? The police arrested Corey Harrison, 35, the driver of the van and charged him as an unlicensed operator and also charged him with second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation.
When you suffer serious injury in a car accident, you often wonder: who was at fault, will you be able to recover damages and how will you pay for medical care? Most people have no experience with the legal system prior to a car accident, and consequently, do not understand how the laws and insurance process work. Confusion and pain can make your situation seem overwhelming.
In this case, if the Honda victim’s injuries meet the serious injury threshold defined under New York law, it is probable that no-fault insurance will be inadequate to cover damages. It is also likely that grounds for a lawsuit exist.
Anyone involved in a serious car accident should consult with an experienced injury lawyer as soon as possible.
Our attorneys offer a free consultation to discuss car accidents and other types of personal injury cases. When we take your case, you owe no fees unless we recover through settlement or verdict.
One of life’s greatest tragedies is when a young person dies in a car accident. A promising future should lie ahead, yet in an instant, that future disappears.
News 12 Long Island reported that while driving north on Higbee Lane on July 7, 2015 just before 6:00 a.m., Julia Schweers’ Toyota Camry was hit by a truck when the driver attempted to make a left turn onto Union Avenue. Julia, 19 years old, died instantly at the scene. She was only about a half a mile from her home. She had just graduated from St. John the Baptist High School in 2014, and the community highly regards her father, who worked as a football coach at the school for seven years.
The truck driver stayed on site at the crash scene and no criminal charges were filed. Police are investigating the crash.
Statistics on teens dying in car crashes
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that the risk of motor vehicle crashes among 16 to 19 year olds is higher than any other age group. In fact, the odds for individuals in this age group dying in a car crash are three times greater than for drivers who are age 20 and older. Teenage males are two times more at risk for fatalities than females. Teenagers who drive with other teen passengers are the most vulnerable to being involved in fatal crashes. In addition, the first few months after receiving a driver’s license is the time of highest risk for driving.
Why are teenage drivers so at risk?
If fatality or serious injury results from a car accident, and you believe the other driver was at fault, contact a lawyer. You may have recourse to a lawsuit for compensation.
At Palermo Law, an attorney can discuss the accident with you in a free consultation and evaluate whether you have a case. We take cases on a contingency fee basis.
Steven Palermo is the managing partner for Palermo Law, Long Island’s Personal Injury Law Firm. He has been helping people receive compensation for their injuries for over 21 years. He focuses on cases involving car accidents, truck accidents, construction accidents and slip and fall injuries.
His book The Ultimate Guide to Handling New York Car Accident Claims details the ins and outs of a car accident claim in a simple, easy-to-read manner.