Most of us grew up in an area where some road or intersection was recognized as being exceptionally dangerous, a place where accidents happened all the time.
Whether it’s Bloody Telegraph in southeastern Michigan or Dead Man’s Curve in California, there’s always a place where the most car accidents happen.
A lot of those places are on Long Island.
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Route 25 has consistently ranked as one of the most dangerous roads in the tri-state area. Indeed, it has been among the worst in the state since at least 2015. Spanning the length of the Island, Route 25 experiences a large number of motor vehicle fatalities every year.
The Southern State Parkway sees hundreds of traffic accidents every year, and the Department of Transportation concludes that it is one of the most dangerous roads in the state. Twists, turns, and speeding factor in many accidents. Further, the entrance ramps are short and provide little opportunity for drivers to merge onto the Parkway. Frequent flooding leaves pools of water on the road-hazardous in themselves, but they also destroy the roads, making them even more dangerous after the floods subside.
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A 2020 study of the top ten most dangerous intersections in New York State found, incredibly, that five of them were on Long Island. Heavily congested, with long wait times at red lights, those intersections were maddening for drivers. Other studies found seven of the most dangerous intersections in New York State were on the Island. Long Island is dangerous because of heavy traffic resulting from its proximity to the City. It also has more highways and higher speed limits than the City.
Some of the most dangerous intersections are:
So, given all of this, how can you keep yourself alive and well on Long Island roads?
Most of the rules are the ones you hear about safe driving in general, but it’s worth repeating them for these really dangerous Long Island roads and intersections.
You should take certain steps as soon as possible after any motor vehicle accident.
You or someone acting on your behalf should do these as soon as possible after an accident.
The simple answer to this question is yes. Most personal injury cases take place on a contingency fee basis. Contingency fee arrangements mean that you will pay no attorney’s fees unless and until your attorney achieves a successful outcome for your case. A successful outcome means getting a settlement in your favor or a verdict and award in your favor. Once your attorneys achieve that, they will receive a percentage of your settlement to pay for their fees and expenses.
You and the attorney must sign a written contingency fee arrangement. It must specify the fee you will pay and state whether that fee changes at different stages of the case and, if so, how. The agreement must also state when and how payment for case expenses happens and whether you will pay net or gross of the attorney’s fee.
New York law gives you three years from the date of the accident to file a suit. While this may seem like tons of time, gathering witnesses and evidence can take more time than you expect. It’s better to contact a lawyer sooner and follow their advice about when and if to sue. Keep in mind, wrongful death claims and municipal claims carry much shorter statutes, and can even be as little as 90 days.
Damages in a personal injury lawsuit fall into three general categories. Let’s look at them more closely.
Economic or Special Damages – These are the out-of-pocket losses that you experienced from the account, and that can be easily proven by presenting a paid bill or invoice or a timesheet.
Specifically, they include:
Non-Economic or General Damages – These damages are more subjective than economic damages and less susceptible to proof. They often involve expert testimony to address what these future costs might be. General damages are only available in New York for a car accident if you suffered a serious injury.
A serious injury includes:
If you have a serious injury, you can seek General damages, which include
You need to calculate your non-economic injuries. Your doctor and medical records can address pain, while your therapist’s records can demonstrate your suffering. You need a car accident lawyer near you to take that information and quantify your damages, rather than accepting the insurance company’s lowball figure.
Punitive Damages – Punitive damages are extremely rare in New York since the law requires behavior heinous enough to constitute intentional misconduct. Nonetheless, if you believe the at-fault driver in your case reaches that shock-the-conscience of the court standard, speak to your attorney about seeking punitive damages. Just don’t be surprised when you are not successful in getting them.
New York does not cap any damages.
As we mentioned above, in one of the hardest and most vulnerable times of your life, do not spend your limited energy fighting insurance company adjusters and lawyers. Insurance companies are not your friends. They make money by paying as few dollars as possible on claims against their policies. And, they know how to make that happen—they work at it every day.
Let an experienced and knowledgeable car accident attorney take this work off your shoulders. You need an advocate, and your lawyer will serve as one. Contact a car accident attorney as soon as you can after the accident for an initial consultation and case evaluation, both usually free. Let them champion your cause.
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