Did you know the following accident statistics?
How many accidents a day happen in NYC ? Did you know that to total reported collision in NYC including motorists , bicyclist and pedestrians are reported to be between 625 car accidents every day! Most fatal accidents occur between 4 pm and 8pm. It is a sobering thought when I read the newspaper or log in to CBS New York or the Daily news to learn that on January 8 2022 two people were killed in separate crashes in Queens and the Bronx. Just today February 5 2022 there was Brooklyn fatal crash in Crown Heights , and two were killed in an early Sunday morning crash on Northern Parkway. In 2014, car crashes in Manhattan sent 3,176 people to the emergency room for medical care, while 330 people required hospitalization. Forty people lost their lives in crashes that year.
Those emergency and hospital visits resulted in $36.5 million in medical bills. The emergency room patients walked out the door with a bill for almost $3,000, while the average charge for someone hospitalized was $82,974.
That only covers medical care they received shortly after the collision; it's likely that patients also had to pay for any subsequent medical care, surgeries, examinations, or physical therapies they may have needed.
And of course, medical bills aren't the only sources of financial pain that people may suffer following a serious car wreck. They may miss work during recovery or, depending on the gravity of their injuries, some may even lose their jobs or an entire career.
WHY DO I TELL YOU THESE SOBERING ACCIDENT STATISTICS ?
BECAUSE IF YOU OR A FAMILY MEMBER ARE IN AN ACCIDENT , YOU NEED TO HIRE THE BEST LAWYER POSSIBLE . YOUR LIFE MAY BE UPSIDE DOWN , YOU MAY BE UNABLE TO WORK , OR PERMANENTLY DISFIGURED OR HAVE CHRONIC PAIN OR BROKEN BONES.
THATS WHEN YOU NEED A LAWYER LIKE ME. SO BEAR WITH ME AS I REVIEW THE STEPS YOU CAN TAKE AFTER AN ACCIDENT TO HELP YOU OR YOUR FAMILY MEMBER MOVE FOWARD , PAY YOUR MEDICAL BILLS RECOVER PHYSICALLY AND RECOVER JUST COMPENSATION FOR YOUR INJURIES !
When examining the cause of the crashes, the state concluded that drivers who used alcohol or were speeding were more likely to cause crashes resulting in the most severe injuries.
The most expensive injury-related crashes were most frequently caused by driver distraction, failure to yield to right-of-way, or disregard for traffic control. Recently, and especially in the Upper West Side and other boroughs of NYC , there was enacted a speed reduction from 30 mph to 25mph to help curb the number of accidents and traffic fatalities .
What's particularly stunning about these findings is that, according to New York State’s Department of Health, “These crashes are not accidents! They are not random, uncontrollable acts of fate, but occur in predictable patterns, with recognizable risk factors, and among identifiable populations. A crash-related injury is a predictable and preventable event!”
In other words, in most cases, someone was clearly responsible usually due to distracted driving.
Here are some tips you should do after a car accident :
1. Call 911
New York law requires that you remain at the scene if you are involved in a motor vehicle accident. You should call the police or 911 and inform them if there are injuries involved . Don't leave the scene of the accident before the authorities arrive to investigate or they may charge you for hit and run.
2. Exchange information with the other driver or obtain information if you are a pedestrian
You are also required by the law to provide personal information to an investigating officer. You should give your:
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Name
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Address
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Driver's license information
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Vehicle registration
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License plate number
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Insurance information
3. File a car accident report
All drivers involved in the crash are required by the law to file an accident report within 10 days if there was injury, fatalities, and property damage over $1,000. You must fill out the form and make sure all the information you provide is accurate. Submit the form to the Department of Motor Vehicles. You need to send the form to:
Crash Records Center
6 Empire State Plaza
PO Box 2925
Albany, NY 12220-0925
You could be charged with a misdemeanor if you fail to file this report. Worse, your driver's license or registration could be suspended.
Also, you should obtain copies of the other driver's and the investigating officer's accident reports. Submit your petition online or by mail with the Department of Motor Vehicles.
4. Take photos of the scene and damage to the vehicles involved if you are able
Before evidence is lost or destroyed, you must secure all of them as much as you can while you're still at the scene.
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Photos and video of the scene, which includes the injuries suffered, damage to vehicles, and the conditions of the scene of the accident
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Surveillance video footage from nearby commercial buildings
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Statements from witnesses and their contact information