A "sideswipe" accident is a car accident that involves two vehicles that are traveling next to each other and the sides of the two vehicles contact one another. Sideswipe accidents often happen when one driver makes a lane change without first looking to make sure another vehicle is not already in the other lane. There are also cases where a driver sideswipes a vehicle that is parked. For example, in June 2016 a well-known New York politician caused a side-swipe accident when he hit a vehicle that was parked outside of his building. Regardless of the circumstances for the sideswipe accident, such accidents can lead to serious injuries. For example, a victim of a sideswipe accident may suffer a spinal cord injury, broken or crushed bones, or painful abrasions from the force of the accident. A victim may even suffer a traumatic brain injury such as a concussion. If you are in need of a New York Injury Lawyer because you or a loved one was injured in a sideswipe accident, it is important that you immediately contact an experienced Nassau County Sideswipe Accidents Lawyer who will review your case and explain to you your options for seeking compensation for the losses you suffered as a result of the accident. In addition, if during the course of the treatment for your injuries your doctor commits medical malpractice, the party responsible for your car accident injuries may be required to compensate you for the medical malpractice injury as well.
What are common causes of sideswipe accidents?As with failure to yield accidents, parking lot accidents, and rollover accidents, there are a number of causes of sideswipe accidents. Some of the most common causes include:
Under New York Vehicle and Traffic Law section 1128 when a road has been divided into multiple lanes that are clearly marked, drivers are required to drive within a single lane and are not permitted to move out of that lane until the drivers has checked to confirm that the lane change can be safely made. If a driver negligently changes lanes or drifts into another lane and as a result a sideswipe accident occurs, the negligent driver would be legally liable.
What are the consequences of sideswipe accidents?Sideswipe accidents often leave victims with traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, soft tissue injuries and broken bones. Such serious injuries require extensive treatment that is costly. Through a personal injury claim there are several types of damages that you may be able to recover from the person responsible for the accident. You may be entitled to receive compensation to cover your medical bills- past and future. If you missed worked while recovering from your injuries, you may be entitled to receive compensation for the wages your lost as well as loss of future earning capacity. Furthermore, you may be entitled to compensation for personal property that may have been destroyed or damaged in the accident such as your car or valuable items that were in your car. You may also be entitled to non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, and loss of consortium. In special cases punitive damages may be available as well.
Nassau County Sideswipe Accidents LawyerSideswipe accidents can have serious consequences, particularly when the vehicles involved are travelling at high speeds. Under New York law you can pursue compensation from the party responsible for the injuries you sustained in a sideswipe accident. If you or a loved one was injured in a sideswipe accident, contact an experienced attorney who understands both the legal issues associated with personal injury cases as well as the medical issues associated with vehicle accidents. The staff at Stephen Bilkis and Associates has extensive experience representing clients injured in hit and run accidents, rollover accidents, head-on collisions, rear-end collisions, sideswipe accidents well as other types of vehicle accidents. Contact us at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your car accident.