Queens Car Accident

The New York Department of Motor Vehicles reports that each year in New York there are nearly 300,000 auto accidents. Of that amount approximately 100,000 resulted in injured victims and 1000 resulting in fatalities. Almost all car accidents are caused because someone was negligent and the accidents do not have to happen. Cars have been described as dangerous weapons. This is because they are big, heavy and fast. Thus, when accidents occur it is not unusual for victims to suffer devastating injuries such as traumatic brain injuries, twisted backs and necks leading to paralysis, compound bone fractures, and even serious burns. These types of injuries only physically painful, they also take a toll on the victim's emotional well-being and financial well-being. If you are in need of a personal injury attorney because you or someone you love has been seriously injured in a car accident, one of the first things you should do after seeking medical attention is contact an experienced Queens car accident attorney who will work closely with you to ensure that your legal rights are protected and that you receive compensation for your losses.

Causes of car accidents

There are a wide variety of factors that can contribute to car accidents. Some of the most common are:

• Distracted driving: Using electronic such as a cell phone while driving, focusing on kids in the car or other passengers, putting make up on, reading, or eating while driving.
• Speeding. Excessive speed makes it difficult to react to changes in road conditions, changes in the flow of traffic, or unexpected maneuvers by other drivers.
• Drunk driving. Alcohol causes drivers to have impaired judgment and slows reaction times. While drunk driving remains a top cause of auto accidents, driving while under the influence of illegal and prescription drugs is a serious problem as well.
• Poor weather. While rain, ice, snow and fog can make driving challenging, oftentimes accidents occur in poor weather because drivers fail to operate their vehicles in a manner that is consistent with road conditions.

Pursuing a claim

If you suffered a serious back, head, neck or other type of injury because another person was negligent then you should not have to shoulder the responsibility for the related medical bills and other expenses. The negligent person should. Under New York law you can demand payment from the negligent person through a personal injury lawsuit. The losses that are compensable include:

• Medical expenses: Both past and future medical expenses. This is critical because with serious injuries, you may need treatment well into the future. For example, broken bones take several weeks to heal and often have complications, making recovery time much longer. Concussion symptoms sometimes last for months and even well over a year. Severe brain trauma can lead to chronic migraines, memory loss, dizziness, and permanent cognitive impairment.
• Lost income: Both missed paychecks and other types of missed compensation and benefits as well as loss of future earnings. In other words, if your injury is so severe that you are unable to pursue your career, or cannot work at all, you can demand compensation based on what you would have earned up until retirement had you not been in the accident.
• Pain and suffering. Car accidents are emotional taxing. The emotional toll is compounded when victims are seriously injured. You can demand compensation for both the physical pain you endured as well as the mental suffering.

Contact the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & Associates

Proving negligence in a car accident case can present a number of complicated legal challenges. Even if you are unsure as to who was at fault in your car accident, it is important to not delay in contacting an attorney. The attorneys at the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & Associates have years of experience successfully handling personal injury cases stemming from auto, truck, motorcycle, boat, and construction accidents. Contact us at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your case. We represent clients in the following locations: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Long Island, Manhattan, Nassau County, Queens, Staten Island, Suffolk County and Westchester County.

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