New York City Sideswipe Accidents

Sideswipe accidents happen when two vehicles are traveling next to one another 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 there is no car already in the other lane. Other times, a driver may carelessly drift into another lane because the driver is not paying attention because he or she is texting, talking on the phone or with a passenger, or is just too fatigued or intoxicated to be behind the wheel at all. Many sideswipe collisions occur where two lanes merge, such as when an on ramp leads to a highway, or when a two-lane road narrows to just one lane. While many sideswipe accidents occur when two cars are driving in the same direction, more sideswipe accidents occur when cars are driving in opposite directions. Sideswipe accidents are dangerous. Each year thousands of people are seriously injured in sideswipe accidents, and sideswipes account for a significant number of fatal car accidents. If you or a loved one was injured in a sideswipe accident caused by the negligence of another driver, it is important that you immediately contact an experienced New York City Sideswipe Accidents Lawyer so that you will have someone familiar with New York personal injury law representing you throughout each stage of the legal process to help you receive compensation for the losses that you suffered.

As with failure to yield accidents, parking lot accidents, and rollover accidents, there are a number of causes for sideswipe accidents. Some of the most common causes include:

• Distracted driving
• Texting and driving
• Driving while intoxicated
• Falling asleep at the wheel
• Tire blow out
• Hitting a pothole or other road hazard
• Swerving to avoid a road hazard

If a driver negligently drifts into another lane, then the driver would have violated New York law. 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 driver has checked to confirm that the lane change can be safely made. If a driver negligently drives into another lane ends up sideswiping another car, then that driver would be legally liable for the injuries and property damage that result from the accident.

Because sideswipe accidents often occur on highways when cars are traveling at high speeds, a injuries in sideswipe accidents can be serious. When the side of a car his hit, the driver may lose control, sending the car into another lane into the path of another vehicle moving at a high speed. In other words, a sideswipe accident can easily end up as a head-on collision or a side collision. Thus, such crashes often leave victims with traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, broken bones, and other serious injuries that require extensive costly treatment. 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 both your past and future medical bills related to the injuries sustained in the accident. If you missed worked while recovering from your injuries, you may be entitled to receive compensation for the wages you 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.

Sideswipe 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 crash, 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 lane departure crashes, side collisions, 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.