Car Accident Lawyer Rockland County In NY

If you were just hurt in a car accident, it may be time to consult a car accident lawyer in Rockland County, NY. You may be entitled to receive compensation for your losses. A lawyer from Greenspan & Greenspan P.C. can help you pursue a timely claim and improve your chances of obtaining a fair settlement. Now; there are many reasons as to why car accidents can happen. Sometimes, accidents can happen, due to a car breaking down, a car slowing down due to break issues, slowdown from icy roads, and more. However, one of the biggest dangers on the road pertains to careless drivers. These incidents tend to happen when drivers are not looking where they are going, or they do not have enough experience. This is why when it comes to driving on the road, people should not just focus on getting to their destination, but they should also keep their eyes on other cars as well, since they tend to be unpredictable.  One of the strongest examples of this, is how people try to try to run a red light or speed in front of someone else, and more. These are some examples of instances that can cause car accidents. Overall, people are careless on the road, and there are many times where an accident is not the person’s fault, who was a victim of someone else’s actions. Moreover, car accident injuries are serious and can range from broken bones, to concussions, severe back injuries, and more.  Car accidents can also cause mental suffering as well, which is what a car accident lawyer in Rockland NY focuses on, in an efficient manner. There is an equilibrium between assessing the physical damage that the victim of a car crash got, and the mean trauma, that should also be accounted for as well.

How To Communicate With An Insurance Adjuster After A Car Accident

After a car accident, the at-fault party’s insurance company will likely contact you to speak to you about the case. What you say to the adjuster can affect your claim. Here are some tips for communicating with an adjuster right after a car accident.

  • Be polite. It’s understandable that you may feel flustered about the accident, but you shouldn’t take out your emotions on the insurance adjuster. Doing so won’t help your claim. Remain polite and professional.
  • Don’t provide details about the accident. The insurance adjuster you speak to may ask you to describe how the accident happened and how you felt afterward. Don’t discuss any details about the accident besides when and where it took place. If you provide too much information, it could be used against you later on. Information is essential to give, but not giving too much information, pertains to not talking about the trauma or distress that was felt during the incident.  If a person does this, one could take advantage of this, through using emotion, to manipulate the case.
  • Don’t give a recorded statement. The insurance adjuster may also ask to record the phone conversation. You’re under no obligation to do this. In fact, your car accident lawyer in Rockland County, NY would advise you against it. If you know that you’re being recorded, you may become nervous and say the wrong things.
  • Avoid accepting an early settlement. During your first conversation with an insurance adjuster, you may receive a settlement offer. While it may be tempting to accept an early settlement offer, you should resist the urge. You likely don’t know the extent of your injuries yet and the initial offer may not cover all of your losses.

The lawyers at Greenspan & Greenspan P.C. can help you with the next steps.

Do’s And Don’ts Of Safe Driving

Do: Get Plenty of Rest Before Driving
Greenspan & Greenspan, PC wants you to be safe on the road, and a lack of sleep can severely inhibit your ability to drive. Being awake for 18 hours has roughly the same effect on the body as a blood alcohol content of 0.05%, so it’s wise to avoid driving unless you’re well-rested.

Don’t: Drink Alcohol When You Need to Drive
Similarly to driving while drowsy, any car accident lawyer in Rockland County, NY, will tell you that alcohol and driving do not mix. It only takes a blood alcohol level of 0.02% to impact your driving, and you only need about 2 beers to reach this level. If you need to drive at any point throughout the day, avoid having alcohol altogether.

Do: Brush Up On Road Safety
Safe driving courses are a great way to refresh yourself on road safety! These courses can help you hone your current skills and inform you of any new laws you may not be familiar with. Most of these courses are relatively quick to complete and can be done online, but there are longer courses if you feel you need more time with the materials. Check with your insurance provider, local DMV or a car accident lawyer in Rockland County, NY, to learn more.

Don’t: Use Your Phone While Driving
Distracted driving is a major cause of accidents, so Greenspan & Greenspan doesn’t recommend using your phone while you’re behind the wheel. When you’re distracted, it only takes a split second to miss something; driving requires your full attention, and trying to write a text or scroll through social media inhibits you from doing so. On top of all this, cell phone usage while driving is illegal in most states, so avoid a ticket and a consultation with a car accident lawyer in Rockland County, NC.

Do: Wear Your Seatbelt
Wearing your seatbelt is one of the most effective ways to stay safe on the road, and going without can instantly double your chances of being seriously harmed in an accident. According to the CDC, a seatbelt can increase your chances of survival in a collision by as much as 50%, and it can reduce your risk of injury by up to 45%. Even if you’re only driving for short periods of time, always wear your seatbelt in the car and encourage all other passengers to do the same.

The Stages Of A Personal Injury Case 

Suffering personal injury during a traffic collision can alter the course of the victim’s life. After dealing with mounting medical bills, rehabilitation, physical therapy, and psychological distress it can be disheartening for injured victims to learn about the long process of taking on a personal injury case. All injured victims who suffer injuries during an automobile accident are encouraged to seek out legal representation. Understanding the stages of a personal injury case can help injured victims understand what to expect as their case proceeds. All personal injury cases contain facts and peculiarities that make them distinct. No two personal injury cases are identical. Therefore the following is a general summary of the important stages of all personal injury cases. Some cases may be more complex than others and will thus take longer to resolve. The total time it will take to resolve your personal injury case will depend on many different factors. The nature of your injuries is important to the resolution of your cases as is the insurance company you have to deal with and whether that insurance company wants to settle the claim. If your personal injury case goes to trial it can take longer than a year for your case to resolve.

One: Obtain Medical Treatment And Retain A Personal Injury Lawyer 
After you suffer personal injury in an automobile accident you need to seek medical treatment as soon as possible. You will document your injuries and any treatment you receive. This is important for your personal injury case because documentary evidence of your injuries is relevant to your damages and proving them to other parties and jurors. Medical treatment is also necessary because you need to receive a medical diagnosis that will enable you to obtain the future treatment you need to recover from your injuries. You can search for a personal injury lawyer while you are still undergoing medical treatment for your injuries. A skilled attorney will help you understand how your medical treatment will relate to the total value of your claims and the amount of damages you can claim in your personal injury case. Most jurisdictions have a statute of limitations on personal injury cases. In the majority of states the statute of limitations is two years from the date of injury. This imposes a time limit on when you can file your claim for personal injuries related to the automobile accident. You must file the claim within two years of the date of injury or the claim will be forever barred. Speaking with an experienced personal injury lawyer will help you avoid this predicament.

Two: Investigation 
An attorney will investigate the accident that gave rise to your personal injury claims. Your attorney will collect and analyze witness statements, police reports, medical records, and other documentary evidence. Surveillance videos and witness interviews are also important sources of information.

Three: Demand Letters And Settlement Discussions 
Demand letters are sent to the other driver’s insurance company. A demand letter will describe the facts of the case, the legal reasoning behind the demand, and the monetary amount of the demand. Most insurance companies will submit a counteroffer to attempt to settle the claim.

Four, Five, Six, And Seven: Filing A Complaint, Discovery, Mediation, And Trial 
A personal injury lawyer will file a complaint which begins the lawsuit. The complaint is served on the defendant and then the discovery phase begins. Discovery is a mechanism for gathering information, and both parties will send questions and requests back and forth to obtain information regarding the personal injury case. Alternative dispute resolution procedures such as mediation and arbitration may be used before trial to resolve the dispute without using court resources. The final stage is a jury trial or bench trial that will result in a judgment that must be adhered to by both parties, but both parties may have the right to appeal the judgment.

Preparing For Your First Consultation With A Car Accident Lawyer

If your initial consultation with a car accident lawyer is coming up in the near future, it’s important to prepare properly for it. Get ready to answer specific questions about your case, such as how the accident happened and what types of injuries you suffered. You should also prepare questions of your own to see if the lawyer is a good fit or not. For example, you may want to ask how many car accident cases the lawyer handles a year and how long your case may take to resolve. Call Greenspan & Greenspan P.C. today to schedule a consultation with a car accident lawyer in Rockland County, NY.

Car Accident Lawyer Rockland County, NY

If you or someone you love has been in a car accident it is reasonable to think that reaching out to a car accident lawyer in Rockland County, NY is in your future. If this hasn’t happened and you are wanting to be prepared for an accident then you should know what some of the main causes of car accidents are. Every car accident is going to be unique, but there are some accidents that are more common than others. Knowing the different types can help you prevent an accident from happening by allowing you to be more careful on the roads.

Most Common Causes Of Car Accidents 

You have about a 1 in 5 chance of getting into a car accident every time you get into a car. Below are the most common causes.

Distracted Driving 

By far the most common cause of a car accident in the United States is distracted driving. The worst part about it is it is completely preventable in the majority of situations. Distracted driving leads to reduced reaction times, the inability to keep a vehicle in lane, and often is the cause for serious injury and death in an accident. Whenever someone looks at their cell phone behind the wheel, they are at risk for an accident. Despite the alarming risks of texting and driving the NHTSA has reported that at any given time there are more than 850,000 drivers in the United States texting or otherwise using their cellphone behind the wheel. This is dangerous and if you are distracted then you won’t have time to react to someone else. A car accident lawyer in Rockland County, NY knows this and can help you get compensation if you were hurt because of a distracted driver.

Drunk Driving 

Everyone knows that you shouldn’t get behind the wheel of a car if you have been drinking. The dangers are high as your reaction time is slowed and in some cases, your vision may be blurry. Drinking impairs your cognitive function. The close cousin of this is drugged driving, and it is equally as dangerous as drunk driving. Drunk driving can also take lives as well, and this is something that cannot be undone.  Sometimes, people tend to underestimate the dangers of the road, when it comes to carelessness. When you are behind the wheel and under the influence, you are not able to make the best choices. Despite knowing there are many crashes alone that are because of drunk or drugged driving, it can cost lives.

Poor Weather

Sadly, no one can control the weather. One of the top reasons for an accident is bad weather. If the weather is to blame, how do you collect compensation? While you can’t file a lawsuit against Mother Nature, the driver who isn’t driving carefully or paying full attention is still to blame. All drivers must use extra caution when the weather takes a turn for the worse. Bad weather conditions change the rule of the road. While a road may be safe to travel at 60 miles per hour in nice weather it can be dangerous at that speed during a downpour. If you don’t respect the use of caution then is it really the weather to blame?

Speeding

Speeding is one of the most common causes of car accidents in New York and across the United States. Many drivers do not realize how fast they are traveling until it is too late and they cause a motor vehicle collision. Traveling at an excessive rate of speed places the life of the driver and all others on the road at risk as well. Individuals who speed while driving are less likely to respond in time to other unsafe or impaired drivers. Speeding drivers are also more likely to lose control of a vehicle and injure other drivers on the road.

Vehicle Malfunction

Many car accidents are caused by flat tires, worn axles, and faulty tie rods. Mechanical problems with vehicles that go untreated for long periods of time can cause serious bodily injury or death. Deadly accidents may occur in a matter of seconds when a vehicle has deteriorated over many months or years. Drivers who do not maintain their vehicles are putting their lives and the lives of others at risk. Malfunctioning vehicles may cause motor vehicle collisions at any time of the day and are entirely unpredictable.

Damaged Roadways

Potholes, sinkholes, and severe cracks may all cause motor vehicle accidents. Drivers may not realize they are about to drive over a pothole before it is too late and they lose control of their vehicle. Dangerous roadways can cause multi-vehicle accidents and create havoc on the road. Cities and municipalities may be implicated when injuries occur on public roadways. If you have suffered injury due to a damaged roadway you need to contact a car accident lawyer so you can obtain the financial compensation you deserve.

Common Injuries Caused By Car Accidents

Some of the most common injuries caused by car accidents include the following.

Spinal Cord Injuries

The forceful impact of a motor vehicle collision can cause severe spinal cord injuries. Whiplash is the most common spinal cord injury that occurs during car accidents. The violent back and forth motion that the body experiences during a car accident causes whiplash. More serious car accidents can damage the spinal cord to such an extent that the victim experiences temporary or permanent disability. Spinal cord injuries can become aggravated over time and individuals must be able to seek immediate medical treatment after a motor vehicle accident.  

Fractured Bones

Motor vehicle collisions also cause serious fractures. Ankle fractures and arm fractures are quite common during motor vehicle accidents due to the extremities not being held in one place by safety belts. Rib fractures may also occur if the accident produces a serious impact. Many bone fractures can take time to heal and motor vehicle accident victims need to seek immediate medical treatment after suffering injuries.