For many, driving in the Bronx is a necessity.. This is especially true of those who commute to and from work. Unfortunately, the simple act of driving can prove hazardous when drivers, passengers, and/or pedestrians are exposed to the risks of the road that commonly result in car accidents. Accordingly, if you or someone you love is ever involved in a car accident in the Bronx, you will need to know your legal options so that you can recover compensation to cover medical bills, lost income, and more.
Not sure where to turn? Schwartzapfel Lawyers can help you recover damages and achieve financial stability after an accident. Call us now for your free consultation at 1-516-342-2200.
Car Accidents in the Bronx
Car accidents are everyday occurrences in the Bronx, so drivers need to know what to expect and who to contact if they are ever involved in one. According to official statistics gathered between 2012 and 2014, numerous traffic accidents occur in Bronx County each month. Sadly, these accidents have caused:
- The death of 4 Bronx County residents
- 73 hospitalizations
- 875 emergency department visits
- Over $43 million and hospitalization charges annually
Although that data is slightly aged, things have not necessarily improved over time. According to official statistics released by the Police Department of New York City, February 2022 alone saw over 1,300 motor vehicle collisions in the Bronx. Note: That’s not even counting the thousands of accidents around New York City each month. Moreover, these February accidents involved 2,600 motorists and 121 pedestrians.
But please know that if ever you or a loved one is involved in an auto accident, you don’t have to file a lawsuit alone. Knowledgeable Bronx car accident attorneys can provide valuable assistance on your journey to physical, mental, and financial recovery..
Why Do Car Accidents Happen in the Bronx?
In the Bronx, car accidents often occur for the same reasons they occur everywhere else. These reasons include but are not limited to:
- Drunk driving or driving under the influence of other drugs
- Driving while distracted, such as driving while texting a friend or family member
- Driving in a snowstorm or other inclement weather
- Driving at night or while excessively fatigued
- Driving in heavy traffic
And while many car accidents are truly accidental, others are not. In fact, these accidents are oftentimes caused by the direct negligence of another driver and/or another party.
Negligence in Bronx Car Accidents
Negligence, as a legal concept, means that a party breached their stated or implied duty to another person or party. Here are some examples:
- All other drivers have a legal obligation to drive safely. They have a duty to drive safely to avoid injuries or deaths.
- Restaurant owners have a duty to ensure that their premises are safe for patrons or customers.
- Construction companies or contractors have a duty to ensure that their materials do not become hazards for people on roadways.
And while these duties are legally binding, they aren’t always carried out by their responsible parties. As a result, when a responsible party fails to be safe or careful in this way, they are being negligent; in turn, such negligence can lead to the injury and/or death of another person.
Those parties could be held liable for car accident lawsuits when this occurs. However, proving negligence is often tricky, which is why hiring expert Bronx car accident lawyers like Schwartzapfel Lawyers is always a wise idea. You can call us today and get a free case evaluation at 1-516-342-2200.
Injuries From Bronx Car Accidents
Unfortunately, many Bronx car accidents lead to severe injuries. Some injuries are relatively minor, such as bruising or small cuts. Other, more serious injuries include but are not limited to:
- Broken bones
- Strains, sprains, and ligament tears
- Herniations
- Dislocations
- Serious lacerations, which can lead to extensive bleeding and/or scarring
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Paralysis and/or other spinal injuries
These major injuries from Bronx car accidents could cause individuals to face exorbitant medical bills. In this day and age, health insurance doesn’t always cover all the costs of past and future medical treatments. Medical bills can rise to tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, and even millions of dollars.
When this occurs, many victims may have no choice but to try to sue an at-fault driver or another party. Recovering damages could be the only way to pay for ongoing or past medical bills without decimating one’s credit score or emptying life savings accounts.
Can You Sue At-Fault Drivers?
Although New York is a no-fault car accident state, that doesn’t mean you can’t necessarily sue at-fault drivers.
In a nutshell, New York requires every driver to have no-fault car insurance. This car insurance covers minor damage to your vehicle and minor medical bills, such as those received from a fender bender accident.
However, New York law does allow you to sue at-fault drivers or other parties if:
- Your injuries are sufficiently severe. In most cases, this means that your injuries are highly expensive or disfiguring or debilitating in some way.
- Your property damage is excessively expensive, such as if your car is totaled.
In these instances, you may bring a lawsuit against a negligent driver, someone who caused a road hazard, and/or another party who may have been negligent in some other way. However, determining fault in a Bronx car accident case can be difficult, and is one of the many reasons why having a skilled Bronx car accident attorney on your side is so crucial..
To speak with one of our experienced car accident attorneys about your case or, more generally, proving fault in a Bronx auto accident case, call Schwartzapfel Lawyers now at 1-516-342-2200!
How Bronx Car Accident Lawyers Can Help
The right car accident lawyer for your case will be a knowledgeable legal professional who knows NYC car accident law inside and out. As well, they will be well-read on New York car accident laws specifically, which will allow them to understand the circumstances in which you can file a lawsuit, who may be ultimately held liable, and more.
Qualified car accident lawyers can provide a great deal of legal assistance, including:
- Helping you determine who you should sue.
- Ensuring all paperwork is filed on time. For example, Bronx car accidents are subject to a statute of limitations that lasts for a few years. You have to file your lawsuit before this deadline.
- Collecting evidence on your behalf. While you are recovering from car accident injuries, the last thing you want to do is tackle a bunch of legwork and get police reports. Your legal team can do it for you, plus collect other valuable evidence like eyewitness accounts, forensic evidence, etc.
- Present that evidence convincingly to the court. How you present your evidence is often just as important as the evidence you gather. Plus, Bronx car accident lawyers can coach you when it’s time to provide your testimony.
With the right legal team on your side, you’ll maximize your damages and succeed when you file your car accident lawsuit. Given that car accident damage awards can range from hundreds of dollars to many thousands of dollars or even millions of dollars, you can’t afford to settle for subpar legal representation.
How To Pick the Right Legal Team for You
Picking the right legal team will depend largely on your personal and legal needs. Fortunately, Schwartzapfel Lawyers is the ideal legal firm for all Bronx car accident victims for several reasons.
For one, we never charge a dime unless your lawsuit is successful. Because of our contingency fee policy, you won’t have to worry about paying for legal advice or assistance unless you recover damages from an at-fault driver or party. This means that, until we win, you can put your money to better use by paying your medical bills and other expenses.
On top of that, we fight for each of our clients as hard as possible. Once hired by a car accident victim, we don’t rest until they see justice or damages for their injuries. We prioritize all of our clients and guarantee that your car accident lawsuit is just as important as any other case we’ve handled.
Where’s the proof? You can see for yourself by visiting our testimonials page, which shows just how successful we are when hired for Bronx car accident lawsuits. Over the years, we’ve helped our clients recover millions of dollars from at-fault parties, including negligent drivers, construction companies, and even automobile manufacturers.
The bottom line: To secure the best legal representation for your Bronx auto accident lawsuit, choose Schwartzapfel Lawyers by calling us at 1-516-342-2200.
Summary
Recovering from a Bronx car accident is hard enough. That’s why we recommend you don’t go about your lawsuit alone and, instead, contact Schwartzapfel Lawyers.
Not only are we experienced in handling Bronx car accident lawsuits just like yours, but we’re dedicated to fighting for you™r needs for weeks, months, or even years to come. We’ve seen it all and are ready to put our extensive experience to use for your lawsuit.
It’s time you get the compensation you deserve. But you shouldn’t delay, as your window to recover financially may soon be closed forever. To keep this from happening, start now with a free case evaluation by calling Schwartzapfel Lawyers at 1-516-342-2200!
Sources:
Schwartzapfel Lawyers, P.C. | Fighting For You™™
Motor Vehicle Traffic Injuries Bronx County Residents 2012-2014 | NY Department of Health
Motor Vehicle Accidents | Police Department City of New York
Negligence | Wex | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute
