New York City is home to over eight-million people, with close to four-million people who own a motor vehicle or drive regularly. Even if you do not account for out-of-state commuters, roads often get busy in the city. With increased traffic congestion and vehicles on the road come increased collisions and auto accidents.
If you regularly drive any motor vehicle in the city, you are susceptible to injuries and losses if an incident occurs. Even the most diligent drivers can end up in a traffic collision and should be concerned about safety on the road.
Fortunately, we can help you understand some of the main causes behind how incidents occur and what precautions you can take to prevent them and protect yourself.
If you or a loved one has suffered losses in any type of auto accident, getting in touch with a skilled lawyer can help you resolve your case and recover the financial compensation you are entitled to. The right lawyer can also help you negotiate with a car insurance provider after an incident to achieve the best possible outcome.
For help with your case, speak directly with a member of our team at Schwartzapfel Lawyers by visiting us online or calling 516-342-2200 today.
What Are The Most Common Causes Of Traffic Collisions?
When it comes to the most common cause of traffic collisions, distracted driving is often cited as the main contributing factor. However, there are a few other factors that stand out as major reasons behind auto crashes and traffic collisions. Here’s a closer look.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving occurs when the driver of a vehicle is preoccupied while driving and unable to devote full attention to the road. Distracted driving is most commonly caused by the use of cell phones or other devices while driving.
In September of 2023, more than one-quarter of all traffic collisions in New York City involved distracted driving.
Following To Closely
When on the road, drivers must maintain an appropriate amount of space between their vehicles and the vehicles driving ahead of them.
If a car or other vehicle is driving too closely to the one in front of it, there will likely not be enough time or space for a driver to react if the car ahead breaks or stops abruptly, causing a collision.
Significantly, following too closely was a contributing factor to more than (13,000) collision-related injuries in New York City in 2019.
Failure To Yield
More than 35% of all collisions occur at intersections, many of which occur due to a driver’s failure to yield the right of way to other vehicles.
Collisions can occur if drivers do not yield the right of way to others who are expecting to be given the right of way. Contributing factors, such as speeding, can make such collisions even more detrimental.
For more on this at no charge, call Schwartzapfel Lawyers at 516-342-2200 or visit us online to schedule your free consultation today!
Speeding
Speeding is extremely dangerous, but it’s an offense that many drivers regularly make. Speeding can prevent you from being aware of your surroundings and reacting quickly to obstacles.
As reported, more than 50% of all car accidents involve speeding as a contributing factor. Collisions that could have otherwise been minor are often more detrimental if speeding is involved.
Alcohol And Substance Use
The use of alcohol and other drugs on the road can impact a driver’s ability to maneuver a vehicle and react to obstacles.
In New York City, thousands of people are injured every year due to drunk driving crashes, and more than 30% of all fatal collisions involve alcohol use.
Statistics from 2019 show that distracted driving, failure to yield the right of way, and speeding are the top three (3) leading causes of vehicle collisions in New York City. In most cases, however, it’s not just one cause that results in a collision on its own.
The leading cause of collisions can also change based on the day of the week or the season. For example, a large percentage of drunk driving crashes occur on the weekends. During the winter, icy roads or snow can be the leading causes of collisions.
For the answers to any questions you may have about vehicle collisions and how contributing factors can impact the outcome of a crash, speak with a member of Schwartzapfel Lawyersby calling 516-342-2200 today.
How Can You Prevent Auto Accidents?
Regardless of how diligent of a driver you are, there is always a chance you can become involved in a traffic collision. Still, if every driver on the road exercised proper safety precautions, many accidents could be prevented.
To that end, here are a few ways you can drive more safely with the common causes of traffic collisions in mind:
- Provide ample space for other vehicles. It is recommended that you maintain three (3) car lengths’ worth of space between your vehicle and the vehicle driving ahead of you on the road.
- Yield the right of way to other drivers. At intersections and other points in which two or more roads come together, drivers are required to let incoming cars pass and merge into traffic.
- Avoid speeding. Drive within the appropriate speed limit for the area or road you are traveling through.
- Focus on the road. Do not let distractions such as your cell phone prevent you from being aware of your surroundings while driving.
- Take a cab home after drinking. Even if you think you are sober enough to drive, it is never a good idea to drive after you have been drinking or using any other substance.
While these are just some of the biggest ways you can prevent or decrease your chances of being in a car accident or incident, make sure you are also following all other appropriate traffic laws for your area while you are on the road.
For more information about traffic laws and driver safety, get in touch with one of the skilled legal representatives at Schwartzapfel Lawyersby calling 516-342-2200 or visiting us online today.
What Should You Do After An Auto Accident?
If you or a loved one has been in an auto accident, taking the right course of action can help you receive compensation for your injuries or losses. It can also help make navigating insurance a whole lot easier for all parties involved.
Get To Safety
The first thing you should do after any auto accident is get to a safe place. Many auto accidents happen in the middle of the road. If you stay there, you may be susceptible to more danger from other cars driving on the road.
Call Emergency Responders
Once you have moved somewhere safe and away from passing vehicles, the next thing you should do is call 911.
Not only can emergency responders secure the scene in order to prevent further collisions from happening, but they will also generate reports of the incident.
Seek Medical Attention
Even if you do not think you sustained any injuries in a collision, you should be reviewed by a certified healthcare professional after any accident or incident. This is because many injuries can become apparent in the aftermath of an accident and cause more complications if not caught and treated early on.
Seeking qualified medical care is also important because you will likely need medical documentation of your injuries to file any claim for benefits or compensation.
Hire A Skilled Lawyer
While you may not think that it is necessary to hire a skilled lawyer for a traffic collision and that insurance will hopefully take care of your claim, the right lawyer can make the process a lot easier.
An experienced auto accident lawyer can help you negotiate a better settlement with an auto insurance company and can help you file a personal injury claim if you choose not to settle through insurance. They can also help you determine whether you should or should not file a separate claim.
Traffic Collision Legal Representation
The seasoned legal team at Schwartzapfel Lawyersis made up of some of the city’s most experienced and successful accident and personal injury lawyers who are committed to helping you get the best results from your claim.
Don’t wait until it’s too late! Act now by calling Schwartzapfel Lawyers at 516-342-2200 or visit us online to schedule your free consultation today!
DISCLAIMER: Nothing on this page should be considered legal advice. You should seek the appropriate counsel your situation requires. For more information, call 1-516-342-2200 now!
Sources:
Schwartzapfel Lawyers, P.C. | Fighting For You
The Ultimate List of Driving Statistics for 2023 | Driving Tests
