Unfortunately, motor vehicle accidents are a common experience for many people, with various types and causes that make every situation unique. From car and truck accidents to incidents involving pedestrians, bicyclists, and rideshare vehicles, these accidents can be life-changing events that leave individuals facing physical, emotional, and financial challenges.
Partnering with a dedicated personal injury lawyer can help injured individuals secure the support they need to recover. If you or a loved one has been injured in a motor vehicle accident, it’s important to consult with a lawyer before speaking to any insurance companies.
The Rothenberg Law Firm LLP, with over 50 years of experience helping clients, is committed to securing the compensation injured individuals deserve. Our legal team is familiar with the most common types of motor vehicle accidents, areas where these accidents frequently occur, and common injuries. We’ll talk with you about how our firm can help you pursue a fair claim.
Common Types of Motor Vehicle Accidents
Motor vehicle accidents can happen in various situations, each with unique challenges and potential for serious injuries. Here are some of the most common types:
Car Accidents
Car accidents are among the most frequent and deadly types of motor vehicle crashes. These accidents can result from many factors, such as distracted driving, speeding, or impaired driving.
Common collision types include rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, and side-impact crashes (T-bone accidents). In densely populated areas like New York City and Philadelphia, car accidents often occur at intersections, on highways, or during high-traffic hours.
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcyclists face unique risks on the road. Without the protection of an enclosed vehicle, riders are especially vulnerable in accidents, which often lead to serious injuries. Motorcycle accidents can result from motorists failing to notice motorcycles in traffic, unsafe lane changes, or road hazards. In busy metropolitan areas, motorcyclists often encounter challenging conditions due to high traffic volumes, which increases the likelihood of accidents.
Truck Accidents
Trucking accidents are particularly dangerous due to the large size and weight of commercial vehicles. These accidents can involve multiple parties and are often more complex due to federal regulations that govern the trucking industry.
Truck accidents often occur on highways, where trucks may experience issues such as jackknifing, rollovers, or collisions due to blind spots. In states like New Jersey and Pennsylvania, highways with heavy truck traffic are hotspots for such accidents.
Bus Accidents
Buses provide essential transportation in urban areas but can pose risks to passengers, other drivers, and pedestrians. Bus accidents can result from operator error, mechanical failures, or hazardous road conditions.
When a bus is involved in an accident, multiple people may be injured, which adds to the complexity of these claims. Bus accidents often happen in high-traffic areas and near bus stops where passengers are boarding or disembarking.
Rideshare Accidents
Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft have added convenience to transportation but have also introduced new legal challenges in accident claims. Rideshare accidents may involve disputes over liability, with multiple insurance policies potentially at play.
These accidents frequently occur in areas with heavy rideshare usage, such as city centers and popular nightlife areas. Victims of rideshare accidents can include passengers, other motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists.
Taxi Accidents
Like rideshare vehicles, taxis are commonly involved in accidents in densely populated urban areas. Taxi drivers operate under tight schedules, often leading to aggressive driving or fatigue. Taxi accidents can result in injuries to passengers, other drivers, or pedestrians. Given the complexity of liability in taxi accidents, consulting a lawyer is essential to pursue the compensation you need.
Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrians are highly vulnerable in accidents, especially in busy areas where traffic congestion and distracted driving are prevalent. Crosswalks, intersections, and areas near schools and parks are common sites for pedestrian accidents. These incidents can cause catastrophic injuries, as pedestrians have no protection against the force of a vehicle.
Bicycle Accidents
Bicyclists, like pedestrians, face significant risks when sharing the road with motor vehicles. Bicycle accidents can occur due to driver inattention, poor road conditions, or lack of dedicated bike lanes. In places like New York City, where cycling is a popular mode of transportation, bicyclists are at an increased risk of serious accidents and injuries.
Common Areas for Motor Vehicle Accidents
Motor vehicle accidents can happen anywhere, but certain locations tend to see more frequent incidents:
Intersections
Intersections are common accident sites due to drivers running red lights, failing to yield, or making sudden turns. Other problems that lead to crashes include:
- Confusion Over Right of Way: Drivers may misjudge who has the right of way, leading to T-bone collisions.
- Left Turns: Accidents often occur when drivers make left turns without properly checking for oncoming traffic.
Highways and Freeways
High-speed traffic, merging lanes, and heavy truck presence contribute to frequent accidents on highways. Speeding increases the severity of collisions, making high-speed accidents more dangerous. Highways also pose risks from lane changes and merging. With heavy traffic and limited visibility, merging lanes can lead to sideswipes and rear-end collisions.
Urban Areas
City driving involves high pedestrian and vehicle traffic, increasing the likelihood of collisions. Cities are also more likely to have crowded sidewalks and bike lanes, heightening the risk of accidents involving pedestrians and cyclists.
School Zones and Residential Areas
These areas see frequent pedestrian and bicycle traffic, creating potential for accidents involving younger pedestrians or cyclists.
Common Injuries in Motor Vehicle Accidents
Injuries from motor vehicle accidents vary widely based on the type and severity of the collision. Common injuries include:
- Head and Brain Injuries: These can range from concussions to traumatic brain injuries, often requiring extensive medical treatment and long-term care.
- Neck and Back Injuries: Whiplash and spinal injuries are common, especially in rear-end collisions.
- Broken Bones: Fractures are frequent in high-impact accidents, leading to costly and painful recovery.
- Soft Tissue Injuries: Sprains, strains, and muscle tears are common, particularly in car accidents.
- Internal Injuries: Damage to organs and internal bleeding can result from severe impacts.
Permanent Disabilities
Serious accidents can lead to permanent disabilities, such as:
- Paralysis: Spinal cord injuries can result in partial or complete paralysis.
- Amputations: Severe injuries may require amputation, leading to long-term physical and emotional challenges.
Secondary Complications
Some injuries develop complications over time, such as:
- Infections from Open Wounds: Deep cuts or surgical incisions can lead to infections, further delaying recovery.
- Chronic Pain: Injuries may lead to chronic pain, which can impact a person’s quality of life and ability to work.
Mental and Emotional Impact
Accidents also leave victims dealing with psychological challenges like:
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Some victims develop PTSD, with symptoms such as flashbacks, anxiety, and nightmares.
- Depression and Anxiety: The emotional toll of an accident and resulting injuries often leads to mental health struggles that require therapy or counseling.
The Role of a Personal Injury Lawyer in Motor Vehicle Accident Claims
After a motor vehicle accident, consulting with a personal injury lawyer helps ensure your rights are protected. An experienced attorney can help you navigate the complex process of filing a claim, which involves:
- Building a Strong Case: A lawyer will gather evidence such as accident reports, medical records, witness statements, and expert testimony to support your claim.
- Negotiating with Insurance Companies: Insurance companies often try to minimize payouts, and handling negotiations on your own can be challenging. A lawyer will represent your interests and fight for fair compensation.
- Filing Within the Legal Time Frame: Each state has specific statutes of limitations for filing a personal injury claim. In New York, you typically have three years to file a personal injury claim, while Pennsylvania allows two years. Consulting an attorney early on is important to avoid missing these deadlines.
- Pursuing Full and Fair Compensation: Compensation in motor vehicle accident cases may include payment for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages. A lawyer can evaluate your case and help pursue the maximum compensation available.
Understanding Complex Insurance Policies
Motor vehicle accident claims often involve multiple insurance policies, especially in cases involving rideshares or commercial trucks. A lawyer will:
- Identify Coverage: An experienced attorney knows how to identify and access all relevant insurance policies to maximize compensation.
- Navigate Policy Terms: Insurance policies are complex, and a lawyer ensures that victims receive the full benefits available under their coverage.
Common Insurance Company Tactics
Insurance companies may attempt to:
- Offer Low Initial Settlements: They might propose low settlements to close claims quickly before the full extent of injuries is known.
- Dispute Injury Severity: Adjusters may argue that a victim’s injuries are less severe than claimed, reducing potential compensation.
- Shift Blame: Some adjusters attempt to place fault on the victim to avoid liability.
Importance of Legal Representation
Handling insurance claims alone is risky, as adjusters are trained to protect the company’s interests. Lawyers ensure that clients don’t make statements that could be used against them. They are focused on obtaining fair compensation.
Compensation in Motor Vehicle Accident Cases
In motor vehicle accident cases, victims may be eligible for various compensation to cover their injuries’ financial and emotional impacts. This compensation generally falls into two categories: economic and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages cover the direct financial losses associated with an accident and include:
- Medical Expenses: Compensation for emergency care, surgeries, hospital stays, medications, physical therapy, and any other medical treatments required due to the accident. This also includes future medical care costs if ongoing treatment is necessary.
- Lost Wages and Future Earnings: Recovery for income lost during recovery and any reduction in future earning capacity if injuries impact the ability to work in the same capacity or require a career change.
- Property Damage: Financial coverage for repairs or replacement of a damaged vehicle or any personal property involved in the accident, including items such as electronics or essential work tools that may have been in the vehicle.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages provide compensation for the intangible effects of an accident that affect the victim’s quality of life. These damages include:
- Pain and Suffering: Compensation for the physical pain experienced due to injuries, as well as the impact on the victim’s daily life, mobility, and enjoyment of activities they once valued.
- Emotional Distress: Recovery for mental and emotional health impacts, such as anxiety, PTSD, depression, and any related psychological challenges stemming from the accident.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life: Compensation for the diminished ability to engage in and enjoy hobbies, recreational activities, and personal relationships due to physical or emotional limitations from the accident.
Compensation for Future or Progressive Injuries
A skilled personal injury attorney with experience with various motor vehicle accident cases understands that the impact of an accident often extends beyond immediate injuries. They anticipate the potential for future complications or progressive injuries that may develop over time, such as chronic pain, reduced mobility, or the need for additional medical treatments.
By working with medical experts and evaluating the full extent of potential long-term effects, a lawyer ensures that compensation accounts for both current and future needs. This forward-thinking approach can make a significant difference in helping victims secure the financial resources they need as they continue their recovery journey.
Compensation in Wrongful Death Cases
In tragic cases where a motor vehicle accident leads to the wrongful death of a loved one, compensation may be available to the surviving family members. This compensation can cover:
- Funeral and Burial Expenses: Financial assistance to help cover the costs of laying a loved one to rest.
- Loss of Financial Support: Compensation for the income the deceased would have contributed to the household, helping family members manage ongoing living expenses.
- Loss of Companionship and Emotional Support: Monetary support to recognize the loss of guidance, companionship, and emotional support that the deceased provided.
- Loss of Inheritance: Compensation for the loss of potential inheritance that the deceased would have accumulated and passed down to their family members.
In any motor vehicle accident case, securing a fair and comprehensive settlement or verdict requires the insight of a personal injury lawyer who understands the full scope of losses and future needs. By accounting for both economic and non-economic damages, including future and progressive injuries, a lawyer can pursue the maximum compensation a victim or family member needs to rebuild their life.
Contact The Rothenberg Law Firm for Your Motor Vehicle Accident Claim
With more than 50 years in practice and billions secured in compensation, Rothenberg Law Firm has a long-standing commitment to helping accident victims. Our team has the knowledge and resources to handle all aspects of a motor vehicle accident case, from gathering evidence and negotiating with insurance companies to taking a case to trial if necessary.
We have offices serving New York City; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Cherry Hill, New Jersey; Lakewood, New Jersey; Monsey, New York; and Hackensack, New Jersey. We serve clients in their communities and understand the unique challenges of local laws.
If you’ve been injured in a motor vehicle accident, don’t face the insurance companies or legal complexities alone. Contact us today for a free consultation and take the first step toward rebuilding your life. Call us at 800-624-8888 or contact us online to get started.
