What Are the Common Types of Car Accidents?

A car accident occurs when a vehicle collides with another vehicle, a stationary object, a pedestrian, or an animal, resulting in damage or injury. Car accidents can happen due to various reasons, including human error, mechanical failure, weather conditions, or road hazards.

Here are some common types of car accidents:

• Rear-end collision: This occurs when a vehicle crashes into the vehicle in front of it. It often happens due to tailgating or sudden stops.
• Head-on collision: This happens when the front ends of two vehicles collide. These accidents are often severe and can result in serious injuries or fatalities.
• Side-impact collision (T-bone): This occurs when the side of one vehicle is impacted by the front or rear of another vehicle, forming a "T" shape. Intersections are common locations for these accidents.
• Sideswipe collision: In this type of accident, the sides of two parallel vehicles make contact. It can occur when changing lanes without proper checking or misjudgment of space.
• Single-vehicle accident: This involves only one vehicle and can include collisions with fixed objects like trees, guardrails, or poles due to factors like loss of control, slippery roads, or sudden maneuvers.
• Multi-vehicle pileup: This involves multiple vehicles and often occurs on highways or freeways due to chain reactions caused by one initial collision.
• Rollover accidents: These occur when a vehicle tips over onto its side or roof. They are more common in vehicles with a higher center of gravity, such as SUVs or trucks, and can happen due to sharp turns, uneven road surfaces, or collisions.
• Run-off-road accidents: This involves a vehicle leaving the roadway entirely, either due to driver error, drowsiness, distraction, or road conditions. Run-off-road accidents can result in collisions with roadside obstacles or rolling over.
• Parking lot accidents: These typically happen at low speeds in parking lots or garages and involve collisions while parking or maneuvering within these confined spaces.
• Pedestrian or cyclist accidents: These involve collisions between vehicles and pedestrians or cyclists. They often occur at intersections, crosswalks, or due to limited visibility.
• Hit-and-run accidents: These occur when a driver hits another vehicle, pedestrian, or object and leaves the scene without stopping to provide assistance or exchanging information. Hit-and-run accidents can result in serious legal consequences for the fleeing driver.

What Are the Causes of Car Accidents in New York?

Car accidents can have many causes. Most of them, however, are due to human error. Driving in and around busy New York streets demands the full attention of motorists. Unfortunately, driver distraction is one of the largest contributing factors to car accidents, as reported by the New York City Police Department (NYPD). Common examples of such distractions include texting while driving, talking on cell phones, eating, drinking, adjusting GPS and other devices, dealing with pets or children, and even personal grooming. 

In addition to distracted driving, the NYPD lists other contributing factors in car accidents, such as:

You can be injured as a result of these types of behaviors as a driver, passenger, taxi customer, pedestrian, bicyclist, or Uber or Lyft rideshare customer. 

How Often Do Car Crashes Happen in New York?

Car Collision Statistics in New York per the NYPD’s 2022 report for June, 9,135 accidents occurred citywide with the following breakdown:

In that month alone, 21 people were killed and another 4,808 were injured. 

What Are the Car Accident Laws in New York?

New York operates under a no-fault insurance system. This means that regardless of who is at fault in a car accident, each driver's own insurance company is responsible for covering their medical expenses and certain other economic losses, regardless of fault.

Under the no-fault system, drivers are required to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage as part of their auto insurance policy. This coverage allows individuals to seek reimbursement for medical expenses related to the accident, including hospital bills, doctor visits, diagnostic tests, rehabilitation, and other necessary treatments.

In addition to medical expenses, no-fault insurance covers certain economic losses resulting from the accident. This can include compensation for lost wages or income due to an inability to work because of injuries sustained in the accident.

By eliminating the need to establish fault for minor accidents, the no-fault system aims to expedite the payment of medical bills and other economic losses. This helps individuals get necessary medical treatment promptly without waiting for fault determinations or prolonged legal proceedings.

While no-fault insurance covers most accidents, there are certain exceptions. For instance, in cases of serious injuries that surpass a certain threshold (such as severe disfigurement, significant bone fractures, or injuries that lead to permanent disability), individuals may be permitted to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party for additional damages beyond what is covered by no-fault insurance.

What Does a Car Accident Lawyer Do?

If you were in a car accident that wasn't your fault, you may be wondering why you should hire a car accident lawyer. Booking a free consultation with a lawyer is always a good idea when you are injured in a car accident. They will help you determine if you have a case and the best steps moving forward. If you decide to hire a car accident lawyer, they will:

• Help you understand your rights
• Investigate the case
• Give you legal counsel  regarding your best options available 
• Negotiate with insurance adjusters to get you the fair compensation you deserve

While you can represent yourself, it likely isn't the best idea to do so. This applies even if your accident was minor. New York car accident lawyers are well versed in the laws and will help you focus on your recovery while they focus on your case.

When to Get an Attorney for a Car Accident in New York?

Getting into a car accident can be an extremely stressful experience, and the aftermath of such an event can be even more overwhelming. Knowing when to seek legal help from a car accident attorney is crucial in ensuring that you are compensated for your damages. After any type of motor vehicle collision, it is best to hire an experienced New York car accident lawyer as soon as possible.

An attorney will work with you to ensure that all necessary paperwork is filed correctly and on time, so you can receive full compensation for your car crash-related losses. They will also ensure that insurance companies don’t take advantage of you during settlement negotiations. They will provide legal advice on how much money should be sought after or accepted in order to cover medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other expenses incurred because of the crash. With their knowledge and expertise, a New York car accident attorney will provide invaluable assistance throughout this difficult process.

How Do You Prove Fault in Car Accident Claims?

After a car accident injury, our team will immediately investigate the available evidence, which will include speaking to witnesses and obtaining a copy of the police accident report, if applicable.

Sometimes the information in the police report is inaccurate and additional witnesses or surveillance video can be obtained to prove that the other driver is responsible for the accident. 

Once we determine what contributing factors played a role in your collision, our car accident lawyers can get to work proving to the other side’s insurance company that they should take responsibility and pay for your damages.

The evidence we can use to support your case can include:

• The police report that was filed at the accident scene
• Photos and videos of the collision itself
• Any available traffic surveillance footage
• Eyewitness statements
• Testimony from a medical professional or accident reconstruction specialist