Long Island, Manhattan Accident Attorney Blog

What to Expect When a New York Car Accident Involves an Uninsured Driver

You purchase auto insurance to protect you in an accident and to provide coverage when there is damage to your vehicle.  Researchers have found that there are many people driving around New York without auto insurance. What does that mean for you?  Read on and you will find out!

A survey from 2006 showed that 7 percent of drivers in New York are uninsured.  While this number doesn’t seem high, it can be a very real problem if you are hit by one of these uninsured drivers.  Plus, the percentage of uninsured drivers is believed to have gone up since then, as the economy has been hit and many people are cutting back on expenses.

Your insurance policy may protect you against accidents involving uninsured drivers.  New York does not require this type of coverage, so you may want to review your policy to make sure it is there.  If not, contact your insurance company to add it.

If you are in a serious car accident in Brooklyn, New York City, the Bronx, Staten Island, Long Island or other area in New York, things may become challenging for you.  Insurance companies have been known to be difficult to work with and you may be offered a settlement that is below what your case is worth.  An experienced New York car accident lawyer can help you.  Contact Rappaport, Glass, Greene and Levine for more information.

Do You Know the Cost of a New York Car Accident?

According to AAA, a New York car accident that occurs in the metropolitan area costs an average of $962 per person.  This figure can easily turn into billions of dollars annually.  The national average per person is $1,051.

The AAA study uncovered that auto accidents are more damaging to the community than traffic congestion.  Cambridge Systematics conducted the research and found that car accidents in New York and throughout the country cost motorists about $164.2 billion every year.  Researchers reviewed factors, such as property damage, lost income, medical expenses, emergency services, legal costs and travel delays.

AAA recommended that politicians take action to ensure that safety is a priority in transportation planning.  The association suggested that lawmakers make stricter laws regarding drunk driving and impaired driving. It also recommended that states establish seat belt laws that give police officers the authority to stop drivers if their only offense is not wearing a seat belt.

If you have been injured in a car accident in Long Island, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan or other area in New York, you need to contact a New York car accident lawyer at the law firm of Rappaport, Glass, Greene and Levine at 800.734.9445 for legal advice.

Confused About What to Do After a Long Island Car Accident?

You see a car coming straight toward you and then the next thing you know there is shattered glass everywhere, your airbag has deployed and you are injured.  You have just been the victim of a Long Island car accident.  Now what?

If you are like most people, a car accident in Long Island or New York City is not something you experience often.  You may find yourself confused on what needs to be done following your crash.  There are definitely some actions you need to take to help ensure you are fully compensated for your injuries.

After a Long Island auto accident, you need to gather as much information as possible.  Be sure to get the other driver’s license number, name, address, telephone number, insurance information and license plate number.  If there were any witnesses to your crash, you should get their names and telephone numbers too.

When the police arrive, make sure an accident report is taken.  The police officer may ask you questions regarding the car accident.  Stick to the facts and avoid accepting blame or placing fault.  The factors that caused your New York auto accident may be unclear at this point.

Always see a doctor if you have been injured in an accident, even if you feel that your injuries are minor.  Some minor injuries can turn out to be more serious.

You should contact a Long Island car accident lawyer at the law firm of Rappaport, Glass, Greene and Levine at 800.734.9445 for legal advice.  The New York accident attorneys at the law firm will make sure that you are not taken advantage of by the insurance company.

Texting Can Cause a New York Car Accident

Text messaging has taken off over the last couple of years and many people believe that this activity has been to blame for many car accidents.  You may be someone who texts and drives or may have witnessed other drivers doing the same thing.  Even though a text message may only take a few seconds to type, research has shown that taking your eyes off the road for a mere three seconds can significantly increase your chance of being involved in a New York car accident.

Several states have already enacted laws that ban drivers from texting and driving.  According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, New York will join these states in banning texting and driving, as of November 1, 2009.

There have been various studies that have looked into the dangers of text messaging.  One study found that people were more distracted when writing a text message than reading one and that drivers had slower reaction times to road hazards.

One of the most notorious cases involving texting is the New York car accident that killed five high school girls.  These girls were riding together when their car hit a tractor-trailer head on.  It is believed that the crash was caused by texting.

If you have been injured in a car accident in New York and you believe that the other driver was to blame, you need to contact a New York car accident lawyer at Rappaport, Glass, Greene & Levine at (800) 734-9445.

Roof Strength Plays a Factor in Rollover Accidents

The strength of your roof can make the difference of the severity of injuries you may sustain in a rollover accident.  Safety advocates have been making the case that the requirements for roof strength need to be tightened.  This argument has been made following the thousands of deaths that have resulted from rollover accidents across the country.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has a test that they use for roof strength, but the standard was set in 1973.  Currently, the standard requires that vehicles have roofs that are strong enough to withstand 1 ½ times the vehicle’s weight.  The NHTSA has thought about increasing the standard to 2 ½ times.

The managing editor for Consumer Reports has made a statement that the NHTSA needs to create a dynamic rollover test that would include such safety features as curtain airbags, seat belt pre-tensioners and other rollover protection devices.

Rollover accidents have become a major problem as more people are driving SUVs, trucks and vans.  It is estimated that nearly 10,000 people die in rollovers every year and 24,000 people are injured.

If you have been injured in a New York rollover accident, you need to contact a New York car accident lawyer at the law firm of Rappaport, Glass, Greene and Levine at 800.734.9445.  You may be able to recover compensation for your injuries.