A car crash in Washington Heights can be a jarring experience that leaves you with physical injuries, emotional distress, and a variety of economic damages. A Washington Heights car accident lawyer at Omni Injury and Accident Law can help you pursue your civil litigation claims and help you be made whole for your damages. They can be reached at 646-505-0404.
While hiring a lawyer may not be your first thought after an accident, oftentimes, you need quality legal representation to help you recover all the damages you are entitled to, protect your rights, and preserve evidence from the accident scene.
How Can a Washington Heights Car Accident Attorney Help You?
If you are injured in a car accident by a negligent or reckless driver in Washington Heights, an attorney at Omni Law can help you in a variety of ways including:
Case evaluation to determine the compensation you may be entitled to.
Helping to establish liability of the at-fault party through an accident investigation and accident reconstruction.
Filing a claim with your insurance company
Helping with settlement negotiations with insurance adjusters to get you the compensation you deserve, not just what the insurance claims adjuster wants to pay.
If the insurance company won’t offer you a fair settlement, they will develop a legal strategy to file a personal injury lawsuit in court and use their trial experience to represent you to verdict, if necessary, to get the compensation you are entitled to.
If you are ready to take legal action, do not hesitate to contact one of our Washington Heights personal injury lawyers for a free consultation. We can perform an accident investigation to build a solid foundation for your claims.
What To Do After a Car Accident in Washington Heights?
After a traffic collision, there are some things a Washington Heights car accident attorney might recommend doing to help you prevail on a legal claim including:
If you or anyone else is injured, contact emergency services and get treatment. Be sure to keep copies of your medical records and medical bills to use for your claim.
Call the police if you were in a hit and run situation, another party refuses to exchange insurance information, or if there is a disagreement on fault or negligence.
Even if you do not have to call the police immediately, file a police report. Police reports can be useful in legal claims.
Engage in accident scene documentation, taking photos and witness statements that can be used later on for your no-fault insurance.
Contact an attorney as soon as possible.
Common Car Accident Injuries in Washington Heights
Some of the most common car accident injuries in Washington Heights include:
Whiplash – whiplash is a bodily injury to the neck caused by a sudden forceful movement of the head and neck which commonly occurs in a car accident. It can lead to pain and stiffness.
Sprains and strains – a sprain occurs when a ligament is stretched beyond its normal range or partially torn while a strain is when a muscle or tendon is stretched or torn. Both can lead to pain and limited mobility.
Soft tissue injuries – these injuries are damage to muscles, ligaments, tendons and fascia and can be caused by trauma, overuse, or blunt force and can lead to pain, bruising, and swelling.
Broken bones – a broken bone or fracture occurs when a bone splits or breaks due to excess force such as the trauma from a car accident, most common in head-on collision and motorcycle accident, and can lead to extreme pain and inability to move the affected area.
A spinal cord injury – spinal cord injuries occur when there is damage to the spinal nerves that transmit signals between the brain and the rest of the body and can lead to loss of bodily functions to areas below the injury.
Traumatic Brain Injury – these cause brain damage from an external force such as a blow and lead to loss of convenience in the immediate turn and the loss of the ability to function in life in the long-term.
Concussions – a mild traumatic brain injury caused by the brain being jolted or shaken that can lead to headaches, nausea, confusion, and memory problems.
Herniated disc – trauma can lead to fluid being pushed out of the spinal disc causing pressure on the nerves which can cause pain, numbness, and muscle spasms.
Internal bleeding and organ damage – also known as an internal hemorrhage and occurs when the blood vessels are damaged and blood leaks out leading to pain, swelling, bruising, dizziness, and fatigue.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in Washington Heights
Some of the most common causes of motor vehicle accidents in Washington Heights include:
Distracted Driving – using a phone, eating, or doing anything else that takes away from the driver’s attention increases the risk of a car accident.
Reckless driving and speeding – driving recklessly and speeding increases the risk of an accident and the risk of serious injuries occurring.
Intersections – intersections are one of the most common places that accidents occur and frequently result in T-bone accidents and pedestrian accidents especially when a driver is distracted or impaired.
Failure to yield – Washington Heights is a busy place in Manhattan and, as such, drivers are more likely to hit pedestrians crossing the road.
Impaired Driving – High or drunk driving can result in lower reaction times and riskier driving tactics making it more likely that an accident occurs.
Fatigue – drowsy driving can result in lower reaction times and poor-decision making, increasing the risk of a driver causing an accident such as hitting a pedestrian in a crosswalk.
Vehicle Malfunctions – brake failures, loss of steering, and tire blowouts can lead to a driver being unable to stop or steer, making an accident almost inevitable.
Poor Weather Conditions – snow, fog, rain, and ice can reduce visibility and make the road slick, making it harder to drive and increasing the risk of an accident.
What Types of Damages Can Car Accident Victims Recover in Washington Heights
A person can recover a variety of damages for car or truck accidents including:
Economic Damages – this can include the damage recovery for medical expenses including rehabilitation costs and long-term care costs. This can also include other accident-related expenses such as property damage and lost wages from the inability to work.
Non-Economic Damages – these damages are designed to compensate a person for things such as pain and suffering and quality of life impact.
Punitive Damages – these are designed to punish an at-fault party for egregious conduct. These are only awarded under special circumstances where the at-fault party acted in an extremely reckless or egregious manner.
How Much Is My Washington Heights Car Accident Claim Worth?
The value of your car accident claim can be dependent on a variety of factors such as the extent of your injuries, your economic damages, and the at-fault party’s conduct. New York is also a comparative negligence state so your claim could be reduced if you were partially at fault for your crash such as in multi-vehicle crashes.
Statute of Limitations for A Car Accident Claim in Washington Heights
The statute of limitations for personal injury claims, such as car accidents, is typically three years after the date the injury occurred with some exceptions like wrongful death claims which have a two-year statute of limitations.
This is why it is important to contact a car accident lawyer in Washington Heights soon after your accident so they can get to work investigating the accident, negotiating a fair settlement with the insurance company, and, if a settlement cannot be reached, file a claim in court within the statute of limitations.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Washington Heights Car Accident Lawyer?
Personal injury lawyers typically work on a contingency fee basis meaning that you do not have to pay upfront for a Washington Heights auto accident lawyer and the lawyer receives a percentage of the recovery only if your claim is successful and there is a recovery. The typical contingency fee charged in New York is around 33% of the total recovery.
This means that you don’t have to worry about your ability to pay up-front or throughout the progression of the case. Plus, most lawyers offer a free consultation where you can learn more about the merits of your case and what the value of your claim may be.
Need Legal Help? Contact a Washington Heights Car Accident Lawyer Today!
If you need legal help after a car accident, including rear-end collisions, the legal team at Omni Injury & Accident Law can help you recover the damages that you are entitled to. They will work tirelessly to negotiate with insurance companies and take your claim to court if necessary. Contact Omni Injury & Accident Law today to set up a free consultation with a Washington Heights car accident lawyer to find out more about your claim.
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