Parker Waichman LLP has an extensive car accident practice, helping injured people receive the compensation they need to move forward. Car accidents frequently occur in Westchester County, and many of these accidents lead to severe injuries.
Traffic accidents lead to approximately two deaths, 25 hospitalizations, and 330 emergency room visits every month in Westchester County. Driver negligence causes nearly all of these accidents, but dangerous stretches of road and hazardous intersections also contribute to the problem in Westchester County. Inside the country, the following roads and intersections are particularly dangerous, based on the number of annual accidents:
- Taconic State Parkway
- Route 9A
- Route 6
- Saw Mill River Parkway
- Cross Country Parkway
- Intersection of Route 22 and Cross Westchester Expressway
- Intersection of Commerce and Elmwood Avenue
- Intersection of Elmwood Avenue and Route 141
- Intersection of Route 9A and North State Road
- Intersection of Route 202 and Route 35
- Intersection of Maple Avenue and Bloomingdale Road
These roads and intersections are more dangerous than others in the country because of conditions like lack of traffic lights and stop signs, blind spots for drivers, faded lane lines, and lack of turn lanes. Drivers become confused about merging or driving on the roads, do not use appropriate caution at intersections, and cannot see cars coming as they turn. All of these factors lead to numerous accidents and serious injuries.
In particular, Taconic State Parkway is highly dangerous. It is known as the Deadliest Road in New York, having been the site of the deadliest accidents (having the highest number of fatalities) in the state's history. Our firm represents people injured in car accidents on these roads and across Westchester County. If you have a potential Westchester County accident case, contact our office today for a free case consultation. Our skilled personal injury attorneys will perform a complete review of your claims to determine the best legal options for you.
No-Fault Law Considerations
If you suffered car accident injuries in Westchester County, you would need to take into account New York's No-Fault Law when you seek reimbursement for your damages. The No-Fault Law mandates that you seek reimbursement of your economic losses from your own automobile insurance carrier following an injury accident in the state, regardless of who caused the accident.
Economic loss includes medical bills and lost wages or lost income pertaining to your injuries. Your own insurance will cover these costs from your accident but no more. You cannot seek non-economic damages (pain and suffering, loss of consortium) from your insurance carrier. However, if you are seriously injured, you might be able to file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver for damages beyond those covered under the No-Fault Law.
"Serious" injuries under the law include physical harms like disfigurement, dismemberment, full disability, and bone fracture. Injured people often cannot determine whether they qualify for a lawsuit, however, because the law is not abundantly clear as to which injuries are serious enough. But if you forego the filing of a lawsuit, you are potentially giving up valuable compensation that you truly deserve. A lawyer skilled in car accident litigation can help you navigate the No-Fault Law and determine your best legal options between the law and the court system.
Parker Waichman has extensive experience in Westchester County accident claims, and we fight for our clients' rights to full compensation. We understand the nuances of the No-Fault Law and can help you figure out whether you are able to file a lawsuit in court. Call our firm today to speak to one of our attorneys about your Westchester County, New York auto accident claims. We offer a free, no-obligation consultation and are prepared to begin your case review today.
Statutes of Limitations on Westchester Accident Cases
In addition to the No-Fault Law, you have to consider statutes of limitations applicable to your Westchester County car accident case. All legal claims are governed by state statutes of limitations, which are essentially filing deadlines for claims in court. The deadlines vary by state, by claim type, and by damages. If you miss your claim's deadline and do not timely file your case in court, you will potentially never have the ability to file it. Even if you have an extremely strong case, a missed statute of limitations can completely extinguish your legal rights.
Generally, in New York (including Westchester County), the statute of limitations on car accident claims is three years. That said, many factors can change the determination of your own filing deadline. Moreover, the statute of limitations is not the same as the deadline to submit claims to your insurance carrier in accordance with the No-Fault Law. This deadline is usually significantly shorter. It is therefore extremely important that you hire an experienced lawyer to make sure you are working with all of the right deadlines for your unique claim. Failure to meet any deadline can be tremendously costly. Parker Waichman is extremely diligent at identifying and meeting all deadlines in our clients' cases.
We understand the enormous risks of overlooking or incorrectly calculating the statute of limitations or No-Fault deadline, so we always make sure to perform a thorough investigation to assign the right dates to every case. Contact our Westchester County auto accident law firm today to discuss your car accident case with our Westchester County attorneys and to ask about your statute of limitations.
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