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Westchester County offers some of the most beautiful stretches of roadway in New York — yet it is also home to some of the state’s most dangerous traffic corridors. As a car accident lawyer with more than 35 years of trial experience, I have represented countless clients injured on these very roads. Understanding why certain roads are more hazardous can help drivers stay alert — and help injured victims understand their legal options when a crash turns their life upside down.
Below is a detailed look at Westchester’s most dangerous roadways, why accidents happen there, and how choosing the right lawyer can make all the difference.
1. Taconic State Parkway: One of the Most Dangerous Roads in New York
The Taconic State Parkway has long been known for:
- Narrow lanes
- Tight curves
- Poor lighting
- Heavy weekend and commuter traffic
- Limited shoulders
The Taconic is particularly treacherous through Hawthorne, Yorktown, Valhalla, and Pleasantville, where sudden merging, speed changes, and winding turns create a perfect storm for catastrophic accidents.
Many of the most severe crashes on the Taconic involve:
- High-speed impacts
- Rollover collisions
- Side-swipes during lane merges
- Tree impacts due to minimal shoulder area
When a serious injury occurs on the Taconic, liability disputes often involve questions of visibility, road design, driver behavior, and sometimes municipal responsibility. A lawyer who understands these nuances — and who has actually tried motor vehicle cases in Westchester Supreme Court — is essential.
2. The Bronx River Parkway: Historic, Scenic, and High-Risk
Stretching from Yonkers through White Plains, the Bronx River Parkway is:
- Narrower than modern parkways
- Frequently congested
- Prone to flooding
- Known for abrupt curves and short on-ramps
Rear-end collisions, side-swipe crashes, and multi-car pileups are common — particularly near:
- The Scarsdale exits
- White Plains interchange
- Bronx/Yonkers border
Injured drivers are often left dealing with spine injuries, head trauma, or long-term orthopedic damage — injuries Norman has litigated successfully for decades.
3. I-287 (Cross-Westchester Expressway): Heavy Commercial Traffic, High-Speed Crashes
Running straight through White Plains, I-287 combines:
- Tractor-trailer congestion
- High commuter volume
- Ongoing construction zones
- Short merging lanes
Accidents here frequently involve:
- Truck collisions
- High-speed rear-end crashes
- Lane-change impacts
- Multi-lane chain reactions
Because commercial vehicle accidents often involve corporate defendants and aggressive insurance carriers, these cases demand a battle-tested trial lawyer—not a negotiator.
4. Hutchinson River Parkway: Tight Lanes & Sudden Merges
Known locally as “The Hutch,” this parkway funnels commuters between Westchester and NYC. Accidents spike near:
- Pelham
- Mount Vernon
- Eastchester
- The ramps leading into the Cross County Parkway
Old roadway geometry combined with modern traffic levels creates enormous hazard — especially in wet or icy weather.
5. The Saw Mill River Parkway: Scenic but Unforgiving
Running parallel to the Bronx River Parkway, the Saw Mill is notorious for:
- Flooding
- Curve-heavy stretches
- Wildlife crossings
- Limited visibility under thick tree cover
Accidents here often involve single-vehicle crashes or abrupt collision sequences caused by sudden braking and hydroplaning.0000
How Norman Gershon Helps Injured Victims on These Roads
When you’re seriously injured — whether on the Taconic, Hutch, Saw Mill, or I-287 — the road to recovery involves more than medical treatment. You need an advocate who knows:
- How NY accident reconstruction works
- How Westchester judges and juries evaluate negligence
- How insurance companies minimize injuries
- How to win complex intersection, highway, and multi-vehicle cases
This is where Norman’s 35+ years of trial experience and record of tens of millions recovered become invaluable.
Proven Case Results in Motor Vehicle Accidents
Norman has secured verdicts and settlements including:
- $3,000,000 – Motor vehicle accident, lumbar fusion (Bronx)
- $3,750,000 – Motor vehicle accident, lumbar fusion (Bronx)
- $5,445,000 – Motor vehicle crash, cervical/lumbar fusions (Kings)
- $5,068,000 – Sideswipe accident with cervical fusion (Queens)
- $2,500,000 – Westchester intersection crash resulting in cervical spine fusion
These cases demonstrate not only trial skill but deep knowledge of roadway design, accident mechanics, and the strategies defendants use in high-stakes litigation.
What Clients Say About Working With Norman
Real clients describe him as:
- “Smart, experienced, compassionate, tough.” — Michael Benowich
- “A bigger settlement than I expected.” — Nancy Joyce
- “His line of questioning flowed so seamlessly… like watching Law & Order.” — L. Miller
- “A beast in the courtroom.” — R. Dessasore
These testimonials highlight the quality of representation injured drivers receive when the case truly matters.
Legal Advice for Anyone Injured on Westchester’s Dangerous Roads
1. Get medical care immediately — even if you feel “okay.”
Symptoms often worsen over hours or days.
2. Document everything.
Photos, weather, traffic conditions, road defects, police reports — all matter.
3. Don’t speak to the insurance company before speaking with a lawyer.
Adjusters are trained to downplay injury severity.
4. Choose a lawyer with real trial experience.
Insurers know Norman’s reputation — and that he will take a case to verdict if necessary. That alone can influence settlement value.
Final Takeaway: Dangerous Roads Require a Powerful Advocate
Whether your accident happened on the Taconic, Bronx River Parkway, Saw Mill, Hutch, or I-287, you deserve a lawyer who knows these roads, understands the accident patterns, and can fight aggressively for the compensation you need.
With more than 35 years as a premier car accident lawyer, Norman Gershon is the attorney other lawyers call for their toughest cases — and the advocate injured New Yorkers trust when everything is on the line.
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