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Car accidents happen every day across New York, but not every collision is truly an accident.
A recent criminal case involving staged crashes on New York City highways highlights an unusual but serious danger facing motorists. According to the source report, Jaime Huiracocha, 53, and Victor Murillo, 34, pleaded guilty to charges connected with a series of staged collisions carried out on New York City highways between August and October 2024. Prosecutors alleged that participants were recruited and promised thousands of dollars to take part in deliberately orchestrated crashes.
For drivers throughout Westchester County, White Plains, Yonkers, the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens and the rest of New York City, the case is another reminder that determining exactly how and why a collision occurred can be critical.
If you have been injured because of another person’s actions, an experienced car accident lawyer can investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash, preserve important evidence and fight to protect your rights.
Staged Accidents Can Make an Already Complicated Situation Worse
Most motorists assume a crash is the result of speeding, distracted driving, following too closely, an unsafe lane change or another driving mistake.
A staged collision is different.
In these situations, participants may deliberately create circumstances designed to cause a crash or make an innocent driver appear responsible. According to prosecutors in the case described above, participants were allegedly recruited for three staged collisions and offered money for taking part.
For an unsuspecting motorist, however, the aftermath can look like any other accident: damaged vehicles, injuries, police reports, insurance claims and conflicting accounts of what happened.
That is one reason evidence can become extremely important after a serious New York car accident.
What Should You Do After a Suspicious Car Accident?
Whether a collision occurs on I-287 in Westchester County, the Saw Mill River Parkway, Bronx River Parkway, Hutchinson River Parkway, I-684 or a congested roadway heading into New York City, drivers should take reasonable steps to protect themselves following a crash.
When circumstances allow, consider:
- Calling the police and reporting the collision.
- Seeking medical attention for injuries.
- Photographing vehicle damage and the accident scene.
- Recording the locations of the vehicles.
- Photographing skid marks, traffic signals, road signs and other relevant conditions.
- Obtaining contact information from witnesses.
- Saving dash-camera footage.
- Avoiding speculation about fault at the scene.
- Reporting unusual or suspicious behavior to investigating authorities.
- Speaking with an experienced New York car accident lawyer before making important decisions about an injury claim.
Evidence that seems insignificant immediately after a collision may become important later.
Why Investigating a Car Accident Matters
Serious accident cases can involve much more than reviewing a police report.
An attorney may need to examine photographs, video surveillance, dash-camera recordings, witness statements, vehicle damage, medical records and other available evidence to reconstruct what occurred.
In complicated cases, identifying inconsistencies between the physical evidence and the accounts provided by the people involved may also be important.
This is particularly relevant in densely traveled areas such as White Plains, Yonkers, New Rochelle, Mount Vernon and the Bronx, where multiple vehicles, commercial traffic, intersections and highway congestion can make determining responsibility more complicated.
Injured in a Westchester County or NYC Car Accident?
The Law Offices of Norman Gershon represents people injured in motor vehicle accidents throughout the New York City metropolitan area and surrounding counties.
Norman Gershon brings 35 years of trial experience to personal injury cases and has recovered tens of millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for clients. He is known throughout the tri-state area as a go-to trial lawyer for difficult cases.
His motor vehicle results include substantial verdicts and settlements in New York courts.
In Yurkovic v. Cepin, a Westchester Supreme Court motor vehicle intersection case involving cervical disc herniations and fusion resulted in a $2.5 million verdict.
Other results listed by the firm include a $5.445 million verdict in Mungo v. Traviseo et al. involving cervical and lumbar fusions and a $5.068 million verdict in Young v. Bal and Nissan Lift of NY, a sideswipe accident involving cervical fusion.
Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome in another case, but they demonstrate the level of experience that can matter when a serious injury claim is disputed or ultimately must be tried.
The Attorney Other Lawyers Call for Tough Cases
Car accident claims can become complicated quickly. Insurance companies may challenge liability, dispute the seriousness of an injury or argue that the injured person contributed to the collision.
That makes preparation especially important.
Norman Gershon’s clients have repeatedly described his thoroughness, courtroom preparation and commitment to their cases. One former client described him as “thorough, well prepared” and praised his courtroom demeanor, while another said he was relentless in investigating a difficult case and achieved a better outcome than expected. Norman is the attorney other lawyers call to try their toughest cases.
Speak With a Car Accident Lawyer Serving Westchester County and NYC
Whether your accident was an ordinary collision or there is something about the circumstances that simply does not make sense, you deserve to know what happened and who may be legally responsible.
The Law Offices of Norman Gershon represents accident victims throughout White Plains, Westchester County, Yonkers, New Rochelle, the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn and surrounding New York communities.
If another driver’s negligence has left you injured, don’t assume the insurance company’s version of the accident tells the whole story.
Put 35 years of trial experience to work for you.
Contact the Law Offices of Norman Gershon to discuss your accident and learn about your legal options with an experienced Westchester County and New York City car accident lawyer.
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