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A devastating crash on Sunrise Highway in Massapequa is a tragic reminder of how quickly alleged speeding and drug-impaired driving can destroy lives. According to reports summarized in the source material, a father and two children were killed after a driver allegedly traveling at more than 120 mph while under the influence of cocaine and fentanyl struck their SUV. Two other children were critically injured, while another survived with minor injuries.
Although this collision occurred on Long Island, the dangers it illustrates are relevant to drivers throughout Westchester County, White Plains, Yonkers, the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn and the greater New York City metropolitan area.
When reckless or impaired driving causes a serious collision, victims and their families may face overwhelming medical expenses, lost income, long-term disabilities and emotional trauma. An experienced car accident lawyer can investigate what happened, identify potentially responsible parties and pursue compensation available under New York law.
Extreme Speed Can Turn a Crash Into a Catastrophe
Speed affects much more than whether a driver receives a traffic ticket. As speed increases, drivers have less time to recognize danger and react. The forces involved in a collision also become dramatically more severe.
Drivers throughout Westchester regularly travel heavily trafficked roads such as I-287, I-684, the Hutchinson River Parkway, Saw Mill River Parkway, Bronx River Parkway and Route 9A. Farther south, motorists encounter dense traffic on the Cross Bronx Expressway, Major Deegan Expressway and other major New York City routes.
Whether a collision occurs on a highway, parkway or neighborhood street, excessive speed can contribute to catastrophic injuries and fatalities.
Drug-Impaired Driving Creates Serious Risks
Illegal drugs and certain medications can interfere with judgment, reaction time, coordination and a driver’s ability to recognize hazards.
Combining impairment with excessive speed can make an already dangerous situation considerably worse. A driver may fail to notice stopped traffic, misjudge the distance to another vehicle, lose control while changing lanes or be unable to react to changing roadway conditions.
For innocent motorists and passengers, there may be little opportunity to avoid the resulting collision.
What Should You Do After a Serious Car Accident?
The moments and days following a major collision can be confusing. Your health should come first. Seek appropriate medical treatment and follow the recommendations of your healthcare providers.
When circumstances permit, accident victims should also preserve information that may later become important, including photographs or video of the vehicles and crash scene, witness contact information, police-report information, medical records and bills, and documentation concerning missed work.
Serious accident investigations may also involve surveillance footage, vehicle data, cellphone records, toxicology evidence, witness testimony and accident reconstruction.
Evidence can disappear with time, which is one reason contacting a personal injury attorney promptly after a serious collision can be important.
Who May Be Responsible for a New York Car Accident?
Every accident is different. Depending on the circumstances, responsibility may extend beyond the person behind the wheel.
A car accident claim may involve a negligent driver, a vehicle owner, an employer whose employee was driving in the course of employment, a commercial transportation company or other parties whose conduct contributed to the collision.
An experienced attorney can investigate the evidence and determine which parties and insurance policies may apply.
Serious Injuries Can Have Long-Term Consequences
High-impact motor vehicle accidents can result in spinal injuries, fractures, traumatic brain injuries, internal injuries and other conditions requiring surgery or extensive rehabilitation.
The financial consequences can continue long after someone leaves the hospital. Depending on the facts and applicable law, compensation may address medical expenses, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering and other accident-related losses.
Fatal accidents can also create potential wrongful-death claims for surviving family members. The damages available depend on the particular circumstances and New York law.
35 Years of Trial Experience Representing Injured New Yorkers
The Law Offices of Norman Gershon represents people injured in motor vehicle accidents and other personal injury matters throughout Westchester County and New York City.
Norman Gershon has 35 years of trial experience and has recovered tens of millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for injured clients.
His documented motor-vehicle results include:
- $16.5 million verdict — automobile passenger injured in a collision with a bus.
- $5.445 million verdict — motor vehicle accident involving cervical and lumbar fusion injuries.
- $5.068 million verdict — sideswipe motor vehicle accident involving a cervical fusion.
- $3.75 million verdict — motor vehicle accident involving a lumbar spine injury and fusion.
- $3 million verdict — motor vehicle accident involving a lumbar spine injury and fusion.
- $2.5 million verdict in Westchester Supreme Court — motor vehicle intersection accident involving cervical disc herniations and fusion.
Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome in another case. Every personal injury claim depends upon its individual facts, injuries, evidence and applicable law.
The Trial Lawyer Other Attorneys Call for Tough Cases
Norman has developed a reputation throughout the tri-state area as a go-to trial lawyer for difficult personal injury cases.
His approach is built around preparation, attention to detail and the willingness to take a case into the courtroom when necessary. That trial experience can be especially important when an insurance company disputes responsibility, minimizes an injury or refuses to offer compensation that fairly reflects a client’s losses.
Clients have also described Norman as thorough, responsive, compassionate and highly prepared. One former client said he was “thorough, well prepared,” while another praised the personal attention and communication received throughout the case.
Looking for a Car Accident Lawyer in Westchester County or NYC?
A serious crash can leave an injured person facing medical treatment, insurance companies and financial uncertainty at the same time.
If you or a family member has been injured because of another driver’s negligence, the Law Offices of Norman Gershon can evaluate the circumstances of the accident and explain the legal options that may be available.
With decades of courtroom experience representing injured New Yorkers, Norman Gershon serves clients throughout White Plains, Westchester County, Yonkers, New Rochelle, the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn and the surrounding New York metropolitan area.
When the stakes are high, experience in the courtroom matters.
Put 35 years of trial experience to work for you. Contact the Law Offices of Norman Gershon to discuss your car accident or personal injury case.
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