Listen to our podcast
A deadly wrong-way crash on Long Island over Labor Day serves as another devastating reminder of how quickly a serious driving mistake can turn into a fatal collision.
According to the source report, a wrong-way driver was involved in a head-on crash that killed one person and caused major Labor Day traffic disruptions. While the incident occurred on Long Island, wrong-way accidents are a danger throughout New York, including Westchester County, White Plains, Yonkers, the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, and surrounding communities.
For motorists traveling throughout the New York metropolitan area, a vehicle coming toward traffic from the wrong direction can leave almost no time to react. Head-on collisions can be particularly destructive because the forces generated by two vehicles traveling toward each other can result in catastrophic injuries.
For victims and families affected by a serious collision, speaking with an experienced car accident lawyer can be an important step toward determining what happened, who may be legally responsible, and what compensation may be available.
Why Wrong-Way Accidents Can Be So Dangerous
Wrong-way crashes may occur when a driver mistakenly enters a highway using an exit ramp, misses or misunderstands traffic signs, becomes confused at an unfamiliar intersection, or otherwise travels against the proper flow of traffic.
Impaired driving, fatigue, distraction, poor visibility, unfamiliar roads, and nighttime conditions can potentially increase the risk.
The consequences can be severe because a driver traveling normally may suddenly find another vehicle approaching head-on.
Potential injuries from a high-impact collision can include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord and back injuries
- Herniated or damaged discs
- Broken bones
- Internal injuries
- Neck and shoulder injuries
- Permanent disabilities
- Fatal injuries
Even survivors may face surgeries, rehabilitation, lost income, chronic pain, and substantial medical expenses.
Wrong-Way Driving Is a Concern in Westchester County and NYC
Drivers throughout Westchester County regularly navigate major highways and parkways, including I-287, I-684, the Saw Mill River Parkway, Hutchinson River Parkway, Bronx River Parkway and I-87.
Travel south from communities such as White Plains, Harrison, New Rochelle and Mount Vernon, and motorists quickly encounter the heavily traveled road network connecting Westchester with Yonkers, the Bronx and New York City.
Interchanges, entrance and exit ramps, nighttime driving, construction zones and unfamiliar roadway configurations all demand a driver’s full attention.
Drivers should pay close attention to ONE WAY, DO NOT ENTER and WRONG WAY signs, particularly when entering highways or navigating unfamiliar areas.
If you realize you have entered a roadway incorrectly, do not continue driving in the hope of finding the next exit. Slow down, move out of active traffic when it is safe to do so, activate your hazard lights, and contact emergency services for assistance when necessary.
What Should You Do If You See a Wrong-Way Driver?
If you encounter a vehicle traveling toward you in the wrong direction, your immediate priority is avoiding a collision.
Reduce your speed when it is safe, create as much distance as possible and move away from the approaching vehicle’s path without making a maneuver that creates another hazard. Use your horn or headlights when appropriate to alert the other driver.
Once you are safely out of danger, contact 911 and provide the road, direction of travel, vehicle description and approximate location if you can do so safely.
Never attempt to follow or stop a wrong-way driver yourself.
What Happens After a Serious Head-On Collision?
Determining liability after a serious crash requires more than simply looking at the damaged vehicles.
An investigation may involve reviewing police reports, witness statements, photographs, video surveillance, vehicle damage, electronic data, medical records and other evidence. When alcohol or drugs are suspected, toxicology evidence may also become important.
In complicated cases, additional questions may arise regarding roadway design, signage, commercial vehicle ownership or other potentially responsible parties.
This is one reason why contacting an experienced Westchester County car accident lawyer soon after a serious collision can matter. Important evidence can disappear, memories can fade, and insurance companies may begin investigating immediately.
Compensation After a Serious New York Car Accident
Every accident is different, and no particular outcome can be guaranteed. Depending on the facts and injuries involved, an injured person may potentially pursue compensation for losses such as medical expenses, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, and other damages permitted under New York law.
When a collision results in death, surviving family members may also have legal rights that should be evaluated by an attorney experienced with serious and fatal accident claims.
35 Years of Trial Experience Fighting for Injured New Yorkers
The Law Offices of Norman Gershon represents personal injury victims throughout the New York City metropolitan area and surrounding counties.
Norman Gershon has 35 years of trial experience and has recovered tens of millions of dollars in personal injury verdicts and settlements. He is known throughout the tri-state area as a go-to trial lawyer for difficult cases—the attorney other lawyers call when they need someone prepared to take a tough case to trial.
His reported motor-vehicle results include a $16.5 million verdict for an automobile passenger injured in a collision with a bus, a $5.068 million verdict involving a motor-vehicle sideswipe accident, and a $2.5 million Westchester Supreme Court verdict involving a motor-vehicle intersection accident.
Those past results do not guarantee the outcome of any future case, but they demonstrate the level of experience Norman brings to serious personal injury litigation.
Clients Describe a Lawyer Who Is Prepared for Trial
Norman’s clients consistently describe his preparation, communication and courtroom ability.
One New York client described him as “thorough, well prepared” and praised his professional courtroom demeanor. A Queens client credited Norman’s skills with helping win the case, while another client described him as a lawyer who was relentless about covering every detail of a difficult case.
That preparation can become especially important when an insurance company refuses to offer fair compensation and a case needs to be taken into the courtroom.
Looking for a Car Accident Lawyer in Westchester County or NYC?
A devastating accident can leave victims facing medical treatment, time away from work, financial uncertainty and difficult questions about what happens next.
If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in a head-on collision, wrong-way accident or other motor vehicle crash, the Law Offices of Norman Gershon can evaluate the circumstances of your case and explain your legal options.
With decades of courtroom experience representing injured New Yorkers, Norman Gershon fights to protect his clients when the stakes are highest.
Whether your accident occurred in White Plains, Yonkers, New Rochelle, elsewhere in Westchester County, the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn or another part of the New York metropolitan area, experienced legal representation can make a critical difference in how your claim is investigated and presented.
Put 35 years of trial experience to work for you. Contact the Law Offices of Norman Gershon to discuss your New York car accident case.
Recent Comments