Harlem’s rich culture and unique attractions bring many visitors to the neighborhood daily. Although small in geographical size, Harlem is also home to over 200,000 residents. With so many people packed into a small area, car crashes are common.
Car accidents in Harlem don’t only harm drivers and passengers; they can also injure or kill pedestrians and cyclists. A car crash often leaves lives devastated and victims not knowing where to turn for help. Cellino Law provides assistance to injured New Yorkers daily.
What Kinds of Injuries Are Common in Car Crashes?
Every collision is different, and the types and severity of injuries can vary widely. Common injuries include:
- Soft tissue damage
- Scrapes, cuts, and bruises
- Head, neck, back, and chest injuries
- Broken bones
Pedestrians and cyclists aren’t adequately protected if a car hits them, and their injuries are usually more severe. Depending on the pedestrian’s height, cars typically initially hit the victim’s legs or hips. Secondary wounds come from the victim’s head hitting the hood of the car and being thrown onto the pavement.
Car crash victims can face staggering expenses and suffering. Personal injury protection insurance pays some of these expenses, but it may not cover everything. A Harlem Manhattan car crash lawyer from Cellino Law can help you get the compensation you deserve.
What Compensation Is Available?
Injured car crash victims may qualify to seek three kinds of damages in New York. When you call Cellino Law for your free case review, we can tell you what damages you’re eligible to seek and how much compensation you may receive.
Economic Damages
Car crash victims have many expenses directly caused by their resulting injuries and property damage. Economic damages reimburse for things like:
- Medical: treatments, hospital stays, medications, rehabilitation, and necessary medical equipment
- Lost wages: pay that’s lost during recovery
- Replacement services: costs of hiring caregivers or people to perform tasks you’re unable to do due to your injuries
- Property damage: repair or replacement costs for your vehicle (if applicable) and belongings damaged in the crash
Keep your invoices and receipts for all accident-related expenses. Your car crash lawyer will use them to ensure that you receive appropriate reimbursement. If you experience severe injuries and need long-term medical treatments and an extended period away from work, you can request compensation for these future losses as well.
Non-Economic Damages
Car crashes can cause more than physical injuries. Victims may carry lingering effects, and non-economic damages attempt to compensate. Eligible conditions include:
- PTSD, anxiety, and depression
- Pain and suffering
- Losing the ability to enjoy life fully
- Disfigurement
- Disability
The amount of non-economic compensation you may receive relates to how severely these issues impact your life.
Punitive Damages
Injured victims may receive punitive damages when guilty parties exhibit malicious or remarkably reckless behavior resulting in a car crash. Few cases qualify.
Why Do You Need a Car Crash Lawyer?
You can handle your insurance claim alone. However, insurance companies are notorious for not offering reasonable compensation to injured car accident victims. People without legal representation typically receive much less than those who hire an attorney.
You need to focus your time and energy on recovering from your injuries. Besides ensuring that you receive fair compensation, your Cellino Law legal team will also handle many other necessary tasks related to your accident claim. We will:
- Offer information and legal options
- File your insurance claim and other required paperwork
- Handle all communications with insurance companies
- Investigate your accident
- Negotiate a fair settlement offer or take your case to court
Whether you’re a driver, passenger, pedestrian, or cyclist, an experienced car crash lawyer will fight to protect your rights. Cellino Law only handles personal injury cases, so our team understands the laws governing them. Car crash claims can have complications that you may be unable to manage without assistance.
What Do Harlem Manhattan Car Crash Statistics Show?
In February 2023, 459 people sustained injuries, and two died in car accidents in Manhattan. 283 of those people were inside motor vehicles, while the remaining 178 were cyclists and pedestrians. The most common contributing factors to these accidents were:
- Driver inattention or distraction
- Following too closely
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Improper passing or lane usage
- Passing too closely
All of these actions fall under driver error. Many collisions are likely due to drivers becoming frustrated with congested streets and slow traffic. Sadly, most of these crashes were probably avoidable. Regardless of the reasons behind these accidents, the victims are left to pick up the pieces of their lives and deserve compensation.
What Is Driver Error?
Driver error describes a wide variety of mistaken behaviors drivers commit while behind the wheel of a moving car. Some form of driver error causes the majority of car crashes. In addition to the errors already mentioned, others include:
- Speeding
- Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Failing to follow traffic laws and signals
- Making incorrect assumptions
Driver error is negligent behavior, which is the basis for most personal injury cases. An experienced car crash lawyer from Cellino Law can help injured victims with their claims.
What Is Negligence?
Legally, negligence is failing to take reasonable care to prevent harming others. When a person gets behind the wheel of a car, they have a duty of care to exercise safe driving practices. To establish negligence in a car crash case, you must prove that:
- The responsible driver owed you a duty of care
- The driver failed to provide that duty of care
- The failure caused a crash
- You sustained injuries or other damages in the crash
Proving a person’s negligence is sometimes challenging. You’ll need to investigate the accident and gather evidence. Let Cellino Law do that for you.
What If You’re Partially Responsible for the Collision?
New York accident cases use pure comparative negligence rules when more than one party is at fault for causing a car crash. Victims can seek compensation even if they are 99% to blame for causing an accident using these rules. However, all responsible parties are also liable to pay a portion of the damages.
The higher your assigned degree of fault, the more damages you must pay and the less you can receive. Suppose you’re 20% at fault for causing a collision. You’re liable to pay 20% of the damages, but you can seek compensation for the remaining 80%.
While this probably sounds complicated, your Cellino Law team will work to prove that your degree of fault is minimal.
Do You Need a Car Crash Lawyer Near Harlem, NY?
If you sustain injuries in an accident, you’ll need a car crash lawyer who can get results. Cellino Law has won more than $2 billion for our clients, proving that we can get the job done. We have over 60 years of experience with car crash cases similar to yours. We also have the resources and power of a large firm that we will use to your benefit.
You’ll get personal attention from your legal team, beginning with your free case review. You won’t have any out-of-pocket expenses if you choose to hire Cellino Law; you won’t pay us until we win. You can reach us 24/7 by using our contact form or calling (888) 888-8888.