About Auto Accident Lawsuits

Auto Accident Lawsuits

Car accidents, a general term sometimes used for motor vehicle accidents, can actually involve a variety of vehicles, including passenger cars, SUVs, vans or pickup trucks and commercial vehicles such as a delivery vans, trucks or tractor-trailers. They can also involve motorcycles, bicycles or pedestrians.

Car accidents can cause serious injuries, wrongful death of a loved one and dramatically affect a family’s financial situation. When insurance companies fail or refuse to compensate or provide medical care for injured victims of car accidents, sometimes the only way to get the medical care needed or damages for injuries and financial losses is to hire a motor vehicle accident lawyer and file a lawsuit. If you have been in a car accident, motorcycle accident or truck accident, or one of these caused the wrongful death of your loved one, contact the personal injury law firm of Napoli Bern Ripka Shkolnik LLP for a free consultation to find out your legal options.

Environmental conditions can be contributing factors to car accidents. Bad weather conditions such as rain, snow, hail, fog and wind can reduce visibility, make roads slick or otherwise influence the safe operation of a motor vehicle.

Road design and road conditions such as construction areas can also contribute to car accidents. Bad road design issues can include poorly designed intersections, lack of traffic controls, poorly placed road signs and obstacles that can cause injuries when car accidents occur. 

Improper maintenance of a vehicle, such as failing to replace worn tires, may cause a cause a car accident. Dark tinted windows or other custom modifications to a vehicle may affect vehicle or driving safety.

Car accidents can occur due to driver distraction. Actions such as applying makeup or changing the radio station cause a driver to take their eyes off the road. With the widespread use of mobile phones, car accidents involving drivers distracted by dialing, text messaging, reading or sending email or becoming engrossed in the conversation while talking on the phone are increasing.

However, the most common cause of car accidents is driver error. Car accidents are often the result of a driver’s bad judgment, speeding, unsafe passing, tailgating, failure to yield right of way, reckless driving, chemical or alcohol impairment, or failure to obey traffic signs or signals.

With so many different factors that may contribute to car accident and the differing laws of each state, car accident victims should use the services of an experienced motor vehicle accident lawyer to help determine fault and navigate the complicated procedures needed to recover monies for medical expenses, loss of work, pain and suffering or property damage.

To obtain a satisfactory settlement or favorable trial verdict, car accident cases sometimes require the services of an accident reconstruction expert or medical expert to give testimony. It is important to hire a motor vehicle accident lawyer who is familiar with expert testimony and experience litigating car accident cases in court before a judge and jury.

If you suffered injuries or the wrongful death of a loved one due to a car accident, motorcycle accident or truck accident, you may have grounds for a lawsuit. Only an experienced motor vehicle accident lawyer can determine if you have a valid case. Call today for a no obligation consultation with a motor vehicle accident lawyer of the personal injury law firm of Napoli Bern Ripka Shkolnik LLP. The firm also represents people injured in mass transit accidents such as train accidents, boat accidents, cruise ship accidents, plane accidents and bus accidents.

As your motor vehicle accident lawyer, we will develop a plan of action to help you get the medical care you need and recover damages for your injuries, property damage or a loved one’s wrongful death in a motor vehicle accident.

Cases and Settlements of Note

Auto Accident Lawsuits & Settlements

• Radi v. Mbaye.  The trial court’s decision to dismiss our client’s claim for serious physical injuries suffered in a rear-end collision was reversed.
  
• Sam Sanclemente v. J Young’s Paving et al.  The firm represented, Sanclemente, a limo driver, who was driving on the Long Island Expressway.  A box truck collided with a dump truck, became airborne, and landed on Sanclemente’s car.  Sanclemente had knee and neck injuries, requiring knee surgery and epidural injections. A verdict of $7.3M was awarded in March 2010.

• Buckley v. Charles K. Goldner, LLC, Abranham Colton. The firm represented Buckley who was a guest in the building, who leaned against an elevator door, believing it to lead to laundry facilities.  The elevator door swung open from below, and Buckley fell down the shaft, breaking part of his spine, tearing his urethra, and dislocating his shoulder. The Verdict of $1.9M was awarded in May 2010.
  
• Jermaine Rhoden v. NYC Transit Authority et al.  The firm represented Rhoden who was bicycling on White Plains Road when he attempted to pass between a parked vehicle and a public bus.  Rhoden became wedged between the bus and vehicle, and injured his knee, which required knee surgery to fix. A verdict of $550,000 was awarded in September 2009.