Bronx SUV Accident Attorney
A Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) provides families with secure and roomy transportation. Gone are the days of the family station wagon with everyone packed in tight quarters. With their spacious interiors, SUVs give everyone ample room.
Driving these behemoths around the Bronx, however, presents serious challenges. Navigating the small streets and alleys that surround Yankee Stadium, the Bronx Zoo, and the New York Botanical Garden, and making tight turns with cars parked everywhere, can prove difficult in a regular car. An SUV driver may be unskilled in handling such a large vehicle in tight quarters and could cause an accident in which someone suffers injuries.
If you or a loved one has sustained injuries in an SUV accident, you need to speak with an experienced Bronx SUV accident lawyer as quickly as possible. At Jacoby & Meyers, LLP, we have decades of experience helping SUV accident victims like you recover maximum compensation for their injuries.
Bronx SUV Accidents
SUVs are massive vehicles. They provide drivers with a better view ahead because they sit up higher, but that can also impair drivers’ ability to see right in front of them.
Driving an SUV on the tight Bronx streets can prove challenging because they require a larger turning area. That means SUV drivers, especially inexperienced drivers, can easily sideswipe other cars or even run up onto a sidewalk. Situations like these could cause serious harm or even death to passengers in other cars or pedestrians.
Cars
Car accidents happen frequently and, even at slow speeds, can cause serious injuries and catastrophic property damage. Drivers and passengers are more likely to suffer tragic injuries in an accident with an SUV because of the SUV’s large size.
When an SUV slams into your car, the force of the impact can cause catastrophic damage to your vehicle and life-altering or even life-threatening injuries to you and your passengers. The sheer size and weight of the SUV, even at slow speeds, can cause accidents that lead to extreme injuries.
Pedestrians
Pedestrians are at grave risk of death when involved in an SUV accident in the Bronx. Over 300 pedestrians die in New York each year in vehicle accidents.
Pedestrians have no protection to shield their bodies from the impact of the SUV. If an SUV hits you while walking around the Bronx, your body will take the full brunt of the impact. This can cause life-threatening internal damage and may result in a lifetime of medical care.
Bicyclists
Bicyclists suffer a similar fate to pedestrians when involved in an accident with an SUV. While a bike rider will have some protection, like a helmet and gloves, this will provide very little protection from the life-altering injuries you could face if an SUV strikes you.
Getting into an accident with an SUV while riding your bike could leave you with a lifetime of medical needs. Even at slow speeds, an impact from an SUV could knock you off your bike, sending your body crashing to the ground.
Common Causes of SUV Accidents
Whenever any driver does not adhere to the laws of the road or drives unreasonably or recklessly, that can cause accidents. When a driver of an SUV takes these actions, the results can prove deadly.
The most common causes of SUV accidents include:
- Distracted driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Drowsy driving
- Failure to yield
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Aggressive driving
- Improper vehicle construction
- Improper vehicle maintenance
As you can see, most causes involve human error. When you get into an SUV accident, the odds are good that someone else’s actions caused your accident and subsequent injuries.
If you or a loved one sustains serious injuries in an SUV accident, you could face a lifetime of medical care, which does not come cheap. You should not be on the hook for these bills. Rather, the at-fault party that caused your accident should cover the full cost of your injuries. Partnering with Jacoby & Meyers, LLP, we can help you hold the negligent driver liable for your accident and pursue maximum compensation on your behalf.
Dangers of SUVs
The average SUV weighs about 40 percent more than a regular car. The sheer size and weight of SUVs is their most obvious danger to other cars, pedestrians, and bicyclists. SUVs are also much more common than in years past. Over the last decade, SUV sales account for over 60 percent of all new vehicle purchases.
Blocked Views
SUVs provide drivers with a great view of the road. They sit higher than regular cars and give a good vantage point. However, this height comes at a serious loss of sight directly in front of the vehicle. The driver often cannot see an object or person because the large front end blocks the line of sight.
This is a common reason for pedestrians to suffer injuries from an SUV accident. At high speeds, this can cause life-threatening injuries. Even at slower speeds, pedestrians can get knocked to the ground, causing traumatic brain injuries and broken bones.
Rollover
Because SUVs are much larger than regular vehicles and because of their taller and blockier shape, they have a higher center of gravity. This can result in rollovers.
If a driver takes a turn too quickly or makes an abrupt move to avoid a collision, the vehicle can roll over easily. While single-vehicle rollover crashes happen with SUVs, a rollover can also damage other vehicles and injure other people.
Blind Spots
Every vehicle has blind spots. Defensive driving courses teach drivers to recognize their own blind spots as well as those of other cars. Today’s newer cars even come with blind-spot alerts that can help drivers avoid sideswipe accidents.
Even with that new technology, SUVs are still prone to sideswipe accidents from larger blind spots. Because SUVs are so much larger than regular cars, SUV blind spots are larger as well, resulting in a driver’s inability to see other vehicles or pedestrians.
Faux Invincibility
One thing that SUV owners like so much is their sense of security in the vehicle. While it is true that drivers and passengers of SUVs are less likely to suffer serious injuries in an accident because the vehicle provides more protection, that can make drivers more aggressive.
When drivers have this false sense of security, they may drive more aggressively and be more likely to get into a serious accident. This could happen when they encounter you, causing life-threatening injuries to you and your loved ones.
Common Injuries
SUV accidents often cause serious property damage to your car. More importantly, these accidents can cause life-altering injuries for you and your loved ones.
The most common injuries suffered in SUV accidents in the Bronx include:
- Concussions
- Other traumatic brain injuries
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Broken bones
- Burns
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal injuries
- Paralysis
- Amputation
In the worst-case scenario, death can result from an SUV accident. If that happens to a loved one, you may suffer from grief and feel unsure of what to do next. Speaking with a compassionate SUV accident lawyer in the Bronx can help you figure out your next steps; contact Jacoby & Meyers, LLP, today.
SUV accidents cause serious injuries, like those above, and many other injuries that can severely impact your ability to live your life. When that happens, your injuries and your physical recovery may prove all-consuming. Your medical bills may become astronomical, especially if your injuries require a lifetime of medical care.
You should not feel the need to cover your medical expenses. Someone else caused your SUV accident, and the at-fault party should have to cover your medical bills and other financial losses. Many SUV accident victims mistakenly believe that the only amount of money they can recover is compensation for the bills that they have already incurred.
In reality, you may qualify to recover compensation for your future financial losses as well. To find out for sure what comes next for you, speak with a seasoned Bronx SUV accident lawyer as soon as possible after your accident. The last thing you want is to end up paying out of your own pocket for your medical expenses. Your lawyer can work toward the goal of collecting maximum compensation while you focus all of your effort and energy on your physical health and well-being.
Beware of Quick Settlement Offers
Soon after your SUV accident, you may receive a call from the insurance company representing the at-fault driver. The insurance company may offer you a quick settlement, which may lead to excitement and anticipation that this journey is almost over. Unfortunately, that’s usually not the case.
Even though the insurance company may tell you that this is its best offer, it’s not. The company may even pressure you to take the offer, telling you that an attorney will only cut into your profits and that you will end up with less money. Consider why the company is pressuring you so hard. It’s because the initial settlement offer is in the company’s best interest, not yours.
A qualified Bronx SUV accident lawyer will have your best interests in mind, battling the big insurance companies so that you don’t have to. Your lawyer can negotiate a settlement on your behalf and help you recover enough money so that you do not have to worry about paying any expenses out of your pocket.
When you partner with an experienced Bronx SUV accident injury attorney, your settlement offer may increase immediately. Your lawyer will know the games and tactics that the insurance companies employ and can aggressively represent your best interests.
Recovering Compensation
To begin your journey of recovering compensation from the negligent SUV driver that caused your accident and injuries, you need to file a claim for damages. Your lawyer will do this on your behalf, so you can focus on your physical recovery.
Your lawyer will investigate your accident, collecting all of the relevant evidence and compiling that with your court filing. Your Bronx attorney may also have medical expert resources that he or she can rely on to help determine your medical prognosis and estimate how much money you may need to receive to ensure that you do not pay a dime out of your own pocket.
Your lawyer may try to collect compensation for:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Lost wages
- Lost earning potential
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of life enjoyment
- Present and future medical bills
- Rehabilitation costs
Depending on the severity of your injuries, the majority of your financial needs may come in the future. That’s why working with a trusted Bronx SUV accident lawyer is important. Your lawyer can help you determine an accurate estimate of how much money you will need to support yourself. If you settle for too little, you could end up paying out of pocket for your medical bills.
You may also have to miss work for a long time. In the worst cases, you may never return to work again, at least not in a full-time capacity. This severely limits your ability to earn a living, cover your regular expenses, and provide for your family.
By working with the right SUV accident attorney in the Bronx, you can give yourself the best chance of making a full recovery from your injuries. Collecting maximum compensation for you is the goal of the trusted and respected team at Jacoby & Meyers, LLP.
Common Questions Regarding SUV Accidents in the Bronx
SUV drivers in the Bronx have a lot to do behind the wheel. Tight streets, parked cars, pedestrians, and bicyclists are all hazards to these beastly vehicles. Maneuvering a large SUV through the Bronx can prove challenging, even for experienced drivers.
SUV accidents are common in the Bronx. Whether a driver causes property damage by sideswiping your car or causes you serious bodily harm by T-boning you at a dangerous intersection along Morris Ave, you may qualify to pursue compensation for the full cost of your injuries.
At Jacoby & Meyers, LLP, we know you have questions about what comes next. Below, we provide answers to some of the most frequently asked questions that we get from prospective clients like you. If you want more detailed answers specific to your case, contact us today for a free case evaluation.
Do I have to file a lawsuit?
When you suffer injuries in an SUV accident in the Bronx, the last thing you may be thinking about is suing the negligent driver. However, you need to file a lawsuit to give yourself the best chance of collecting maximum compensation.
That’s why it is vital to the success of your claim that you speak with an experienced Bronx SUV accident lawyer as soon as possible after your accident. Your lawyer can begin the claims process by investigating your accident and collecting all relevant evidence while you spend all of your effort and energy on your physical recovery.
How much money should I expect to receive?
This is the question every client wants to know the answer to, and ultimately, it’s not a question that we can answer precisely. No lawyer can. If you do get an exact number from a lawyer, that should raise a red flag that the attorney is dishonest.
The amount of money you can collect will depend on the injuries you have suffered and to what extent they impact your ability to live and enjoy your life. The more serious and debilitating your injuries, the more money you will likely pursue.
To recover maximum compensation, partner with a trusted Bronx SUV accident attorney. Your lawyer can help you create an accurate estimate of your future medical and financial needs so that you do not end up settling for less than your case is worth. Too many accident victims end up in financial ruin because they did not collect enough money from the negligent driver. Do not let this happen to you. Work with Jacoby & Meyers, LLP, today.
When will I get my money?
It depends. If your case settles quickly, you may receive your money a lot sooner. However, if your case takes longer to settle or requires a trial, then it may take more time before you collect full compensation.
Don’t let this worry you. If your case takes longer to resolve, that may mean that your injuries are life-altering and require extensive medical expert analysis. This may mean that, if you’re successful, you will collect large sums of money, and your lawyer is working toward that goal. A delay in collecting money from the at-fault driver should not concern you.
Your lawyer is working hard to collect maximum compensation for your injuries. Sometimes, that takes time. In the most complex cases, that may also require a trial.
Will I have to go to court?
As noted above, maybe. If your injuries require a lifetime of medical attention, your medical bills could amount to substantial sums. For example, the lifetime medical costs of brain injuries can quickly reach millions of dollars.
This is not an amount of money that you should need to worry about covering. If your injuries are so severe that you will require medical care for the rest of your life, that may mean that your injuries are complex and difficult to understand. This often requires medical expert testimony to help you collect maximum compensation.
Your Bronx SUV accident lawyer should have medical expert resources to utilize to help show just how serious your injuries are and why you’re seeking such large sums of money. Your lawyer should also have proven experience helping SUV accident victims like you recover compensation at trial. You do not want your case to be your lawyer’s first trial.
SUV accidents often involve multiple at-fault parties, beyond just the driver. Determining which parties to file a lawsuit against, and collecting maximum damages from them, requires a detailed look at the cause of your accident. This is a job for a legal team with decades of experience helping SUV accident victims recover compensation for their injuries. This is a job for Jacoby & Meyers, LLP.
Who is at fault for my SUV accident?
SUVs are large vehicles that have many moving pieces. These components can fail over time or mechanics can improperly repair and install them. Such mistakes could lead to an accident that someone other than the SUV driver caused.
While the SUV driver causes most SUV accidents, human error could lead to other reasons for your SUV accident, like improper vehicle construction or improper maintenance.
This may result in other parties facing liability for your accident, including:
- SUV manufacturer
- Maintenance technician or company
- Part manufacturer
Making sure that you hold the right party liable for your injuries is important to your ability to collect maximum compensation. Your Bronx SUV accident lawyer will investigate your accident and may even use the resources of an SUV accident expert to help determine the true cause of your accident. In many cases, the cause is clear: the SUV driver, but in complex accidents that may involve many vehicles, the cause may be less clear.
You want a trusted lawyer at your side who has connections and resources that they can rely on to make sure you are bringing a lawsuit against the right party. It’s also possible that more than one party could face responsibility for your accident. Partnering with the right SUV accident attorney in the Bronx can help you work toward holding the negligent party liable for your injuries.
Do I have to file a lawsuit soon?
Yes, you have limited time to file a lawsuit after you have suffered injuries. Called a statute of limitations, New York law generally only provides plaintiffs three years to file their claims.
Initially, three years may seem like a long time, but consider all that you might face during this time, including:
- Extended hospital stays
- Long periods out of work
- Multiple surgeries
- Multiple doctor visits
- In facility rehabilitation
- In-home care
Each of these items not only requires a hefty fee, but also may take a great deal of time. The more serious your injuries, the longer and more exhausting of a recovery you may face, leaving you with little energy to deal with legal issues.
That’s why it is vitally important that you speak with a skilled Bronx SUV accident lawyer as soon as possible after your accident. Your lawyer can begin the legal process while you focus all of your effort and energy on your physical recovery.
When you shift the burden of the legal process to your lawyer, you no longer have to worry about how you will pay for your medical needs. This stress relief allows you to focus more on your health and your recovery.
When you face such extreme medical bills, coupled with being out of work and not receiving any income, you and your family may become worried about covering your regular expenses, let alone your rising medical bills. This may put your family in a situation that involves working overtime or taking on extra jobs to cover the financial loss of you being out of work.
That is not your family’s burden to bear. Your inability to work and make a living is the fault of the party that caused your SUV accident. The at-fault party should have to cover your lost income, not your family. Your family should focus on helping you recover from your injuries and spending time with you.
Your legal team can help you recover your financial losses, but you need to speak with an attorney before the statute of limitations runs out. If you let this deadline pass without filing a claim, you will likely miss out on recovering compensation and will have to cover your medical expenses and financial losses all on your own.
My family member died in an SUV accident. What damages can I recover?
SUV accidents are frequently deadly. If you find yourself in the tragic situation of losing a loved one in an SUV accident in the Bronx, it can turn your life upside down. You may have no idea how you’re going to move on. The last thing you are even thinking about is the bills your loved one left behind.
That’s the job of your wrongful death lawyer. You may collect compensation against the at-fault party for the loss of your loved one.
Your lawyer may try to recover compensation for:
- Final medical expenses
- Funeral costs
- Loss of income
- Lost future income
- Loss of inheritance
- Loss of emotional support
- Loss of financial support
No amount of money can bring your loved one back. No amount of money can take away the pain you feel from the untimely loss of your loved one. Collecting money from the person responsible for your loved one’s death, however, will prevent financial hardships from the at-fault party’s negligent behavior.
As you grieve, your lawyer can handle the legal matters involved with your claim. At Jacoby & Meyers, LLP, we have helped many clients like you recover compensation for losing a loved one. This may be one of the most personally challenging times in your life, but you do not have to go through it alone.
What should I do after an SUV accident?
When you are involved in an SUV accident, you may feel unsure of what you need to do next. The most important thing is to make sure that you are alright. Above all, your health is of utmost importance.
Bronx SUV Accident Lawyer, Andrew Finkelstein
You should also take these actions following your accident:
- Seek immediate medical attention. After any accident, your adrenaline is running and may mask your pain, making you unaware of the full extent of your injuries. Allow the emergency medical personnel to evaluate you at the accident scene and, if necessary, transport you to the hospital for further evaluation and care.
- Take pictures and videos. Get pictures and video footage of the entire accident scene, all vehicles involved, and your injuries. This evidence can help your legal team show what you’ve had to endure and why you deserve compensation.
- See your regular doctor. No medical professional knows you better than your regular doctor. Your doctor can determine how your SUV accident injuries have changed your body and your ability to go about your regular life. The doctor will keep detailed medical records, which may prove important to your financial recovery.
- Keep a journal. Over time, you will not remember every hurdle that you’ve faced during your recovery from your SUV accident injuries. Writing in a journal every day, recording your pain level, what medication you took, any setbacks or progress you had, can paint a picture of what you had to go through during your recovery.
How can your Bronx SUV accident lawyers help me?
The right lawyer can make a stark difference in your ability to recover every dollar possible from the negligent party in your SUV accident. Your lawyer will investigate your accident and work to hold the at-fault party liable. Your legal advocate will aggressively negotiate on your behalf with the insurance company representing the at-fault party, attempting to collect maximum compensation on your behalf.
At Jacoby & Meyers, LLP, we have experience representing individuals who have sustained serious injuries in Bronx SUV accidents. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you get back to your regular life.
Speak With Our Bronx SUV Accident Lawyers Today
The lawyer you choose can make a difference in your ability to recover maximum compensation from the negligent SUV driver. To avoid paying out of your own pocket for your medical expenses and other financial losses, you need to partner with an experienced Bronx SUV accident attorney who has your best interests in mind.
You should retain an attorney who has proven experience helping SUV accident victims like you recover compensation for their injuries. Let us deal with the legal complexities of your case while you focus on getting back to your regular life. Contact the auto accident attorneys Bronx at Jacoby & Meyers, LLP, today to get help with your Bronx SUV accident claim. You can reach us at (718) 294-0813, through our online contact page, or via a webchat with one of our live representatives.