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If you are involved in a New York car accident, it is important to understand what New York State law requires you to do.
According to the New York Department of Motor Vehicles, the following are some actions you must take:
You must stop and exchange information with the other drivers involved in the accident.
If you or anyone else is seriously injured, call 911 and seek medical attention right away. Keep records of medical treatment that you have received.
If you are able to take pictures of the accident scene, do so. Many people have cameras on their mobile phones. Take pictures of the vehicle damage, skid marks or other details that could provide relevant evidence in your accident case.
Get the names and contact information from any witnesses who saw the accident.
Let your insurance company know that you were involved in the accident and how it occurred. Be honest in your description of what happened.
You should only discuss the accident with your lawyer, the police and your insurance company. Do not discuss the accident with other drivers’ insurance companies or other parties unless your attorney advises you to do so.
On Monday, Sept 18 2017, a devastating Flushing bus accident occurred in Queens, New York when a tour bus crashed into an MTA bus. The accident took place at 6:16 a.m. on a turn from Main Street to Northern Boulevard in Flushing. The impact spun the MTA bus nearly 180 degrees and the tour bus crashed into a Kentucky Fried Chicken outlet. Sparks and bright light flashes caused a small fire in the restaurant.
The NY Daily News reported that pedestrians ran down the sidewalk to get out of the way. The bus accident killed three people, including the tour bus driver. A total of 17 people suffered injury as a result of the collision.
According to Pix 11, a worker named Henry Wdowiak, age 68 usually took the bus and train to work, but he decided at the last minute to walk to work on Monday. This fatal decision put him at the scene of the bus crash where he was pinned by one of the buses and died. Even though he was retired, he continued to work. Previously, he had served in the military as a pilot in Poland.
The other men killed in the bus accident were Gregory Liljefors, age 55, an MTA bus passenger and Raymond Mong, age 49 who drove the charter bus. The bus sped in excess of 60 miles per hour through the red light when it plowed into the MTA bus
Three injured people were in critical condition, including a 25-year old man who was standing on the sidewalk. He suffers from a broken neck and back. A 62-year old woman and 50-year old man both suffered from head trauma. The other injured people suffered various injuries from minor bumps and bruises to broken ribs.
According to residents and local authorities, the Main Street and Northern Boulevard intersection is a dangerous spot. In fact, it is a priority in the Vision Zero initiative.
The police are investigating Mong, the Dahlia tour charter bus driver, and sources report that the MTA fired him two years ago due to a DUI and the state motor vehicles department received no notification that Mong was driving buses again. Dahlia Tour buses have been involved in at least two other fatal crashes and other severe crashes along with incidents of speeding violations.
When you suffer serious injury or a loved one dies through the fault of someone else, you have the legal right to pursue compensation for losses. Sackstein Sackstein & Lee, LLP can assist you. If you believe another party was at fault, we offer a free consultation to evaluate your accident and determine grounds for pursuing compensation.
Labor Day weekend accidents rank second to Memorial Day, which is the worst holiday for accident fatalities. Memorial Day averaged 312 traffic fatalities per year, and Labor Day Weekend averaged 308 fatal accidents per year from the period of 2010 through 2015. (According to Value Penguin statistical analysis)
Many accidents result from drunk driving, which increases during the holidays. Another contributing factor is simply the increase in traffic during holiday travel.
USA Today suggests you plan ahead and be well prepared so you can have a fun and safe holiday. Here are some tips for holiday travel:
Car Checkup. Do a routine check of the engine, radiator, tires and fluids. Make sure your windshield wiper fluid is sufficient and ensure steering and brakes are working. Carry a first aid kit, bottle of water, flashlight, jumper cables, a toolkit with wrenches and screwdrivers, duct tape, and an emergency stop sign.
Safe Driving. Two major factors to ensure safety are: concentrating on the road and paying attention to large trucks. Let someone else drive if you’ve been drinking, are tired or feel sick. If you feel dizzy, sleepy or confused while driving, pull off at a rest stop. Because trucks are unable to stop quickly, ensure you keep a safe distance and don’t unexpectedly cut in front of a truck. Also, beware that trucks have many blind spots and try to stay where they can see you.
Avoid Traveling at Busy Times. You can leave early in the morning and avoid traffic on Saturday or leave before Friday rush hour traffic for your holiday weekend. Also avoid traffic when returning home. Most people return either late afternoon or early evening on Monday. If you drive before 4:00 p.m. and after 10:00 p.m., these are less congested traffic times for traveling. Also, you should plan your route ahead of time using a GPS. You can avoid areas under construction repairs and use alternate routes instead.
If you or a loved one gets into an accident and suffers serious injury, Sackstein Sackstein & Lee, LLP can assist you if you believe another party was at fault. We offer a free consultation evaluate your accident and determine whether you have grounds to pursue compensation.