Car Accident 101 – Who’s At Fault?

If you’re sitting at a red light and get hit in the rear or you’re hit head on by a drunk driver driving the wrong way down the road, it’s easy to determine who is responsible. There are many other types of car accidents where determining liability is much more difficult. That’s why the best Brooklyn, Bronx and Queens car accident lawyers recommend consulting with an attorney if you’ve been seriously injured in a crash because the driver that caused your injuries is responsible for paying your compensation for your monetary losses and for the pain and suffering you endured. Wittenstein & Wittenstein is the Queens, Bronx and Brooklyn car accident attorney that’s been serving the community for more than sixty years. Call 718-261-8114 for a free consultation.

Question of Lights

Queens car accident lawyers call a scenario where both drivers in a two car collision claim that the other vehicle went through the red, a “question of lights.” If there are no witnesses, it can be difficult to determine who is at fault. If you’re a passenger in one of the vehicles, you can collect from both drivers and would generally be fine with attributing the liability at 50/50. The drivers, on the other hand, have a great deal at stake, especially if they have sustained a serious injury. Imagine you’re the driver that proceeded through a steady green light that got hit by a car that sped through a steady red. It can be extremely frustrating to be told by the other driver’s insurance company that you can only be compensated for 50% of your damages. That’s why it’s important to hire an experienced Queens, Bronx or Brooklyn car accident attorney that knows how to prove that the accident was completely the other driver’s fault.

Multi Car Accidents are Complicated

The most common type of multi car accident is a chain reaction collision on the highway where three, four, five or more vehicles are hit in the rear. Not only is it difficult to prove fault, with multiple impacts it’s even more challenging to prove which impacts caused the most serious injuries. Experienced Queens car accident lawyers know that certain types of injuries are more likely to be caused by specific impacts. For example, neck injuries are usually sustained when a vehicle is hit in the rear and front impacts tend to cause facial and knee injuries. Multiple defendants and plaintiffs make these accidents very difficult to settle quickly with insurance companies, making protracted litigation the norm, even when the injuries are not severe or catastrophic. That’s why it’s important to hire an experienced Queens, Bronx and Brooklyn car accident attorney as soon as possible after the crash.

Hire an Attorney Promptly

For accidents with complicated fact patterns, it’s important to hire an experienced Queens car accident lawyer as soon as your medical problems are stabilized, especially if your injuries are severe or catastrophic. Call Wittenstein & Wittenstein for a free consultation.