Rosenbaum Personal Injury Lawyers | September 13, 2024 | Car Accidents
New York City streets had 7,371 motor vehicle collisions in July 2024. Nearly 4,000 drivers, passengers, cyclists, and pedestrians suffered injuries in these wrecks, and 17 more perished. Over half of these crashes occurred in Brooklyn and Queens. With 384 traffic crashes in July 2024, Staten Island had just 5% of all wrecks in NYC.
Many traffic accidents are the result of one or more common factors. In New York City, these 12 factors play a role in most collisions.
1. Inattentiveness
Driver inattention was the top contributing factor to traffic crashes in NYC during July. A total of 2,124 accidents were caused by distracted drivers not paying attention to the road. Common distractions include smartphones, food, and the sights NYC offers. When drivers are distracted, they easily miss seeing bicyclists, stopped traffic, or other road hazards.
2. Following Too Closely
Over 500 traffic accidents in NYC during July were due to one driver following another too closely. When traffic moves slowly — as it often does in New York — hurried drivers can become impatient and tail the vehicle in front of them. When that vehicle suddenly stops, the tailing driver has too little time to avoid a crash.
As difficult as it may be, motorists should leave sufficient space between themselves and the vehicles in front of them when in motion. Even just a car’s length of distance in slow traffic can mean the difference between an accident and a near-miss.
3. Failure To Yield the Right-of-Way
Right-of-way laws keep traffic at intersections moving safely and smoothly. They provide direction when drivers turn into and out of commercial and residential properties. New York drivers are expected to know right-of-way rules and follow them at all times. Confusion results when drivers don’t know who has the right-of-way or when they know the rules but ignore them.
4. Improper Lane Usage
Motorists must stay within designated lanes. Weaving between marked lanes or straddling two lanes creates a dangerous situation that can lead to a crash.
Drivers might engage in this behavior because they are not paying attention, or they might do it intentionally out of frustration. Approximately 350 collisions in July were due to poor lane usage or passing mistakes.
5. Speeding
Drivers can travel too fast on crowded surface streets as easily as on freeways. Pedestrians, bicyclists, and other vehicles can enter the street at any time. Drivers who are going too fast for the road conditions may not have enough time to brake or avoid a crash. Moreover, the damage from a crash can increase the faster the vehicles involved are traveling.
6. Passing Too Closely
When passing another vehicle or a bicyclist, drivers should give enough space so that the other car or cyclist does not need to slow down. If the passing driver fails to provide this space, their vehicle could clip the cyclist or other vehicle, causing a wreck.
7. Disregarding Traffic Control Devices
Disobeying a New York City traffic light or sign contributed to 249 collisions in July. NYC road users expect that others will obey these lights and signs. When they don’t, the resulting crashes can be severe, given that neither driver might have time to slow down or try to avoid the collision.
8. Unsafe Backing
Crashes do not always happen while vehicles are traveling forward. A driver who is not paying attention while backing up can hit another car, a bicyclist, or a pedestrian. These collisions tend to be minor because most drivers do not travel fast when in reverse. However, they can be difficult to avoid because others expect reversing drivers to watch where they are going.
9. Driver Inexperience
Inexperienced drivers do not have enough time behind the wheel to know how to respond appropriately to situations and events. Even if an experienced motorist rides with a new driver, the driver can still panic or make unpredictable moves when faced with an emergency. In July, 198 NYC crashes were attributed to driver inexperience.
10. Improper Turns
Approximately 180 crashes in New York City during July were due to drivers making improper turns. Some of the most frequently committed turning errors include not using a signal, turning when one does not have the right of way, or turning where turns are not permitted. An improper turn can lead to a T-bone (side-impact) collision.
11. Alcohol
Alcohol played a role in over 150 collisions in New York City during July. An alcohol-impaired driver will have delayed reactions and have trouble seeing dangers on the road. In this condition, they are more likely to crash. Alcohol can also impair a driver’s judgment and cause them to take unnecessary risks, such as speeding or weaving in and out of traffic.
12. Unsafe Lane Changes
On busy New York City streets, drivers may move ahead of slower traffic by switching to a faster lane. Motorists should signal before making any lane change and ensure they have sufficient space to make the change before moving. Otherwise, a side impact or other traffic collision can result.
What Happens if I’m At Fault In a Car Accident?
You might wonder, “What happens if I’m at fault in a car accident and I’m injured?” In New York, drivers must carry personal injury protection (PIP) policies to cover their own expenses in the event of a wreck. You would file a claim with your PIP insurer if you suffer injuries. Your insurer would then pay your claim, regardless of whether you caused the accident.
Suppose that you sustain severe injuries that exceed your PIP policy’s benefits. You may be entitled to file a lawsuit against other drivers who were also at fault. If your carelessness played a role in the crash, your compensation would be reduced proportionally.
How To Drive Safely In New York City
New York City streets are busier than most, but the reasons why traffic collisions happen are not unique to the Big Apple. Many crashes are connected to lapses in attention and focus. If you want a better chance of arriving at your destination safely, pay attention to your surroundings and drive defensively.
Contact Our Car Accident Law Firm in New York City
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Manhattan, NY, and need legal help, contact our New York City personal injury lawyers at Rosenbaum Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation.
Rosenbaum Personal Injury Lawyers – New York City Office
100 Wall St 24th Floor
New York, NY 10005
(212) 514-5007
Rosenbaum Personal Injury Lawyers – Bronx Office
1578 Williamsbridge Rd suite 3b
Bronx, NY 10461
(212) 514-5007
(917) 905-2339
Rosenbaum Personal Injury Lawyers – Brooklyn Office
32 Court St #704
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(212) 514-5007
(917) 920-7332