Accidents on the New York highway system happen every day. Many of them happen because someone has made the wrong decision when driving. It could be when a driver changes lanes, or merges, and fails to take into account what other vehicles are doing or misjudging their speed.
These highway accidents can cause serious injuries and fatalities, as traffic tends to be moving fast. If you have been injured on a New York Highway like I-278 you should talk to a personal injury attorney about the possibility of claiming compensation to help pay for unexpected medical treatment and replace lost earnings.
Interstate-278 in New York
I-278 runs for nearly 34 miles through New York, beginning in Linden, Union County through major urbanized parts of New York City, finally splitting into two past the Queens / Brooklyn districts of the city.
Much of I-278 is heavily congested and consists of up to 12 lanes at times. Many sections of I-278 have their own individual names and some sections are toll ways. I-278 is considered the fastest and easiest route for motorists to get between New Jersey and Brooklyn, despite the congestion, which is regarded as the worst at times in the whole of New York City.
The constant variation in width of I-278 means that lane changes and merging maneuvers are inevitable which makes merging accidents a distinct everyday possibility.
What to Do If Hit While Merging On I-278
Personal injury lawsuits in New York follow a set procedure. The primary means of compensation in New York, which is a no-fault state, is the injured person’s own insurance provider, unless the injuries are particularly serious.
In the event of a serious injury, a civil claim may be the only way to obtain sufficient compensation to ensure adequate medical care, especially if the injuries are permanent or treatment is required for a long time into the future. In this case, the claim must be prepared and submitted within 3 years of the date of the injury, or much less, 90 days for an initial claim, if the injury was believed to have been caused by a city, or state, government employee.
New York has a pure comparative negligence ruling which allows compensation allocation as a percentage of perceived fault, whatever the degree of fault. Theoretically, even if you were considered to be 90% to blame for an accident, you would still be entitled to claim 10% of the total amount.
Evidence to Gather If Hit While Merging On I-278
Your compensation claim will need to be supported by sufficient evidence that someone else was to blame for your injuries, unless your injuries are relatively minor, in which case you must seek compensation from your own insurance provider. Typical evidence which can be used to support a personal injury claim includes the following:
- eye witness statements;
- photographic evidence taken at the crash scene;
- police report compiled by officers who attended the crash scene;
- damage report obtained from a vehicle repairer dealing with your damaged vehicle;
- doctor’s medical statement or report concerning your injuries;
- hospital records;
- medical bills;
- all other bills due to the accident;
- evidence of lost earnings.
Hire a Personal Injury Attorney
Before you decide to file a personal injury claim, it is wise to discuss the accident and your injuries with an experienced personal injury attorney to get advice on the feasibility of a claim. If the attorney thinks that a claim is likely to succeed, his or her legal help will prove invaluable. Filling out the form on this page will connect you to a personal injury attorney that may be able to help you with your claim.
