No one ever expects to get in a car accident in NYC or anywhere else for that matter. It’s not only scary but can have a long-lasting impact on your potential to work, mobility, and quality of life. It’s bad enough dealing with the accident itself without having to worry about the aftermath.

Car accidents happen every day in New York City not only with other vehicles, but unfortunately with pedestrians, bicyclists, scooters, motorcycles, and taxis too.  Know your rights as well as your obligations if you’ve been in a car accident in any of the boroughs, including Staten Island.

Don’t leave anything to chance. Consult with a car accident lawyer, Staten Island if your accident has occurred in any of Staten Island’s neighborhoods or at popular attractions like historic Richmond Town or the Staten Island Museum. Because of the very large population of New York City as well as the numerous modes of travel, accidents are almost a foregone conclusion. You need to know your rights if you or a loved one have been injured in any type of car accident in the city.

What to Do If You’re in a Car Accident on Staten Island

If you’re in a car accident in the city and are considering speaking to an attorney regarding a claim, you’re going to need a number of documents. One of those is an accident report.

An attorney can also advise you on how to get a copy of any accident report that occurs in any of New York City’s boroughs. Do you know what kind of report you need to fill out in the event of a hit-and-run, a personal liability claim, property damage over or under $1,000, or no-fault medical claims?

A car accident attorney should be familiar with vehicle and traffic laws in New York and be able to advise you on filling out a Report of Motor Vehicle Accident (Form MV-104) or a police accident report (PAR) within 10 days. Hit-and-run accidents should be reported within 24 hours in New York. Failure to report an accident can result in a suspended drivers license.

Attorneys at Kuharski, Levitz, & Giovinazzo want you to be informed about what to do in the event of a car accident on Staten Island. Share this information with friends or family.

Thousands of people are injured each year in car accidents in New York. No two accidents are alike, but many are caused by driver error. In some cases, however, the cause of the crash can be traced to some defect in a vehicle. When that’s the case, who could be liable for damages?

Manufacturer Liability

In some instances, a defect in vehicle design may create a safety issue with the final product. If the problem is widespread, the manufacturer may recall the affected models to repair the issue. In other cases, the plant may produce a run of vehicles that contain some defect, even though the design was sound.

If defective manufacturing creates a problem that causes a crash, the auto manufacturer may be liable for damages. Such problems can include malfunctioning lights, brakes or steering controls.

Repair Facility Liability

When you take a vehicle in for repair, you expect the facility to ensure that your car is in perfect working order when they return it to you. If the repair shop is aware of any malfunction which they don’t (or can’t) repair and they don’t make the vehicle’s owner aware of the problem, the facility may be liable if the vehicle’s defect causes an accident.

Owner Liability

It’s the responsibility of a vehicle’s owner to properly maintain it. Owners need to stay current on basic auto maintenance such as repairing worn tires, replacing lights and keeping the windows clean. Anyone driving a vehicle which he or she knows, or should reasonably know, is unsafe is negligence. If such negligence causes someone to be injured, the vehicle owner could be liable for damages.

Have you or someone you know been injured in a crash caused by a defective vehicle? You may be able to collect compensation for your injuries. Not sure if you have a case? Tell us your story, and let one of our experienced attorneys review your case at no charge.

 

September ended on a frightening note for some bystanders near an Upper West Side construction site. At around 5 p.m., an 18-wheeler leaving the site fell through the sidewalk along 65^th Street near West End Avenue. Witnesses reported a loud, crashing “boom” when the concrete collapsed under the weight of the truck.

Although no injuries were reported, the incident raises questions about the safety of our sidewalks. The city is responsible for maintaining safe streets and sidewalks. If the big rig was not over the legal weight limit at the time of the sidewalk collapse, it’s possible that the city could be held liable if there’d been any injuries to the driver or bystanders.

You can read the original news story here.