Articles Posted in Car Accidents

Environmental concerns and high gas prices make electric cars a desirable option. It is no wonder electric cars are becoming more and more popular in New York and across the United States. If you have been injured in an accident involving an electric car, you may be able to recover compensation for your harm. Our Syracuse auto accident attorneys will examine the facts of your case and help you explore your legal options.

Tesla Model 3 Earns a Perfect Safety Rating

The Tesla Model 3 earned a perfect 5-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) assessment. The rear-wheel drive version of the car got perfect marks for front and side impact protection and rollover prevention. NHTSA also noted that the vehicle comes with a full suite of electronic safety aids, including crash warning, automatic emergency brakes and land departure warning, though none of these features were used during the crash tests. The Model 3 follows in the footsteps of the Tesla’s Model S and Model X, both of which also received five-star ratings in the past.

Liability for Electric Car Accidents 

With innovations made by companies like Tesla, we are seeing a rapid rise in the number of electric cars on the road. Many of these vehicles have self-driving features that can be very appealing, but, because they are so new, they can also have glitches that can lead to a serious accident. Of course, pinpointing the cause of an accident can be complicated.

Continue Reading ›

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, the Syracuse car accident attorneys at DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers can help. With years of experience representing New York clients in their personal injury claims, we can help you as well. Auto accident cases can quickly get complicated, and having the right attorney on your side can make all of the difference in your case.

An average of 10 people were killed each day between Memorial Day and Labor Day in crashes involving teen drivers last year, according to the AAA. Known as the so-called “100 Deadliest Days” of the year for driving, the time span between Memorial Day and Labor Day seems to show a 14 percent increase in deadly accidents involving at least one teenage driver as compared to the rest of the year. There is a 22 percent increase in the average number of nighttime crashes involving teen drivers during the same time frame when compared to the rest of the year. Under New York law, teenagers with a learner’s permit or junior license are not legally allowed to drive unsupervised from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. In addition, junior license holders cannot have more than one unrelated passenger under the age of 21.

Teens are not the only ones who see spikes in accidents around this time. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Labor Day averaged 308 fatalities per year over 2011 to 2015. Sadly, the stretch between Washington, D.C. and New York has the highest incidence of deadly accidents on any given holiday weekend.

Speeding accidents can cause serious injuries, and in some tragic cases, fatalities. If you or a loved one was injured in a car accident involving a speeding driver, you may be entitled to compensation for your harm. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, we are committed to holding negligent drivers accountable for the harm that they cause. Time is of the essence in these cases so it is important to act quickly after a New York collision.

Speeding is one of the top contributing factors of car accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, approximately 35,092 people died in traffic accidents in 2015. Data shows that almost one in three fatalities involved drunk drivers or speeding. In New York, the Department of Motor Vehicles reports that speeding is the cause of roughly 30,000 traffic accidents in the state every year.

Overall traffic deaths in New York City have consistently decreased for the fourth consecutive year in 2017 to their lowest on record. The number of pedestrians, motorists and cyclists killed in accidents in the city fell by 28 percent from 2013. Officials believe that the decline can be attributed, at least in part, to an ongoing safety program known as Vision Zero. The program includes a lower speed limit, tougher enforcement and improved street design.

Continue Reading ›

A single-vehicle accident can be just as serious as an accident involving two or more vehicles. If you or someone close to you has been injured in a single-vehicle accident, you may think there is nothing you can do. That is simply not true. Weather conditions, road conditions, and even car defects may have caused your accident and injuries. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, our diligent Syracuse car accident attorneys have helped many clients establish liability in single-vehicle accidents and can help you as well.

A single-vehicle accident is a type of road traffic collision in which only one vehicle is involved. These accidents are more common than you may think. Data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reveal that approximately 55 percent of motor vehicle crash deaths in 2016 occurred in single-vehicle crashes. That same year, there were 631 deaths caused by single-vehicle accidents in New York, making up 61 percent of the total traffic fatalities in the state. Some common examples of such accidents include but are not limited to:

• Run-off-road accidents,

Despite tough laws and countless awareness campaigns, drunk driving remains a big problem in New York and across the United States. If you or someone close to you was injured in an auto accident caused by a drunk driver, we can help. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, our Syracuse drunk driving accident lawyers are committed to getting our clients the compensation they deserve for their harm. While no amount of money can undo the harm you have suffered, the compensation can help ease the burden of bills that often accompany such accidents.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over a million people were arrested for driving under the influence in 2016. The same year, approximately 28 percent of all traffic-related fatalities across the nation involved alcohol-impaired driving. In New York, there were 283 traffic deaths due to alcohol-impaired driving, which translates to 28 percent of all traffic deaths in 2016, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Drivers in New York are legally driving while intoxicated (DWI) if they have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher. The threshold is lower for commercial drivers, who will be charged with a DWI if they are operating a motor vehicle with a BAC of 0.04 percent or higher. It is important to note that the use of any drug (legal or illegal) that impairs a person’s ability to drive can also form the basis of a DWI.

Continue Reading ›

Unfortunately, motorists often speed through school zones, endangering young children and adults who are crossing the street to get to school. If you or your child has been injured in an auto accident within a school zone, you may be entitled to compensation for your harm. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, our hard-working Syracuse car accident attorneys can help you understand all of your options and guide you through the legal process of filing a personal injury claim against the at-fault party.

Every year, a number of children are hurt in school zone accidents. A 2015 report by the Federal Highway Administration reveals that about 44 children are hurt in pedestrian accidents involving automobiles on a daily basis. Many of these accidents take place while kids are walking to or from school. The Transportation Research Board reports approximately 25,000 children are hurt every year in school zones. Interestingly, however, the majority of pedestrians who are hit by a vehicle in school zones are adults.

Motorists are required to use extra care when driving through school zones. As a result, New York law imposes lower speed limits for these areas than other roads. The speed limit is posted before you enter the school zone so that you know to be vigilant. In addition, the sign will usually say which hours the school zone is in effect. The lowest speed limit that is allowed under New York law is 15 miles per hour, and school zone speed limits will typically range from 15-20 miles per hour.

Continue Reading ›

Vision loss can affect every aspect of your life. Not only can this type of injury hinder your day-to-day life, but it can also have a deep psychological and emotional toll on a person. If you or your loved one suffered vision loss in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be able to take legal action against the at-fault party. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, our skilled Syracuse personal injury attorneys understand how to navigate complex personal injury cases and can apply our experience to your case.

Once vision is gone, it is rare for it to come back. Vision loss refers to eyesight that cannot be corrected to a normal level, even with the use of aids such as glasses or corrective lenses. Blindness, on the other hand, typically refers to lack of vision. Vision injuries may include corneal abrasion, partial vision impairment, loss of peripheral vision, optic nerve injury, detached retina, and even blindness.

In many cases, vision loss is caused by someone else’s negligence. Examples of accidents that may lead to vision loss include but are not limited to medical malpractice, car accidents, pedestrian accidents, defective products, slip and falls, sports injuries, or workplace injuries. Specifically, direct trauma to the eye can result in vision impairment or vision loss. No matter the cause of the injury, we can most likely help you hold the responsible party accountable.

Continue Reading ›

Ambulances are critical to deal with medical emergencies in New York and throughout the United States. Ambulance accidents, however, can have devastating consequences for everyone involved. If you or someone close to you has been injured in a motor vehicle accident involving an ambulance, you need to reach out to a seasoned Syracuse ambulance accident attorney who can help you secure full and fair compensation for your injuries.

According to a 20-year National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study, there was an average of 4,500 crashes involving ambulances throughout the United States each year. In fact, the data highlight that 33 people across the nation die annually in these crashes. While one-fourth of those fatalities are inside the ambulance at the time of the crash, in the majority of fatal crashes involving ambulances, the driver or passenger of another vehicle is the one who is killed.

We can help victims of ambulance accidents in a variety of different scenarios, including but not limited to:

• Pedestrians or bicyclists hit by ambulances;
• Drivers and passengers of vehicles hit by an ambulance; and
• Transported patients suffering exacerbated injuries in a crash.

Continue Reading ›

On urban and suburban roads with high volumes of traffic, intersection accidents can pose a great risk to drivers. The vast majority of intersection accidents take place because one of the drivers failed to yield the right-of-way. If you or someone close to you has been injured in an intersection accident, you need to reach out to a reputable Syracuse car accident attorney without delay. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, we will work diligently to do what is in your best interest after an intersection accident.

An intersection, also sometimes known as a crossroads, typically involves a crossing over of two streets or roads. Traffic accidents often take place at intersections because many vehicles are traveling in different directions at the same time. If any traffic laws are disobeyed or lights are ignored, the risk of accidents can increase significantly. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 40 percent of all car accident deaths in the United States every year involve drivers running a red light, failing to yield the right-of-way at an intersection, or driving through a stop sign.

The NHTSA found that the following driver mistakes frequently led to accidents at intersections:

• Drivers making improper left turns at intersections;
• Trying to rush through a yellow light;
• Distracted driving; and
• Rolling through stop signs.

Continue Reading ›

Data from the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration reveals that the United States has experienced a 14 percent rise in roadway fatalities over the last two years. It has also experienced the biggest back-to-back increase in motor vehicle death rates per mile driven in more than 50 years. In 2016, 37,461 people died in roadway accidents, including drivers, passengers, cyclists, and pedestrians. If you or someone close to you has been injured by a distracted driver in New York, you need to reach out to a Syracuse car accident attorney who can help.

The National Safety Council, however, challenges the official DOT figures, claiming that in 2016, cellphone usage was involved in 26 percent of all traffic accidents. In fact, the NSC states that due to the under-reporting of distracted driving crashes, the number of deadly crashes that actually take place each year could be double what is recorded in federal data. A study released by Cambridge Mobile Telematics, a company that creates apps to monitor driving and smartphone usage for insurance purposes, echoes this sentiment and found that about a quarter of drivers involved in crashes were on their phones during or in the minute prior to the accident.

Most car accident claims in New York are based on the legal theory of negligence. Negligence takes place when a driver causes an accident because he or she failed to use ordinary care behind the wheel. Ordinary care is defined as the level of care that a reasonably prudent person would have used in the same situation. For instance, a driver who causes a crash because he or she was texting and driving would be liable for the accident and any resulting harm. This is because a reasonably prudent driver would understand the risk of accidents and injuries that could result from such conduct.