Front-End Car Accidents in Rockaway Beach

Front-end car accidents often cause death, and survivors might suffer severe injuries. This type of crash often happens when both cars are traveling at speed, making them especially dangerous.

Contact a local attorney if you were hurt in a front-end car accident in Rockaway Beach. You may need to file a lawsuit to get appropriate compensation for your injuries. The family members of someone killed in a head-on crash should also seek legal representation from a car accident attorney.

How Front-End Accidents Happen

A head-on accident happens when two vehicles drive into each other and their front ends collide. In many cases, they happen when both vehicles are moving forward, which amplifies the force of the collision.

Sometimes a pothole or obstruction in the road can force a vehicle into another lane and cause a front-end collision, but driver error or misconduct is usually responsible. A speeding driver might lose control of their vehicle and cross the center line. A drunk or impaired driver might travel the wrong way on a street or even a highway.

Even though New York has a no-fault claims system for car accidents, driver fault can be critical if an accident victim must go to court to seek appropriate compensation. An attorney in Rockaway Beach could review police reports and other evidence to establish legal responsibility for a front-end car crash.

The Claims Process After a Serious Accident

When someone is hurt in a vehicle accident, they must first turn to their personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. PIP covers a portion of an injured person’s medical expenses and lost wages for up to three years. However, coverage limits are a maximum of $2,000 per month, which is not enough to cover a severely injured person’s expenses in most cases.

When an injured person’s PIP is exhausted, they could file a claim against the other driver’s liability insurance. However, in many cases, a person injured in a front-end collision in Rockaway Beach qualifies to step outside the no-fault system.

People who incur substantial medical expenses or who suffer a serious injury can pursue compensation, or damages, in a court case. To obtain damages, an attorney must prove that the other driver was negligent and that the negligence caused the injuries. The compensation an injured person could collect in a lawsuit could far exceed the compensation available through the other driver’s insurance.

Damages Available in a Car Accident Lawsuit

When someone in Rockaway Beach brings a lawsuit seeking compensation for injuries after a head-on car wreck, they must prove their damages, or losses. The person legally responsible for the accident must pay all the damages the injured person proves. If the injured person is partially responsible for the crash, they can collect damages, but the total amount will be adjusted to reflect their degree of responsibility.

Economic damages are all the uncompensated expenses or losses the person incurred due to the accident or injury. These include incidental expenses, home renovation costs if necessary, and the cost of household help, in addition to medical expenses and lost wages. The injured person is also entitled to compensation for their physical pain, emotional trauma, inconvenience, disfigurement, disability, and other non-economic losses resulting from the accident.

Sometimes, an attorney might recommend a person pursue punitive damages. According to the New York Civil Practice Law and Rules §8701, these additional damages are only available when the defendant acted intentionally or with so little regard for others’ safety that their actions were willful or wanton. When the defendant was driving drunk, racing, or speeding recklessly, a court might award punitive damages.

Contact a Rockaway Beach Attorney After a Head-On Car Crash

Front-end car accidents in Rockaway Beach can produce life-altering injuries or death. The state’s no-fault system does not provide adequate compensation in these cases, and an accident victim often must go to court to hold the driver who caused the crash accountable.

An experienced attorney could help ensure you receive a settlement or verdict that acknowledges the impact of your injuries. Reach out today to get started.