Sideswipe Accidents

Sideswipe accidents occur when two cars that are traveling alongside each other in the same direction collide with each other. Frequently, sideswipe accidents happen when one driver decides to change lanes without first making sure that it is safe to do so. With today’s high-speed vehicles and distracted drivers, sideswipe accidents are occurring more commonly than ever before. With iPhones, texting while driving, Bluetooth devices, GPS, drivers making adjustments to their radios, iPods, checking directions on an iPad or reviewing printed directions, conditions are very conducive to mistakes and resulting accidents.

At The Law Office of Mark A. Siesel, we have represented many clients who have been severely injured in sideswipe accidents since the founding of our firm in 1986. If you have been injured in a sideswipe accident in Westchester County, Bronx County, Brooklyn County, Queens County, Putnam County, Dutchess County, Orange County, or any surrounding area, contact our law firm for a free consultation. We can explain your rights, answer your questions, and help you understand whether you have any options for seeking compensation.

Understanding Sideswipe Accident Cases

There are many ways that one car can drift into another vehicle’s lane and cause a sideswipe collision. Sometimes, these accidents are caused by the simple act of a driver not paying attention to the road for a split second. In fact, if a driver is traveling at 60 miles per hour, the car is traveling at 88 feet per second, so even a momentary glance away from the road can lead to a car moving into another lane and covering half a football field doing so in a mere 2 seconds! Sideswipe accidents often occur when two lanes merge and neither driver is paying enough attention or refuses to yield the right of way, especially aggressive drivers and those in a hurry to get somewhere.

While sideswipes are often less severe than head-on or rear-end collisions, but they can still lead to life-altering injuries. Including:

• Whiplash, a type of neck injury that can cause significant pain, stiffness, and mobility issues.
• Cuts and bruises from broken glass, debris, or items inside the car that can become airborne during a crash.
• Fractures.
• Concussions caused by the sudden jerking movement of the collision.
• Internal injuries, including damage to organs like the liver or spleen, which can especially be a risk in higher-speed sideswipe collisions.
• Spinal cord damage, which may result in permanent paralysis or loss of sensation.
• Emotional trauma, which can result in sleep problems, changes in personality, depression, and other debilitating problems.
• Facial injuries, which are a risk because of the glass flying close to the car occupants’ faces.

These types of vehicle accidents can also lead to fatalities. This can be especially common in higher-speed accidents, where one or both parties aren’t able to take evasive actions to lessen the impact. There is only a thin barrier of metal and glass between the other vehicle and the occupant, unless the car is equipped with side-impact airbags. Without these airbags, one car may crash into the side of the other vehicle, potentially trapping the occupant and causing severe crushing injuries. A car occupant’s head may bounce off the glass of the window or may be injured by flying glass, causing potentially life-threatening head trauma.

If you lose a loved one in a sideswipe accident caused by someone’s negligence, you may have the right to file a claim against the at-fault driver and their insurance company. Through a wrongful death lawsuit, you can seek compensation for funeral expenses, medical costs, and more.

Even if you are fortunate enough to walk away from a sideswipe collision with your life, any serious injuries can impact your life more than you anticipate. It’s useful to consider the future repercussions of the accident on your life, and take steps now to protect your right to compensation.

Consider, for example, the long-term financial impact of a sideswipe accident. Medical bills, car repair costs, lost wages, and other expenses can add up to tens of thousands of dollars or more, even for a seemingly “simple” injury like a fracture. Insurance may cover some of the costs, but there may still be deductibles or uncovered expenses. If you use your savings to pay for these costs, it can take you months or years to rebuild your savings.

If you suffer from broken bones, spinal cord injuries, or severe whiplash because of the accident, your loss of mobility and the chronic pain usually occurring because of these injuries may affect your independence. It can be isolating to suffer from a loss of mobility, and it can also be expensive if you need to pay for personal care or physical therapy in addition to your medical bills.

All the upheaval of a collision can also impact your mental health. It’s common for people involved in accidents to experience nightmares, sleep disturbances, flashbacks, mood swings, anxiety, and a heightened fear of accidents. A serious injury can make mental health symptoms worse. In turn, the emotional impact of a sideswipe collision can place a strain on relationships.

Sideswipe accidents also require a lot of your time. You’ll need time to heal, and you may spend significant amounts of time visiting doctors and specialists, taking care of insurance claims, and more. The extra time away from your job can lead to career setbacks. If you’re permanently injured, you may be facing lower earning capacity.

It’s normal not to be able to anticipate what you may be facing after a sideswipe accident, especially if you’ve never been in a serious car accident before. This can be an advantage for the at-fault driver and their insurance company. If the insurer gets you to agree to an offer or gets you to make a statement before you speak with a personal injury lawyer who is looking out for your best interests, they may be able to get you to accept less compensation than you deserve.

It’s vital to contact an experienced lawyer as soon as you can—before you make a statement or sign anything. Working with a lawyer means working with a professional who has worked on thousands of car accident cases and knows exactly what you’re up against. Your attorney will immediately start taking steps to protect your right to fair financial recovery.

What Laws Can Impact Sideswipe Accident Cases?

Under New York’s Vehicle & Traffic Law, Section 1128, when a roadway has been divided into two or more lanes, the law requires that: “A vehicle shall be driven as nearly as practicable entirely within a single lane and shall not be moved from such lane until the driver has first ascertained that such movement can be made with safety.” Automobiles are generally designed to give maximum protection from head on accidents and rear end collisions. Bumpers, airbags, and extensive “crush zones” (which are designed to absorb the force of severe impacts) provide good protection against head on collisions. However, although some cars now include side airbags as standard equipment, this is a more recent advancement, and the majority of vehicles manufactured prior to the last few years do not come equipped with side airbags. In a sideswipe collision, there is no crush zone to absorb the impact to the vehicle and the occupants of the car. Further, sideswipe accidents are often followed immediately by a far more serious collision with a fixed object such as a guardrail, a metal or concrete barrier, a stanchion, telephone pole, tree, or light post. In sideswipe accidents, it is this second collision which proves far more serious and sometimes fatal, especially if the vehicle is not equipped with side airbags, the occupant is not wearing his or her seatbelt, there is inclement weather, the driver is inexperienced and “overcorrects”, or the vehicle is traveling at a high rate of speed.

Contact The Law Office of Mark A. Siesel

At The Law Office of Mark A. Siesel, we have successfully represented clients throughout the State of New York who suffered injuries in sideswipe accidents due to the negligence of truckers, bus drivers, livery drivers, and cab drivers, among others. We pride ourselves on quickly and aggressively determining all possible parties that are responsible for our clients’ damages, including pain and suffering, past and future medical and hospital bills, past and future lost earnings, loss of earnings potential, and loss of the ability to perform activities of daily living. We retain all the necessary experts as needed, including engineers, vocational rehabilitation experts and economists. Contact the knowledgeable and experienced attorneys at The Law Office of Mark A. Siesel for a free consultation on your potential case. For a free consultation to discuss your case in detail and your legal options, contact us anytime at (914) 428-7386 or online.