Syracuse, New York: Student Driver Car Accidents

Jed Dietrich, Esq., Recognized as a Super Lawyer and American Institute of Trial Lawyers Litigator of the Year, is Committed to Defending the Rights of Car Accident Victims In and Around Syracuse. If You or a Loved One Has Been Injured in an Onondaga County Car Crash That Was Not Your Fault, You Deserve Effective, Aggressive Representation and an Attorney Willing to Fight for Your Rights.

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For most people, driving is a pretty big part of everyday life.

If you live in Syracuse and commute to work, you might not think twice about plunging into Thruway traffic or navigating gridlocked streets downtown. However, confidence comes with experience, and not everyone has that. Learning to drive can be difficult, and making mistakes is often part of the process. There is, of course, a fine line between making an innocent mistake and causing an accident.

You should never have to pay for an accident that was not your fault, but fighting for your rights after being injured by a student driver could prove more challenging than you expect. Even if you are still entitled to no-fault benefits, this coverage can fall flat in the face of life-altering injuries. Filing a personal injury lawsuit could provide an opportunity to make a much more comprehensive recovery, but it also necessitates a thorough understanding of state law, legal procedure, and evidentiary standards.

For more than 30 years, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has fought to protect the rights of car accident victims in Syracuse and throughout the region. A recognized U.S. News & World Report Best Law Firm, we know what it takes to build a compelling, evidence-based case for compensation, and we have the results to prove it. Send us a message online or call Jed Dietrich, Esq., at 1-866-529-5334 to speak to a car crash lawyer near Syracuse and schedule your 100% free, no-obligation consultation as soon as possible.

Understanding Liability in Student Driver Car Accidents

Since New York is a no-fault state, most drivers are expected to file a claim with their own insurance company before taking any further legal action. However, lawmakers understand that no-fault insurance is not adequate for every accident. Under state law, if you have suffered certain serious injuries, you could be entitled to file a personal injury lawsuit against the person or party who caused your accident.

In a typical car accident claim, the at-fault driver will be named the defendant in the lawsuit. This is not always the case, though. A student driver, for instance, could be found liable for an accident if their own negligence caused or contributed to the crash. But the buck does not always stop with the driver.

Depending on the circumstances of your collision, any one or more of the following parties could share liability:

1. The student driver. Everyone on the road, no matter how much experience they have or do not have, has a duty of care to their fellow drivers. In New York, the duty of care stipulates that people have a legal responsibility to avoid exposing themselves or others to unnecessary harm. If a student driver takes unreasonable risks like driving at high speeds or ignoring the advice of their instructor, they could be liable for any resulting accident.
2. The student driver’s parent. In New York, young student drivers must typically complete at least 50 hours of supervised driving before taking a road test. In some cases, a parent, sibling, or other adult could be held liable for an accident if they failed to properly and safely supervise the student driver.
3. The driving instructor. Driving instructors also have a duty of care. If they have the opportunity to intervene and prevent an accident, they are often legally obliged to do so. An instructor who routinely makes mistakes or lets their guard down at a critical moment could be found at fault in an accident.
4. The driving school. Driving schools are businesses, and not every business adheres to best practices. A driving school could be found liable for negligence if it fails to take certain precautions, like ensuring that its instructors are qualified or performing routine maintenance on training vehicles.

Identifying the right set of defendants is critical to filing, fighting, and winning a personal injury lawsuit against a student driver. Furthermore, different parties are sometimes held to very different legal standards, meaning that you will most likely need different types of evidence to prove your claims against each defendant. This is not always difficult to do, but it can introduce unexpected complications. If, for example, the student driver was participating in a school-run driving course, you may have to contend with state laws that limit liability for public employees and government workers.

Your Damages and Potential Compensation in a Syracuse Car Accident Lawsuit

If you have sustained serious injuries in a car accident that was not your fault, you could be entitled to significant compensation for your physical injuries, financial hardship, and other losses.

In New York’s legal system, the term “damages” is used to describe compensation in personal injury claims. Damages typically fall into any one of the following categories:

1. Economic damages. Economic damages, or special damages, compensate verifiable financial losses. These damages could include reimbursement for your medical expenses, money for long-term care, or the replacement of income that you lost while recovering from your injuries.
2. Non-economic damages. Non-economic damages, or general damages, compensate comparatively subjective forms of pain, suffering, and hardship. Some of the most common types of non-economic damages awarded in car crash claims include compensation for physical pain and suffering, emotional pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment, and disfigurement.
3. Punitive damages. Punitive damages do not compensate for loss but are meant to punish egregious acts of negligence or other wrongdoing. In general, punitive damages are only approved if the defendant exhibited a wanton disregard for the rights and well-being of others. Most personal injury claims are not eligible for punitive damages, but this form of compensation can make a massive difference if and when it is awarded.

New York does not cap or limit damages in most personal injury claims, meaning that you could receive as much money as you need to shore up your losses and reclaim your financial independence. However, you cannot afford to wait too long to contact an attorney. Almost all personal injury claims are subject to strict statutes of limitation. If the statute of limitations applicable to your claim expires, your lawsuit could be dismissed on a technicality, preventing you from asserting your right to a fair recovery.

You do not have to take chances with your rights. Since our founding in 2005, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has helped our clients secure more than $300 million in damages. We could help you, too. Please contact us today at 1-866-529-5334 to speak to a student driver car crash lawyer near Syracuse and begin exploring your best options for legal relief.

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Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 1-866-529-5334 so that our aggressive, tenacious, and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Syracuse, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!

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