Syracuse, New York, Tree Accident

Jed Dietrich, Esq., Is a Recognized Super Lawyer Who Has Spent Decades Protecting the Rights of Tree Accident Victims. If You or a Loved One Has Been Injured in a Tree Accident That Was Not Your Fault, The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. Could Help You Explore Your Best Options for Effective Legal Relief.

---

Tree trunks, limbs, and roots can pose serious risks when left untended.

Trees are, in fact, implicated in more accidents and injuries than many people might expect. The Department of Transportation, for instance, has identified tree-related collisions as a leading cause of traffic-related fatalities. Each year, thousands of people lose their lives after colliding with trees; many more are injured in other types of accidents, whether by falling limbs or protruding roots.

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. believes that no one should be forced to bear the burden of an accident that was not their fault. If you or a loved one has been injured in a tree accident, our experienced team of personal injury lawyers could help you build a compelling, evidence-based case for compensation.

Read more to learn about your rights after a tree accident, or contact us today at 1-866-529-5334 to speak to a personal injury lawyer near Syracuse and find out how much your case could be worth.

The Most Common Causes Of Tree Accidents

A tree accident is any accident involving a tree and an element of human error.

Tree accidents can occur in many different places and in many different contexts. Some of the most common causes of tree-related injuries include, but are not limited to, the following:

Motor Vehicle Accidents

If a car, motorcycle, or other vehicle departs the roadway for any reason, it could collide with a tree or other obstacle. Depending on factors like speed and angle of impact, occupants face risks ranging from property damage to serious, life-altering injuries.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, tree accidents are a leading cause of traffic-related injuries. In a recent review of collision statistics, the Department of Transportation found the following:

1. Hitting a tree is “the most harmful event in approximately 10 percent of all U.S. traffic fatalities each year”;
2. On average, law enforcement sources report more than 3,500 tree accident-related fatalities annually; and
3. Tree accidents are especially prevalent in rural areas, on roadways with speed limits higher than 50 miles per hour, and on roads with bends, twists, or curves.

Single-vehicle accidents often involve risk factors like drunk or distracted driving. However, multi-vehicle collisions at higher speeds sometimes cause victims’ vehicles to depart the roadway.

Premises Liability Accidents

A premises liability accident is any accident that (a) occurs on another person’s property, and (b) was caused by a dangerous or unsafe condition that the property owner had a legal duty to mitigate.

Trees are common culprits in premises liability accidents. If left untended, trees can pose risks, including, but not limited to, the following:

1. If tree branches or roots encroach upon a sidewalk or other surface, they could cause a slip-and-fall accident;
2. If a tree is unstable, it could collapse onto a dwelling, vehicle, or passerby; and
3. If a tree is poorly maintained, its features, such as unkempt limbs and large nuts or fruits, could prove hazardous to visitors.

If a property owner knew, or should have known, that a tree on their premises constituted a hazard to passersby, they could be held liable for the cost of any resulting accident.

Wrongful Death Accidents

A wrongful death accident is any accident that results in wrongful death.

In New York, a death is considered “wrongful” if the deceased person died because of “a wrongful act, neglect, or default” that would have entitled them to file a personal injury lawsuit had they survived their injuries.

Almost any tree accident could be a wrongful death accident, including, but not limited to, the following:

1. Motor vehicle accidents;
2. Slip-and-fall accidents;
3. Hit-and-run car accidents;
4. Road departure car accidents;
5. Construction accidents; and
6. Skiing and snowboarding accidents.

Although personal injury claims and wrongful death lawsuits are subject to some of the same requirements, state law limits who can take action in these types of cases. In general, only the executor or personal representative of the deceased person may file a wrongful death lawsuit. Furthermore, if the wrongful death lawsuit is successful, only certain estate beneficiaries are entitled to compensation.

If you have been injured by, or lost a loved one in, a tree accident, you do not have to take chances with your right to a fair recovery. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has spent decades helping New York families reclaim their independence in the aftermath of the unexpected. Please send us a message online or call us at 1-866-529-5334 to speak to a tree accident lawyer near Syracuse and schedule your 100% free, no-obligation consultation as soon as possible.

Your Potential Damages After A Syracuse Tree Accident

The term “damages” is used to describe compensation for accident-related losses.

In New York, state courts recognize three distinct categories of damages. These include the following:

1. Economic Damages: Compensation for verifiable financial losses. Your economic damages could include the repayment of medical expenses, replacement for lost income from work, or money for your long-term care needs.
2. Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for intangible forms of loss and hardship. Your non-economic damages could include financial relief for emotional pain and suffering, physical pain and suffering, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment.
3. Punitive Damages: Are not compensatory. Instead, they are awarded solely to punish the defendant. You must typically be able to prove that the defendant acted with intentional malice or extraordinary negligence to obtain punitive damages.

Since New York does not cap damages in most personal injury claims, you could secure as much compensation as you need to begin rebuilding your life. However, you should not wait too long to contact an attorney: if you delay, critical evidence could be lost, and you run the risk of running out of the state statute of limitations.

How The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. Could Help You Protect Your Right To Recovery

Since our founding in 2005, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has fought to protect the rights of tree accident victims in Syracuse and across Upstate New York. A recognized U.S. News & World Report Best Law Firm, we know what it takes to obtain the best possible outcome for our clients, and we have the results to prove it.

Our highly experienced team of personal injury lawyers could help you negotiate a settlement or obtain a court-ordered award by taking steps, including, but not limited to, the following:

1. Investigating the causes of your accident;
2. Identifying the right defendants for your claim;
3. Collecting and analyzing evidence;
4. Negotiating with insurance adjusters and defense lawyers; and
5. Preparing to take your case to trial.

Unlike many law firms, we work exclusively on a contingency fee basis. This means that we only take payment as a set percentage of your settlement or court-ordered award. We would not ask you to cover any of our standard legal fees, and we would not charge you for representation if we cannot obtain compensation.

Please send us a message today or call us at 1-866-529-5334 to speak to a tree accident lawyer near Syracuse and schedule your 100% free consultation as soon as possible.

---

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!

---