Articles Tagged with truck accident

RECKLESS-DRIVING-scaledEach year, millions of victims suffer severe, life-altering injuries and tragic fatalities in accidents on the road. The roads in Western New York are dangerous enough without even considering reckless drivers. Reckless driving poses a substantial risk to the motorist, occupants of other vehicles, pedestrians, and everyone else on the road. Unfortunately, many drivers engage in reckless driving despite knowing that these destructive behaviors considerably heighten their risk of causing a devasting accident. 

What Is Reckless Driving? 

In the 1990s, the term “reckless driving” emerged to describe dangerous behaviors behind the wheel. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) defines reckless driving as operating a vehicle in any way that can cause danger to others on the road. 

Bicyclist-in-traffic-scaledEven the smallest car outweighs the sturdiest of bicycles by a considerable margin. When cycling, the protection offered to riders is minimal, almost non-existent. Cyclists are alarmingly vulnerable to severe injuries in the event of a collision with a motor vehicle. From bone fractures and traumatic brain injuries to organ damage and even death, the impact is bound to be life-altering. The financial ramifications of a car accident as a bicyclist can be grave, as emergency medical treatments and hospitalization typically come at a steep price.

Crucial Steps For Victims Of Car Versus Bicycle Accidents  

Suppose you were hit by a car while riding your bicycle. In that case, our battle-tested injury lawyers strongly recommend taking the following steps to safeguard your legal rights:

Blog-Best-Medical-Care-scaledAfter being involved in any car accident, your top priority should be your health. For those victims who sustain devastating injuries or worse, an ambulance will likely rush them to the closest emergency room for treatment. In this blog post, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C.’s seasoned car accident lawyers in Buffalo, New York, would like to discuss how victims with minor to moderate injuries should obtain medical treatment. 

Far too many victims of car crashes fail to recognize the signs and symptoms of their injuries. Consequently, they often dismiss legitimate injuries as just being “shaken up” and fail to obtain the necessary medical treatment. Many injuries, such as whiplash and concussions, typically do not manifest immediately, and insurance companies are notorious for using delays and gaps in treatment against claimants.

Countless clients have come into our office saying they felt no pain at the accident scene or later that day. However, the following morning, they woke up barely being able to move with unbearable symptoms, such as pain, stiffness, dizziness, numbness, headaches, or nausea. A significant reason for this is that your body produces morphine-like endorphins, which effectively mask the pain. Never assume that your symptoms or pain will disappear on their own. We cannot stress enough the importance of getting checked out by a medical professional as soon as possible after a collision. 

No-Win-No-Fee-scaledEvery year, millions of Americans are involved in car accidents and suffer devastating injuries or worse. Victims who are fortunate enough to survive severe collisions may need weeks or even months to recover. Instead of being able to earn a living, crash victims may be incapacitated or in too much pain to work. Even with the best medical insurance policy, hospital bills and other medical expenses can quickly pile up. Consequently, far too many car accident victims find themselves in demoralizing psychological, physical, and financial circumstances. 

At the Dietrich Law Firm P.C., our battle-tested car accident attorneys realize that pursuing a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver may be the only way to begin your road to recovery. Jed Dietrich, Esq. believes every accident victim deserves highly skilled legal representation. The last thing that any car crash victim should worry about is paying a lawyer to fight their case. 

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C.’s Lawyers Work On A Contingency Fee Basis 

Ins-Adjuster-Blog-scaledSuppose that you got into a car accident that was not your fault, and you sustained some unfortunate injuries. You are likely feeling highly stressed and overwhelmed. Filing an insurance claim is one of the most critical steps toward obtaining compensation for medical expenses, repair shop costs, missed work, and other damages.

You have probably heard horror stories about insurance adjusters. Some insurance companies are notorious for being difficult with their policyholders. Since New York is a no-fault state, regardless of who caused the collision, you must file a claim with your insurance company to recover compensation. Consequently, you should file an insurance claim as quickly as possible. Below are five tactics insurance companies may try to use against you:

  1. Acting Concerned: Adjusters may call you, pretend they are checking up on you, and offer sympathy. Please do not be deceived into thinking that they care. The truth is that the average insurance company cares more about saving money than helping you. Insurance agents often act like your friends so that you will let your guard down. Once they earn your trust, the adjuster may start questioning you to trick you into saying something they can use against you. 

top-5-car-accident-injury-blog-scaledAccording to statistics released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in a recent year alone, approximately 2.74 million victims suffered severe crash-related injuries. Even minor collisions can have grave and lifelong consequences for victims. At the Dietrich Law Firm P.C., our veteran car accident attorneys understand the profound impact that crash-related injuries can have on victims and, ultimately, their loved ones. Being mindful of the most common car accident injuries can help you be prepared to take the proper steps after your crash. 

Top 5 Crash-Related Injuries

Injuries resulting from car accidents tend to vary substantially from minor cuts and bruises to traumatic brain injuries and total paralysis. Some types of injuries are more prevalent than others. The majority of injuries caused by collisions are either impact or penetrating injuries. Impact injuries are generally caused when a victim’s body contacts part of the vehicle’s interior, such as your forehead hitting the steering wheel. On the other hand, penetrating injuries are usually caused by loose objects inside the car or shattering glass. In addition to the usual cuts and bruises, the 5 most common car accident injuries include: 

Pedestrian-Safety-scaledWalking is a great way to get around and get some exercise in the process. Pedestrians can help reduce their carbon footprint while enjoying some fresh air. No wonder walking has become increasingly popular in recent times. However, if you prefer walking, being aware of the risks of being involved in a pedestrian accident is crucial. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in a recent year alone, there were roughly 6,300 pedestrians killed in traffic-related accidents. When on foot, you are approximately 1.5 times more susceptible to being fatally injured in an accident than car occupants. 

Every 9 minutes, a pedestrian suffers injuries caused by contact with a vehicle. Given the vast difference between the weight and velocity of your average vehicle and a pedestrian, it is understandable why foot-travelers are so vulnerable, especially considering they lack all protections. Consequently, pedestrian accident injuries are rarely just minor cuts and bruises. 

Common Causes Of Pedestrian Accidents

Drink-and-Drive-Blog-scaledIn New York State, driving while intoxicated is a serious crime, and DWI laws are strictly enforced. Alcohol can start impacting your motor skills and impair driving skills with a blood alcohol content as low as 0.01. Consequently, even if your BAC is below the legal limit, driving with even a small amount of alcohol in your system can still be extremely dangerous.

Why Drinking And Driving Is So Dangerous 

In a recent year alone, 13,384 victims died in alcohol-related accidents. In addition to this tragic drunk driving statistic, below are crucial reasons never to drink and drive:

Safe-Driver-post-1-scaledDriving is one of the riskiest things you do every day. Many careless actions, such as speeding, giving in to distractions, and fatigued driving, can all significantly increase your risk of crashing. Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is especially dangerous. Fortunately, there are simple steps that you can take to keep yourself and others safe. 

Five Things You Can Do To Be A Safer Driver

  1. Concentrate on the Road: You may have been driving for years or even decades and feel like you can do it without much thought. However, we cannot stress the importance of always keeping your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, in a recent year alone, distracted driving killed 3,142 victims. Therefore, avoiding all distractions, like eating or drinking, scrolling through social media, talking on your cell phone, and applying makeup behind the wheel, is crucial. 

How-to-Handle-Road-Rage-A-Defensive-GuideRoad rage refers to a driver’s intense anger, typically sparked by another’s provoking behavior and manifested through aggressive or violent actions. In recent years, road rage incidents have hit record highs throughout the United States. According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), experiencing aggressive driving has become all too common, with approximately 80 percent of motorists reporting at least one incident within the past month.

Aggressive driving frequently escalates into all-out road rage, such as forcing other vehicles off the road, brake checking, or even ramming into others. It typically involves intimidation and attempts to damage cars or injure other drivers. Unfortunately, road rage accidents result in much more devastating injuries due to aggressiveness, high speeds, and violent impacts than other collisions. Over 30 victims’ lives are senselessly taken in road rage-related incidents yearly.

Why Do Drivers Experience Road Rage

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