Syracuse, New York, Sideswipe Accidents

Jed Dietrich, Esq., Recognized as a Super Lawyer and an American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys 10 Best Attorneys, Has Spent His Entire Career Fighting for the Rights of Car Accident Victims in Syracuse and Across the Region. If You Have Been Injured in a Central New Sideswipe Car Crash That Was Not Your Faul, Our Experienced Team of Attorneys Could Help You Obtain the Compensation You Need and the Justice You Deserve.

Almost every car accident has the potential to end in serious injury and life-altering disability. However, grave as the consequences of a crash could be, many collisions are caused more by oversight than malice. Everyday mistakes—as simple and commonplace as drifting inches over a center line, or seizing an opportunity to push through traffic on Interstate 81—could come at the cost of a sideswipe accident, leaving victims struggling to overcome physical pain and financial hardship.

Even with the right insurance coverage, few Syracuse families have the resources to reclaim their independence after a serious sideswipe collision. Although New York law affords survivors with critical injuries the right to file a personal injury lawsuit for recompense, negotiating a fair settlement or standing up to a defense attorney at trial could seem like an insurmountable challenge.

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has spent decades fighting for the rights of accident victims in Syracuse and across the region. A recognized U.S. News & World Report Best Law Firm, we know what it takes to build a compelling case for recovery. Our experienced team of attorneys could help you investigate the causes of your sideswipe accident, collecting the evidence needed to assess your losses and establish liability. Please call us at 1-866-529-5334 to speak to a sideswipe collision lawyer near Syracuse and schedule your free consultation as soon as possible.

A sideswipe collision is a type of side-impact accident in which the side of one vehicle makes contact with the side of another vehicle. These accidents can happen anywhere, but are most often reported on multi-lane highways and other areas prone to heavy traffic.

Traffic safety experts usually categorize sideswipe collisions as either of the following:

1. Sideswipe Same Direction Accidents: A sideswipe same direction accident is a sideswipe collision between two vehicles traveling in the same direction. These collisions are most common on multi-lane highways and in certain urban environments.
2. Sideswipe Opposite Direction Accidents: A sideswipe opposite direction accident is a sideswipe collision between two vehicles traveling in opposite directions. These collisions are most common in more rural settings.

According to a recent study analyzing the impact of side-impact collisions on rear-seated adult occupants, these crashes typically involve the following types of vehicles:

1. Passenger cars, which are involved in 57.8% of all side-impact collisions;
2. Sports utility vehicles, or SUVs, are involved in 19.7% of all side-impact collisions;
3. Pick-up trucks, which are involved in 12.1% of all side-impact collisions; and
4. Commercial and passenger vans, which are involved in 10.4% of all side-impact collisions.

Since this study analyzed injuries among rear-seated adults, it did not account for collisions involving front-seated passengers, single-passenger vehicles, or semi-trucks.

However, other reports have identified sideswipe events as significant contributors to commercial vehicle accidents and motorcycle crashes. Accidents involving semi-trucks and motorcycles often result in more serious injuries.

Risk factors for sideswipe accidents could include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Speeding: Exceeding posted speed limits or driving too fast for conditions can impede a motorist’s ability to react to unexpected obstacles. Speeding can also make it more difficult for other drivers to anticipate when it is safe to make a lane change.
2. Aggressive Driving: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration defines aggressive driving as “a combination of moving traffic offences [that] endanger other persons or property.” It could include negligent acts like speeding, weaving in and out of traffic, or intentionally swerving toward another vehicle.
3. Improper Lane Changing: New York state law requires that drivers use turn signals at least 100 feet before making a lane change. Unfortunately, in mid-sized cities like Syracuse, it is not unusual for drivers to try “seizing the gap” while navigating heavy traffic in Downtown Syracuse and the Near Northeast.
4. Obstacle Aversion: Some sideswipe collisions are caused by drivers suddenly swerving to avoid road obstacles, such as parked cars or potholes. In rural areas of Onondaga County, deer and smaller animals could also constitute unexpected obstacles.
5. Inclement Weather: Syracuse is one of the snowiest cities in the continental United States. Vehicles can easily lose traction in winter and during inclement weather while driving in snow or atop ice. In some cases, motorists may even lose control over their cars, drifting into other lanes or the path of oncoming traffic.

Sideswipe accidents share many common characteristics, not all of which are attributable to intentional wrongdoing. However, most collisions could be averted or mitigated by taking more time to appraise traffic conditions. Victims could be entitled to compensation through a personal injury lawsuit if and when negligence contributes to a crash.

In New York, accident victims who have suffered specific serious injuries that a no-fault insurance policy cannot compensate may file a personal injury lawsuit against the person or party who caused their collision.

However, your right to a fair recovery could be contingent on the steps you take after a sideswipe car accident. You should protect your claim by taking the following steps:

1. Call the Police: New York law requires that any motorist involved in an accident stop their vehicle to exchange insurance information with the other driver or drivers. If anyone was injured or there is estimated property damage greater than $1,000, call 9-1-1 and inform the police immediately. You may also be required to file an accident report with the New York Department of Motor Vehicles.
2. Seek Medical Attention: Even if you do not believe you have suffered serious injuries, visit an urgent care or schedule an appointment with your family doctor as soon as possible. Some side-impact accident-related injuries, like whiplash, do not present any immediate symptoms. Seeing a doctor provides peace of mind and could provide a record of your attempts to seek care and mitigate potential injuries.
3. Collect Evidence: If you can safely remain at the accident site, try to collect as much evidence as possible. Evidence could include pictures of the damage to your vehicle, a photograph of the dangerous condition that caused your collision, or a voice note recounting your interpretation of events. Do not share your evidence with the insurance company before contacting an attorney.
4. Speak to Eyewitnesses: Establishing liability in sideswipe car accidents can be difficult, especially if it is unclear who caused the collision or if the other driver is unwilling to admit fault. Eyewitness testimony is often critical in explaining discrepancies between competing narratives.
5. Contact an Attorney: You stand your best chance of recovery with the help of an experienced Syracuse sideswipe accident attorney. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. could help you investigate an accident site, interview eyewitnesses, and open negotiations with the insurance company. If the insurance company does not negotiate in good faith, we could press your claim and begin preparing for trial.

Since founding the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. in 2005, Jed Dietrich, Esq., has helped his clients in Syracuse and across the region secure more than $250 million in damages—money that they have used to eliminate medical debt, replace lost income from work, and begin rebuilding their lives in the aftermath of a tragic accident. We could help you, too. Please message the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. online or call us at 1-866-529-5334 to speak to a Syracuse car crash lawyer and schedule your 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!