Car accidents are an unfortunate reality in any bustling city, and Albany, New York, is no exception. With its mix of busy downtown streets, residential neighborhoods, and major highways, understanding where accidents are most likely to occur can help residents and visitors navigate the city more safely.
This article explores where car accidents most commonly occur in Albany, identifying high-risk intersections, common contributing factors, and ways to minimize the likelihood of being involved in a collision. Whether you're a daily commuter or a weekend visitor, knowing where to stay extra vigilant could make all the difference.
William Mattar Law Offices can help you and your loved ones navigate the best path forward after getting in a car accident in Albany. Call us today at (518) 592-6518 for your free case evaluation with our trusted team.
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Frequent Causes of Car Accidents in Albany
Thousands of people in New York are either injured or killed in a car accident every year.
According to the New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, speeding-related fatalities accounted for 392 deaths in 2021. There were 285 drug-related crash fatalities and 275 crash fatalities involving alchohol-impaired drivers, according to data.
Fatalities of individuals not wearing a seatbelt or restraint in a crash accounted for 207 deaths, and 108 fatal crashes were related to drivers under the age of 21. Drivers using a cell phone or texting caused 448 injuries and deaths.
Motor vehicle accidents injured tens of thousands of people who were not inside an actual vehicle that same year, with 12,476 pedestrians sustaining injuries.
Many factors can cause a car accident in Albany or other locations in upstate New York:
- Distracted driver - Texting while driving, eating, chatting with friends, adjusting the navigation, or playing with the radio are all driver distractions that can result in a car accident.
- Speeding - When a driver speeds, they limit their ability to handle their vehicle properly and safely in that area. Speeding accounts for a significant number of car accidents each year.
- Aggressive driving - An aggressive driver is usually not a rational driver. Their erratic maneuvers put everyone around them at risk of a collision.
- Driver fatigue - Being tired behind the wheel significantly reduces a driver's reaction time and alertness, increasing the probability of an accident.
- Driving under the influence - Driving under the influence of alcohol, illicit drugs, or prescription drugs can create a severe impairment of the driver's ability to operate their vehicle safely.
- Roadway construction - Construction on a road creates unexpected variables and hazards for a driver to navigate, like narrow lanes, uneven surfaces, or construction workers present.
- Inclement weather - Heavy rains, tornadoes, blizzards, and sandstorms all create major challenges for drivers on the road, especially when visibility is limited or diminished.
- Inexperienced driver - New drivers are not always fully confident behind the wheel. Their reaction times may be slower, or they may drive timidly, putting other vehicles and pedestrians on the road at risk.
- Vehicle issues - Problems with a person's vehicle, whether from a part recall or low tire pressure, can cause a malfunction on the road and a collision.
Common Injuries Caused by Car Accidents
Car accidents can happen in many different ways. A car can be in a sideswipe or rear-end collision, or vehicles can strike one another head-on or run off the road completely.
Depending on the severity of the car accident, a person can experience serious injuries or even a fatality.
Common injuries caused by car accidents are:
- Whiplash - When a person’s upper body is jolted forward during a collision and then braced by their seatbelt, they could suffer from whiplash of the neck.
- Burns - Some car accidents result in a vehicle catching on fire, which could cause a victim to get burns. Airbags deploying can also cause a chemical burn on a person's skin.
- Abrasions and lacerations - A car accident can result in minor cuts and scrapes or more extensive lacerations, leaving open wounds on the body.
- Contusions - Bruising is a common injury experienced by people in car accidents.
- Broken bones - Bones can fracture due to the impact of a car accident or from the compression of a vehicle on a body.
- Dislocated joint - When a collision jostles your body, one or more of your joints can be dislodged from its socket resulting in a dislocated shoulder or patella.
- Herniated discs - The discs in your back can become damaged or compressed from the impact of a car crash, causing extreme back pain.
- Spinal cord injuries - Severe car crashes can cause detrimental injuries to the spinal cord that could cause paralysis and early death.
- Traumatic brain injuries - A person can suffer a mild concussion or a more harsh long-term traumatic brain injury from hitting their head during a car crash, creating cognitive issues.
- Internal bleeding - Suffering a significant trauma like a car accident can cause internal bleeding in the chest cavity, organs, or muscles that could lead to devastating health complications.
- Fatalities - The most disastrous car accidents can result in one or more people not surviving the impact or later succumbing to their injuries.
If you suffered an injury from a car accident or your loved one was wrongfully killed due to the wrongdoing of another, call the William Mattar Law Offices today to get the help you deserve on your case.
Compensation for a Car Accident
You can be entitled to compensation for all your damages in a car accident. Applicable damages include pain and suffering, medical bills, property damage, and lost wages.
Working with a skilled car accident injury attorney after an Albany crash can help maximize the compensation you can recover from your accident while protecting your rights throughout the claim process.
Contact the William Mattar Law Offices today to set up your free case evaluation and learn more about your compensation options.
What to Do if You Are in a Car Accident
The aftermath of a car accident can be a painful and traumatic time to navigate, leaving most people feeling overwhelmed and confused about what to do next.
If you were injured in a car accident, take the below steps to protect your rights and your chances of recovering maximum compensation.
Seek Medical Advice
Seek medical advice immediately after surviving a car accident. Sometimes, the true severity of injuries takes hours, days, or weeks to become apparent, and other injuries are not always visible and easily identifiable.
Most people also experience emotional suffering in addition to the physical pain and injuries sustained in a car accident. Seek professional medical counsel for all the pain and suffering you experience from your car accident injury.
Follow all medical guidance and treatment plans provided to you.
Maintain Documentation
Maintain a file of documentation for your accident injury, including
- Photos and videos from the accident, if available
- Photos and videos of any injuries incurred
- Witness contact information
- A copy of the police report
- Receipts from all expenses
Track Your Expenses
Record all costs associated with your accident, including
- Medical expenses
- Property damage
- Lost wages
- Any other residual costs
Work with an Attorney
Contact an attorney as soon as possible after your car accident to ensure you meet New York’s statute of limitations for your case.
A well-versed attorney will be experienced in managing car accident claims like yours and will ease the stress that you and your loved ones feel during the chaotic and frustrating aftermath of a car accident injury.
Contact the William Mattar Law Offices team today to set up your free initial consultation. Bring your documentation, medical treatment plans, expenses, and any other information associated with your car accident to our meeting.
Why Choose William Mattar Law Offices
William Mattar Law Offices have been helping the New York community for over 35 years and available to help those injured in Albany car crashes. Our trusted and dedicated legal team works diligently to obtain maximum compensation for our clients. We advocate for their case while protecting their rights and recovering maximum compensation for their damages.
We welcome all clients to meet with us for a free initial case evaluation, where our team will learn about your unique situation and sufferings. From there, can attorneys will guide you and your loved ones on the best strategic path forward for your case.
Call us today for your free case evaluation.
Working With a Car Accident Injury Attorney
Figuring out what to do after a car accident can be a difficult and upsetting experience. Some people feel overwhelmed and frustrated when trying to file their claim with the insurance company.
Working with an experienced car accident injury attorney can make your insurance claim process much less stressful and taxing on you and your loved ones, allowing you to focus better on your recovery.
An attorney can:
- Communicate clearly with you - At legal team can clearly and thoroughly explain the insurance claim process and keep you updated throughout your claim. Your legal team can answer any questions and concerns you have associated with your case.
- Manage the insurance claim - Your attorneys can handle the logistics of your insurance claim process, including filing the claim, engaging with the insurance representatives and adjusters, negotiating a settlement, and filing a lawsuit if needed.
- Prove fault - An assertive and diligent car accident attorney can prove that the fault of your accident lies with those responsible and not with you, the victim.
- Recover compensation for all damages - You can recover compensation for all damages that result from your car accident injury, including pain and suffering, medical bills, and lost wages. An attorney can pursue compensation recovery for all of the damages from your accident, including those not covered by no-fault insurance.
If you or your loved ones were injured in a car accident in Albany, contact the William Mattar Law Offices today at (518) 592-6518. Let us get you the help you deserve.