When it comes to car crashes in the Rochester area, you can count on William Mattar. Car accidents in Rochester can occur at any time and for several reasons. There are many types and potential causes of car accidents to be aware of in order to remain safe on local roadways.
Immediately following a Rochester motor vehicle collision, it can be hard to anticipate what may come next. If you’ve been involved in a multiple-car wreck, a drunk driving crash, or were hit by a speeding vehicle, you need the help of an experienced car accident attorney at William Mattar. We know what to expect after a serious accident and can help guide you through the process. Call us today at 844-noswap444-4444 to schedule a free consultation regarding your case.
Car Accident Law Firm - William Mattar
William Mattar law offices has over 30 years of experience fighting on behalf of accident victims in New York State. Our Rochester car accident attorneys represent clients who have been hurt in collisions involving other vehicles, motorcycles, pedestrians, bicyclists, and more. We know that every case is unique, and we work to ensure that every accident victim is supported throughout the legal process.
The team at William Mattar has the knowledge and experience to tackle any car crash case. Our accident attorneys investigate each case, collect evidence, negotiate with insurance companies, and work to get the best results possible for our clients. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you receive compensation for your injuries.
What to do after a Car Accident
A car accident can be a disorienting and stressful experience. Knowing what to do after a crash may help prepare you for the possibility, and ensure your right to file a personal injury claim is protected.
After a car accident, you should consider seeking medical attention as soon as possible, even if you don’t believe you were injured. Calling law enforcement to the scene of the accident is also important, as the police officer that arrives will complete an official report concerning the car crash. If you can do so safely, gather information about the crash, including contact information of the drivers involved, witness statements, and photos.
If you have suffered injuries, contact an experienced car accident lawyer who can help you get started on your claim. An accident lawyer will keep track of all applicable statutes of limitations and ensure that deadlines are met. The statute of limitations for a car accident is three years from the date of the crash, but some documents must be submitted in a much shorter time frame. That’s why it’s a good idea to seek legal representation sooner than later.
Causes of Car Accidents in Rochester
Many of the serious crashes our Rochester clients describe happen on the same stretches of road. I-490 carries heavy commuter traffic through downtown and the interchange east of the city, I-390 funnels traffic past the airport on the southwest side, and the Route 104 corridor moves a steady flow of vehicles across the north side between Greece and Webster. Congested merges, short ramps, and sudden slowdowns on these corridors leave little room for driver error.
Distracted Driving
One of the major causes of motor vehicle crashes in Rochester is distracted driving.
Distracted drivers–such as those who text, talk on their cellphones, or fidget with his or her dashboard while driving–have become a major cause of highway crashes. On fast-moving commutes along I-490 and I-390, a glance at a phone can cover the length of a football field before the driver looks up. Distracted driving can include any time that a motorist takes his or her attention away from the road, or is focusing on another task, such as eating, while driving. This can be incredibly dangerous and result in a serious, life-threatening collision.
A car accident lawyer is knowledgeable about how to negotiate with insurance companies and how to prove liability in a distracted driving accident. With new laws enacted to penalize distracted drivers, your Rochester personal injury attorney is well-equipped to help you obtain the compensation you deserve for injuries suffered as a consequence of a negligent driver.
Snowy / Icy Roads
Rochester is no stranger to snowy weather conditions. When roads are covered in snow and ice, drivers are encouraged to slow down and maintain a safe distance between themselves and the car in front of them. This is because snow and ice can create hazardous conditions that may cause a vehicle to skid or slide unexpectedly on the road. Lake effect snow off Lake Ontario can hit the Route 104 corridor and the bridges and ramps along I-490 and I-390 quickly, leaving pavement slick before plows and salt trucks reach it.
Unfortunately, not all drivers exercise safe driving habits in bad weather, therefore increasing the risk of a serious car accident. Weather-related accidents do not always involve two or more motor vehicles. They can sometimes involve just one vehicle that may have lost control. In difficult weather, cars are at a higher risk of sliding off the road into an object or obstacle, such a median.
Proper vehicle maintenance is also a factor in weather-related driving incidents. If a motorist’s vehicle is poorly maintained, he or she may be at risk when driving in inclement weather. Well-functioning brakes, as well as other mechanical parts, are essential for safe driving. This is especially true in conditions that are more dangerous than usual.
Examples of Car Accidents that May Cause Serious Injury
There is a possibility for serious injuries to be sustained during any type of car accident. The severity of injuries may be determined by a variety of factors, including the vehicle you were driving, speed of the accident, and seat belt use. Rear-end accidents and highway merging crashes are two examples of car accidents that may cause serious injuries.
Rear-End Car Accidents
A common, and potentially very serious, type of car crash is a rear-end collision. A rear-end collision, also known as a fender-bender, occurs when one vehicle strikes another from behind.
Many rear-end car collisions handled by our Rochester car accident attorneys involve a distracted driver who was not watching the road properly at the time of the accident. Rear-end collisions can also be caused by aggressive “tailgaters” who do not leave enough room between their vehicle and the vehicle in front of them. In this scenario, the tailgating motorist may not have enough time to brake when required, resulting in a collision.
If you’ve suffered physical injuries in a rear end crash, the personal injury lawyers William Mattar can help ease your financial burdens by fighting for the best result possible. We can guide you through the no-fault insurance process to have your Medicaid bills and lost wages paid.
Highway Merging Crashes
Drivers are supposed to move to the left to allow cars to merge onto a highway from an entrance ramp. Aggressive or distracted drivers often refuse to change lanes or slow down so that merging traffic can enter the highway safely. In other cases, the merging driver may not be exercising caution, and attempt to overtake or cut off another driver. When a motorist traveling on the highway and a merging motorist collide, it is what’s sometimes known as a “merging accident.”
Merging accidents can occur at an angle or resemble a rear-end accident. Victims of merging accidents can suffer a variety of injuries, ranging from whiplash to head lacerations to broken bones. Even if a vehicle contains side air bags or other safety features, merging crashes are high-impact car accidents that can seriously injure anyone riding in a merging vehicle.
Common Car Accident Injuries
One of the most frequently reported injuries suffered by victims of car accidents is whiplash. A whiplash injury damages a person’s neck and upper back, which can cause severe or chronic pain. Symptoms may also include shoulder and arm pain, stiffness, dizziness, headaches, loss of movement, and fatigue. While the severity of a whiplash injury varies, it can be severe enough to prevent you from returning to work for some time, or even require long-term physical therapy.
Another common type of car accident injury is a traumatic brain injury (TBI). A TBI is caused by a blow or trauma to the head. In a motor vehicle accident, the head may jerk forward during impact and strike the interior of the vehicle, such as the steering wheel or dashboard.
Depending on the severity of the injury, a TBI can cause a variety of symptoms, including a period of unconsciousness, memory loss, headaches, and fatigue. Examples of TBIs suffered in car accidents include concussions, contusions, and skull fractures.
How a Car Accident Claim Works in New York
A Rochester car accident claim moves through stages, and each stage has its own rules and deadlines. These rules come from New York State law, so they apply the same way across the state.
No-fault benefits come first. New York is a no-fault state, so the claim starts with your own insurance company. Under Insurance Law Section 5102 and Section 5103, no-fault benefits pay up to $50,000 per person for basic economic loss, including medical bills and a portion of lost wages, regardless of who caused the crash. The no-fault application generally must be filed within 30 days of the accident.
The serious injury threshold opens the door to pain and suffering. To recover pain and suffering damages, the injured person must generally have a serious injury as defined by Insurance Law Section 5102(d). The qualifying categories include fracture, significant disfigurement, permanent loss or limitation of use of a body organ or member, significant limitation of use of a body function or system, and a medically determined injury that prevents usual daily activities for 90 of the first 180 days. Insurance companies challenge this threshold often, which makes objective medical evidence important from the first appointment.
Then comes the liability claim. Once the threshold is met, a separate claim against the at-fault driver's insurer covers pain and suffering and economic losses beyond the no-fault cap. New York's comparative negligence rule allows recovery even when the injured person shares some fault, with the amount reduced by their percentage of responsibility.
William Mattar Accident Lawyers can guide Rochester clients through every stage of this process, and the firm also serves injured people from offices in Buffalo, Syracuse, Albany and on Long Island.
What Affects the Value of a Rochester Claim
No two claims are worth the same amount because no two crashes cause the same harm. The factors that carry the most weight include the severity of your injuries and whether they meet the serious injury threshold, the cost of the medical care you have received and will need in the future, the income you lost while recovering and any lasting effect on your ability to work, and the ways the injuries have changed your daily life. The available insurance coverage also matters, since the at-fault driver's policy limits and your own underinsured motorist coverage shape what may be recovered.
Where Rochester Car Accident Cases Are Filed
Most claims resolve through the insurance process without a lawsuit. When a lawsuit is needed, it is typically filed in New York State Supreme Court, Monroe County, which sits at the Hall of Justice in downtown Rochester. Claims against a government entity, including the City of Rochester or Monroe County, follow shorter deadlines that begin with a notice of claim, so those cases move on a faster clock from day one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I still have a case if I was partly at fault?
Yes. New York follows a modified comparative negligence rule, so an injured person may recover compensation even if they share some responsibility for the crash. The recovery is reduced by their percentage of fault.
What if my injuries did not appear until days after the accident?
Some injuries, including soft tissue damage and concussion symptoms, may take days or weeks to become apparent. Seeing a doctor promptly and describing every symptom creates a record that connects your injuries to the crash, which matters when the insurance company reviews your claim.
What if a City of Rochester vehicle was involved in my crash?
Claims against a municipality follow special rules. A notice of claim generally must be served within 90 days under General Municipal Law Section 50-e, and the lawsuit deadline is shorter than in a standard injury case. Speaking with an attorney soon after the crash helps protect those deadlines.
For a closer look at the local process, see our guides How Car Accident Claims Work in Rochester and How Do You File a No Fault Claim in Monroe County.
Note for the web team: the two guide titles above are companion pieces publishing this month. Link each title once its post is live, and publish the sentence without links until then.
CONTACT A CAR ACCIDENT ATTORNEY
If you have been injured in a Rochester car accident, you may be entitled to compensation. At William Mattar, we work on behalf of our clients to help them get the maximum recovery possible. Our team is standing by 24/7 to speak with you about your case. If you’ve been injured and need the assistance of a car accident lawyer, don’t hesitate to contact us by phone at 844-444-4444, or fill out our online form to schedule a free consultation.