Manhattan Motor Vehicle Accidents Law Blog

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has set very strict guidelines that commercial drivers and their employers must abide by. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon to see these drivers doing their own thing anyway -- such as using their cellphones while operating their vehicles. Anyone in the state of New York who has been injured or lost a loved one in a truck accident resulting from cellphone use may have legal recourse.

Using a cellular device while driving a motor vehicle is a known safety hazard. It takes a person's mind and eyes off the road and hands off the wheel. This form of distracted driving contributes to a number of injuries and deaths in the United States every year.

Police in New York have arrested the man believed responsible for an auto collision that left one person dead and others injured. The multi-car accident occurred Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018, in lower Manhattan. The surviving family members of the deceased, as well as the injured victims, may be entitled to seek compensation for their losses through legal means.

According to reports, a 37-year-old male was operating his vehicle on West Street when he lost control and slammed into a Honda. The force of impact flipped the Honda, killing its driver. Instead of stopping, the man continued on hitting two other cars, causing injury to two people. He finally came to a stop after striking two parked cars. Thankfully, those last two vehicles were unoccupied.

With the holiday season in full swing, many New Yorkers are spending time with their family and friends and numerous visitors have entered the state. Many social gatherings that they will attend over the next two weeks, whether they occur in private residences or in public spaces, will have alcohol present. Unfortunately, there will be individuals who will choose to drink and drive. As this month is National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month, it seems fitting to talk about the seriousness of driving while impaired.

According to a recent report, in the last two decades, roughly 17,000 people in the United States lost their lives due to the actions of drunk drivers. Over 700,000 people suffered injuries in auto collisions which were alcohol-related. It is believed that three out of every 10 Americans will be involved in a drunk driving-related accident at some point in their lifetime.

As a motorist, you must navigate a variety of hazards on the road. Even the most routine commute can include encounters with large trucks, visibility-reducing precipitation and careless/aggressive fellow-drivers.

Construction zones on or near the road can add to the list of potential crash risks. Based on this, the New York State Department of Transportation offers some safety tips for drivers.