Below you will find a brief overview of the statistics that relate to the number of New York car accidents that occur every year on slippery pavement. You will also find information regarding how many of those crashes lead to serious injuries and to fatalities. Anyone who has been seriously injured as a result of a negligent driver in slippery conditions needs to obtain the help of experienced New York accident lawyers as soon as possible.
New York Car Accident Statistics – Slippery Pavement
The New York Department of Motor Vehicles tracks and records the statistics relating to all types of crashes that occur across the state. These statistics are broken down into several categories, and one of them involves the number of accidents that take place on slippery pavement. Clearly, not all crashes on slippery pavement occur during the winter, but the presence of snow, ice and sleet only makes these incidents more likely.
According to the New York DMV, nearly 24,000 New York car accidents occur every year where the pavement was slippery at the time of the crash. In addition, more than 8,500 of these crashes lead to at least one serious injury. Finally, more than 50 of these crashes lead to at least one fatality. These numbers have remained largely constant in recent years.
Legal Fallout from Slippery Pavement Crashes
Many people who are injured in these crashes mistakenly believe that they have no legal recourse because the driving environment at the time of the crash was difficult. However, motorists are held to a standard of reasonable conduct. Therefore, people are expected to take certain steps when the roads are slippery that would tend to minimize the possibility of crashes occurring.
These defensive steps include slowing down a bit, avoiding aggressive maneuvers such as weaving in and out of lanes, making any sudden or unexpected maneuvers or slamming on the brakes when doing so only leads to the possibility of losing control of the vehicle. Therefore, people who are injured in these crashes need to understand that they could have legal rights and options available.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a crash caused by a negligent driver, you need to seek the help of experienced New York accident lawyers who have been fighting for the rights of clients for more than 40 years. Contact The Fitzgerald Law Firm today to schedule a free initial consultation.