New York City HOV Lane Accident Lawyer
High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes, otherwise known as carpool lanes, are designed to decrease congestion by incentivizing people to carpool. The principle is pretty simple: the average passenger vehicle can easily accommodate at least four adults, yet most vehicles can be seen driving around with only a single occupant inside; removing just one out of a handful of cars from the road would significantly reduce congestion, not to mention pollution. However, HOV lanes not only incentivize carpooling, some see them as an invitation to speed. If you were injured by a speeding, reckless, or otherwise negligent driver in the HOV lane, we can help you seek compensation. The New York City HOV lane accident lawyers at Cohan Law Firm handle all types of traffic collisions, and are experienced in the type of high speed, catastrophic collisions that take place in HOV lanes.
How HOV Lane Crashes Typically Happen
The most common type of crash in an HOV lane is a high-speed rear-end collision. One very common scenario of this type of crash is when a slower-moving driver merges into the HOV lane in front of a speeding vehicle, causing a rear-ender. If the faster moving driver is on their cell phone, the speed of the collision is even higher. Impatient drivers also use HOV lanes illegally to get around slow-downs in the non HOV lanes. Wherever a driver merges into the HOV lane when it is not legal to do so, it catches other HOV users off guard. The most common causes of HOV lane crashes are:
- Swerving in and out
- Abrupt Lane Changes
- Speeding
Injuries in a New York HOV Lane Crashes
HOV lane crashes tend to be at high speeds, and often involve more than two vehicles. As a result, injuries in HOV crashes are often severe. Examples include the following:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Concussion
- Whiplash
- Facial lacerations and fractures
- Permanent facial scarring and disfigurement
- Spinal cord injuries
- Fractured vertebrae
- Soft tissue injuries such as torn ACL or meniscus
- Fractured leg or arm
- Fractured pelvis
- Fractured ribs
- Internal organ damage
Damages in a New York HOV Lane Crashes
A personal injury claim allows the plaintiff to seek compensation for the following damages:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of joy of life
- Lost wages
- Lost earning ability due to disability
- Property damage
Call a New York City HOV Lane Crash Attorney Today
If you were driving in an HOV lane, obeying the speed limit, and were cut off by an impatient driver on your right, or you legally merged into the HOV lane at a reasonable speed and were hit from behind by someone doing 90 miles per hour, you are not at fault. Proving that you were following the rules of the road can be complicated, however, which is why it is always necessary to work with an experienced New York traffic collision attorney whenever you are harmed in a car wreck. Contact the NYC HOV Lane car accident attorneys at Cohan Law Firm today at 855-855-0321 for a complimentary consultation.
