Downtown New York City generally refers to lower-Manhattan south of Canal Street, which includes the Financial District, SoHo, Battery Park City and Tribeca (triangle below canal). The area is old and historic, with the exteriors of commercial buildings lined with ornate moldings. In part because of the tourists attracted to the area, wrong way accidents do occur because there are many one-way streets downtown and out-of-towners are not always familiar with these types of roads.
Wrong-way car accidents are usually head-on collisions and severe injuries can result. While late-model vehicles are equipped with airbags and other safety features to protect occupants, serious injuries still occur when wrong-way accidents take place. Motorists will often have their eyes glued to the GPS devices for guidance and if they miss a cue or a prompt, a turn down a one-way street can quickly happen.
How Can Wrong-Way Accidents Be Avoided?
Before getting on the road in lower-Manhattan, take out an old-fashioned paper map and look at the area you are about to drive down and through. Pay particular attention to locations that have one way streets to avoid a potential wrong-way accident while you embark on your journey. You may make a mental note of these areas by remembering a nearby cross-street or intersection to jog your memory later on. Be particularly cautious in this area when you arrive, because an unfamiliar driver may head the wrong-way down a one-way street toward you if they hang a wrong turn.
In the unfortunate case of a wrong way accident, remain calm and be sure to do the following:
Call 911 and get immediate medical attention if you are injured;
Get the names and contact information of police officers you speak to, as well as the names and addresses of any witnesses;
If possible, take as many photographs at the scene as possible.
Thereafter, contact an experienced personal injury attorney to make sure that your legal rights are protected. Time-sensitive documents need to be completed and time is not on your side with respect to protecting your legal rights.
Call an Experienced Attorney
Michael J. Redenburg has maintained his law office in Downtown NYC for more than a decade. He is very well-versed in the laws surrounding lower-Manhattan crashes and further familiar with the courts in the area. If you’ve been injured in an accident in downtown Manhattan, call now at 212-240-9465 and learn how to get the Wheels of Justice Spinning for You!