Drunk driving is an example of driver impairment. Dangerous impairment begins not at the point of intoxication, but after the first drink. Other types of driver impairment include:

• Medical Condition: A serious, chronic medical condition, like heart disease, diabetes, or epilepsy, could cause drivers to lose consciousness while they’re behind the wheel. A less serious, transient medical condition, like the flu or common cold, reduces the ability to safely operate a motor vehicle by up to 50 percent, according to researchers.
• Drugs: To counter the effects of a medical condition, many people take powerful prescription or over-the-counter drugs. These medicines usually have strong side-effects which, in many cases, mimic intoxication. Marijuana, which is legal in New York, is an even more powerful drug. Its effects don’t occur gradually. Instead, they hit users like a ton of bricks.
• Excessive Fatigue: Drowsy driving is common twelve months a year. When the days are longer, people feel like they can push themselves. When the days are shorter, people feel sleepy earlier. Alcohol, drugs, and fatigue all have basically the same effects on the brain and body. Driving after eighteen consecutive awake hours is like driving with a .04 BAC level. That’s above the legal limit for many New York drivers.

Speeding is an example of operating negligence. People don’t “accidentally” speed. They know what they are doing, because the speedometer is almost literally in front of their noses. Other intentional driving mistakes include turning unsafely and running a red light. 

During vehicle collisions, multiple restraint layers, like airbags and seat belts, protect vehicle occupants. Guardrails and energy-absorbing barrels also protect victims. In contrast, bicycle riders have almost no personal or structural protection.

Additionally, common bicycle “safety measures” may do more harm than good. When motorists see bicyclists wearing helmets, they often take more risks. Subconsciously, they believe the rider could survive an accident, so they’re more reckless. Concrete pillars separating bicycle lanes from other traffic lanes give bikers more space to operate. But, they also limit driver visibility. This issue is especially dangerous because many motorists aren’t looking out for bicyclists to begin with.

We mentioned speed in vehicle-on-vehicle collisions and lack of protection in vehicle-on-bicycle collisions. Speed and lack of protection are an especially deadly combination when it comes to vehicle-on-pedestrian accidents.

At impact speeds under 20mph, these collisions are almost never fatal. At impact speeds over 40mph, pedestrian victims almost never survive. Exsanguination (excessive blood loss) is usually the official cause of death in these situations.

New York City/Long Island auto accident lawyers must work especially hard to obtain fair compensation in these matters. Lack of evidence is usually a problem. If the victim dies, the reporting police officer only hears the tortfeasor’s (negligent driver’s) side of the story. Therefore, the police report is often inaccurate. Additionally, since most pedestrian accidents happen outside marked crosswalks, these claims are legally complex.