Westbury is one of Long Island’s busiest shopping and commuting hubs. Old Country Road is lined with big-box stores and plazas, the Northern State Parkway and Meadowbrook Parkway carry commuters through, and Post Avenue and the Westbury LIRR station add local traffic. Car accident lawyer Yakov Mushiyev and our team see two kinds of Westbury crashes again and again: parking lot collisions and high-traffic road crashes. Here’s how each one works.
Parking lot crashes
Parking lots feel low-risk, but they’re full of backing vehicles, drivers looking at their phones for an open spot, and pedestrians walking between cars with shopping carts. Common crashes include:
- A car backing out of a space into a passing car or a pedestrian
- Two cars backing out at the same time
- A driver cutting across empty rows instead of using the lanes
- A pedestrian struck in a crosswalk near the store entrance
Who’s at fault?
Drivers in the travel lane generally have the right of way over cars backing out, but both drivers have a duty to watch where they’re going. Fault is often shared. New York’s pure comparative fault rule, CPLR § 1411, lets you recover even if you were partly responsible; see our comparative negligence guide.
Can the property owner be responsible?
Sometimes. Poor lighting, missing stop signs, faded markings or a dangerous layout can make the owner or manager of the shopping center share fault. Store security cameras often capture lot crashes, so ask for the footage quickly, before it’s recorded over.
Old Country Road
With dozens of driveways, turning lanes and traffic lights, Old Country Road produces rear-end crashes, left-turn collisions and side impacts as drivers pull in and out of plazas. Crashes here are often at moderate speed but can still cause fractures and back injuries.
Northern State and Meadowbrook Parkways
Parkway crashes happen at higher speeds, often during merges and in stop-and-go rush-hour traffic. Multi-vehicle collisions are common, and an accident reconstructionist can help establish how the crash happened.
Who pays
- No-fault pays medical bills and part of lost wages regardless of fault. Pedestrians hit in a parking lot are usually covered too. See our New York no-fault guide.
- The at-fault driver’s liability coverage pays pain and suffering if you meet the serious injury threshold under Insurance Law § 5102(d).
- A property owner’s insurance may apply when lot conditions contributed.
Steps after a Westbury crash
- Get medical care, even for a low-speed crash.
- Photograph both vehicles, their positions, lot markings and signs.
- Ask the store manager to preserve camera footage.
- Get the police report number, and file DMV Form MV-104 with the DMV within 10 days if anyone was hurt or damage tops $1,000.
- Keep an injury diary.
Deadlines
Most claims must be filed within three years under CPLR § 214. Claims involving a county or town road defect need notice within 90 days under General Municipal Law § 50-e. Learn more on our car accident practice page or read about a car accident lawyer in Nassau County.
Frequently asked questions
Is a parking lot accident always 50/50?
No. Fault depends on who had the right of way and who was paying attention. A car accident lawyer in Westbury can review the photos and footage.
Does no-fault cover parking lot crashes?
Yes. No-fault applies to crashes involving motor vehicles, including in private lots.
I was hit while walking to my car. Who pays?
Usually the driver’s no-fault coverage pays your medical bills first, and you may also have a claim against the driver.
Why work with car accident lawyer Yakov Mushiyev
A car accident lawyer Westbury shoppers and commuters can rely on will move quickly to secure store camera footage and parkway crash evidence. Yakov Mushiyev and our team handle parking lot, Old Country Road and parkway crash claims across central Nassau, and the firm has recovered more than $80 million for injured New Yorkers. As a car accident lawyer Westbury residents can reach easily, we can also meet you at home or by video.
Getting to our office from Westbury
Our Rosedale office is easy to reach from Westbury by taking the Northern State or Southern State Parkway west to the Cross Island Parkway. The map below shows exactly where we are.
Visit Yakov Mushiyev & Associates
Our office is at 1 Cross Island Plaza, Suite 325, Rosedale, NY 11422, just off the Cross Island Parkway on the Queens–Nassau border. If you can’t come to us, we’ll come to you: at home, in the hospital or by video.
Talk to a car accident lawyer in Westbury today
Yakov Mushiyev & Associates has recovered over $80 million for injured New Yorkers across the five boroughs and Nassau County. Consultations are free, available in English, Russian and Spanish, and there is no fee unless we win.
Call 718.775.3110 or contact us online for a free case review.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Every case is different. Attorney Advertising.