New York Truck Accident Lawyer

New York Truck Accident Lawyer Serving Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island and the Bronx

All types of heavy trucks are a part of the mix in New York City traffic, from cargo vans making deliveries in Manhattan to tractor-trailers hauling their loads from Long Island warehouses. Although most truck drivers are professional and safe, an instant of lapsed judgment or a careless action can result in a serious New York truck accident.

Due to the discrepancy in size and weight between trucks and passenger vehicles, collisions involving tractor-trailers and cars can result in grave injuries, or even death. Regardless of who was at fault, the laws of physics mean that the people in the lighter passenger vehicle are more likely to be seriously injured or killed.

Not only are New York City truck accidents more harmful than other types of wrecks, but they are also more complex. There are many regulations that govern the trucking business, and there are often a number of potential defendants (and insurance companies) involved in a lawsuit that could result in significant damages.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a New York tractor-trailer crash, protect your rights by calling an experienced New York Truck Accident Lawyer at David Resnick & Associates, PC, for a consultation. There is no obligation, so call today at 212-279-2000 or contact the firm through our online form.

About New York Truck Accidents

There were over 11,000 large truck accidents in New York State in 2009, according to the most recent statistics from the New York Department of Motor Vehicles. Those wrecks resulted in 103 deaths and 5,189 injuries. Those figures show improvement over previous years — for example, there were 13,793 accidents and 146 deaths in 2007. However, it is clear that truck accidents pose a major threat to New York motorists’ safety.

Another thing the statistics plainly show is that people in other motor vehicles are more likely to suffer life-threatening injuries than the truck drivers. While only eight drivers of large trucks died in New York truck accidents during 2009, 71 drivers of other vehicles perished, along with 18 pedestrians, 10 passengers and four bicyclists. The explanation likely lies in the simple size difference between cars and trucks. A typical passenger vehicle weighs around 3,000 pounds, but a fully loaded semi-truck can tip the scales at 80,000 pounds.

Weight also plays a role in why truck accidents happen in the first place. Physics, again, dictates that it takes longer to stop a heavy object like a truck than it does a lightweight car. Because their size poses such a significant hazard to everyone else on the road, the trucking industry is heavily regulated in an effort to make New York’s highways safer for everyone. Safety regulations address all aspects of trucking, including the maintenance of equipment, the number of hours truckers can drive without breaks, how much cargo they can haul and licensure requirements.

Unfortunately, the pressure to make more money pushes some trucking companies and drivers to break the rules, putting everyone’s safety at risk. Some of the most frequent forms of negligence that result in tragic New York truck accidents include:

• Speeding, tailgating, improper passing or other reckless driving;
• Fatigue or inattentiveness of the driver;
• Defective equipment, including impaired brakes;
• Improper management of road conditions in foul conditions;
• Inexperienced drivers;
• Company negligence in hiring and training drivers; and
• Use of drugs (illegal, prescription or over-the-counter) or alcohol.

These are just some of the many careless or reckless actions that can cause a serious trucking accident, and many different parties could be to blame. Depending on which factors were present, potential liability for a New York City truck wreck could be shared by:

• The truck driver;
• The truck driver’s employer or the company that schedules hauls;
• The owner of the cargo being shipped; and
• The company that designed and manufactured the truck and related equipment.

Since multiple parties could be responsible for your truck accident injuries, you could have to deal with several insurance companies at the same time. Many trucking companies will immediately send their accident investigators to the scene with an eye toward making the case go away as cheaply as possible.

It’s important to hire a qualified New York truck accident attorney who can review the evidence with your best interests in mind. Truck wrecks often have the same type of evidence that is present in other types of accidents — skid marks, eyewitnesses and physical damage for example. But trucking accidents are different because truckers must also maintain driving logs, and many heavy trucks are equipped with “black box” data recorders that can provide detailed information about how the accident occurred. Although black box data can be very helpful in a truck wreck investigation, the evidence can be overwritten as new data is generated.

Your potential damages in a New York truck accident case are based on a number of factors, including the severity of your injuries, your prospects for recovery and your economic situation. An experienced New York Truck Accident Lawyer at our firm can help. The types of compensation you could recover include:

• Medical bills;
• Lost wages and productivity;
• Pain and suffering;
• Rehabilitation expenses;
• Property damage to your vehicle;
• Rental car reimbursement;
• Costs for assistive devices like wheelchairs or walkers; and
• Punitive damages (in exceptional cases).

Were You Hurt In A Truck Accident in New York City? Call Our Manhattan Lawyers Today

If you or someone you love was seriously injured in a New York truck wreck and someone else was at fault, you could be entitled to compensation. Each New York Truck Accident Lawyer at David Resnick & Associates, PC, is skilled at evaluating traffic accident claims and has a track record of getting results for our clients. Call our firm today at (212) 279-2000 or use our online contact form for a free evaluation of your case.  

We serve tractor-trailer accident victims in New York City, including the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, Brooklyn and Long Island.