New York City Truck Accident Lawyers

Assisting Victims of New York City Truck Accidents with their Personal Injury Cases

Truck accidents in New York City can involve personal trucks, as well as commercial box trucks and tractor-trailers. If you are driving a sedan or smaller motor vehicle and a large truck collides with your vehicle, your vehicle can sustain serious damages. More importantly, you can suffer severe personal injuries as a result of the accident.

If you are the victim of a truck accident and have sustained serious personal injuries, the New York City truck accident lawyers at Lipsig, Shapey, Manus & Moverman may be able to help. We would like to put our 80-plus years of experience to work and pursue maximum compensation on your behalf.

Dangerous Vehicles in New York City

Our team has helped victims injured in collisions with different types of commercial vehicles on the road, including:

Sanitation vehicles. There is an outbreak of accidents involving sanitation vehicles, whether they are owned by a private company or the City. Many vehicles have been implicated in collisions with pedestrians. Other vehicles are so poorly maintained that they should not be on the road in the first place and pose a clear danger to public safety.
Delivery trucks. Many delivery trucks have a “boxy” appearance. These trucks are difficult to control and often drive in congested areas downtown. A box truck can crush or kill a pedestrian in an intersection if the driver is not careful.
Tractor-trailers. These big rigs often transport large quantities of goods and produce around the City. A tractor-trailer has gigantic blind spots that prove problematic in a city environment. Many truckers haul across the country, so they can be exhausted and make mistakes solely due to being fatigued.
Dump trucks. Seen around construction sites, dump trucks transport materials and refuse. They are prone to rolling over, especially when the box is elevated. Other dump trucks strike construction workers or members of the public, and there is always a risk that materials will come flying out the back while on the freeway.
Moving trucks. Many people rent a U-Haul or other moving truck to haul furniture and other goods around the City. Unfortunately, many people are completely inexperienced at driving these vehicles. They do not understand the blind spots or how much time they need to brake.

If you were struck by one of these commercial vehicles or another not listed, please contact one of our New York City truck accident lawyers for a free consultation. The sooner you get started on your case, the stronger your chances of financial recovery.

Common Causes of New York City Truck Accidents

Truck accidents in New York City can occur in a variety of different ways. In the case of commercial trucks, the driver may be attempting to beat a time schedule or obtain overtime compensation. The driver’s employer might also create incentives for the truck driver to be on the road longer than currently allowed under federal law. Consequently, he or she may be disregarding the rules of the road or driving while fatigued. Other truck accidents are caused by:

Substance abuse, including drugs or alcohol
Over-the-counter drugs, which can induce fatigue or confusion
Distracted driving
Illegal cell phone use
Carelessness
Failure to observe surroundings
Refusal to yield

Because trucking is such a dangerous activity, federal laws strictly limit when a truck driver may be on the road and what he or she can do when behind the wheel. For example, federal hours of service regulations limit the number of hours a driver can drive in a 24-hour period and in a week. These laws also mandate required rest periods to combat driver fatigue.

Federal law also prohibits the use of a hand-held cell phone, though hands-free options are allowed. Many drivers violate these rules, and sometimes a violation can cause a distracted driver to crash into unsuspecting victims.

In any of these cases, the injured motor vehicle driver may be able to file a personal injury claim. Speak with an experienced New York City truck accident attorney for more information.

Truck Accidents Are More Complicated than Other Kinds of Traffic Accidents

Truck accidents are not only the most dangerous accidents on our roads, but truck accident claims are also among the most complicated traffic accident claims. There are a variety of factors that make this a reality, including:

Accident Specifics – Trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds when they are fully loaded, and their immense size ensures that accidents involving trucks are that much more dangerous. A semi’s weight also ensures, however, that the impact of a truck accident is so powerful that it makes gathering all the physical evidence involved that much more complicated. When it comes to truck accidents, there are lots of moving parts, and each must be carefully examined to ensure that the facts related to each unique case are well represented.
The Trucking Company’s Motivation to Mitigate Liability – Trucking companies typically have deep pockets and plenty of experience swooping in and protecting their own interests when a truck accident involving one of their rigs takes place. In other words, the trucking company and its insurance provider are both very invested in mitigating liability in every way possible, which makes bringing your most robust claim that much more important.
The Trucking Company’s Liability – When it comes to truck accidents, liability can be spread out – or can reside in a surprising entity. For instance, negligent truck drivers are often responsible for dangerous truck accidents, and truck driver negligence can usually be categorized as distraction, impairment, exhaustion, and/or aggression. This is not the end of the story, however. The trucking company itself shoulders a good deal of responsibility that includes hiring safe, dependable drivers; hiring safe, dependable mechanics, keeping a safe, well-maintained fleet of rigs; not pushing their drivers beyond the bounds of safe trucking (including adhering to the hours-of-service restrictions); and much more. When the trucking company fails to adequately uphold its important responsibilities, dangerous truck accidents can be the result.
The Truck Manufacturer’s Liability – Finally, the truck manufacturer is responsible for implementing safe truck designs and for manufacturing safe trucks. Faultily designed and/or manufactured trucks (and/or truck parts) mean dangerous trucks.
Highly Specific Investigation Requirements – Truck accidents require highly specific investigations, and to be conducted thoroughly and accurately, these investigations require the skill and knowledge of truck accident attorneys with extensive experience successfully conducting these complicated, but important investigations. To bring a successful truck accident claim that provides you with the compensation you need to reach your fullest recovery, you need an attorney who doesn’t dabble in these complicated cases but who has proven experience in every aspect of the matter. The fact is that the trucking industry is governed by myriad federal regulations to which trucking companies and truck drivers must closely adhere, including maintaining extensive recordkeeping and reporting. A savvy, experienced truck accident attorney and his or her team know how to dig more deeply into these requirements in an effort to ascertain where discrepancies that could affect your case lie.

Impact of No-fault Insurance on Truck Accident Claims

If you sustained injuries in a motor vehicle collision that resulted from a negligent truck driver, under New York’s no-fault system, you should first look to your own insurance company for compensation. All motor vehicle drivers are required to carry minimum bodily injury insurance coverage on their vehicles. This coverage continues to compensate you for your medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses directly related to your accident.

In the event this compensation isn’t sufficient, or if you suffered a permanent and debilitating injury, you may be able to file a claim or lawsuit directly against the negligent truck driver. If the negligent truck driver is a commercial truck driver, you may also be able to file a claim or lawsuit against the employer trucking company.

As part of any lawsuit against the at-fault party or parties, you may be able to seek monetary compensation in the form of non-economic damages. These non-economic damages might include compensation for suffering, pain, inconvenience, loss of use of a body part, or loss of enjoyment of life that resulted from the injuries you sustained in the truck accident. In many cases, compensation for these intangible losses makes up the bulk of the money our clients receive. It is vital to have an attorney who understands how to document pain and other suffering properly so that you can make a compelling claim to receive as much money under the law.

Our knowledgeable New York City truck accident lawyers can determine which items of damage may be applicable to the facts of your case and may be able to pursue those damages on your behalf.

Contact a New York City Truck Accident Lawyer Today to Schedule a Free Case Evaluation

If you have sustained injuries in a New York City truck accident, you should not delay in calling a lawyer. The experienced attorneys at Lipsig, Shapey, Manus & Moverman understand that serious injuries, including paralysis, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic head injuries, can directly result from trucking accidents. Our knowledgeable legal team will put our skills to work to help maximize your compensation in an accident case.

To schedule a free consultation and case evaluation with a New York City truck accident lawyer, please call us at 917-261-3488 or contact us online today.