New York Rear-End Truck Accident Lawyers
There is no denying that truck accidents – due to the immense size and weight of semi-trucks – are among the most terrifying and deadly accidents on our roads. When you see a semi barreling down on you in your rearview mirror, it’s intimidating at best. Accidents in which one of these massive vehicles crashes into the rear-end of a passenger vehicle, like the cars we drive, tend to be catastrophic in nature. If a negligent trucker leaves you or someone you love injured – or worse – in a rear-end truck accident, you need the skilled legal counsel of an experienced New York City personal injury attorney on your side.
Increased Stopping Distances
Because big rigs, when fully loaded, can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, which is many, many times heavier than the cars we drive, they require significantly longer stopping distances. Truck drivers are professional drivers who are responsible for navigating their rigs safely through traffic, and this includes allowing a safety buffer in the front to help avoid dangerous rear-end accidents. Bad weather and/or bad road conditions can increase stopping distances and must be calculated into every motorist’s – including truck drivers – safe driving practices. Help protect yourself by never cutting off an 18-wheeler.
Truck Driver Negligence
Truck accidents are often caused by truck driver negligence, which can take any of the following forms:
- Exhaustion – Truck drivers have immense responsibilities that include driving safely, monitoring their rigs for safety, performing regular maintenance checks, keeping careful travel logs, and more. It’s no wonder that they experience exhaustion from time to time. This is exactly why there are strict federal hours-of-service regulations in place to help ensure that truck drivers are not on the road longer than is safe. When truckers operate outside these safety rules, dangerous rear-end accidents become more likely.
- Distraction – Distraction is becoming the scourge of our highways and byways, and when a trucker is distracted, the associated danger goes up exponentially. It isn’t difficult to connect the dots from a distracted truck driver to a dangerous rear-end accident.
- Speed – The distance necessary to come to a safe stop increases right along with our speed, and this is just as true for truckers as it is for every other motorist. Because a semi’s immense size has already done a number on its stopping distance, adding excess speed can be a double whammy. Again, truck drivers are professional drivers who are charged with obeying the laws of the road, including the speed limit.
Seek the Experienced Legal Counsel of a New York City Personal Injury Attorney Today
If a truck driver leaves you injured in a rear-end accident, it’s a serious matter that requires serious legal attention. At Lipsig, Shapey, Manus & Moverman in NYC, our dedicated personal injury lawyers have extensive experience helping clients like you fully recover on their complete range of damages. Your rights are important, so please don’t hesitate to contact or call us at 212-285-3300 for more information today.