Truck Accident Lawyers in NYC

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

If you have been injured in a truck accident, you don’t need to determine who’s to blame. All you have to do is contact an NYC truck accident attorney who can help as soon as possible.

An attorney can help to uncover the underlying causes of the accident, the most common of which include:

Falling Asleep at The Wheel

Federal regulations require truck drivers to adhere to strict hours of service rules that limit how many hours they can drive at a time. These rules are specifically designed to ensure no driver falls asleep at the wheel due to exhaustion.

Unfortunately, some companies allow, or even encourage, drivers to break hours of service rules, and when serious fatigue sets in, deadly collisions may occur.

Lack of Fitness

Truck drivers must pass regular physicals to prove they meet industry fitness standards. However, not all doctors are as thorough in their examinations as they should be, and not all truckers report all of their medications. Unfit truck drivers can create seriously dangerous situations on the road that can lead to accidents.

Impaired Driving

Any driver who consumes drugs or alcohol and then gets behind the wheel poses a serious danger to others on the road. When a semi-truck driver operates an 80,000-pound commercial vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol, the results can be absolutely disastrous. All impaired drivers should be held accountable for their recklessness.

Shifting Freight

Drivers and warehouse workers share responsibility for ensuring that freight is loaded onto the trailer properly. Freight overloading can make steering and stopping more challenging, leading to rollover crashes and jackknife accidents.

Right-Turn Truck Accidents

Trained truck drivers know that they need to keep their trailers as close to the right curb as possible when making turns instead of swinging wide.

Unfortunately, not all truckers follow this rule of thumb, which can mislead passenger car drivers into thinking that the truck will be going straight and cause the trailer to be dragged over the top of a vehicle.

Steps to Take After a Truck Accident

After a commercial accident in NYC, act fast. If you’ve been injured:

• Call 911 immediately and file a police report.
• Go to the hospital to be checked out even if there are no external signs of serious injuries.
• Call a lawyer as soon as possible.

An NYC accident attorney will help you conduct a thorough investigation into the accident and make sure the trucking company doesn’t conceal crucial evidence.

Determining Liability for Truck Accidents

Determining liability for semi-truck accidents isn’t always easy. Sometimes, the driver is the only responsible party. More often, though, there are other parties that share responsibility for the crash. They can include:

• Shipping companies
• Trucking companies
• Mechanics
• Truck and trailer manufacturers

How an NYC Truck Accident Attorney Can Help

When you call a law firm, they’ll start investigating the accident immediately and explain all your legal options:

• Investigate the crash to help prove what parties are responsible.
• Hold trucking companies accountable and ensure their insurance companies pay up.
• Help you find medical care for all injuries and ensure any fees you pay are reimbursed.
• Handle settlement negotiations with insurance carriers so you can focus on healing from your injuries.
• Represent you at trial should the insurance company refuse to offer a fair settlement.

If you’ve been in a trucking accident in New York City, time is of the essence.

Trucking companies often go out of their way to conceal or even destroy evidence of their drivers’ and mechanics’ roles in accidents, so don’t wait. Give us a call to schedule a free consultation as soon as possible.