New York City Truck Accident Lawyers
Fighting for victims injured in Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island
Truck accidents are a serious danger for all motorists and cause thousands of serious and debilitating injuries in New York every year. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration reports that, in 2025, there were 2,101 large-truck accidents in New York State, resulting in 55 fatalities and 2,313 injuries.
Truck accidents are often caused by negligence on the part of the driver, the trucking or loading company, the maintenance company or the vehicle manufacturer. If you were injured in a crash, the New York truck accident attorneys at Rich & Rich, P.C. can help you recover fair and adequate compensation for your pain and suffering, lost income and medical expenses.
Causes of truck accidents
Big rigs like tractor trailers are large, powerful vehicles that can pose serious risks to the cars traveling alongside them. Accidents can result from driver error, vehicle malfunction, shoddy maintenance and adverse weather conditions. Truck drivers are often tired and overworked, which can lead to lapses in attention or even falling asleep behind the wheel.
Some of the most common factors involved in New York truck accidents are:
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According to the Institute for Traffic Management Safety & Research, 89 percent of large truck accidents resulting in fatalities or personal injuries involved more than one vehicle. When multiple vehicles are involved, pinpointing the exact cause of the accident and who is legally responsible can be difficult. Our skilled New York personal injury lawyers have the experience resources to prove the cause of an accident and to recover fair compensation for victims.
Negligence and liability
The issues of liability in truck accidents are complex compared to other auto accidents. While driver error accounts for a large number of truck accidents, most commercial vehicles are driven by employees of the companies that own them. These companies are often held liable for their employees’ negligence. Companies can also be held directly liable if they were negligent in hiring or training drivers or if they encouraged drivers to disregard federal safety rules requiring regular rest breaks.
Shipper and loaders may be liable for creating oversized or unbalanced loads, which can lead to loss of control or rollovers. Mechanical defects, especially those involving steering or brakes, can cause trucks to lose control. In such cases, the maintenance company or manufacturer may be held liable.
Because of the complicated nature of liability in truck accidents, it is important to retain an experienced New York truck accident attorney who can take on powerful corporate entities and their insurance companies and recover fair compensation for you and your loved ones.
The defendants are likely to claim that you caused the accident through your own negligence, but even if a jury does find you partially liable, it will not prevent you from obtaining a verdict in your favor, although your damages will be reduced by the percentage of fault attributed to you.
How a New York trucking accident attorney can help
As your attorneys, we will conduct a thorough investigation of how the accident occurred and who might be liable. We will pursue insurance claims, negotiate with defense counsel and, if necessary, file a lawsuit against all parties who may be responsible. During the litigation, we will conduct discovery to obtain relevant documents and information from opposing parties in order to build the strongest case possible. We understand what kind of evidence will help prove liability. For instance, driver logs may show that the driver either failed to take necessary breaks or was speeding. We also gather the evidence needed to prove your injuries and the adverse, perhaps catastrophic, effects they have on your life. We will negotiate for the highest compensation possible, but if insurers refuse to offer a fair settlement, we will not hesitate to go to trial.
Contact an experienced New York truck accident attorney
The serious nature of truck accidents and the severe injuries that can result require advocacy by an experienced truck accident lawyer. The attorneys at Rich & Rich, P.C. have the skill and resources necessary to win you fair compensation. Call 917-746-3358 or contact us online to set up a free initial consultation.