New York City Truck Accident Lawyers

Truck accidents are a serious danger for all motorists and cause thousands of serious and debilitating injuries in New York every year.  The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles reports that, in 2009, there were 11,100 large-truck accidents, 100 of which resulted in fatalities. In addition, 3,811 large-truck accidents resulted in non-fatal personal injuries.

Truck accidents are often caused by negligence—whether it is on the part of the driver, the trucking or loading company, maintenance company or the vehicle manufacturer.  If you were injured in a truck accident, the New York truck accident attorneys at Rich & Rich, P.C. can help you recover fair, just and adequate compensation for your pain and suffering, lost income and medical expenses.

Causes of truck accidents

Trucks are large, powerful vehicles that can dominate the road.  When operated improperly, they pose serious risks to the cars traveling alongside them.  Many factors including driver error, vehicle malfunction, shoddy maintenance and adverse weather conditions can lead to truck accidents.  Truck drivers are often tired and overworked, and can have lapses in attention, or fall asleep behind the wheel.

Some of the most common factors behind New York truck accidents are the result of:

  • Driver inattention or distraction
  • Following too closely
  • Failure to yield right-of-way
  • Unsafe speed
  • Unsafe lane changing or passing
  • Slippery pavement

Because of the size and power of trucks, tractor-trailer accidents often involve multiple vehicles.  In 2009, 77.4 percent of truck accidents involved two vehicles, and 8.3 percent involved three or more vehicles.  When multiple vehicles are involved, pinpointing the exact cause of the accident—and who is legally responsible for it—can be difficult.  Skilled New York truck accident attorneys such as those at Rich & Rich, P.C. will prove the cause of an accident, and recovering fair compensation for its victims.

Negligence and liability

The issues of liability in truck accidents are complex. It is common for multiple entities to be deemed negligent.

While driver error accounts for a large number of truck accidents, most large trucks are commercial vehicles.  Because of this, employers are often held liable for injuries caused by reckless or negligent drivers.  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 for injuries.

Similarly, loading companies responsible for oversized or unbalanced loads—which are prone to rollover—may be found liable.  Because of the complicated nature of liability in truck accidents, it is important to have an experienced New York truck accident attorney on your side—someone who can take on powerful corporate entities and their insurance companies, and recover fair compensation for truck accident victims.

Contact an experienced New York truck accident attorney

The serious nature of truck accidents requires an experienced NY truck accident lawyer who can represent individuals with severe injuries.  If you were injured in a truck accident, contact an experienced New York truck accident lawyer to discuss your legal options.  The attorneys at Rich & Rich, P.C. have the expertise and resources to recover fair compensation for our clients.


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