New York Truck Accident Lawyer

FIGHTING FOR NEW YORK TRUCKING ACCIDENT VICTIMS

Trucks are the biggest things on the road. And when trucks are speeding or driving recklessly, on a breakneck schedule, they put other drivers’ lives at risk.

These dangers have had real-world consequences all across the country, and it seems to be getting worse.

In 2009, 3,147 people were killed because of accidents involving large trucks. In 2019, that number increased by more than 30 percent to 4,119.

As in most things, New York’s share of overall accidents is bigger than average. 2019 saw more than 21,000 large truck crashes in the state, resulting in 109 deaths and more than 4,500 personal injuries.

Most truck accidents occur due to driver error, drivers being on a tight schedule or driver fatigue. Because of the amount of commerce New York roads see in a confined area, there’s a high potential for a truck accident to occur.

If you or your loved one has been injured in a truck accident, you deserve to receive proper compensation. Contact the skilled New York personal injury lawyers at Richard J. Hollawell and Associates by calling 1-800-681-3550, to learn how our lawyers can help you make your case.

Source: Flickr, shared under a CC BY-SA 2.0 license

DO I NEED A TRUCK ACCIDENT LAWYER?

If you’re injured in any vehicular accident you should always contact a New York personal injury lawyer, even if you don’t think the injuries are that serious. The sooner you contact an attorney, the sooner you can work towards taking the right steps to strengthen your case.

It’s important to work with a personal injury attorney to hold negligent drivers and the major companies they work for responsible for the damage they cause. Commercial trucks are known to be more dangerous than most other vehicles, yet many of the trucks packing the roadways don’t meet safety standards. 

Many trucking accidents occur because of “shortcuts” built into trucking companies’ business models. They put pressure on drivers which manifests in speeding, more hours continuously on the road than is legal, overweight loads, and drivers under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

If they’re willing to do all that in the service of a bigger paycheck, don’t you think shortchanging your injury compensation is part of their plan too?

TRUCKING ACCIDENT LIABILITY IS COMPLEX

This is the second big reason for enlisting a truck accident lawyer — sorting out liability for a trucking accident quickly becomes complicated. There are several different parties that could be responsible for the crash. That means that there are many different people or entities to bring a lawsuit against. 

A commercial trucking accident lawsuit could involve:

• The truck driver 
• The driver’s employer
• The trucking company
• The manufacturer of the truck
• Manufacturer of the truck’s tires
• Sub-contractors

To complicate matters further, trucks are often covered under different types of insurance. For example, the truck and trailer may not be covered by the same insurance claim even though they’re attached! The result is that you’re able to pursue insurance claims from both insurance companies, but this also means it requires more work on your part to prove that you have a valid case.

Expert accident investigators are often needed to properly determine the appropriate entity to hold liable in a truck accident case. We’ll investigate factors like the driving record of the truck operator and the hiring record of the trucking company. As an experienced firm knowledgeable in truck accidents and insurance, we’ll make sure that the appropriate parties are made accountable and that your legal interests are being protected in your personal injury settlement.

THE MOST COMMON INJURIES SUSTAINED IN TRUCK ACCIDENTS

Truck crash injuries can come in many forms. Some of the most common injuries we see include the following:  

• Brain and Head Injuries: Head injuries are one of the most common results of truck accidents.
• Chest and Abdominal Injuries: Vital internal organs like the heart, liver, and kidneys may also be impacted in a truck crash.
• Knee and Leg Injuries: The sudden impacts of truck crashes often affect the lower body through joint damage and broken bones.
• Neck Injuries: The neck connects the brain and body — injuries here can be frightening and debilitating. They can trigger paralysis, chronic pain, incontinence, emotional disorders, and much more.
• Rollover Injuries: When a truck rolls over, it’s much more likely to cause harm. 
• Tire Blowout Injuries: Tire blowouts can result in unpredictable injuries. These accidents can have complicated liability.
• Whiplash: Whiplash is a neck injury caused by a sudden snapping motion during a crash. The soft tissue in the neck tears and swells in the accident, though it may go undetected.

HOW A LAWSUIT CAN HELP YOU RECOUP THE ACTUAL COST OF YOUR INJURIES

Due to their size and weight, accidents that involve trucks tend to be more severe than those that only include smaller vehicles. This means that the damages you could collect are likely higher than average.

If a judge or insurance company deems the responsible party fully liable for your injuries, you may be entitled to collect damages for the various costs you incur because of the accident. For example, you may be able to pursue compensation for:

• Pending and future medical bills
• Home or vehicle modifications (e.g., lifts and wheelchair ramps)
• Loss or damage to property
• Mental anguish and emotional duress
• Loss of wages, career, or earning capacity
• Pain and suffering

If you experience any of the above conditions as a result of the accident, a New York car accident attorney with our firm may be able to help you recover compensation. Even if the accident was partially your fault, you may still be able to collect.

Source: Pixabay.com

HOW OUR LAWYERS CAN HELP WITH YOUR NEW YORK TRUCK ACCIDENT CASE

It’s important to act quickly if you suffered injuries from a truck accident. The liability laws involving truck accidents have a statute of limitations of three years in New York. On top of this, the other parties involved may be using any extra time to work against your case.

Contact the lawyers at Richard Hollawell today at 1-800-681-3550, or fill out our contact form. We will start looking into your case immediately.