Brooklyn NY Truck Accident Lawyer

Trucks are large, heavy vehicles that can cause serious injury upon impact. An accident involving one can be devastating. According to NYPD’s crash data reports, about one-third of the commercial truck accidents occurring in New York City take place in Brooklyn.

If you’ve been injured in a truck accident involving a big rig, semi-truck, or tractor-trailer, you may be eligible for compensation from the truck driver, trucking company, or another party who played a negligent role in your truck accident injury. Call the experienced lawyers at the Raphaelson & Levine Law Firm at 212-268-3222 or complete our contact form to learn more.

Why You Need a Lawyer After a Brooklyn Truck Accident

Sadly, many NYC commercial truck drivers are reckless when operating their vehicles. When a pedestrian, cyclist, or motorist is involved in a crash with a truck, it can be significant. The sheer size of a truck often leads to serious injury for the people on the other end of the accident.

The insurance companies that cover truck drivers and the companies they work for will not consider your best interest, even if the accident was completely the driver’s fault. If you need ongoing medical care for your injuries, insurance companies are likely going to try to undercut compensation to pay for what you need.

A Brooklyn truck accident attorney is your strongest ally to ensure you receive fair treatment, along with any compensation you’re eligible for to pay for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Brooklyn

Unfortunately, truck accidents are a common event in NYC, with a significant number of commercial truck crashes occurring in Brooklyn. Many factors can lead to a truck accident in Brooklyn, here are some of the most common causes.

Distracted Drivers

Distracted driving is the number one contributor to motor vehicle accidents. Trucks are no exception. Despite New York State prohibiting handheld cellphones while driving, many drivers ignore this regulation. As a result, in a mere matter of seconds, they can lose control of their vehicle or strike someone in their path.

Fatigued Drivers

Truck drivers are often given difficult schedules and, as a result, experience a lack of sleep. Federal trucking regulations restrict the number of hours a driver is allowed to spend on the road at one time. However, even well-rested truck drivers become fatigued due to the mental exhaustion of driving a big vehicle. Others ignore restrictions to get a job done, pushing forward and, ultimately, falling asleep at the wheel.

Hazardous Road Conditions

New York City is notorious for its poorly designed and maintained roads. Throughout the five boroughs, including Brooklyn, it’s common to find potholes, uneven road conditions, obstructed signs, construction debris, crumbling roads, and other poor road conditions. Any can lead to a serious accident and personal injuries occurring.

Aggressive Drivers

We’d like to believe everyone would behave sensibly when behind the wheel, especially that of a large vehicle capable of causing devastation on impact. Realistically, too many drivers are aggressive. People often resent trucks sharing their road space and may swerve around them or tailgate. Or, truck drivers may view themselves as having the right of way, disregarding others while zipping through Brooklyn’s busy streets.

Weather

New York can get pretty icy during the winter months, but even summer’s heavy rains create dangerous conditions on NYC streets. Careless drivers traveling on poor weather days can create hazardous situations for others. Trucks can slide, jackknife, and even flip over, which can hurt themselves and anyone who happens to be in the path of a wayward commercial vehicle.

Impaired Drivers

No one likes to think about a driver navigating a heavy truck while impaired, but the reality is sometimes truckers drive while under the influence. Drugs may be taken to boost driver alertness or drivers may simply drink too much and then get back on the road to meet their delivery deadlines, putting everyone on the road at risk.

Common Types of Truck Accidents in Brooklyn

Truck accidents often quickly cause devastation due to their size. Colliding with one can cause serious injury, considerable property damage, and, sadly, death. Common scenarios associated with truck accidents include:

Jackknifes

A jackknife occurs when a big rig forms a 90-degree angle with its trailer. This scenario occurs when a driver hits the brake too hard and quickly. Unfortunately, this type of accident is very common and is usually rooted in driver-error. It’s one of the most preventable types of truck accidents.

Tire Blowouts

Remnants of truck tire blowouts are seen all the time on the highways. When a tire blows out, a driver can lose control of the truck and have no ability to correct its motion, putting anyone in its path at risk.

Truck Rollovers

Rollovers occur when a driver loses control of the truck and it tips on its side. This is another dangerous situation if anyone is in the vicinity of the truck when it falls over.

Driver Blind Spots

Cars have blind spots, but the blind spots on trucks are significant. This is why you often see warnings posted on trucks about not being able to see you if you’re too close. Motorists who get too close to a trucker’s blind spot can create a terrible accident.

Wide Turns

Truck drivers who take a right-hand turn without knowing the surroundings on that side can trap people or other vehicles in its path.

Head-on Collisions

Motorists, be they a car or another truck, can be severely injured if they collide head-on with a truck. The weight of the truck can crush another vehicle.

Rear-end crashes

Rear-end trucking accidents can lead to serious injury because the weight of the truck is so heavy, it’ll put tremendous pressure on the vehicle it hits.

Lost Loads

Freight that is loaded improperly or carelessly can fall out of the truck and strike anyone in its path. Depending on the weight of the freight or the speed of the truck, colliding with falling objects can be extremely dangerous.

T-Bone

If a truck driver runs a red light or stop sign and rams into another vehicle perpendicularly, this can be a serious traffic accident because the person in the other vehicle will take the brunt of the crash.

What is the New York Statute of Limitations?

New York State has a three-year statute of limitations for motor vehicle accidents. The clock starts on the day of the car accident, but there are some limited exceptions to this rule if you've suffered catastrophic injuries. A personal injury attorney can determine any eligibility for an extended date.

What Compensation is Available for a Truck Accident Crash?

Laws associated with truck accidents are complex due to federal and state regulations. New York operates under comparative fault rules and a percentage of fault is assigned to both drivers. Compensation typically correlates with where blame is assigned (i.e. 30% blame would reduce damages by 30%).

Insurance laws are also complicated. Insurance companies usually try to get away with as small a payout as possible for a car accident claim. An experienced truck accident lawyer can protect you and ensure you receive fair compensation for your auto accident injuries, property damage, medical expenses and treatment, rehabilitation, emotional distress, lost wages, disability, pain and suffering, and more.

Schedule a Free Consultation with a Truck Accident Lawyer in Brooklyn Today

If you, or a loved one, was injured in a truck accident in Brooklyn, the personal injury lawyers at Raphaelson & Levine are here to support you with your accident case or accident claim. For more than 25 years, we’ve built our law firm's reputation as the “Voice of the Injured” for accident victims. Our accident lawyers will work hard on your behalf by conducting a case review, investigating the truck accident, determining any contributing factors, identifying any negligent parties, and seeking compensation from whoever is liable for your injuries. 

To learn more about truck accident cases or another type of personal injury, call our law offices at 212-268-3222 to obtain a free consultation. We represent victims in Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, Long Island, and the surrounding counties.