New York Truck Accident Lawyers

Truck drivers are held to the same, if not even more rigid, safety expectations as other motorists on the road in regards to substance use. If these truck drivers choose to get behind the wheel while intoxicated, regardless of the reason, they may seriously endanger themselves and anyone else on the road with them. Unfortunately, accidents involving an 18-wheeler and another vehicle in traffic can prove devastating, often leaving the other motorist with severe injuries that may require immediate medical care.

Driving while intoxicated is a serious crime that puts the lives of innocent people in danger. Truck drivers who choose to drive under the influence of alcohol should be held accountable for their irresponsible actions. Since the potential damage of a truck driving accident is much more dramatic than other vehicular accidents, truck drivers that work while intoxicated can be penalized severely, and deservedly so.

When a large commercial truck suffers a mechanical defect while on the road, the truck driver may not be able respond quickly enough to prevent an accident. In many cases, these accidents result in catastrophic consequences, as 18-wheelers and semi trucks dominate virtually all other vehicles on the road. If another motorist is injured because of the defective truck component, the manufacturer or designer responsible for the auto part may be held liable for the cost of those injuries.

Our tenacious legal team can help you secure compensation if you have been hurt in a truck accident caused by any of the following:

• Brake Malfunction – Brake malfunctions put New York residents in serious danger of injury or death. Brakes malfunctions can occur for a number of different reasons including improper maintenance by auto repair shops, failure to maintain brakes, and overheating brakes
• Tire Defects – Defective tires on any type of vehicle can be dangerous, and the risk of a serious accident occurring in New York increases greatly when an 18-wheeler has defective tires. Due to the sheer size of commercial trucks, any vehicular malfunction can cause serious accidents that result in devastating injuries and property damage.
• Insufficient Underride Protection – Underride guards are required on all trucks with semitrailers and come standard on most 18-wheeler trucks. Unfortunately, some trucks do not come equipped with the necessary protection for other cars in the event of a collision.
• Trailer Malfunction – When a truck malfunctions, everyone on the road becomes endangered due to the weight and size of trucks and the loads they carry. Trailer malfunctions that may result in dangerous situations that include broken hitches, cracked frames, faulty support chains for the trailer, unsecure doors, and unsecure locks for trailer ball.

You should not have to cover the costs of any injuries caused by a truck malfunction on your own. Instead, the auto part designer or manufacturer at fault may be obligated to cover your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages.

Trucking companies have a responsibility to make sure their own drivers and vehicles are safe, which in turn protects others on the road. Critical mistakes during the hiring, training, and scheduling process may put a driver who is incapable of safely operating a vehicle behind the wheel of a powerful 18-wheeler truck. Additionally, failing to correctly inspect and perform maintenance on the truck’s fleet of vehicles can also put unsafe vehicles on the road. As a result of any of these negligent actions, innocent parties may suffer extreme and long-lasting harm. The following types of negligent actions may be common causes for an accident:

• Failure to Train / Inadequate Training – Proper training for truck drivers can mean the difference between safe driving and serious collisions. Trucking companies are obligated to train their employees and make sure that they can handle the conditions and situations that come with long distance hauling. Some of the most common inadequate training violations include failure to pass road test, failure to understand hours of service regulations, improper training on transportation of specialized materials, and failure to train with an experienced professional. Inadequate training can lead to serious accidents on the road when drivers are unequipped to handle operating their commercial vehicles.
• Hours of Service Violations – Because truck drivers often travel long distances across state lines, there are hours of service regulations to make sure that they get enough rest in between driving stints. Unfortunately, many truck accidents are caused by fatigued drivers, some of whom may have been violating the hours of service rules. These rules include a maximum of 14 hours on the road before a driver is required to take a 10-hour break, one mandatory 30-minute break during the 14-hour shift, and a limit of 60-hours over seven days or 70 hours over eight days.
• Negligent Hiring – Trucking companies are accountable for making sure that their employees are qualified and responsible drivers before hiring them. Unfortunately, some trucking companies make poor hiring decisions and employ drivers with either a history of reckless driving or a lack of qualifications. A New York trucking company may be liable for negligent hiring if they choose to employ someone who has an expired license, is under qualified, has a history of alcohol or drug abuse, or has previous driving infractions.
• Failure to Inspect Vehicles – When trucking companies in New York fail to inspect vehicles, seriously damaging accidents are far more likely to occur. Some consequences of the failure to inspect vehicles include defective parts, leaking fluids, and worn brakes. These vehicle maintenance problems can cause serious car accidents on the road.

Trucking companies need to prepare both driver and vehicle for the often lengthy travel that’s expected from truck drivers. Failing to do so puts these drivers at a higher risk of collision, threatening the health and safety of others in the process.

All drivers are responsible for acting responsibly on the road, but this duty is even more essential for those who drive 18-wheelers and semi trucks. Due to their enormous size and power, commercial trucks can cause catastrophic accidents should their drivers act negligently behind the wheel. Here in New York, the high volume of traffic makes the damage that can occur from truck driver errors even more significant. It is imperative for victims of truck accidents to take legal action against the careless drivers at fault for their injuries in order to discourage this dangerous behavior in the future.

Truck drivers must know how to operate their vehicles safely while following traffic laws. Mistakes are inexcusable when you operate large and potentially destructive machinery. Drivers unable or unwilling to put safety first may be held responsible for truck accidents caused by the following:

• Aggressive Driving – Sometimes truck drivers get impatient on the road and take out their frustration by driving aggressively. Driving aggressively dramatically increases the likelihood that a trucker will make a mistake and hurt innocent people.
• Driving in Adverse Conditions – Driving an 18-wheeler on a clear day in New York is difficult, and driving one in adverse conditions merely exacerbates the challenge. There are inherent dangers associated with driving in adverse conditions because poor weather can reduce visibility, make stopping suddenly impossible, decrease one’s reaction time, cause hydroplaning / sliding, and affect the vehicle’s overall stability.
• Driving with Overweight Load – While there are both strict federal and New York state guidelines regarding the amount of weight a commercial truck may haul, some trucking companies choose to ignore these guidelines and send their trucks out with overweight loads. An overloaded trailer can seriously impair a driver’s ability to control their truck by reducing their ability to adequately slow or stop, minimizing maneuverability in emergency situations, and limiting control during turns on freeways.
• Failing to Signal Turns – A failure to signal will usually mean the driver themselves was negligent, but it may be possible to hold their employer negligent as well. If the trucking company failed to run background checks or ignored a bad driving record when hiring the driver, or if they failed to train them properly, the company may share responsibility for your injuries.

Drivers who fail to uphold basic safety expectations that cause accidents in these situations may liable for any damages or injuries they cause as a result of their reckless behavior.

Semi trucks and 18-wheelers are large vehicles, making it impossible for truck drivers to adequately see around the bulk of their trailers. As a result, these drivers must deal with large blind spots in four main areas around their vehicles. Although drivers are warned to stay out of these “no-zones,” truck drivers also have a responsibility to monitor vehicles going in and out of these blind spots. The blind spots around a large commercial truck depend on the size of the truck and trailer as well as the kinds of mirrors a truck driver uses to see around his or her vehicle. However, most 18-wheelers and semi trucks have the following blind spots:

• A significant area directly behind the trailer
• A small area directly in front of the truck
• An area directly next to and slightly behind the driver’s side, or the left of the vehicle
• A large area extending behind most of the passenger’s side, or the right of the vehicle

If a truck driver fails to carefully check for other vehicles in these areas, he or she may collide with another motorist and cause a devastating accident.

Garbage trucks are some of the largest vehicles operating on city roads, and as a result, they have the potential to cause extremely serious injuries if they are involved in an accident. The victims of garbage truck accidents may need extensive medical treatment in order to recover from their injuries, and the consequences of the accident may leave victims struggling to get their lives back together. In most places around the country, garbage trucks are operated by municipalities, which can make it difficult for injured victims to recover compensation for their injuries.

Here in New York, municipal garbage operators service residential trash collection, but private garbage collection companies aggressively compete for commercial business. This means that the fastest performing collectors make the most money, but unfortunately, speed often jeopardizes safety. With garbage truck accidents on a steady rise in the five-borough area, it is time to hold all garbage operators accountable for the pain and suffering they cause to accident victims.