Being involved in any sort of traffic accident is scary, jarring, and has the potential to upend your life. When a crash involves a tractor-trailer, eighteen-wheeler, semi-trailer, or other large truck, the fallout is likely to be more severe and the resulting claims more complex. Continue reading for a discussion of the differences between large truck accidents and a typical car crash, and call a knowledgeable New York truck accident lawyer for help with a Bronx traffic accident claim.
Truck accidents are more severe
Semis and other large trucks are several times larger than passenger cars. In addition to being massive, dangerous machines, they have a slower braking ability, a wider turning radius, and a greater likelihood of tipping over. When a large truck is involved in a crash, the accident is much more likely to result in catastrophic injury. Moreover, the majority of people injured or killed in large truck accidents are people outside of the truck–other drivers and passengers, pedestrians, motorcyclists, and others. It is unlikely for a large truck crash to result in a simple fender-bender.
Truck accidents lead to additional hazards
Large trucks are typically on the road because they are hauling goods from one location to another. They may be carrying boxes of consumer goods, heavy materials like lumber, flammable canisters of air or gas, or hazardous chemicals. When an eighteen-wheeler is involved in an accident, their haul is liable to become an additional hazard on the road. Objects may fly into other vehicles or land on the road. Chemicals may spill, increasing the risk of a fire or toxic exposure. Accidents, in fact, can be caused when an unsecured load comes loose on the freeway. If you see an accident involving a large truck, or if you are involved in such a crash yourself, keep vigilant of any additional hazards that the accident may have produced.
Truck accidents can involve more defendants
Most passenger car accidents are relatively straightforward: Injured victims bring a claim against the at-fault driver and/or their insurance provider. When a large truck is involved, the situation can easily become much more complicated. Truck drivers often work for a freight company or own their own private freight service. Their employers or their business may need to be added as a defendant to any case, in addition to other parties such as the truck manufacturer, the business that hired the freight company to make the delivery, and third-party contractors responsible for loading the truck. To ensure that you receive maximum compensation after an accident, you need assistance from a personal injury attorney who is familiar with large truck crashes and knows how to conduct a proper investigation after an accident to identify and attach all relevant parties.
Trucking regulations
Large truck accidents are also more complex from a legal standpoint. In a passenger car accident, an injured plaintiff can typically rely on standard traffic rules and the defendant driver’s behavior to establish negligence (e.g., was the driver speeding, were they intoxicated, were they texting, etc.). Long-haul truckers are subject to a much wider array of safety regulations, the violation of any number of which may have contributed to the crash. There are regulations concerning the number of hours a trucker is allowed to operate, how a truck should be loaded, maximum weight, how often and what kinds of truck maintenance are necessary, and much more. In order to craft your strongest case for recovery, it is vital to retain a traffic accident attorney who has a deep knowledge of the trucking industry and applicable regulations.
Get Help After a Bronx Truck Crash
If you or someone you care about has been involved in a large truck accident in New York, find out if you’re entitled to money damages for your injuries by contacting the seasoned and professional New York car crash lawyers at the Bronx offices of the Kohn Law Firm for a free consultation at 718-409-1200.