The Bronx is a major freight corridor. The Cross Bronx Expressway, Major Deegan, Bruckner Expressway and the streets around Hunts Point carry tractor-trailers and delivery trucks around the clock. When one of these vehicles collides with a car, motorcycle or pedestrian, the physical forces involved produce severe injuries. Truck accident claims also work very differently from ordinary car accident claims.
A fully loaded tractor-trailer can weigh many times more than a passenger car, which means longer stopping distances and greater damage. More importantly, there are usually more parties involved, more insurance policies and more regulations.
Depending on the facts, a truck accident claim may involve:
Identifying every responsible party matters because it affects how much insurance coverage is available.
Commercial truck drivers must follow rules set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Violations can be powerful evidence of negligence. Key areas include:
Trucking companies often have rapid-response teams that investigate crashes within hours. Your side needs to move equally fast. Important evidence includes:
A lawyer can send a preservation letter demanding the company keep these records. Without that, data may be overwritten or lost.
Truck crashes frequently cause spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, amputations, internal injuries and fatal injuries. These cases often require long-term care, and damages can include future medical costs, lost earning capacity and pain and suffering.
As with other New York motor vehicle crashes, no-fault benefits cover your initial medical costs and some lost income, and you generally must apply within 30 days. To sue for pain and suffering, your injuries must meet the serious injury threshold. Many truck crash injuries do.
Kohn Law Firm has helped truck accident victims across New York City for more than 30 years. Visit our truck accident page or call 718-409-1200 for a free, confidential case review. You pay no fee unless we recover compensation for you.
What if the truck driver says the crash was my fault? The trucking company’s version is not the final word. Black box data, logs and video often tell a different story.
Can I recover from the company, not only the driver? In many cases yes, particularly when the driver was working at the time.
How long do I have to file? Typically three years for injury claims in New York, though wrongful death claims and claims involving government vehicles have different deadlines.
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. This article is general information, not legal advice.
