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Large commercial trucks share New York City’s roads with cars, buses, cyclists, and pedestrians, increasing the risk of serious accidents every day. Collisions involving trucks frequently result in catastrophic injuries due to the vehicle’s size and weight. An experienced NYC truck accident lawyer can help you fight for fair compensation and protect your legal rights.
Why New York City Truck Accidents Are so Dangerous
Truck accidents in NYC are inherently more dangerous than typical car crashes. The sheer mass of commercial trucks often causes severe trauma to passengers in smaller vehicles. Truck-related collisions can involve rollovers, underride accidents, or jackknife incidents that damage multiple vehicles. Common causes of truck accidents include driver fatigue, distracted driving, improper cargo loading, mechanical failures, speeding, and failure to obey traffic laws.
Interstate highways, delivery routes, and busy industrial areas are frequent sites of truck collisions. In New York City, highways such as the FDR Drive, Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, and Long Island Expressway, along with city thoroughfares like Flatbush Avenue, are particularly prone to high-impact truck accidents.
Common Injuries in New York City Truck Accident Cases
Due to the size and force involved, truck accidents in New York City often result in life-altering injuries. Victims may experience traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, broken bones, internal organ injuries, severe lacerations, and even wrongful death.
The recovery process can be long and expensive, often requiring surgery, physical therapy, and extended rehabilitation. Proper medical documentation means everything when you’re trying to build a strong legal case.
Determining Liability in a Truck Accident Case
Assigning responsibility in truck accident cases can be complicated. Liability may extend beyond the driver to their trucking company, the vehicle owner, cargo loaders, maintenance crews, or even the manufacturers of the truck’s parts. Investigating commercial driver logs, maintenance records, GPS data, and black box information from the truck is often necessary to prove a strong claim. Insurance companies representing trucking firms frequently try to minimize payouts, making it a guarantee that you are less likely to win without a lawyer on your side.
New York’s comparative negligence rules may also apply. If you share any portion of fault, your compensation can be reduced proportionally. This highlights the importance of meticulous evidence gathering.
Steps to Take After a Truck Accident in NYC
After a NYC truck collision, victims should prioritize their safety and health by seeking immediate medical care, even if their injuries seem minor. Gathering evidence is important, including photos of the vehicles, the accident scene, contact information for witnesses, and documentation for any traffic citations.
Filing a police report keeps an official record of the incident, while keeping track of medical bills, repair estimates, and correspondence with insurance companies further strengthens your claim. Consulting with a New York City truck accident attorney early helps protect your rights and ensures your claim is handled efficiently from the very beginning.
Seeking Compensation for NYC Truck Accident Victims
Victims of truck accidents may pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, long-term rehabilitation, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and permanent disabilities. A New York City personal injury lawyer can review your claim to make sure it reflects the full scope of your damages, including your non-economic losses.
An experienced truck accident lawyer knows how to negotiate with insurers and, if necessary, take the case to trial to secure the compensation you deserve.
How to Prevent a New York Truck Accident
While truck accident victims may not always be able to prevent collisions, cyclists, pedestrians, and drivers can take safety precautions to do their best at avoiding them. Remaining vigilant, maintaining safe distances from large trucks, obeying traffic laws, and being aware of a truck’s blind spots are essential. Truck drivers must also adhere to federal and state regulations on their hours of service, vehicle maintenance, and cargo safety.
Monarch Law Group Can Help with Your Truck Accident Case in NYC
Monarch Law Group’s New York City truck accident attorneys provide support for clients with commercial vehicle claims. Our team works closely with accident reconstruction specialists, medical professionals, and investigators to build a strong case for you. We negotiate with insurance companies while communicating clearly and openly with our clients.
As you know, a truck accident can cause life-changing injuries in an instant. Contact the team at Monarch Law Group today to discuss your case and your legal options going forward.