Bronx Truck Accident Attorneys

Large Truck Accidents in New York City

Accidents involving semi-trucks, 18-wheelers, tractor-trailers, and other large trucks are particularly devastating. Unfortunately, they are also relatively common. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s latest “Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts” report, there were more than 5,000 large trucks involved in fatal collisions in 2019, marking a 2 percent increase from the previous year. From 2009 to 2019, fatal large truck and bus crashes increased by 47 percent in the U.S., while injury crashes increased by about 13 percent from 2016 to 2019.

In New York, large trucks and commercial vehicles are frequently involved in collisions with smaller passenger cars, motorcycles, and even pedestrians and bicyclists. Tragically, these crashes are often deadly, and even when victims survive, they are frequently left with catastrophic, life-altering injuries.

If you or someone you love was involved in a collision with a large truck or commercial vehicle, you could be entitled to financial compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other damages. At Wolf & Fuhrman LLP, we represent victims of serious motor vehicle collisions in the Bronx and throughout New York City, offering highly personalized and compassionate service from start to finish.

We truly care about you and your family and are here to help you get back on your feet. We offer free initial consultations and welcome walk-ins at our one and only office in the Bronx, where we have proudly served the local community for the past 15 years.

Contact us at (718) 717-1191 or visit our office today to speak to one of our Bronx truck accident attorneys about your case and your rights. Hablamos español.

HOW DO LARGE TRUCK ACCIDENTS HAPPEN?

Just like other motor vehicle collisions, large truck accidents often result from negligence. The trucking industry is heavily regulated, but many trucking companies, truck drivers, and other entities violate these regulations or engage in negligent practices. This can—and often does—have catastrophic consequences.

Some of the most common causes of truck accidents include:

  • Truck driver error or negligence, such as distracted driving, drunk or drugged driving, speeding, fatigued driving, traffic violations, etc.
  • Hours-of-service violations, leading to fatigued driving and/or truck drivers falling asleep at the wheel
  • Overloaded or improperly loaded trucks, leading to cargo shifting during transit, loss of control, fishtailing, jackknifing, etc.
  • Improper or failure to complete truck maintenance (by truck drivers, owners, and others) and/or truck repairs
  • Mechanical failures/equipment failures caused by truck defects or faulty truck parts, equipment, mechanical systems, etc.
  • Failure to adjust for poor weather or road conditions, such as rain, snow, fog, poor visibility, blind curves, potholes, etc.

In some cases, there may be additional contributing factors. For example, another motorist on the road may indirectly cause an accident, or a trucking company’s improper training practices could lead to an inexperienced and poorly trained truck driver being out on the road.

At Wolf & Fuhrman LLP, we work with accident reconstruction experts and other experts to help identify the exact cause of a collision, as well as who is liable for your damages.

What Types of Truck/Car Accidents Happen Often?

The most common types of accidents involving a car and a large truck include:

  • Rear-End Collisions - It takes much longer for a truck to come to a complete stop, so if the driver is unprepared, there is a serious risk of a rear-end collision.
  • Sideswipe Accidents - Major sideswipe incidents can occur when truck drivers are fatigued, intoxicated, or distracted and drift into an adjacent lane. They can also happen when a car is passing and the truck driver is not paying attention to their blind spot and attempts to change lanes.
  • T-Bone Accidents - T-Bone accidents with trucks most often occur when the truck driver makes a risky or illegal move at an intersection, such as running a red light or making an unexpected U-turn.
  • Wide Turn Accidents - Inexperienced, distracted, drowsy, or intoxicated drivers may not time their wide turns correctly, causing an accident.
  • Jackknife Accidents - Jackknife accidents occur due to improper braking. This happens when there are slippery road conditions and a truck must come to a sudden stop. The cabin of the truck will slow while the trailer races ahead, folding the truck, and the whole vehicle will still move forward into traffic.

Does No-Fault Insurance Cover Truck Accidents?

New York is a no-fault state. This means that, after most motor vehicle collisions, you can file a claim with your own auto insurance provider and receive compensation for certain covered damages regardless of fault. In other words, you don’t have to prove that someone else was at fault for the crash to be compensated for a portion of your medical bills, lost wages, and other miscellaneous out-of-pocket expenses.

Truck accidents, including those involving semi-trucks and other large commercial vehicles, are generally covered by no-fault insurance in New York. This means that your no-fault insurance (personal injury protection, or PIP) will cover you for covered losses up to your policy limits.

However, in New York, PIP coverage limits can be as low as $50,000. If you have not elected to add additional PIP coverage to your policy, you cannot receive more than this amount when you file a no-fault claim. Because truck accidents frequently lead to devastating injuries, it is not at all uncommon for victims to quickly surpass their no-fault insurance limits in damages. Hospital bills, medication costs, surgeries, rehabilitation, lost income, and other unexpected expenses can add up fast—meaning victims may have to take additional action to secure the full compensation they need.

Can You Sue a Trucking Company After a Crash?

It may be possible to sue a trucking company (or another liable party) after a truck accident. Often, filing a truck accident lawsuit is the only way to recover compensation for the full cost of your damages. Your no-fault insurance only covers “reasonable and necessary” medical expenses up to your policy’s limit, as well as 80 percent of your lost wages at a maximum of $2,000 a month for up to three years after the crash. When someone dies, no-fault insurance only provides a $2,000 death benefit to the estate.

Often, these limits are simply not enough. Additionally, no-fault insurance does not provide any compensation for non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering or lost enjoyment of life. For these reasons, it may be beneficial to file a lawsuit against the liable party, whether that’s the trucking company, the truck driver, a manufacturer, or another party.

To be eligible to go outside New York’s no-fault system and bring a lawsuit directly against the liable party, you must prove that your injuries meet the state’s “serious injury threshold.” New York defines “serious injuries” as:

  • Broken bones/fractures
  • Significant disfigurement
  • Permanent impairment of an organ/member
  • Significant impairment of a bodily function/system
  • Injuries resulting in substantial and total disability for at least 90 days

Often, truck accident victims’ injuries meet this threshold. If this is the case for you, you are entitled to go outside the state’s no-fault car insurance system and file a claim or lawsuit directly against the trucking company or another liable party. This allows you to seek compensation for the full cost of your damages, as well as for non-economic losses.

There are no legal fees for you unless we win your case. Call (718) 717-1191, contact us online, or just walk into our office in the Bronx today for a free case review.

Our Recent Case Results

  • Brain Damage $9 Million
  • Botched Surgery $8 Million
  • Birth Injury $7 Million
  • Malpractice $6.1 Million
  • Medical Malpractice $6 Million
  • Medical Malpractice $5.1 Million
  • Stroke $5 Million
  • Birth injury $4.4 Million
  • Medical Malpractice $4.3 Million
  • Medical Malpractice $3.8 Million

Hear What People Say About Us

  • “Eliot Wolf guided us with the utmost case, knowledge and expertise every step of the way!”

    - C.S.
  • “Wolf & Fuhrman handled a family personal injury case with professionalism and great care to detail. They were friendly, smart and made us feel comfortable during a difficult time.”

    - Alan Anczelowicz
  • “I am very pleased with the support and assistance from Mr. Wolf and his team. They go above and beyond to assist their clients.”

    - Mr. and Mrs. A.
  • “I want to thank Eliot and his team for a job well done. Eliot was very successful in our case, but more importantly he was always available for my family if we had questions or concern.”

    - Luis
  • “I strongly recommend Marvin for his highly ethical and professional representation of clients in cases involving personal injury, accidents and wrongful death.”

    - Former Client

We Care About Our Clients

What Sets Our Firm Apart
  • Over 65 Years of Combined Experience
  • We Prepare Every Case for Trial to Maximize Recovery for Our Clients
  • Personalized Attention From Beginning to End
  • Helping and Supporting the Bronx Community

HOW CAN A BRONX TRUCK ACCIDENT LAWYER HELP YOUR CASE?

A New York truck accident attorney has extensive knowledge of truck accident laws, trucking regulations, and all aspects of New York truck accident litigation. When you hire a Bronx truck accident lawyer to handle your case, that attorney will:

Gather evidence from the crash site and other sources (including police reports, truck maintenance records, etc.) to prove who is liable for your damages

Investigate potential causes of the crash that may not be apparent at first glance

Handle communications with insurance companies and other parties involved in your claim

Negotiate on your behalf for a full and fair settlement offer or jury verdict award

Fight vigorously for your rights in court, if necessary

Our truck accident lawyers are dedicated to obtaining full compensation for truck accident victims. We will work tirelessly on your behalf and do whatever is necessary to help you get the justice you deserve.

Do You Need a Truck Accident Attorney?

No law requires you to hire a truck accident attorney—but there are many, many reasons to do so. Truck accident claims are very complex, much more complex than most standard car accident claims. Proving fault and liability can be very complicated, and you are likely to experience significant pushback from the trucking company.

When you work with the Bronx truck accident attorneys at Wolf & Fuhrman LLP, you put yourself in a position to win. With over 30 years of experience and a proven record of success, we have what it takes to go up against the trucking company, its insurance provider, and any other powerful entity. Our attorneys fight for maximum compensation because we truly care about helping you heal.

When you work with our team, we will be there for you every step of the way, offering answers and guidance tailored to your specific situation. We believe that everyone deserves justice and are proud to represent people from all walks of life. As your legal team, we will handle every legal detail so that you can focus on your physical and financial recovery.

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