New York Semi-Truck Accident Lawyer

semi-trucks sitting in a parking lot in New York State

The trucking industry keeps New York alive, bringing essential goods throughout the state.  In New York City alone, more than 120,000 commercial trucks enter and exit daily. With so many trucks on the road, the risk of semi-truck accidents increases, especially when some drivers are unqualified or pushed to work too many hours by their employers. And with a fully loaded semi-truck weighing as much as 80,000 pounds, people in passenger vehicles often suffer the worst damage when a semi-truck driver takes their eyes off the road. Added to this, a standard car driving 65mph can come to a stop in 316 feet. Compare this to the time takes the much larger and deadlier semi-truck to come to a stop at the same speed: 525 feet. This is why truck drivers need to be extra cautious and alert for hazards.

If a semi-truck accident caused a serious injury or the death of a loved one, you need the help and legal assistance of someone who knows what they’re doing. You need someone with proven experience holding the trucking industry accountable when it causes injury, pain, and loss.

When looking for assistance after a truck accident, we recommend making your decision sooner rather than later and hiring the right lawyer for your case. An experienced truck accident lawyer will immediately start their investigation, hiring an accident reconstruction expert to go to the crash scene to photograph and garner valuable evidence before things change.  

If you’re looking for help after a New York semi-truck accident, you’ve come to the right place. 

Why Choose Our New York Semi-Truck Accident Lawyers?

Our record of success speaks for itself. We’ve helped over 35,000 families recover from serious accidents and injuries, totaling more than $1 billion in verdicts and settlements. We’ve been helping the injured for more than 40 years, and we’ve developed a reputation for being an aggressive firm that refuses to back down. 

This includes victims of semi-truck accidents. Some of our truck accident victories include:

Our team of over 30 qualified legal professionals (including 12 Certified Civil Trial Attorneys) is ready to put our experience to work for you. 

We are happy to meet with you at our New York office or virtually via FaceTime, Zoom, or Skype. If English is not your preferred language, we are happy to accommodate you. Our firm has Spanish speakers, and we provide translation for many languages, including Russian, Polish, Portuguese, and more.

Our consultations are free, and we won’t charge anything unless we recover money for you. Contact us today to get started.

Do I Need a New York Truck Accident Lawyer?

It’s important to understand that a truck accident claim is different from an NY car accident claim. Crucial differences make semi-truck accident cases uniquely challenging, including the following factors:

  • The extent of the injuries and property damage
  • Special trucking laws
  • The number of parties that could be held liable

These differences make truck accident cases far more complicated to prepare, negotiate, or bring to trial. Fortunately, you don’t have to take on these challenges alone. A dedicated semi-truck accident attorney can help you demand monetary damages for your losses while you focus on recovering from your injuries.

The New York truck accident lawyers of Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. have been taking on the big trucking companies and their insurance carriers since 1981. We know these corporations do not always play fair. But we also know how to fight back.

We prepare every case we accept as though it’s headed for trial. Although the vast majority of our cases settle long before going to court, this aggressive approach allows us to remain ahead of our competition and get money for our clients.

Get in touch with us today to learn how we can apply our considerable resources and skills to your New York truck accident case.

Who Is Liable in a New York Semi-Truck Accident Claim?

Semi-truck accident claims are incredibly complex, partly because of how many parties could share liability. Depending on the circumstances of the semi-truck accident, any of the following parties could be held responsible:

  • The truck driver who caused the crash
  • Another driver who contributed to the truck accident
  • The trucking company that hired an unqualified driver or provided an unreliable truck
  • The truck driver’s employer, who forced the driver to drive for too long
  • The shipping company that hired the trucking company
  • A truck mechanic or a truck maintenance company
  • The manufacturer or distributor of a defective truck component
  • The cargo loading team that was responsible for cargo securement or balancing

Our firm can investigate your claim and help determine all of the parties that may be liable for your losses. From there, they can help you prepare a claim and pursue the financial recovery you deserve.

The Severity of Semi-Truck Accidents in New York

Another reason commercial truck accident cases are so complex is that a moving truck’s massive size, weight, and momentum can result in catastrophic accidents. This often means the following for semi-truck wrecks:

  • Injuries and property damage are more severe – Occupants of smaller vehicles are vulnerable to blunt-force trauma in truck crashes. Smaller cars can get run over, crushed, or overturned when they’re struck by trucks. Many smaller vehicles end up totaled, with the occupants often sustaining severe or life-threatening injuries.
  • Truck accident claims are far more expensive – Extensive property damage and serious injuries lead to substantial repair costs and medical bills. As a result, truck accident victims tend to have very high-value claims.
  • Injury claims take much longer to settle – Victims with severe injuries typically take a long time to heal. But most insurance companies won’t settle before victims reach maximum medical improvement (MMI). The high cost of most truck accident claims also means insurance companies can be on the hook for a lot of money. Since insurers want to pay out as little as possible, they may drag out the process to get you to accept an unfair settlement.

How Much Is My New York Truck Accident Case Worth?

sam davis - new york truck accident lawyer

Every semi-truck accident is different, which means there’s no way to determine the exact value of your case without investigating it in detail. The money you might be owed depends on the insurance policies available, who was liable for the crash, and the extent of your crash-related losses.

Depending on your unique circumstances, you may be entitled to money damages for:

  • Past and future medical expenses from crash-related injuries
  • Lost wages from missed time at work
  • Future losses in your future earning capacity
  • The intangible costs of your pain, suffering, and lost quality of life

Where Do Truck Accidents Commonly Occur in New York?

The following statistics from the ITSMR indicate where truck wrecks occur most frequently in New York State:

  • 7,720 large truck accidents (54 percent) occurred in Upstate New York, resulting in 55 fatalities (77 percent).
  • 3,962 (28 percent) occurred in New York City, resulting in 14 deaths (18 percent).
  • 2,577 (18 percent) occurred on Long Island, resulting in 7 fatalities (9 percent).

Important Trucking Laws in New York

New York State has adopted many of the regulations that govern the commercial trucking industry at the federal level. Some of the most important laws that apply to motor carriers in New York include the following:

Commercial licensing and certification – Commercial drivers who operate within state borders must be “properly qualified” and hold valid commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs). They must pass general knowledge and practical driving skills tests to obtain a CDL. CDL drivers must also obtain medical certificates verifying their physical ability to operate commercial vehicles.

Commercial driver’s license endorsements – Along with the basic knowledge and skills tests required for a CDL, drivers of certain types of vehicles must obtain special endorsements.

Commercial vehicle specifications – Drivers in New York are required to obtain CDLs if they operate a commercial vehicle, which is defined as any vehicle:

  • With a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) or gross vehicle weight (GVW) over 26,000 pounds
  • Designed to carry 16 or more passengers, including the driver
  • Designed to transport hazardous materials that require safety placards

Pre-trip inspection requirements – Commercial drivers must review driver vehicle inspection reports (DVIRs) from previous trips before beginning any tour of duty. If the DVIR indicates any defects, drivers must verify that a mechanic has either repaired the defect or certified that it will not impact the vehicle’s safety. If a defect noted in a DVIR has not been fixed, drivers are prohibited from operating the vehicle.

Driver inspection reports – At the end of each driving day, commercial drivers must inspect their vehicles and prepare written reports of any defects that could impact operational safety. If any defects are discovered, the vehicle must not be operated until the defect is repaired or the trucking company has determined that repairs are unnecessary.

Contact Our New York Semi-Truck Accident Lawyers Today

If you’ve been injured or lost a loved one in a semi-truck accident, the New York personal injury lawyers at Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. are here to help you demand the money and peace of mind you deserve. We look forward to putting our experience and reputation to work on your behalf. Contact us today for a free consultation with a trucking accident attorney in New York.