Brooklyn Truck Accident Lawyer

Large trucks are used worldwide to deliver necessary goods, including groceries, medications, and life-saving medical equipment, not to mention day-to-day toiletries and other items. While these vehicles truly are a vital part of New York and the larger U.S. economy, they are also responsible for serious vehicular accidents. If you or someone you know has been injured in a truck accident in Brooklyn or NYC, contact the #1 Brooklyn Truck Accident Lawyer today.

Truck Accidents: The Facts

Trucking companies and their truck drivers have a responsibility to ensure their safety and that of others on the road. Following are some general statistics involving truck accidents:

• Every year, approximately 500,000 trucking accidents occur in the United States.
• Trucks weighing more than 10,000 pounds were involved in 3,864 fatal crashes in 2019 in the United States.
• In 2019, 52% of truck collision deaths occurred on major roads other than interstates and freeways, compared to 32% on interstates and freeways and minor roads (15%).
• 66% of all fatal truck accidents occur during the day.

New York Truck Accident Stats

According to the Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research (ITSMR) New York State Fact Sheet on large truck crashes, there were nearly 3,000 personal injury crashes and 76 fatalities in 2020. Fatality and personal injury (F&PI) crashes involving large trucks are more likely to involve multiple vehicles (85%) than all F&PI crashes (68%). 90% of large truck fatality and personal injury crashes occur on a weekday; 78% occur between 6:00 am and 6:00 pm, according to the ITSMR.

Additionally, a summary of large truck crashes released in 2014 by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles shows that each year almost 83% of large or 18-wheeler truck accidents are caused by human error or negligence. Also, because of the commercial truck’s large mass, the majority of accident victims are other drivers, passengers, and pedestrians — not the truck drivers themselves.

The sheer mass and momentum of trucks have caused some of the most damaging collisions on the road today. Fully-loaded cargo trucks can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds. The average four-door car on the road today only weighs around 4,000 pounds. We rely on truck drivers to be trained, alert, aware, and safe.

More cargo is also being moved every year, with trucks continuing to be the main source of transporting cargo. Because of the exponential increase in the size of the cargo being moved, truck crashes cause increasingly greater damage. According to an article that appeared in Forbes Magazine, of the six million vehicle crashes that occurred in the U.S. in 2014, 476,000 involved large trucks and buses — a 22% increase from the previous year. And the heavier the trucks, the more serious the accidents. These types of serious accidents are on the rise each year as more trucks are on the road than ever before, carrying heavier loads of cargo.

Labor Shortage Means Less Experienced Drivers on the Road

A labor shortage in the trucking industry has also meant more inexperienced and younger truck drivers on the road with the potential for a spike in truck accident injuries. If the current tight labor market continues, the American Trucking Association (ATA) predicts that the trucking industry will be short 175,000 drivers by 2024. As the demand for drivers to transport goods and materials grows, the industry may need to hire nearly 900,000 new drivers over the next decade. This driver shortage has directly resulted in an increase in truck accidents across the country. Tired, overworked, inexperienced, and possibly unqualified drivers can cause catastrophic collisions, resulting in serious or fatal injuries to other vehicle occupants.

When faced with increased demand for deliveries, trucking companies may also relax hiring and training standards, resulting in serious accidents. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published a study that found that drivers with less than five years of driving experience were 41% more likely to cause a crash than those with five years or more experience behind the wheel.

Federal Trucking Regulations

The New York Times published a piece on truck collisions and the trends for federal regulations. Author Howard Abramson writes that the government is actively working against better or stricter regulations for the trucking industry. “Congress has pursued a number of steps to roll back safety improvements ordered by federal regulators. It has pushed to allow truck drivers to work 82 hours a week, up from the current 70 hours over eight days,” Abramson reports. He goes on to say that they have “discouraged the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration from investing in wireless technology designed to improve the monitoring of drivers and their vehicles; and signaled its willingness to allow longer and heavier trucks despite widespread public opposition.”

Since 2000, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, part of the wider Department of Transportation, has been working with enforcement agencies at every level to try to create regulations and find ways to make truckers and all other drivers safer on the road.

What are some of the most common reasons for large truck accidents?

• Distracted driving
• Speeding
• Driver exhaustion/lack of sleep
• Driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs
• Reckless driving
• Aggressive drivers/driving
• Overloading the cargo
• Not properly checking blind spots
• Driver not leaving enough space for stopping
• Lack of or improper vehicle maintenance
• Defective vehicle parts/manufacturer defects
• Tire blowouts
• Poor weather conditions
• Poor road conditions

What are the most common damages in a trucking accident claim?

• Medical bills and expenses, including future care and treatment
• Costs of physical therapy and rehabilitation
• Pain and suffering
• Lost wages, time off of work to get treatment and recover
• Loss of career or earning capacity over a victim’s lifetime
• Loss of limb/amputation/broken bones
• Permanent injury or disability
• Home and vehicle modifications (such as wheelchair ramps and lifts)
• Property damage or loss
• Mental anguish and emotional duress

Unfortunately, it is not just other drivers who can be injured or killed in a truck accident. Pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, and even truck passengers are all at risk when drivers, trucking companies, or the truck manufacturer are negligent. This is why a trained truck accident attorney, who understands the laws pertaining to large truck accidents and injuries, is so important.

When the driver of a large truck is responsible for an accident, through negligence or otherwise, you need a Brooklyn truck accident attorney who has been successful in litigating these types of accidents in New York. There may be several different entities responsible, such as the trucking company, the driver, the owner of the cargo, and even the store waiting for the cargo delivery, which all need to be explored.

An experienced truck accident lawyer

The Law Office of Nicholas E. Tzaneteas, specializes in personal injury claims including motor vehicle accidents involving large commercial trucks, tractor trailers and other heavy vehicles. As personal injury attorneys, we deal with insurance company claims and strive to recover compensation and a fair settlement for our clients who are injured truck accident victims. You can rely on us as your Brooklyn truck accident lawyer to help you get accountability from the negligent parties responsible for your serious injuries.

Following are examples of the cases we have litigated:

Our client, a 58-year-old bus driver was hit head-on by the defendant. As a result of the car accident, the client sustained injuries to the neck, lower back, shoulder, and knee. She went through four painful surgeries and was unable to return to work. She received $4,300,000 in compensation.

Our client was riding in the passenger seat of a small car when the vehicle she was in was involved in a collision with a tractor trailer. A jury awarded her $1,973,153 for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering in her personal injury lawsuit.

Our client was a 50-year-old Brooklyn man who was rear-ended, and as a direct result of the accident, he sustained injuries to his lower back, hip, and knee. After treatment failed to improve his condition, he underwent a lower back fusion and hip surgery to repair ligaments and was able to resume his job later. The case settled for $1,953,102 after four days of testimony during the trial.

Our client was rear-ended and awarded summary judgment as to liability. The truck accident caused our client to re-injure their lower back from a prior accident and then required a spinal decompression surgery to relieve disc pressure. Our client was awarded $1,750,000.

Our client, a 65-year-old school teacher, was involved in an automobile accident. As a result of the accident, she received treatment to her spine, which led to surgery.  She was disabled and could not return to work. She was awarded $1,700,000 for her injuries.

Consult with Brooklyn Truck Accident Lawyers today

When you are involved in a truck accident it is very important to get all the information so you can file an accident claim. As we mentioned, there may be several different entities responsible for the accident, such as the trucking company/owner, truck driver, cargo owner and retail store awaiting delivery.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a truck crash, either as a pedestrian, motorist or as a passenger in a truck, you need to contact a Brooklyn truck accident lawyer who has years of experience in handling NY truck accident cases. The law firm of Nicholas Tzaneteas has been winning compensation for his clients who have been injured in truck accidents for years and will work tirelessly for you to make sure you recover the fair compensation you deserve for your injuries, including for medical expenses, pain and suffering, loss of income and future lost earnings. Nicholas Tzaneteas understands federal and state regulations as apply to trucking, is highly experienced in putting together the best possible case to support your personal injury claim, and will hold all the necessary parties accountable for the accident. Call us for a free consultation.