When an 80,000-pound commercial truck crashes into your vehicle on Albany's busy highways, your world can change forever in a matter of seconds. Major trucking routes like Interstate 90, Interstate 87, and Route 9W carry thousands of commercial vehicles through the Capital Region daily, creating dangerous conditions where devastating accidents happen far too often.
If you've been seriously injured in a truck collision, you're now facing a mountain of medical bills, lost income, and uncertainty about your future.
You didn't choose this fight, but now that you're in it, you need an Albany truck accident lawyer who has the experience and determination to take on powerful trucking companies and their insurance carriers in Albany. At William Mattar Law Offices, we've spent over 30 years exclusively fighting for accident victims like you, helping our clients recover compensation. We know exactly what it takes to hold negligent truckers and trucking companies accountable for the devastation they've caused in your life.
Call us today for your free consultation—if you deserve justice, we're here to help you fight for it.
Why Choose William Mattar Law Offices for Your Albany Truck Accident Claim
When you're recovering from a serious truck accident, choosing the right legal representation can make the difference between a settlement that barely covers your immediate expenses and one that truly compensates you for all your losses. Here's why accident victims throughout Albany and the Capital Region trust William Mattar Law Offices: understanding what you can sue for in a truck accident is essential to securing the full compensation you deserve.
- Unmatched Experience: With more than three decades of experience, our attorneys possess the deep knowledge required to navigate the complexities of truck accident claims, from federal trucking regulations to state-specific traffic laws.
- A Record of Success: We have helped our clients collect compensation for their injuries. This track record demonstrates our commitment and our ability to fight for the maximum compensation our clients deserve.
- A Large, Dedicated Team: A truck accident case requires significant resources. Our large, established team has the manpower and financial ability to conduct thorough investigations, hire top-tier experts, and challenge powerful opponents without hesitation.
- Our No Fee Until We Win℠ Promise: We believe everyone deserves access to exceptional legal representation. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no upfront legal fees. We only get paid an attorneys’ fee if we win a financial recovery for you.
When you choose William Mattar, P.C. you are partnering with a team that will treat you with the care and respect you deserve while relentlessly fighting for your rights.
Who May Be Held Liable in an Albany, New York, Truck Accident?
Unlike a typical car-on-car collision, a truck accident often involves multiple potentially liable parties. Identifying every party who shares responsibility for your injuries is a critical step to ensuring you can recover the full and fair compensation you need for your recovery. The insurance policies for commercial trucks are often vast and complex, and a thorough investigation is essential to uncover all sources of potential recovery, which is where truck accident lawyer help becomes invaluable.
Our experienced legal team will investigate your accident to determine who can be held accountable. These parties may include:
- The Truck Driver: The most obvious potential defendant is the driver. Their negligence could be the direct cause of the crash. Common examples of driver negligence include speeding to meet a deadline, driving while fatigued, distracted driving (texting, eating), driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or violating traffic laws.
- The Trucking Company (Motor Carrier): The driver’s employer often bears significant responsibility. A trucking company can be held liable for negligent hiring practices (e.g., hiring a driver with a poor safety record), inadequate training, or failing to properly supervise its drivers. They can also be held liable for creating policies that encourage unsafe behavior, such as pressuring drivers to violate federal hours-of-service regulations to make faster deliveries.
- The Truck’s Owner: In some cases, the truck is owned by a separate individual or company and leased to the motor carrier. The owner has a responsibility to ensure the vehicle is properly maintained and safe for the road. If a failure in their duty contributed to the accident, they could be held liable.
- The Cargo Loader or Shipper: The way cargo is loaded and secured is critical to a truck’s stability. If a third-party company improperly loaded or overloaded the trailer, causing the cargo to shift and the driver to lose control, that company could be held at least partially responsible for the resulting crash.
- A Parts Manufacturer: Sometimes, an accident isn’t caused by human error but by mechanical failure. If a crucial component of the truck—such as its brakes, tires, or steering system—was defectively designed or manufactured, the company that produced the part could be held liable under a product liability claim.
- A Maintenance or Repair Company: Trucking companies frequently outsource their vehicle maintenance to third-party mechanics and repair shops. If these companies perform shoddy work, use incorrect parts, or fail to identify a dangerous mechanical issue, their negligence can lead directly to a catastrophic failure on the highway.
Unraveling this web of potential liability requires a deep understanding of the trucking industry and the federal and state laws that govern it. Our team knows exactly where to look—from driver logs and maintenance records to black box data and company safety policies—to build a powerful case on your behalf.
The Insurance Company Made Me an Offer. Should I Take It?
In the days or weeks following your accident, you will likely receive a phone call from an insurance adjuster representing the trucking company. They may sound friendly and concerned, and they might even make a quick settlement offer. It can be tempting, especially when medical bills are starting to arrive and you are unable to work, but understanding who may be liable in a truck accident is crucial before agreeing to anything.
However, it is crucial that you understand one thing: the insurance company is not on your side. Their primary goal is to protect their company’s bottom line by paying out as little as possible on your claim. The first offer they make is almost always far less than what your case is truly worth.
Adjusters are trained negotiators who know that accident victims are in a vulnerable position. They make a lowball offer, hoping you will accept it before you have a chance to speak with an attorney and learn the full extent of your damages.
An early settlement offer rarely, if ever, accounts for:
- Future Medical Expenses: Your injuries may require ongoing treatment, physical therapy, surgeries, or prescription medications for months or even years to come.
- Future Lost Wages: If your injuries prevent you from returning to work for an extended period or force you to take a lower-paying job, this loss of future earning capacity must be calculated.
- Long-Term Pain and Suffering: The initial offer will not adequately compensate you for the chronic pain, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life you may experience long after the accident.
- The Full Story: The adjuster is making an offer before a full investigation has been completed and before the long-term prognosis of your injuries is clear.
If you accept their offer, you will be required to sign a release, forever giving up your right to seek any further compensation for this accident. If your injuries turn out to be more severe than you initially thought, you will have no further recourse.
Before you speak to an adjuster or sign any documents, please contact us. Our truck accident attorneys can handle communications with the insurance company for you after an Albany crash, protecting you from their tactics and ensuring your rights are preserved while we work to determine the true value of your claim.
Compensation Available in an Albany Truck Accident Lawsuit
No amount of money can undo the trauma you have experienced or erase the pain of your injuries. However, securing fair financial compensation is essential to ensuring you have the resources you need to heal, rebuild your life, and achieve a sense of justice after a truck accident.
At William Mattar PC, our goal is to help you recover the maximum compensation available under New York law. This compensation, known as "damages," is typically divided into two main categories.
Economic Damages: These are the tangible, calculable financial losses you have incurred as a direct result of the accident. We work diligently to document every single loss, which may include:
- All Past and Future Medical Bills
- Lost Wages
- Loss of Future Earning Capacity
- Property Damage
- Out-of-Pocket Expenses
Non-Economic Damages: These damages are meant to compensate you for the profound, non-financial ways the accident has impacted your life. While they are more subjective, they are no less real and represent a significant part of a personal injury claim. They include:
- Pain and Suffering
- Mental Anguish
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life
- Disfigurement and Scarring
Our team often works with medical experts, economists, and life care planners to accurately calculate the full scope of your damages, ensuring that no expense is overlooked.
How Our Truck Accident Attorneys Can Help You after an Albany Crash
When you entrust your case to William Mattar, P.C. you can shift your focus from the stress of a legal battle to what truly matters: your health and your family. We take on the full legal burden so you don’t have to, which is especially important when you need a truck accident lawyer.
Here is how our truck accident attorneys will go to work for you after an Albany crash:
- Conducting a Rapid, In-Depth Investigation: Evidence in a truck accident case can disappear quickly. We immediately take steps to preserve crucial evidence, such as sending a spoliation letter to the trucking company to demand they preserve the truck’s "black box" (Event Data Recorder), driver logs, inspection records, and the truck itself. We may also dispatch accident reconstruction experts to the scene to document physical evidence.
- Identifying All Liable Parties: As discussed, we go beyond the driver to investigate the trucking company, maintenance crews, cargo loaders, and manufacturers to identify every party that shares fault for your accident.
- Handling All Communications: We will become your voice. Phone calls, paperwork, and aggressive tactics from insurance adjusters will be directed to our office. This protects you and allows you to heal in peace.
- Accurately Calculating Your Damages: We leave no stone unturned in assessing the full value of your claim. We gather all your medical records and bills, document your lost income, and work with leading experts to project your future needs to ensure our demand for compensation is comprehensive.
- Negotiating Skillfully on Your Behalf: Armed with strong evidence and a detailed calculation of your damages, we will engage in forceful negotiations with the insurance companies to demand a settlement that is fair and just.
- Representing You in Court: While most cases are settled out of court, the insurance companies know that our firm is always prepared to go to trial. Our experienced trial attorneys are not afraid to take your case before a judge and jury if a fair settlement offer is not made.
From the initial consultation to the final resolution of your case, we will be by your side, providing clear communication, compassionate support, and the powerful legal representation you need.
Albany Truck Accident FAQs
After a traumatic event like a truck accident, it’s natural to have many questions. Here are answers to some of the common concerns we hear from our clients.
How long do I have to file a truck accident claim in New York?
In New York, the statute of limitations for most personal injury claims, including those from truck accidents, is generally three years from the date of the accident. However, there are exceptions that can shorten this deadline, especially if a government entity is involved. It is critical to act quickly. Waiting too long can result in evidence being lost and may legally bar you from ever recovering compensation. An experienced attorney can help you identify what statute of limitations applies.
What if I were partially at fault for the accident?
New York follows a "pure comparative negligence" rule. This means you can still recover damages even if you were partially at fault for the accident. However, your total compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found to be 20% at fault, your final award would be reduced by 20%. Insurance companies often try to unfairly shift blame onto the victim to reduce their payout, which is why having an attorney to fight for you is so important.
Will my truck accident case have to go to court?
The vast majority of personal injury cases are settled out of court. A strong, well-prepared case often convinces the insurance company that it is in their best interest to offer a fair settlement rather than risk a trial. However, our commitment to you is to fight for the best possible outcome. If the insurance company refuses to be reasonable, our seasoned trial attorneys are fully prepared and have the experience to effectively present your case in a New York courtroom.
Contact Our Trusted Truck Accident Lawyers Today after an Albany Crash
Don't let valuable time slip away, and don't face the powerful trucking and insurance companies alone. Each day that passes can make it more difficult to preserve the evidence needed to build the strongest possible case. Let our large, established legal team put our decades of experience and track record of success to work for you. We will handle the legal details so you can focus on healing.
Contact William Mattar, P.C. today at 844-444-4444 or through our online form for a free, no-obligation consultation. Our team is standing by 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to listen to your story and explain how we can help.