Following a serious truck accident in New York City, you need a law firm that knows complex claims inside and out. Our dedicated truck accident lawyers have a deep knowledge of the laws and regulations governing the trucking industry. We’re familiar with the tactics that at-fault truck drivers and their employers use and will fight to protect your rights. If you suffered injuries in a truck accident, contact our 24/7 legal team immediately to start your claim. Call us today at (716) 444-4444 or fill out our online form to schedule a free consultation.
Why Choose William Mattar, P.C. for Your Truck Accident Claim
Our law firm has the resources, experience, and drive to investigate the details of a commercial truck accident. We advocate for clients across New York State who need strong legal support.
Extensive Experience With Serious Injury Cases
A crash involving a fully loaded tractor-trailer often causes devastating injuries. Our attorneys handle claims for people who have sustained life-altering physical harm; we understand the medical and financial burdens that accompany a long recovery.
A New York Firm
William Mattar, P.C. maintains physical offices throughout New York state and can serve clients in all five boroughs. Our extensive experience across New York gives us a broad perspective on accident cases.
We make our legal services accessible to you, no matter your location. You get the benefit of a large, established firm that can bring its full weight to your New York City truck accident claim.
We Build Winning Claims
A successful claim requires a thorough investigation and a solid foundation of evidence. We know that trucking companies and their insurers act quickly to protect their own interests, so our legal team gets to work right away to preserve crucial information.
We can obtain police reports from the NYPD and collect footage from traffic cameras. Our attorneys can analyze driver qualification files and logs for violations to build your claim with meticulous attention to the facts.
Contact William Mattar, P.C. at (716) 444-4444 to discuss your case.
Truck Accident Cases We Handle
The attorneys at William Mattar, P.C. can manage a variety of New York City truck crash cases. An injury resulting from a commercial truck collision can significantly impact a victim's daily life, making it very difficult to work or even complete simple tasks.
We can represent clients injured in collisions involving many different large trucks, including:
- Tractor-Trailers: We can handle claims involving 18-wheelers, semis, and other large combination trucks that frequent NYC highways.
- Vocational Trucks: Our legal team can manage cases involving garbage trucks, dump trucks, and tow trucks operating on city streets.
- Delivery Vehicles: We can assist clients struck by smaller commercial vehicles, including box trucks and package delivery vans, in neighborhoods from the Financial District to Jackson Heights.
- Buses and Coaches: Our experience extends to crashes involving public and private buses that share crowded city roads with other vehicles.
Common Truck Crash Scenarios
Our attorneys see many types of truck-related collisions on streets and expressways. A few common crash types include:
- Jackknife Accidents: These events can occur when a trailer swings out of line with the tractor, often due to sudden braking on a busy route, such as the Long Island Expressway.
- Rollover Crashes: A truck with a high center of gravity may tip over when a driver takes a turn or ramp too fast, a known danger on the Cross Bronx Expressway.
- Squeeze Play Accidents: These incidents can happen when a truck making a wide right turn traps a car or bicyclist between the trailer and the curb.
- Underride and Override Crashes: An underride crash can happen when a smaller vehicle slides underneath a trailer, while an override crash involves a truck driving over a smaller passenger car.
Reasons for Truck Accidents in New York City
Operating a large truck on any highway presents difficulties. In New York City, truck drivers must maneuver through congested, narrow streets, which adds challenges and potential accident risks. Many factors contribute to commercial vehicle accidents in the five boroughs.
Some common causes of these crashes include:
- Driver Error: A truck driver's negligent actions, such as speeding, distracted driving, or tailgating, can often lead directly to a collision.
- Traffic Violations: Many crashes can occur when drivers make unsafe lane changes on streets like Queens Boulevard or fail to yield at crowded intersections.
- Impaired Driving: A driver operating under the influence of drugs or alcohol can lose the ability to control their vehicle safely.
- Mechanical Failure: Critical components, such as brakes or tires, can fail due to poor maintenance or manufacturing defects, causing the driver to lose control.
- Improper Cargo Loading: Unsecured or poorly balanced cargo can shift during transit, creating a hazard that may lead to a lost load or a rollover accident.
Establishing Liability in New York City Truck Crashes
Determining who is at fault in a commercial truck accident presents unique challenges. Unlike a simple car crash, multiple parties may be held responsible for the collision. The truck accident lawyers serving from William Mattar, P.C. can investigate all possibilities.
The Trucking Company's Responsibility
A motor carrier has a duty to maintain its fleet and hire safe drivers. A company may bear responsibility for an accident if it neglected these duties. For example, a trucking company might have failed to conduct proper background checks or ignored a driver's history of traffic violations.
Poor maintenance can also lead to dangerous situations on busy streets from Hunts Point to Red Hook. Worn brakes or bald tires can cause a driver to lose control. Our lawyers can examine company maintenance records to identify any systemic safety failures.
The Negligence of the Truck Driver
The actions of the truck driver behind the wheel are a primary factor in most crashes. Federal regulations limit the number of hours a driver can operate a commercial vehicle. Driver fatigue remains a common cause of accidents.
Other forms of driver negligence include speeding, distracted driving, or making unsafe turns at intersections in neighborhoods like Astoria or Flushing. A driver who operates a truck under the influence of alcohol or drugs creates a massive risk to everyone on the road.
Third-Party and Manufacturer Fault
Other entities can also contribute to a truck accident. A separate company responsible for loading cargo onto the trailer may have created an unbalanced or overweight load. This condition can cause the driver to lose control of the truck.
In some cases, a mechanical failure causes the accident. The manufacturer of the truck or a specific part, like a steering component or a tire, might be responsible for a defect.
Evidence Your Attorney Gathers To Build Your NYC Truck Accident Claim
Building a claim requires strong proof that connects another party's negligence to your injuries. An experienced attorney knows what evidence to look for and how to secure it before it disappears. We pursue every available piece of information to support your case.
Our legal team secures important documents, including:
- Police Accident Reports: An attorney obtains and analyzes the official collision report filed by the responding law enforcement agency.
- Trucking Company Records: An attorney sends a formal letter of spoliation to demand the preservation of driver logs, dispatch instructions, and fleet maintenance histories.
- Electronic Data Recorder (EDR): The truck’s black box provides your legal team with critical data on speed, braking patterns, and other operational details just before the impact.
- Witness Statements: We quickly locate and interview people who saw the accident happen.
Seeking Compensation With a Truck Accident Lawyer Serving NYC
Your claim for compensation can account for all the ways an injury has affected your life. We work to identify and document every loss you have sustained. This process gives a clear picture of the true impact of the accident.
Your lawyer can document all your accident-related damages, like:
- Medical Expenses: We can gather all bills and records from hospital stays, surgeries, rehabilitation, and any other medical care you need.
- Lost Wages: Our team collects your employment records and pay stubs to document the income you lost while unable to work during your recovery.
- Future Care Projections: For serious, long-term injuries, we may work with life care planners to project the costs of future medical treatments and personal assistance.
- Non-Economic Damages: Our attorneys document how the accident and your injuries have diminished your quality of life, including pain and suffering.
FAQ for Truck Accident Lawyer Serving NYC
What Are the First Steps To Take After a Truck Accident in NYC?
After receiving medical attention, your top priority is preserving all paperwork from the scene, including the police report number and the driver's exchange information slip. You should also gather the names and phone numbers of any witnesses who saw the collision.
Don’t provide a recorded statement to the trucking company’s insurance adjuster; they may try to use your words to diminish or deny a claim later. Finally, contact William Mattar, P.C. to schedule a free consultation and learn about your options.
Who Can I Hold Responsible for a Truck Accident in New York?
Several parties may share liability for a truck accident, including the truck driver, the trucking company, the trailer owner, the business that loaded the cargo, or the manufacturer of a faulty truck part. A thorough investigation determines all parties who contributed to the crash.
How Does a Truck Accident Claim Differ from a Car Accident Claim?
Truck accident claims are usually much more complex than typical car accident claims, particularly because large commercial trucks are subject to strict state and federal safety regulations.
These cases often involve more serious injuries, multiple defendants, and unique types of evidence, such as electronic data recorders and driver qualification files.
How Can a Truck Accident Lawyer Serving NYC Help My Case?
A truck accident lawyer serving NYC can manage your legal claim from start to finish. Your attorney can conduct a full investigation, hire any necessary industry professionals, collect relevant evidence, and handle all communications with the insurance companies.
A lawyer builds your case, negotiates on your behalf, and represents your best interests at all times.
How Long Do I Have To File a Truck Accident Lawsuit in New York?
New York generally imposes a three-year statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit, though this time can sometimes be much shorter. Act quickly after a truck accident: The sooner you contact a lawyer, the more time your legal team has to investigate the crash and preserve crucial evidence before it’s lost or destroyed.
Contact a Truck Accident Lawyer Serving NYC Today
If a truck crash has left you with serious injuries, our team is ready to help you pursue the compensation you need. We have the resources and the dedication to handle these challenging cases.
Don’t let the insurance company dictate the outcome of your claim. Let a dedicated truck accident lawyer serving NYC from our firm fight for you.
Call William Mattar, P.C. today at (716) 444-4444 or complete our online contact form for a free case evaluation. We’re available 24/7 to take your call.