Long Island Truck Accident Attorneys
St. James, New York lawyers win compensation for commercial truck crash injuries
Car drivers on Long Island have to share the roadways with trucks of all sizes, from pickups and vans to tractor trailers. When collisions occur between a large truck and a passenger car, the injuries to the smaller vehicle’s occupants can be serious and even catastrophic. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a commercial truck crash in Nassau or Suffolk counties, you need an experienced Long Island truck accident attorney to assert your claim for money damages. At Jakubowski, Robertson, Maffei, Goldsmith & Tartaglia, LLP in St. James, we have the knowledge and skill to pursue the compensation you deserve, even against powerful defendants with deep legal resources.
Frequently neglected truck driver regulations in New York
Because of the dangers posed by large commercial vehicles to others on the roads, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration sets operational standards for drivers and equipment. FMCSA regulations impose requirements covering vehicle inspections, drivers’ qualifications and drivers’ hours of service, among other subjects. Unfortunately, too many commercial carriers put trucks in service without proper maintenance, hire unqualified drivers and allow drivers to exceed the limits of time behind the wheel. Such infractions increase the likelihood of accidents and can be found to constitute negligence.
Top causes of truck accidents in New York
The causes of truck accidents vary, but most are due to driver error, which can include:
- Speeding and aggressive driving
- Following too closely (tailgating)
- Failure to yield right of way
- Distracted driving
- Driving under the influence
- Driving while fatigued
Accidents also occur because of equipment failures (such as tires and brakes), improperly loaded cargo, poor road conditions, harsh weather conditions and negligence by other vehicles’ drivers.
Common injuries sustained in New York truck accidents
Because of their greater mass, commercial trucks can cause far more damage than passenger vehicles. The danger is even greater when collisions occur at high speeds on major arteries, such as the Long Island Expressway, Montauk Highway and Veterans Memorial Highway.
Common injuries from truck crashes include:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Complex bone fractures
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Crush injuries
- Spinal cord trauma and paralysis
- Wrongful death
To recover the maximum compensation possible for the harm you’ve suffered, it is advisable to hire a Long Island personal injury lawyer with extensive experience litigating truck and auto accident injury cases.
Determining liability for truck accident claims
Liability means legal responsibility for an accident and for resulting injuries. Proving liability is necessary to secure compensation for a victim’s losses. Our team thoroughly investigates all aspects of a truck crash to determine the cause and who is at fault. Potentially liable parties include:
- The truck driver
- The trucking company
- Truck maintenance subcontractor
- Third-party cargo loading company
- Equipment manufacturer
- Another vehicle’s driver
Defendants in truck accident cases often accuse victims of shared negligence. New York follows a rule of pure comparative negligence, which allows crash victims to recover compensation even when they bear part of the blame. The victim’s recovery is reduced by their percentage of negligence in causing the crash. Thus, a victim who is 10 percent responsible can recover 90 percent of their losses.
As your advocates, we will thoroughly investigate the accident to determine the main causes and will make the strongest case possible for diminishing your percentage of fault.
Contact our personal injury law firm for a Long Island truck accident consultation
The truck accident attorneys at Jakubowski, Robertson, Maffei, Goldsmith & Tartaglia, LLP in St. James represent injured clients throughout Long Island. To schedule a free consultation, call 631-360-0400 or contact us online.