After a truck accident injures you, you may wonder what went wrong. Was the driver overworked and fatigued? Did poor truck maintenance or overloaded cargo create a dangerous situation?
Unfortunately, truck accidents often result from negligence by trucking companies, drivers, or others responsible for ensuring safety. These accidents can cause devastating injuries and leave victims struggling to recover.
At The Perecman Firm, our truck accident attorneys have spent decades helping truck accident victims across New York City, Queens, and Long Island identify what caused their accidents, hold the right parties accountable, and secure the compensation they deserve.
It’s not too late to take action — and we’re here to help guide you through this complex process every step of the way.
Truck accidents can result in devastating injuries and life-altering consequences, but understanding the causes and knowing your rights is the first step toward justice. Whether you're worried about missed deadlines or unsure if you have a case, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
Truck accidents are often more complex than typical car crashes. Multiple factors can contribute, and a lawyer who understands these causes can identify who you may hold accountable.
Driver Error
Truck drivers often work long hours under significant pressure, increasing the risk of:
- Fatigue: Federal regulations limit how long drivers can be on the road, but violations happen. A drowsy driver operating a massive truck can lead to catastrophic outcomes.
- Speeding or Reckless Driving: Tight delivery schedules sometimes lead drivers to push limits, endangering everyone on the road.
- Impaired Driving: Alcohol, drugs, or even prescription medications can impair judgment and reaction times.
Improper Maintenance
Large trucks require regular inspections and maintenance. When companies cut corners to save time or money, issues like brake failure or tire blowouts can cause accidents.
Overloaded or Improperly Loaded Cargo
An improperly balanced or overloaded truck can make it harder to control, especially during turns or sudden stops. Falling cargo can also create road hazards for other drivers.
Weather Conditions
Rain, snow, and icy roads are common in New York, making it harder for truck drivers to brake or steer effectively. Proper training and caution are essential in these conditions. You can hold truck drivers liable if they do not account for the weather or respond properly to dangerous conditions.
Defective Equipment
Sometimes, the truck itself is at fault. Defective brakes, steering systems, or tires can fail at critical moments, leading to severe crashes.
Negligent Hiring or Training Practices
Trucking companies are responsible for hiring qualified drivers and ensuring they receive adequate training. Negligence in these areas can put unsafe drivers on the road.
Where Do Truck Accidents Happen in New York?
Truck accidents occur throughout New York, but certain areas are more prone to these devastating crashes:
- Highways and Interstates: Busy routes like I-95, I-87, and the Long Island Expressway see heavy truck traffic daily, increasing the likelihood of accidents.
- Construction Zones: Trucks frequently navigate through construction sites across NYC and Long Island, where road conditions and traffic patterns can be hazardous.
- Urban Areas: Tight streets in Queens and New York City create challenges for large trucks, particularly during turns or deliveries.
- Industrial Zones: Long Island, in particular, has many industrial areas where workers load and unload cargo, creating additional risks.
Types of Trucks Involved in Accidents
Truck accidents are not limited to 18-wheelers. Each type of truck brings unique risks:
- Semi-Trucks/Tractor-Trailers: Their size and weight make accidents particularly severe.
- Delivery Trucks: With the rise of online shopping, delivery vehicles frequently navigate busy streets, increasing the risk of collisions.
- Dump Trucks: Common at construction sites, these trucks pose significant dangers if improperly loaded or maintained.
- Tanker Trucks: Carrying hazardous materials, tanker accidents can result in fires, explosions, or toxic spills.
Types of Truck Accidents and How They Happen
Truck accidents come in many forms, each with unique dangers and causes. A truck accident lawyer familiar with these scenarios can shed light on what may have caused your accident and who could be held responsible.
Here are some common types of truck accidents:
Jackknife Accidents
A jackknife accident occurs when the trailer swings out at an angle from the cab, resembling the shape of a folding pocketknife.
This can happen when:
- The truck driver brakes too hard, especially on slick roads.
- The trailer skids, causing the cab and trailer to lose alignment.
Jackknife accidents are particularly dangerous because they often result in multi-vehicle crashes, blocking entire lanes of traffic.
Rollover Accidents
Rollover accidents happen when a truck tips over onto its side, which can crush nearby vehicles.
These accidents often result from:
- Sharp turns taken too quickly, especially with a high center of gravity.
- Overloaded or unbalanced cargo.
- Sudden maneuvers to avoid a collision.
Rear-End Collisions
Trucks take significantly longer to stop than passenger vehicles due to their size and weight.
Rear-end collisions involving trucks often occur when:
- A truck driver follows too closely.
- Distracted driving prevents the driver from braking in time.
- Poorly maintained brakes fail to stop the truck.
These crashes can cause severe injuries, especially to occupants in smaller vehicles.
Underride Accidents
An underride accident happens when a smaller vehicle slides underneath the trailer of a truck, often resulting in catastrophic injuries or fatalities. There can be a rear underride crash when a vehicle goes underneath the back of a truck, or a side underride crash when a vehicle collides with the side of a truck.
These accidents typically occur when:
- A truck stops suddenly, and the car behind cannot stop in time.
- A truck turns or changes lanes without adequate signaling.
- Missing or defective underride guards fail to prevent the car from sliding underneath.
These often catastrophic truck crashes can result in serious injuries or wrongful death.
T-Bone or Side-Impact Collisions
T-bone accidents happen when a truck collides with the side of another vehicle.
These accidents often occur at intersections and can result from:
- A truck driver running a red light or stop sign.
- Failure to yield the right of way.
The size and weight of a truck can cause devastating damage to the struck vehicle.
Wide Turn Accidents
Trucks require extra space to make turns, especially right turns.
Wide turn accidents happen when:
- A truck swings wide into another lane to make a turn, hitting nearby vehicles.
- The truck fails to account for vehicles in its blind spot.
Blind Spot Accidents
Large trucks have significant blind spots on all sides, especially directly behind and alongside the trailer.
Blind spot accidents occur when:
- A truck driver changes lanes without checking for smaller vehicles.
- A passenger car lingers too long in a truck’s blind spot, making it invisible to the driver.
Lost Cargo Accidents
When the crew does not properly secure a truck’s cargo, it can fall onto the road, creating dangerous obstacles for other drivers.
These accidents often stem from:
- Negligence in loading the truck.
- Faulty or poorly maintained restraints.
Head-On Collisions
While less common, head-on collisions involving trucks are among the most deadly.
These accidents occur when:
- A truck driver drifts into oncoming traffic due to fatigue or distraction.
- Poor weather conditions cause the truck to skid into another lane.
Bridge and Overpass Accidents
Trucks can collide with low-clearance bridges or overpasses in urban areas like New York City.
This typically happens when:
- The driver is unfamiliar with local routes.
- Poor signage fails to warn of low clearances.
Each accident scenario highlights the unique challenges large trucks pose.
At The Perecman Firm, we understand the complexities of truck accidents and work tirelessly to investigate each case and overlook no detail.
After any of these types of accidents, we’re here to help you recover and hold those responsible accountable.
Filing a Truck Accident Claim
If you’re considering whether to contact a lawyer, the answer is yes. Truck accident claims often involve multiple parties, such as the driver, the trucking company, or manufacturers of defective parts.
A personal injury lawyer from The Perecman Firm can handle all aspects of your claim so you can focus on healing.
What We Handle for You
- Investigating the Cause: We gather evidence, including accident reports, witness statements, and black box data, to determine fault.
- Negotiating with Insurance Companies: Insurance adjusters are not on your side. We fight for fair compensation, ensuring they don’t pressure you into an inadequate settlement.
- Filing Necessary Paperwork: From claims to lawsuits, we handle the paperwork and meet all deadlines, including the statute of limitations.
Is It Too Late to Talk to a Lawyer?
No. Even if some time has passed since the accident, it’s not too late to reach out.
In New York, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is three years from the accident date. However, exceptions exist, and starting your case early allows for a more thorough investigation.
What Compensation May Be Available for a Truck Accident Case?
Truck accident victims often face significant physical, emotional, and financial burdens.
Our goal is to secure compensation for:
- Medical Expenses: Current and future treatment costs.
- Lost Wages: Including loss of earning capacity if you cannot return to work.
- Pain and Suffering: For both physical pain and emotional trauma.
- Property Damage: Repair or replacement of your vehicle.
How a Lawyer Proves Causation in a Truck Accident Claim
Proving causation is one of the most critical aspects of any truck accident claim. To secure compensation for your injuries, your lawyer must demonstrate how another party's actions—or inactions—directly caused the accident and your resulting damages.
At The Perecman Firm, we take a thorough and strategic approach to uncovering the truth behind your accident.
Here’s how we work to establish causation:
Investigating the Scene
We gather critical evidence from the accident scene, including photographs, surveillance footage, skid marks, debris patterns, and police reports. This information helps us reconstruct what happened and identify contributing factors, such as weather conditions, road hazards, or violations of traffic laws.
Analyzing Truck-Specific Evidence
Large trucks often carry black box data, electronic logging device (ELD) records, and maintenance logs. These records can reveal whether the driver was speeding, fatigued, or failing to adhere to safety regulations. Our team will work to preserve this evidence before the trucking company loses or destroys it.
Consulting with Experts
In complex cases, we collaborate with accident reconstruction specialists, engineers, and industry professionals to analyze the data and provide expert opinions on how and why the accident occurred. These insights can build a compelling case for causation.
Uncovering Negligence
Negligence can take many forms, such as:
- A driver failing to follow hours-of-service regulations.
- A trucking company hiring an unqualified driver or neglecting routine maintenance.
- A manufacturer supplying defective parts.
By identifying negligent actions and connecting them to your accident, we build a strong argument for liability.
Connecting Your Injuries to the Accident
We also work closely with medical professionals to link your injuries directly to the truck accident. This connection not only proves causation but also the extent of your damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Presenting a Clear Narrative
In negotiations or at trial, we craft a compelling narrative supported by evidence to show how the driver, trucking company or another party's negligence led to the crash and your injuries.
Our experience allows us to anticipate and counter any arguments from opposing counsel or insurance adjusters.
At The Perecman Firm, we handle the heavy lifting, so you don’t have to. Proving causation in a truck accident claim is a complex process, but it’s one we’re well-equipped to take on. While you focus on healing, we’ll uncover the truth and hold those responsible accountable.
Free Consultation and Case Evaluation
We understand this is a difficult time. That’s why we offer a free consultation and case evaluation. During this process, we’ll listen to your story, explain your options, and discuss how we can help.
At The Perecman Firm, we believe you deserve personalized attention and dedicated advocacy. When you work with us, you’re not just another case — you’re family.
Why Choose The Perecman Firm?
With decades of experience fighting for accident victims across New York City, Queens, and Long Island, our firm has the strength, resources, and tenacity to take on even the most complex truck accident cases.
We know the tactics insurance companies and trucking companies use to avoid paying fair compensation, and we’re not afraid to sue them when necessary. While you focus on healing, we focus on making things right.
Contact Us Today
If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, you don’t have to face the aftermath alone. Let us handle the details, build your case, and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Call The Perecman Firm today for your free consultation. We’re here for you — every step of the way. Whether you're searching for a trusted personal injury lawyer in New York City office at 212-977-7033, our Queens, NY, office at 718-587-0108, or our Jericho office on Long Island at 516-268-0130. You can also contact us online.