Truck Accident Lawyer in New York City

New York City Truck Accident Lawyer

Truck accidents happen with alarming frequency on the busy streets of New York City. Victims of truck accidents often suffer serious injuries due in part to the size and weight of commercial trucks. If you were injured in a truck accident that wasn’t your fault, you could be entitled to significant compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain, suffering and other losses.

At the law firm of Belluck Law, PLLC, we want to help you demand the compensation you need to get your life back on track. Founding attorney Joseph W. Belluck Joe and his team have a nationwide reputation for excellence. For over 35 years, Joe has provided compassionate, aggressive legal representation to injured New Yorkers like you. In that time, he’s secured more than $1 billion in settlements and verdicts for his clients.

Find out what he can do for you by calling or contacting us online. We offer free consultations, so speaking with a New York City truck accident lawyer won’t cost you a thing. We have the resources and respect to take on the most challenging cases and get the best results for you and your family.

Do You Have a Truck Accident Claim?

You might have a truck accident claim if you were hurt in a truck accident due to the negligence of a truck driver, their employer, or some other third party. The at-fault party could owe you compensation for your losses from the crash, including medical bills, lost income, damaged property, pain and suffering.

During your free initial consultation, our experienced New York truck accident attorney Joe Belluck and his team can determine if you may have a case.

Benefits of Hiring a Lawyer for Your Truck Accident Claim

When you hire Belluck Law, PLLC, you can depend on us to:

• Investigate your claim
• Determine who is to blame for your injuries and all sources of insurance coverage
• Pursue compensation from every liable party
• Offer personalized attention and service, including regular updates on your case and attorney Joe Belluck’s direct cell phone number
• Thoroughly document your expenses and losses, so we demand the full compensation you deserve
• Build a solid case
• File your claims quickly so you get compensation immediately and you are not time-barred by a statute of limitations
• Handle all communications and negotiations with the insurance companies and others involved in the case
• Leverage our national reputation in catastrophic injury cases to pursue an optimal resolution of your case, whether through a negotiated settlement or a verdict at trial

Joe and his team have what it takes to aggressively pursue the benefits you need. Here are just a few factors that set us apart:

• More than 35 years of legal experience
• A lengthy track record of success, including over $1 billion in verdicts and settlements
• National reputation and recognition for client advocacy, ethics and personalized legal service
• Numerous recommendations from satisfied clients and colleagues in the legal field
• Vast resources to devote to a thorough investigation and case development
• Connections to respected expert witnesses

Who Could Be Liable for a Truck Accident?

Many different parties are involved in the trucking industry, any one of which may be partially or fully liable for a truck accident. Some of the parties who may be responsible for a truck crash include:

• Truck drivers – A truck driver may be liable when their careless, reckless or otherwise negligent behavior leads to a crash. Such behavior could include speeding, disregarding traffic lights, driving while distracted and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, for example.
• Trucking companies – Depending on the circumstances, liable parties could include the company that owns and operates the truck, the company that hires or retains the truck driver and the freight and cargo company responsible for loading the truck or trailer with cargo.
• Equipment owners – In some situations, a different company owns or leases the tractor-trailer, and they may be liable for the crash.
• Cargo loaders – Some crashes result from improperly loaded or secured cargo. In these cases, the cargo loading company and the cargo’s owner could be responsible.
• Truck manufacturers – The company that manufactured the truck may be liable for a crash if design or manufacturing defects led to a mechanical failure or caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
• Vehicle part manufacturers – Manufacturers of the tires, brakes or other parts used on the truck or trailer may be liable if a defective part led to a loss of control and a crash.
• Truck maintenance companies – Auto shops and mechanics who perform maintenance work on trucks might be liable for a crash caused by inadequate or improper maintenance.
• Local or state entities – Governments responsible for designing or maintaining the roads might be liable for a truck accident caused by hazardous road conditions, such as broken pavement, potholes or untreated icy roads, or for dangerous or defective road or intersection designs.
• Third-party drivers – Some truck accidents are caused by the actions of another road user, such as the driver of another car involved in the collision.

How Is Fault Determined in a Truck Accident?

In the case of most motor vehicle accidents, investigators determine fault by looking at the available evidence and determining whose actions contributed to the collision. While this is true for truck accidents as well, the highly regulated nature of the trucking industry means there is more potential evidence to sort through, such as:

Why Truck Accidents Are More Complex

Truck accidents can be more complicated than the typical car crash because:

• Truck accidents often result in serious injuries, so accident victims usually require more compensation to fully cover the costs of their medical expenses. They may also need compensation for future anticipated medical expenses, which can slow settlement negotiations.
• Investigating a truck accident often involves reviewing many pieces of evidence, including records that must be kept under state and federal trucking regulations.
• Multiple parties may be liable in a truck accident, some of whom may try to shift liability onto one another to reduce the compensation they must pay.
• Trucking companies often have layered or complex insurance coverage, making the process more difficult. Most commercial trucking insurance policies carry a minimum $1 million limit. With more severe injuries and higher insurance limits, a lot of money can be at stake. You can count on insurers and their lawyers to put up a fight.

Statute of Limitations on Truck Accident Lawsuits in New York City

You have a limited time after a truck accident in New York City to file a personal injury lawsuit against the liable parties. The statute of limitations on personal injury claims sets the time limit. The New York statute of limitations gives you only three years from the date of an accident to file suit. If you miss the three-year deadline, the court will likely dismiss your case, and you will lose your chance to seek compensation in civil court.

New York Trucking Laws

Many different truck laws at the federal and state levels are meant to prevent accidents. When truckers or their employers violate them, innocent people can get hurt. Some of the most important trucking laws in New York include provisions stating:

• Commercial truck drivers must hold a valid commercial driver’s license, including any relevant license endorsements for the type of truck being operated or the cargo being hauled.
• Drivers must follow the federal hours-of-service (HOS) regulations, which limit the amount of time they may spend on duty and behind the wheel and require them to regularly take breaks and get rest.
• Trucks must conform to certain height, length and weight limits depending on the type of truck and where it is being operated.
• Truck owners must perform annual inspections of their vehicles and maintain records of these inspections.
• Truck drivers must conduct and record pre-trip inspections.