When New Yorkers hit the road for a weekend trip or even just running an errand, we expect that everything will go smoothly and that we will return home as planned. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Vehicle accidents happen frequently in New York, and of all vehicle accidents, truck accidents generally cause the most pain and leave victims’ lives more in limbo than any other type.
Whether it’s semi-trucks, big rigs, or eighteen-wheelers, commercial trucks go by many names. They all share a common trait, however: their size and weight. When such a massive vehicle is thrust into your own smaller vehicle, it can leave you feeling helpless about what comes next.
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury in a truck accident, your physical health is not your only concern. Medical bills can quickly reach astronomical levels, especially when you suffer serious injuries. That’s why you need the services of an experienced truck accident injury attorney in New York. You want someone who will treat you like the individual you are, with compassion and understanding for your predicament and with aggressive legal representation to protect your rights.
Causes of Truck Accidents
In New York, the number one cause of truck accidents is human error. Many people assume that the human error must stem from the truck driver. While that is often the case, it’s not always true.
In fact, many different types of human errors can cause truck accidents, even those unrelated to a truck driver’s actions, including:
- Maintenance technician failing to properly maintain a truck
- Maintenance technician improperly installing a replacement part
- Improper training of a truck driver
- Improper training of a maintenance technician
- Cargo loading workers improperly loading and securing a truck
Of course, the driver of the truck could also be at fault in your accident. This can happen many ways, including:
- Fatigue
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Reckless driving
Many laws govern commercial trucks. These laws attempt to provide a road environment for the truck driver and everyone else on the road, like you and your family. That’s why the federal government has enacted specific laws that regulate how many hours a truck driver may spend behind the wheel. As you may know from long road trips, too much time behind the wheel can leave you feeling fatigued. The same happens with truck drivers.
When a truck driver violates these hours-of-service laws, it can lead to dire consequences. If you or a loved one has been the victim of a truck accident injury, you deserve representation from a New York law firm that understands the complexities of truck accidents but still treats you like a human, not just a number. As a trusted New York truck accident lawyer, Ivan M. Diamond and his team are ready to help you seek justice.
Truck Accident Injuries
More people have died in truck accidents than have lost their lives in airline accidents over the past half-century. While not every truck accident will result in a death, this statistic underscores the extreme pain and suffering that truck accidents can cause.
The average car weighs around 5,000 pounds. Commercial trucks, when carrying full loads, may weigh up to 80,000 pounds. The sheer force and weight of a truck, when one impacts your car, can cause catastrophic and life-altering injuries to you and your family.
Some of the most common truck accident injuries include:
- Broken bones
- Back and neck injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries
- Severe burns
- Disfigurement
- Amputation
- Paralysis
Semi-truck accidents are nothing to ignore. If you or a loved one is involved in one, your life may change forever.
You will likely face extreme hurdles to get back to your regular life, including:
- Extended hospital stays
- Multiple surgeries
- Extended time out of work
- Time in a rehabilitation facility
- In-home medical and rehabilitation care
- Inability to return to work at the same capacity
All of these hurdles come with great financial costs. Regardless, you should focus on your physical and mental recovery. In a perfect world, the at-fault party would cover all of your medical bills and other financial losses. To give yourself the best chance of maximizing your compensation, speak with a seasoned New York truck accident injury attorney today.
Potential Damages
The aftermath of your truck accident may leave you feeling helpless. Retaining an experienced personal injury attorney to handle your case will provide peace of mind that someone is looking out for your best interests.
When you work with the legal team at Ivan M. Diamond, we strive to collect damages for the following damages:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Lost wages
- Lost earning potential
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of life enjoyment
- Present and future medical bills
- Rehabilitation costs
Depending on the severity of your injuries, your medical bills may cause serious financial hardship. We don’t want to see this happen to you. That’s why we work to aggressively negotiate with the insurance companies on behalf of our clients and attempt to maximize their compensation. If insurance companies refuse to negotiate reasonably, and we must go to trial, we are fully prepared to litigate your case at trial, having successfully tried many truck accident injury claims in New York.
Not every law firm has the resources required to conduct a complex truck accident trial. Should you hire a truck accident lawyer, make sure that person can afford expert witnesses, accident re-creation experts, medical experts, and anything else you need to maximize your compensation.
Speak With a Lawyer Today
Truck accident injury cases are complex legal procedures. They involve many parties and require the use of truck accident experts. You may have suffered severe injuries, causing you to miss work and miss out on your life. You need to focus all of your effort and energy on your physical recovery. Your attorney’s job is to focus on protecting your rights and working to maximize your compensation.
