Queens Truck Accident Lawyer
When you’ve had an accident with a truck, you know how life changing the experience can be. Whether you’re struggling with medical bills, lost time at work or the insurance company just isn’t being fair, know that you have The Barnes Firm on your side.
Here’s how The Barnes Firm can help:
- FREE Legal Strategy Session
- 24/7 Service From Our Top Queen Truck Accident Lawyers
- No-Fee Promise – You Don’t Pay A Thing Until We Win Your Case
We also understand you have many questions. Call us anytime or contact us here online, and we’ll help you get answers.
About Our Best Truck Accident Lawyers In Queens
There are dozens of truck accidents in Queens every day. You want a team on your side with experience handling these complicated matters. We’re here to help. That’s why we offer free, no-risk consultations to help you go over your options.
Helping Victims Of Truck Accidents
Being involved in a truck accident can be a harrowing experience. Not only can it cause panic, stress, and physical injuries, but the lasting impact on your finances and health can be devastating. At The Barnes Firm, our truck accident attorneys in Queens understand how such an accident can affect your life. From broken bones, lacerations, and concussion to lost wages, ongoing medical expenses, and possibly even Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), an accident with a truck can be a life-changing event.
Side Impact/T-Bone Accidents
Common at intersections and when entering a highway from an on-ramp, a side impact, or T-bone accident can happen at a number of angles. They can be extremely hazardous not only to the driver, but to all occupants, since there is still very little protection from side-impact crashes, despite current vehicle technology and safety standards. When it comes to T-bone accidents with trucks, they can be especially destructive, since trucks can weigh tens of thousands of pounds — significantly more than a typical sedan or other medium-sized car. Our Queens truck accident attorneys know firsthand how dangerous these crashes can be, which is why we’re dedicated to achieving results for our clients and holding those responsible for their actions accountable for the damage they caused.
FedEx, Postal Service, and UPS Accidents
While they aren’t always quite as large as 18-wheelers, delivery trucks from FedEx, the US Postal Service, and UPS can also cause substantial damage and harm to motorists if an accident occurs. Every single day, these fleets of large vehicles roam potentially unfamiliar highways and streets in order to deliver their packages. This massive volume of deliveries and mileage can lead to accidents, especially in and around Queens. If you’ve been involved in a truck accident with one of these or other delivery companies or agencies, reach out to the attorneys at The Barnes Firm to represent your case.
Why are Truck Accidents So Dangerous?
For anyone traveling by car, bike, or foot, commercial trucks can pose a danger. These large vehicles often outweigh a standard passenger car by more than five times. Considering their sheer size, trucks are capable of causing severe accidents. When trucks cause accidents, they often leave a slew of injuries, property damage, and unfortunately, fatalities. If you or someone you know has been injured in a truck accident, contact our team of experienced Queens truck crash lawyers at The Barnes Firm at (800) 800-0000.
Queens Truck Accident Statistics
With its dense population and bustling economic activity, Queens experiences a number of commercial vehicle accidents each year. The crowded streets of Queens can be difficult for large trucks to navigate without a skilled and focused operator behind the wheel. With that in mind, the volume of Queens truck accidents tends to be fairly high, and they often result in severe property damage and injuries. In 2021 alone, Queens ranked second for truck accidents out of all boroughs, with a total of 1,209 collisions— 24% of all New York City commercial truck accidents that year.
What Types of Trucks Cause Accidents?
There are multiple types of trucks that operate across Queens roadways and cause accidents. Our attorneys have successfully handled truck accident cases involving:
Semi Trucks. Also known as 18-wheelers, semi trucks are large trucks that haul hefty loads across interstates and highways. These trucks can cause major pileups, lost load accidents, and more. It’s important to be cautious when driving around these vehicles, especially in their blind spots.
Construction Trucks. Construction and public works trucks are constantly encountering passenger vehicles, other trucks, cyclists, and pedestrians—increasing their likelihood of being involved in an accident.
Garbage Trucks. Garbage trucks are a necessary part of our lives, as they’re responsible for keeping the streets of Queens clean. However, their frequent stopping habits and occasional unpredictability make them more likely to cause accidents with pedestrians and motorists alike.
Tanker Trucks. Tankers are unique in the aspect that they often carry hazardous materials. When they cause accidents, the tanks they carry have the potential to explode or spill, causing explosions and burn injuries or internal damage due to fume inhalation.
Tractor Trucks. These trucks have both the engine and driver cabin stationed at the front of the vehicle. Their hefty size enables them to cause serious accidents, as they are capable of crushing other vehicles smaller than them.
Delivery Trucks. With the rise in online shopping, companies like Amazon have significantly increased the number of delivery trucks in their fleets. With more delivery trucks taking to our nation’s roadways everyday, there comes a higher volume of delivery truck accidents.
How Are Truck Accidents Investigated?
Truck accident investigations vary from standard motor vehicle accident investigations because both the police and truck company will typically investigate. Truck companies will launch their own investigations to try to find ways to shift the blame on you to decrease the value of your claim. At The Barnes Firm, our experienced Queens truck accident lawyer will investigate your accident and ensure that negligent truck operators and companies are held responsible for their actions that caused your injury. For more information, or to speak with a Queens truck accident lawyer today, call The Barnes Firm at (800) 800-0000.
Truck Accidents and Wrongful Death
When truck accidents happen, they’re more likely to cause severe outcomes, including the loss of a loved one. In the event of a wrongful death caused by a negligent truck driver, the living relatives of the deceased are allowed to pursue a wrongful death claim. This enables them to pursue compensation for additional damages, such as a loss of consortium, or companionship. If you or a loved one has endured a wrongful death due to a truck accident, don’t hesitate to call The Barnes Firm at (800) 800-0000.
What Makes Truck Accidents So Complicated?
With truck accidents differing from motor vehicle accidents, there are certain scenarios where they become complicated. Our attorneys have successfully handled complicated truck accident cases involving one or more of the following:
- Multiple Parties. Assigning degrees of liability in a truck accident case often involves multiple parties, with each potentially sharing some degree of fault. This process can be lengthy and requires an experienced attorney to properly identify and assign.
- Insurance Coverage Issues. Despite many truck companies carrying extensive insurance policies, disputes over coverage and exclusions can arise, which complicates the pursuit of compensation for injuries and losses without the help of an experienced truck accident attorney.
- Legal Challenges. Federal, state, and local laws all impact truck accident cases. Understanding the nuances of each and applying them to your individual case can be a complex process. At The Barnes Firm, our attorneys are knowledgeable in New York’s truck laws and can help you navigate this process with ease.
Understanding the Types of Queens Truck Accidents
At The Barnes Firm, our dedicated team of Queens truck accident attorneys are prepared to handle all types of truck accident cases, including:
- Blind spot accidents. These often occur to a drowsy, distracted, or inattentive trucker not checking their blind spot before merging.
- T-bone accidents. Also known as side-impact collisions, these occur when the front of one vehicle collides with the side of another vehicle, forming a “T” shape.
- Head-on collisions. These accidents occur when the front end of a truck crashes directly into the front end of another vehicle, often resulting in severe injury to the individual (s) in the other vehicle.
- Rollover crashes. Rollovers involve a truck tipping over onto its side or roof, often rolling over one or more times before stopping.
- Jackknife accidents. When a truck’s cab and trailer fold in on themselves, it’s called a jackknife. Jackknives can block multiple lanes of traffic, causing multiple vehicles to be involved in the crash.
- Speeding accidents. When deadlines need to be met, truckers may speed. Speeding in any vehicle is dangerous, but trucks are especially dangerous due to their size and requirement for significant stop time compared to smaller, lighter vehicles.
- Rear-end collisions. A rear-end accident is when a truck smashes into the back of another vehicle, sometimes causing a pileup accident.
What are Common Truck Accident Causes?
Numerous factors can contribute to truck accidents in Queens, New York. However, our team has identified the most common truck accident causes, including:
- Unsecured Loads. Most commercial trucks carry hefty loads. When loads aren’t securely fastened, they may fall out and strike vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians.
- Driving Under the Influence (DUI). Truck drivers operating under the influence of drugs or alcohol place their own lives, as well as those of others on the road at risk. Driving under the influence is against the law, and any signs or suspicions of a trucker operating under the influence should be reported to the police.
- Brake Time. Being heavy vehicles, trucks require more stopping time than cars. When operators fail to give themselves enough time and distance to stop, accidents happen.
- Improper Turns. As long, heavy vehicles, trucks require skilled operators to control and turn them properly. Inexperienced operators can cause sideswipe accidents when they fail to turn properly or neglect checking their blind spots.
- Distracted Driving. This includes texting, calling, eating, and other activities that divert an operator’s attention off the road before them, contributing to a heightened accident risk.
- Speeding. Driving above the speed limit creates unsafe road conditions for the truck operator and other motorists alike, especially if there is a sudden need to stop.
- Inadequate Truck Maintenance. Truck companies are responsible for regularly servicing their fleet and training their drivers. When they fail to do so, inexperienced truck drivers or defective trucks can contribute to accidents.
What to do After a Truck Accident
After a truck accident, our team advises that you take the following measures to preserve your health and protect your rights:
- Get to safety. Preserve your safety and wellbeing by moving away from the accident, if possible.
- Call emergency services. Contact emergency services (911) to report the accident itself, as well as any injuries.
- Document the accident scene. Photographs and video evidence documenting the accident scene, your injuries, and any property damage can all benefit your case. Nearby surveillance cameras can serve as additional evidence that may help your case by showing how the accident occurred and what led up to it.
- Seek medical care. Medical attention is crucial for identifying injuries that may not be immediately noticeable. Additionally, maintaining copies of your medical records serves as evidence that can help you obtain compensation for expenses.
- Don’t admit fault. Never admit fault. Even a simple apology can be perceived as an admission of fault for the accident, so avoid relative statements to protect the validity of your claim.
- Call The Barnes Firm. Consulting an experienced Queens truck accident lawyer at The Barnes Firm can help you understand your rights and guide you towards obtaining compensation.
Who is Responsible for My Truck Accident?
Liability in truck accident cases depends on the specific circumstances that contributed to your accident. Additionally, it’s important to realize that multiple parties may be at fault. These potentially liable parties include:
- Truck companies
- Truck drivers
- Loading companies
- Manufacturers
- Third-party motorists
- Municipalities
Since multiple parties can share some degree of liability in your accident, it’s wise to consult with a skilled Queens truck accident lawyer who can identify at-fault parties and their degree of liability in the accident.
Common Truck Accident Injuries
Head Injuries
These types of injuries from a truck crash can range from anything to a concussion to a life-altering and permanent condition — and everything in between. No matter the perceived severity, all head traumas should be treated with the utmost caution. And let’s not forget — many head injuries can take hours or days to manifest themselves, and often present themselves as nausea, vision problems, and confusion.
Neck/Back Injuries
Not only can an accident with a truck cause whiplash, but it can also result in other severe spinal injuries, including damage to your discs, dislocation, and other issues — many of which can be long term.
Internal Injuries
Your liver, spleen, kidneys, heart, and other internal organs are also at risk for damage when you’re involved in a truck accident. These types of injuries can also have delayed symptoms, which is why it’s imperative to consult with a doctor right away, even if you don’t feel any immediate discomfort.
Have a Question? Contact A Bronx Truck Accident Lawyer
If you or a family member has been involved in such an accident, it can be an overwhelming experience, leaving you confused and not knowing where — or to whom — you should turn. That’s precisely why the Queens truck accident attorneys at The Barnes Firm are standing by, waiting to take your call. With decades of experience, knowledge, and dedication to our clients, we have provided them with the trusted representation they deserve, delivering favorable outcomes, settlements, and justice in the process.
Our team of attorneys want to hear from you.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, slip and fall, construction accident, or have suffered another type of personal injury contact our team today.
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What our clients are saying about us
Nichole W.
The Barnes Firm was very friendly, always quick to respond to our calls, emails. When we had any questions or concerns they were there to walk us through everything. Would definitely recommend them to anyone that is looking for an attorney that will honestly fight for you and has your best interest in mind.
Answers to Your Queens
Truck Accident FAQs
Most people have never needed a lawyer when they find themselves injured and in need of legal advice. We hear the following questions from many of our clients. We hope the answers help clarify your options and considerations.
New York has short deadlines for truck accident claims. You must file an insurance claim within 90 days of your collision. The statute of limitations for lawsuits is three years from the injury date. Once these deadlines pass, you may lose your ability to recover compensation. It is best to move quickly and take legal action.
You can recover damages for various losses and costs associated with treating your injuries from a truck accident. Damages vary per case but may include:
- Property damage costs
- Medical expense
- Coast of adaptive devices
- Pain and suffering
- Past and future lost wages
- Ongoing physical and occupational therapy
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Compensation for assistive services like a personal aide
The costs of hiring a truck accident lawyer in NY will come as a percentage of your final settlement. You do not pay out-of-pocket expenses for retaining legal services. The percentage rate will depend on where in the process your case settles. The further it goes, the higher the percentage rate can be. However, this is all outlined within your agreement when you sign with a law firm.
Choosing the right lawyer is essential to your injury claim. You must choose wisely. First, you must consider your legal needs and expectations. You will want to sit down and determine your legal needs and what you can expect from the law firm. You can seek recommendations from friends, family, and coworkers. Once you have a few options, review the firm’s track record and services to ensure they align with your needs. Schedule a consultation to determine if the law firm is right for you.
Truck accident cases often have several parties who can be liable for injuries and losses. In most cases, you can sue the truck driver. In another instance, their employer is responsible. Other third parties, like truck maintenance and product manufacturers, may also be held liable. Holding any of these parties responsible is challenging, but you must seek justice.
The basis of your claim will come down to evidence. The best way to prove the truck driver or their employer was at fault is by presenting a solid case based on evidence. Some of the evidence that can prove vital to your claim includes:
- Black box data
- Crash report
- Cell phone or dashcam footage
- Traffic camera footage
- Witness statements
- Accident reconstruction reports
You will unlikely have to go to court for a truck accident case. Most New York truck accident cases settle out of court. Your attorney will investigate the collision and gather evidence. They will then build and present the case to the insurance company, beginning the negotiation process. Typically, negotiations are fruitful, and the case is resolved without additional actions.
The state understands that accidents are complicated. Sometimes, the parties involved contribute to the collision in different ways. Your contribution to the accident will not hinder you from getting compensation. Your percentage of fault will reduce your award. The caveat is that the other driver must be over 50% at fault.
Truck drivers and their employers must follow stringent federal and state regulations to operate a commercial truck. Some federal regulations truckers must follow include:
- Have a medical examiner’s certificate
- Have a valid non-commercial driver’s license
- Be 18 years old to drive
- Be 21 to drive across state lines or carry hazardous waste
- Minimum of one to two years of driving experience
- Have no active license suspension
- Follow all hours of service regulations
Additionally, truck drivers must respect traffic laws in New York and when crossing state lines. They have a more considerable responsibility when carrying heavy loads. They must adhere to all regulations to keep everyone safe.
If the trucker blames you for your collisions, you have several options. You might share responsibility for the truck accident if you were negligent. However, you can still recover compensation for your losses. Your fault will reduce your financial award. It is common for insurers to use victim-blaming tactics to lower their responsibility. Sometimes, these allegations are baseless, and you can show evidence of the contrary with the help of a NY truck accident lawyer.
Written by The Barnes Firm, reviewed by Richard Barnes
