Content reviewed by:
Alex Shulman
Large trucks are a critical part of New York City’s economy but pose a hazardous presence on the roadways. If you or a loved one has been in an accident involving a large truck in Queens, you’re likely facing some troubling consequences.
Truck accidents can be particularly dangerous because the vehicles are extremely heavy and large, making a collision with one of them severe compared to an accident with a conventional vehicle. If you’ve been seriously hurt in a truck accident in Queens, you have the right to recover money from the responsible party. However, getting a fair settlement may not be easy due to the complexity of these cases.
Hiring an experienced attorney can give you the time you need for your recovery and help you collect maximum compensation. A Queens truck accident lawyer at Shulman & Hill will fight for the full and fair compensation you deserve. We will outline your options and put you in the best possible position for a favorable case outcome. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
Trust the Queens Truck Accident Lawyers at Shulman & Hill
At Shulman & Hill, our Queens personal injury lawyers advocate for the rights of injury victims throughout New York City. Our experienced truck accident attorneys have amassed an impressive record of significant verdicts and settlements over the past decade. We proudly offer multilingual support and place our client’s needs first.
We are a community-centered law firm of New Yorkers fighting for injured New Yorkers. Our dedicated attorneys and staff redefine the level of service you expect from a law firm by providing open communication, attention to detail, empathetic counsel, and vigorous representation throughout your case.
We have won recognition from prestigious national organizations. Since 2017, founding partner Alex Shulman has been named on the New York Super Lawyers list—an honor reserved for only 5 percent of Empire State attorneys. He has also been recognized by The National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40.
Our firm takes on cases other firms might not. No case is too complex or challenging for our experienced attorneys, making us a trusted choice for representation for those injured in commercial truck accidents.
Liability in Queens Truck Accident Cases
Truck accidents can happen for a variety of reasons. If another party’s carelessness, negligence, or wrongful actions resulted in your injuries, you shouldn’t be stuck with the consequences. Those responsible should pay for the damages they caused.
However, determining who is responsible is often challenging, especially if more than one party is to blame. Potentially liable parties in a truck accident case include the following:
- The truck driver: The truck driver could be held responsible for reckless or negligent operation of the vehicle.
- The trucking company: A trucking company may be held liable if a driver was working within the scope of employment during the accident. Companies could also be liable for their own actions and omissions, such as forcing drivers to work long hours, failing to hire or train drivers properly, or neglecting vehicle maintenance.
- Truck manufacturers: If a truck or parts defect caused or contributed to the accident, the manufacturer could be held responsible.
- Cargo loaders: Improperly secured or loaded cargo could cause or contribute to a crash.
- Other drivers: In a multi-vehicle accident, another driver could share some or all of the blame.
- Other parties: Other potentially liable parties include government agencies responsible for road maintenance, bicyclists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians.
One or several of these parties could be held liable for your damages. The interconnectedness of different stakeholders and how they might share liability make truck accident cases particularly challenging. For example, a trucking company might be liable for failing to train a driver properly, while a driver could also be liable for driving under the influence.
Your knowledgeable Queens semi-truck accident lawyer can help you make sense of these connections and navigate the process of holding all the responsible parties accountable.
Common Causes of Queens Semi Truck Accidents
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 154,993 people were injured and 5,788 died in truck accidents in the United States in 2021—a 17 percent increase in the fatality rate from the prior year. NHTSA also reports that 108 large trucks were involved in fatal accidents in New York state that same year.
Some of the most common causes of semi-truck and 18-wheeler accidents include the following:
- Distracted driving
- Aggressive driving
- Speeding
- Fatigued driving
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Tailgating or following too closely
- Making illegal or unsafe turns
- Failure to maintain a lane
- Improper turning
- Congested traffic
- Severe weather conditions, such as snow or rain
- Poor driver training
- Hazardous road conditions
- Dangerous, defective, or malfunctioning vehicles
- Poorly secured or unsafe loads
Truck drivers must obtain a special license to operate an 18-wheeler and comply with strict federal regulations. Specifically, they are limited to driving a certain number of hours before they are required to rest. If a truck operator violates these rules, the risk of a serious accident increases, and the driver or their employer might be held responsible for the resulting harm caused.
Available Damages After a Truck Accident in Queens
The aftermath of a serious truck accident is often confusing and frustrating. Physical injuries can be so severe that they require extensive medical treatment and considerable time away from work. The emotional and financial toll can also be crushing.
While no amount of money can make up for what you’ve endured, financial recovery can provide justice and reduce the worry tied to an unknown future. Damages you may be able to recover include the following:
- Medical bills, including future care
- Lost income
- Reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of companionship
- Property damage
Punitive damages may be available in truck accident cases to punish the responsible party when the accident involves reckless or malicious actions.
The total damages recoverable in a truck accident case varies based on numerous factors. These include the severity and extent of your injuries, the financial and personal impacts, the likelihood of a full recovery, your share of the blame for the accident, and the insurance coverage available.
If your loved one died in a truck accident, we may be able to help you pursue compensation through a wrongful death case.
Common Injuries Caused by Truck Accidents
Any injury caused by an 18-wheeler or some other commercial truck, big or small, can be life-altering. Some common injuries resulting from truck accidents include the following:
- Broken bones
- Soft tissue injuries
- Neck injuries, including whiplash
- Concussion
- Spinal cord injuries, including paralysis
- Traumatic brain injury
- Burns
- Lost limbs
- Wrongful death
Some injuries may not be evident immediately. Adrenaline can mask pain, while some injuries may not become apparent for hours or even days. Seek medical attention as soon as possible after the accident to ensure your well-being and provide documentation of your injuries.
How a Truck Accident Law Firm in Queens Can Help
Because truck-involved accidents can be so severe, the financial stakes for settlements and verdicts are high. Consequently, the insurance company will usually put up a fight and resist paying a fair amount.
Under New York’s comparative negligence rules, your share of the fault for the accident may affect your settlement. Simply put, you can recover damages even if you were partially at fault in the accident. However, the amount you can recover will be reduced in proportion to your share of the blame for the accident.
Insurers look for ways to deny your claim or blame you for the crash. They’ll use every tactic in the book to shift the blame from their insured. At Shulman & Hill, we fight hard to shield our clients from these shady tactics.
While you can handle your truck accident case on your own, the process is challenging and stressful. More importantly, you may not end up with the compensation you deserve. Some of the services our skilled truck accident lawyers provide include the following:
- Investigating your accident to determine who is responsible
- Gathering evidence, such as the black box data, driver logs, and trucking company records to prove negligence
- Answering your questions about NY trucking laws and how they apply to your case
- Uncovering all the available insurance coverage
- Building the strongest claim possible to maximize your compensation
- Handling all communication with the insurance companies
- Keeping you updated on the status of your case
- Negotiating a fair settlement
- Litigating your truck accident case if insurers refuse to make a fair settlement offer
Time Constraints for Filing Truck Accident Lawsuits in New York
You don’t have an unlimited amount of time to file a claim. In most cases, you have three years from the date of your truck accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. The statute of limitations for a wrongful death lawsuit is just two years.
Depending on the specifics of your case, that period could vary. Filing a lawsuit after the deadline would bar you from recovering anything.