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Lever & Ecker, PLLC August 3, 2017 Car Accidents
There are many common causes of truck accidents in New York, and below is an incident that was caused by one of them:
A person was killed, and two others were severely injured recently in an alleged drunk driving/hit and run accident on the George Washington Bridge according to the New York Post. The driver of the tractor-trailer is being accused of being under the influence.
The accident left the car that was hit by the truck completely demolished at about 2 a.m. according to the FDNY. The driver of the truck continued to drive across the bridge after hitting the car.
The truck driver was later found by police in New Jersey and booked for DUI. He will have to be turned over to New York Police to be prosecuted for the deadly hit and run crash.
The three people who were in the car that the tractor-trailer struck were pulled from the wreckage shortly after the incident and were rushed to local hospitals. A 25-year-old man was later pronounced dead and the two women in the car (28 and 39 years old) were treated for “serious injuries.”
Lack of Training
Drivers must undergo rigorous training to drive long distances and if these hours of training are not met, the risk of an accident occurring increases significantly.
Driving Under the Influence
Being under the influence of any substance that alters consciousness increases the risk of an accident almost four times.
Driver Tiredness or Fatigue
Federal regulations limit the amount of time drivers can spend consecutively behind the wheel. After 11 hours behind the wheel, it is required that driver rest for ten consecutive hours before returning to work.
Improper Truck Maintenance
Truckers and their companies are responsible for regulating and maintaining their vehicles. All maintenance checks are required to be documented, and the trucking companies can be liable for failures to do so.
Distracted Driving
Because truckers often spend extended periods of time on the road, usually through vast landscapes, many drivers become too comfortable multitasking. Whether it’s texting, phone calls, eating, or anything else truck drivers need to focus their entire attention on the road.
Speeding/Reckless Driving
Anyone who exceeds the speed limit is putting other drivers around them at risk. Because semi trucks are so much bigger than the cars around them, speeding can lead to much larger consequences than it would for a smaller, passenger vehicle.
Road and Weather Conditions
Road and weather conditions can make driving an 80,000-pound truck much more difficult. High winds can blow tractor trailers over and icy roads can cause semi trucks to lose control and cause severe crashes if the proper precautions are not taken.
Legally, truck accidents are handled much differently than normal, small car accidents. Therefore, if you happen to be involved in a truck accident in New York, you will need to hire a lawyer who is experienced in that field. What makes these cases so different is that both the truck driver, as well as the trucking company are both heavily involved in the legal process.
If you or someone around you has sustained a personal injury due to the negligence of a truck driver, please do not hesitate to contact our White Plains personal injury lawyers at Lever & Ecker, PLLC, so that we can discuss providing you legal assistance and representation for your injuries.
