New York Truck Accident Lawyer
Across New York, accidents involving trucks happen every day. Between semi-trucks, delivery trucks, garbage trucks, moving trucks, and tow trucks, more trucks than ever are using New York’s streets. The sheer size and weight of these trucks pose a great threat to other drivers and pedestrians.
If you or a loved one have been injured in a truck accident in New York, contact Lever & Ecker’s New York personal injury lawyers today to learn more about your rights and legal options.
Table of Contents
- How Common Are Truck Accidents in New York?
- Causes of Truck Accidents in New York State
- Regulations Truck Drivers Must Follow in New York
- Types of Truck Accident Cases Our New York Personal Injury Lawyers Handle
- Identifying Liable Parties in a Truck Accident Lawsuit
- How Our Attorneys Investigate Truck Accident Lawsuits in New York
- Recovering Damages in New York Truck Accident Lawsuits
- Time Limits to File a Truck Accident Lawsuit in New York
- How Much Does it Cost to Hire Lever & Ecker’s New York Truck Accident Lawyers?
- Case Results
- Schedule a Free New York Truck Accident Case Evaluation
How Common Are Truck Accidents in New York?
Thousands of truck accidents occur every year across New York. The growing number of accidents has caused severe injuries and, in some cases, even death. In 2024, there were more than 3,400 truck accidents in the state, resulting in nearly 4,000 injuries and 96 fatalities.
Passenger vehicle drivers can be seriously injured when hit by large trucks because they are so much larger and heavier than typical cars. Heavy traffic and challenging road conditions also contribute to collisions and injuries.
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Truck accidents happen frequently in New York, as nearly every other vehicle on the road today is a large truck heading to make deliveries or to a warehouse. Truck accidents are often much more severe than collisions between two cars. When a fully loaded truck is involved, its immense weight means that even a low-speed impact at 5, 10, or 15 mph can cause significant damage, especially to smaller vehicles like sedans, SUVs, or, tragically, motorcycles. The force of such an impact is likely to result in much more serious injuries than in typical car accidents.
Causes of Truck Accidents in New York State
Various factors can lead to truck accidents, including driver fatigue from driving too many hours without taking proper rest breaks, distractions, speeding, and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Other factors that lead to truck accidents involve vehicle maintenance and malfunctions. Defective vehicle parts, tire blowouts, and lack of routine maintenance can cause trucks to malfunction and move erratically, endangering nearby drivers. Adverse weather conditions and road quality can also cause large trucks to veer off course unexpectedly, putting other drivers in harm’s way.
Regulations Truck Drivers Must Follow in New York
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) enforces regulations for large trucks and their operators in New York and nationwide. When New York truck drivers fail to follow these rules, devastating accidents can occur.
These regulations include weight limits, limits on the number of hours a driver can drive per day or week, routine maintenance checks and repairs, and minimum strength requirements for devices used to secure cargo. The FMCSA also requires commercial trucks to undergo regular inspections, maintenance, and records maintenance to ensure safe operation and compliance.
Types of Truck Accident Cases Our New York Personal Injury Lawyers Handle
At Lever & Ecker, our New York truck accident lawyers have years of experience handling truck accident cases across the state, including in New York City and surrounding areas. We handle accidents involving:
- Delivery Trucks
- 18-Wheelers (Semi-Trucks)
- Dump Trucks
- Refrigerated Trucks (Reefer Trucks)
- Tanker Trucks
- Flatbed Trucks
- Tow Trucks
- Garbage Trucks
- Freight Trucks
- Moving Trucks
New York Amazon Delivery Truck Accident Lawsuits
Increased demand for fast deliveries via Amazon has contributed to a rise in accidents caused by overworked and inexperienced delivery drivers on the roads. These accidents can be extremely complex because Amazon delivery truck drivers are often hired through independent businesses and act as contractors, not employees. Because Amazon does not directly employ most drivers, it can be difficult to hold them liable for negligence.
You may be able to sue the at-fault driver and Amazon itself for negligence if you can show that the company exercised sufficient control over the truck driver’s work, did not maintain its vehicles properly, or did not properly screen the driver during hiring.
Identifying Liable Parties in a Truck Accident Lawsuit
In most New York truck accidents, the parties responsible for the collision usually include the truck driver, the trucking company, and the vehicle or parts manufacturer. Employers can sometimes be held liable for their drivers’ negligence. Under New York law, employers may be liable if their employees are involved in collisions while using a company truck.
Maintenance providers and third-party contractors may also be held liable for your injuries after a trucking accident if they fail to properly maintain or repair the truck. A skilled New York truck accident lawyer can work with you to determine all liable parties in your case and pursue compensation on your behalf.
Adam C. Weiss
Partner
How Our Attorneys Investigate Truck Accident Lawsuits in New York
At Lever & Ecker, PLLC, we take a hands-on approach to every client’s matter and guide them through each step of the legal process. Schedule a free consultation, and we will meet with you wherever is most convenient, be it at our office, your home, the hospital, or over the phone. We will thoroughly investigate your case to establish fault and identify all parties liable for your injuries. Some of the types of evidence we gather when investigating truck accident lawsuits include:
- Accident reports
- Witness statements
- Expert analysis
- Accident reconstruction data
- Black box data
- The trucker’s driving logs
- The truck’s maintenance records
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Recovering Damages in New York Truck Accident Lawsuits
Victims injured in a New York truck accident may be able to recover damages for their injuries and other losses when they file a personal injury lawsuit. Non-economic damages aim to compensate victims for non-quantifiable losses, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. Other damages a victim can recover include economic damages, which aim to compensate victims for financial losses, such as medical bills, rehabilitative care costs, past and future lost wages, and lost earning capacity.
If you were injured in a truck accident, you may also be eligible for reimbursement based on the state’s no-fault insurance system. New York no-fault laws require all auto insurance policies to provide at least $50,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) coverage to reimburse drivers for medical bills and lost wages after an accident–regardless of whose fault the accident was. Depending on the dollar amount of coverage your PIP provides, you may not get reimbursement for all of your financial losses if they exceed the amount of coverage you have.
To cover all of their economic losses, victims of truck accidents sometimes have to file a truck accident personal injury lawsuit against the negligent party and a no-fault claim through their insurance. Under New York law, you can file a truck accident lawsuit if you or a loved one suffered a qualifying “serious injury,” such as dismemberment, loss of a fetus, broken bones, permanent disability, or death.
By pursuing a personal injury lawsuit, you can recover additional compensation your PIP insurance would not provide. For example, if you suffered a serious injury after a truck accident, you could receive compensation for pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Wrongful Death Damages
If a truck accident caused your loved one’s death, you may be able to recover additional damages for funeral and burial expenses, loss of consortium, loss of expected inheritance, and loss of future wages through a wrongful death lawsuit.
Time Limits to File a Truck Accident Lawsuit in New York
Under New York’s personal injury statute of limitations, truck accident victims have three years from the accident date to file a lawsuit if they suffered a serious injury. Keep in mind that there are exceptions to the three-year statute of limitations rule. Contact our knowledgeable New York truck accident attorneys to determine how the statute of limitations applies to your truck accident case.
Kate A. Henderson
Associate Attorney
In New York, the statute of limitations for most truck accidents is three years from the date of the accident. However, exceptions apply, so it’s important to contact our experienced truck accident lawyers to understand your rights and avoid missing the deadline.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire Lever & Ecker’s New York Truck Accident Lawyers?
Lever & Ecker, PLLC takes cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you will not pay us anything unless we win your case.
Case Results
Schedule a Free New York Truck Accident Case Evaluation
At Lever & Ecker, our award-winning New York lawyers have more than 70 years of combined experience representing injured people across the state, helping them recover the compensation they deserve for their injuries and other losses. We are motivated by helping people and genuinely making a difference in their lives, and everything we do is in our clients’ best interests. When you work with Lever & Ecker, you can expect top-tier legal representation with an open line of communication–and to be treated like family, not a number.
With offices in White Plains, the Bronx, and Queens, we serve injured truck accident victims throughout New York State, including all five boroughs of New York City, all of Westchester County, and the surrounding counties. If you or a loved one have been injured in a truck accident anywhere in New York, reach out to Lever & Ecker’s truck accident attorneys today by calling one of our offices:
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