Truck accident lawyers
Truck accidents can be devastating incidents. The weight and size of 18-wheelers cause tremendous damage to smaller vehicles. Any collision between a motorcycle, bicycle, or pedestrian, and a semi-truck are most certainly fatal. Victims of large truck accidents and their families need tough, aggressive, and experienced tractor-trailer truck accident lawyers from Parker Waichman LLP to represent them against truck drivers, trucking companies, and their insurance carriers.
Why Choose Parker Waichman LLP for Your Trucking Accident Case?
Parker Waichman LLP’s Garden City truck accident attorneys will vigorously pursue financial compensation for their clients who suffered severe injuries or the families of those killed in truck accidents. Parker Waichman LLP’s experienced and skilled semi-truck collision lawyers understand that no amount of money can ever replace what their clients lost. However, fighting to obtain justice by holding the responsible parties liable for damages helps people get their lives back together and prepare for the future after their loss.
Parker Waichman LLP Fights for the Best Possible Outcome for their Clients
Parker Waichman LLP’s large truck collision lawyers have decades of experience zealously advocating for their clients who have experienced losses caused by trucking accidents. The firm’s expertise litigating tough cases helps each one of their clients achieve the best result possible.
Parker Waichman’s tractor-trailer truck accident attorneys know that sometimes the truck driver is not solely responsible for a collision. Parker Waichman’s lawyers will investigate every lead to determine the entities liable for their clients’ injuries. Parker Waichman LLP’s semi-truck accident lawyers have used their legal skill to hold manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, and trucking companies liable for their clients’ losses. The injured people have the chance to receive larger settlements when more defendants contribute to the victim’s financial compensation.
Truck Accidents Cause Severe Injuries and Fatalities
A loaded 18-wheeler tractor-trailer truck can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds. By contrast, the average sedan weighs just over 3,000 pounds. A Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) or large pickup truck could weigh up to 5,000 pounds. Furthermore, the maximum length of an 18-wheeler is 53 feet, whereas the longest passenger cars and pickups might reach 20 feet. The difference in size and weight between 18-wheelers and passenger cars, trucks, and SUVs creates a hazardous situation for anyone in the smaller vehicle.
The forces generated by a large truck striking a smaller vehicle have the potential to kill and maim. The larger trucks crush the passenger compartment, front-end, rear-end, roof and doors upon contact, making surviving the accident a chance occurrence.
New York Truck Accident Statistics
The Institute for Traffic Safety and Research produced a fact sheet detailing truck accidents and the damage they cause in New York State. In one year alone 1,029 people died in motor vehicle crashes across the state. Just fewer than 10%, specifically 97, people died in truck crashes that year. Almost all of those who people killed in truck crashes were not riding in the driver’s seat of the tractor-trailer.
The number of 18-wheeler accidents that inflicted injuries have risen each year. Overall, 3,860 tractor-trailer collisions cause some degree of personal injury on someone involved in the accident. In fact, each year since 2012 the number of large truck accidents has steadily increased. It remains to be seen whether that trend will continue as researchers finalize the figures for 2020 in a few months.
Trends emerge through analysis of the days and times of semi-truck crashes. About 88% of all tractor-trailer truck crashes that lead to the death of a person or an injury to someone occurred between Mondays through Friday. Additionally, 81% of fatal crashes and collisions inflicting personal injuries occur between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. These figures are not necessarily surprising considering the number of motorists on the road during the traditional work week and the amount of traffic on the roads during those times.
Types of Truck Accident-Related Personal Injuries
Parker Waichman LLP’s truck accident lawyers have handled cases in which their clients suffered a variety of injuries ranging from severe to catastrophic, including wrongful death claims. Injuries that Parker Waichman’s truck collision lawyers’ clients suffered are:
- Amputation,
- Disfigurement,
- Dislocation of joints,
- Traumatic brain injuries,
- Soft-tissue injuries, often diagnosed as strains and sprains,
- Whiplash,
- Spinal cord damage, including paralysis,
- Broken bones and fractures,
- Back injuries, and
- Severe cuts requiring plastic surgery to repair.
Causes of Truck Accidents in Garden City, Long Island
Truck crashes can occur in a variety of ways. Anytime the trucker’s load shifts or unexpectedly change directions. The high center of gravity for the truck can quickly throw the tractor out of control. Losing control over the trailer can cause accidents such as:
- Roll-overs,
- Jackknifes,
- Sideswipes,
- Turning accidents, and
- Underriding/Overriding collisions.
Truck drivers can lose control over the load in the trailer due to a variety of reasons. One of the reasons is poor equipment maintenance. Failing or overheated brakes, worn tires that explode while on an Interstate, weak coupling, and poor engine maintenance can cause even the most professional and experienced truck drivers to lose control over the load and crash.
Another cause of trucking accidents is driver fatigue. Truck drivers must adhere to the regulations established by the Federal Motor Carrier Administration for hours of service. Refusing to do so can result in a driver falling asleep behind the wheel. Even just a simple nod which lasts no more than one second is long enough to cause disaster.
Drivers tend to push themselves despite the strict regulations imposed upon them. Drivers feel pressure from trucking companies to deliver within tight deadlines. Truck drivers have an obligation to stop when they feel ill or are getting sleepy even though they still have hours on the clock during the workday. Notwithstanding those obligations, truck drivers will try to meet the tight deadlines imposed on them by their employers. This leads to fatigued driving and the possibility of collisions with other vehicles.
Another common reason for truck driving crashes is alcohol and drug use by the operator. Drug use can be either illicit drugs or prescription medications. Any driver, especially a trucker, who takes to the road while feeling the effects of the medicine, alcohol, or narcotics, endangers himself or herself and everyone else sharing the road with the trucker. Taking such a chance is an utterly unreasonable risk. Notwithstanding, drivers will have a drink or two or take another substance and get behind the wheel that could impair the driver’s judgment, reaction time, vision, and ability to remain awake.
Statutes of Limitations in Garden City Truck Collision Legal Claims
The Statute of Limitations in New York State for tractor-trailer truck accidents is three years from the date of the accident. Three years allows plaintiffs to gather all of the evidence he or she needs to file a claim for damages. Waiting until the end of the three-year period to begin pursuit of a damage claim will unnecessarily, and potentially irreparably, harm a claim for damages. Missing the deadlinecreated by the statute of limitations means that the claimant cannot recover any compensation at all.
Parker Waichman LLP’s truck accident lawyers always make sre that their clients do not miss the deadline imposed by New York’s statute of limitations. Parker Waichman’s lawyers will prepare all of the legal pleadings in a timely fashion and file then in court to satisfy the statute of limitations.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Garden City Truck Accident Claims
What type of award could I receive?
Damage awards vary depending on how the accident happened, the injuries suffered, and the effect the accident had on the victims of the collision. Truck accident victims can receive compensation for medical bills, future medical expenses, lost wages, missed economic opportunities as a result of missing work, incidental expenses, compensation for impairment of bodily functions and systems, as well as pain and suffering.
The precise dollar amount might not be readily ascertained at the commencement of the legal action. However, Parker Waichman LLP’s truck accident claims attorneys will vigorously fight on their client’s behalf to obtain the most substantial financial award possible.
Will you charge attorneys’ fees?
Parker Waichman LLP’s represents clients on a contingency fee agreement with their clients that allows client to be represented by the firm without paying upfront fees or costs. The firm only takes a fee from the settlement or trial award. A contingency fee arrangement provides a financial incentive for Parker Waichman’s attorneys to get the most out of the case.
Parker Waichman’s lawyers are not motivated by financial gain. They are driven by the notion that every person deserves to find justice for the wrongs others have committed against them.
How long do I have to wait for a settlement?
Parker Waichman LLP’s Garden City 18-wheeler truck accident lawyers will work diligently to settle their clients’ cases as expeditiously as possible. However, settling a claim for damages requires a thorough analysis of the case, including potential defenses. Sometimes the better plan of action is to be patient and wait the insurance companies out.
There are several factors that figure into when a person should settle his or her case. Parker Waichman’s truck collision lawyers will consult closely with their clients and determine the best course of action for their clients.
Helpful Accident Information
Garden City’s Police Department is situated at 349 Stewart Avenue. The non-emergency phone line for the Garden City Police is 516-465-4100.
The following is a list of hospitals and medical centers that are near Garden City:
Winthrop University Hospital is located at 259 1st Street Mineola NY 11501 and is 1.0 miles from Garden City. Their phone number is: 516-663-0333.
Catholic Health Services of Long Island is located at 992 North Village Avenue Rockville Centre, NY 11570 and is 2.8 miles from Garden City. Their telephone number is: 516-705-3700.
Long Island Jewish Medical Center is located at 270-5 76th Avenue New Hyde Park, NY 11040 and is 3.7 miles from Garden City, Their telephone number is: 718-470-7000.
Parker Waichman LLP’s Awards and Accolades
Parker Waichman LLP has received a number of distinguished awards for their excellence in the legal profession. Some of their accolades include:
- S. News & World Report’s “Best Law Firms” Honoree,
- 8 rating out of a potential 10.0 on reputable website AVVO,
- Highest Rating of “5 Dragons” based upon peer review,
- Recipient of “Top U.S. Verdicts,”
- Member of Distinguished group of “Billion Dollar Trial Lawyers,” and
- Highest Peer Rating by Martindale-Hubbell.
To date, Parker Waichman LLP has collected over $2 billion in damages for their clients since the firm opened.
Contact Parker Waichman LLP For Your Free Accident Consultation
Call 1-800-YOUR-LAWYER (1-800-968-7529) as soon as you can to schedule a free consultation with our truck accident lawyers in Garden City, New York. We have an office conveniently located in Port Washington for our clients living on Long Island. If it is easier for you, you may also access our online contact form to start the claims process.
Parker Waichman LLP’s accident lawyers represent accident victims from all locations in New York and on Long Island including Suffolk County, King’s County, Queens, and Nassau County.
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