Tractor-trailer accidents are among the most frightful collisions that can happen to a driver. They can be severe both in physical damage and the effects it has on a person’s life. Even in accidents that do not end in something as devastating as death, the consequences of a tractor-trailer accident can be long-lasting and result in enormous financial burden.
However, you do not have to face these challenges alone. The tractor-trailer attorneys at Cellino Law want to do all we can to help injured victims after an accident with a large truck. We can provide you with the crucial legal advice you require as well as the compassion and understanding you need.
You can contact our experienced New York tractor-trailer lawyers 24/7. Call us at 888-888-8888 for a free case evaluation.
How Are Tractor-Trailer and Car Accidents Different?
How truck accident claims develop differs from that of other motor vehicle accident cases. From a legal standpoint, there are factors specific to truck accidents that can complicate matters. Let’s consider some of them.
Truck weight and size
These are likely the most obvious factors that are different in a truck accident. A full-size commercial tractor-trailer can have a weight of as little as 10,000 pounds when it is empty. When full of cargo, it can be upward of 70,000 pounds. Consequently, the resulting destruction can be considerable. The increased scope of the accident calls for more physical evidence to be analyzed and processed correctly.
Trucking company liability
Many tractor-trailer drivers work for a trucking company. These trucking companies frequently employ or are legally assisted by attorneys. Therefore, the trucking company and the driver could immediately have the help and protection of a whole legal team.
Federal regulations
The trucking industry is governed by federal regulations. When an accident involving a truck occurs, the records and reports connected to these regulations must be considered. The processing and analysis of this data can be complicated. It can be difficult to understand how to use this information legally to benefit your case.
What Can a Tractor-Trailer Attorney Do for You?
As discussed above, truck accident cases can be complex and problematic. However, with a knowledgeable tractor-trailer attorney in your corner, you can be confident that advantages to your case are not being overlooked.
Your lawyer can obtain and put in order the important evidence from your accident. We can speak, even forcefully when necessary, with insurance companies or other obstinate parties. A capable attorney can negotiate settlement offers on your behalf. If it becomes unavoidable, we can file your personal injury lawsuit.
After a truck accident, you may experience physical pain and emotional anxiety. During your recovery period, trying to tackle the intricacies of the legal system in order to receive just compensation could be difficult or even unbearable.
On the other hand, with an attorney working on your claim, you can concentrate on your health. You may even recover faster if you let your lawyer concentrate on getting you restitution.
Why Do Tractor-Trailer Accidents Occur?
Tractor-trailer accidents have much in common with other motor vehicle accidents. Often, they are the result of human negligence and error. Isolating the specific type of inattention can help in establishing who is at fault. Here are a few of the more common reasons truck accidents occur.
Negligence
Often at the root of negligence, the driver may fail to take correct and appropriate action. Unsafe actions when driving, such as ignoring traffic signals and not yielding to traffic, can cause a collision. Additionally, hurrying to maintain a schedule can result in a truck driver failing to check the area around the truck adequately before changing lanes. The driver could negligently pass into the path of another car.
Speeding
Commercial trucking companies make their money by getting their loads to their destinations on time. This formula creates the potential for drivers and companies to put more emphasis on speed than on safety.
This unbalanced priority to speed could result in speeding over the legal limit or, as in the case of New York, driving too fast for the weather conditions. Ice, snow, heavy rain, and intense winds are all dangerous in themselves, but even more so when a large tractor-trailer is going too fast.
Lack of sleep
Truck drivers who work long hours can become fatigued and drowsy. This could include working hours beyond the federally regulated limits or beyond their personal limitations.
Fatigued drivers who fall asleep at the wheel create very dangerous situations. They may realize that they lost consciousness for a moment and become startled. When startled, they could overcorrect a mistake and cause an accident.
Other causes
Additional common causes of tractor-trailer accidents include:
- Driving when under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs
- Improperly loaded cargo or a load shift
- Distracted driving
- Truck cargo spillage
- Poor road maintenance
- Unsafe work zones
- Truck mechanical issues
- Inexperienced truck driver
Determining Liability Among Multiple Potential At-Fault Parties
The reasons listed above do not cover all the possible causes of a truck accident. Further, determining precisely who is at fault is not always straightforward and simple.
A personal injury case could involve obtaining compensation from multiple at-fault parties in the end. These could include the truck driver, the trucking company, or a contractor who loaded and secured the cargo. It could be that the manufacturer of parts used on the truck could be held liable for defective parts. With all of these varying factors in a truck accident case, it is imperative that you be assisted by a trustworthy and experienced legal team such as Cellino Law. We know how to investigate thoroughly, find evidence, and use it to determine who is genuinely at fault.
What Type of Restitution Can You Receive?
Once it is established who is legally liable for the crash, the legal team at Cellino Law can move toward attaining for you the maximum compensation you are entitled to receive. This could include restitution for the following:
- Medical expenses: These expenses could include costs that are immediate as well as future required medical needs resulting from the accident.
- Property loss: This compensation is connected to your valuables that were damaged in the accident.
- Lost wages: As you recover from your injuries, you may need to miss work for an extended period of time. It is possible that you may be unable to return to work entirely. In this case, you may be able to receive compensation for lost earning capacity.
- Pain and suffering: Tractor-trailer accidents can do more than cause only intense physical pain. They can also cause anxiety, stressful memories, insomnia, and depression. This misery may also qualify as compensatory damages.
Our New York Tractor-Trailer Lawyers Pursue What is Best for You
A truck accident is unquestionably terrible, but your seeking compensation does not need to be just as difficult. At Cellino Law, our New York lawyers are determined to see you get the restitution you need with as little stress as possible. Our experience can make a difference. Let us use our know-how and resources to protect your family’s interests after a truck accident, just as we have helped clients secure over $2 billion over the years.
Please contact a tractor-trailer accident attorney with Cellino Law for a free case evaluation. Call us at 888-888-8888.