Advocating for Brooklyn Truck Accident Victims
Commercial truck drivers in New York City are required to use a network of two distinct classes of roadways -- Local Truck Routes and Through Truck Routes. These routes for all five boroughs can be seen on the NYC DOT New York City Truck Route Map.
Truck traffic in NYC is heavy and getting heavier with the increase in e-commerce. Neighborhoods such as Bushwick, Brooklyn have delivery truck traffic as an integral part of their streetscapes, with the attendant noise, congestion, pollution, and wear and tear on the streets.
With more trucks on the road, truck accidents are more likely to happen in Brooklyn and surrounding areas. If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a truck accident caused by someone else’s negligence, contact an experienced Brooklyn truck accident attorney at Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP at (212) 986-7353.
What Are the Statistics on Truck Accidents Nationwide?
In 2021 in the U.S., 5,700 large trucks were involved in fatal crashes, representing an 18% increase from 2020 and a 49% increase in the past decade, as reported by the National Safety Council (NSC). Of the 2021 truck accident fatalities, 72% were occupants of other vehicles. In addition to the fatalities, 117,300 large trucks were involved in crashes that caused injuries.
Other Locations We Serve in New York
How Do Truck Accidents Happen in Brooklyn?
Big rigs are much larger, heavier, and more difficult to maneuver than passenger vehicles. In a collision, they can strike a much smaller vehicle with tremendous force. Although truck accidents have many contributing factors, most multi-vehicle crashes involving large trucks can be attributed to factors associated with big rigs and their drivers. Common causes of truck accidents include:
- Speeding: Truckers under pressure to meet delivery deadlines may exceed the speed limit. Large trucks need more time and distance to stop to avoid a crash, and speeding only increases that distance, along with the risk of a crash.
- Overloading: Semi-trucks are designed with specific weight limits. Overloading can increase wear on the brakes, cause tires to blow out, increase speed while traveling downhill, cause rollovers, and make it more difficult for the driver to control the rig.
- Negligent lane changes: Large trucks have large blind spots on all four sides. Truckers who fail to exercise the proper care to check blind spots before changing lanes can hit other vehicles in the process.
- Tire blowouts: When truck tires are not properly inspected and maintained, or when semi-trucks are overloaded, a tire can blow out, which can cause the driver to lose control of the truck.
- Fatigued driving: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) hours of service regulations limit truck drivers’ hours behind the wheel without rest to help prevent fatigued driving. Violation of these regulations can lead to driver fatigue and serious truck wrecks.
- Distracted driving: Truckers spend long hours on the road, day after day. They may be tempted to talk on the phone, send or read text messages, adjust the stereo, read, eat, drink, smoke, or engage in other forms of driver distraction.
- Brake failure: It takes a lot of friction to stop or slow an 80,000 pound 18-wheeler traveling downhill. When trucking companies fail to routinely inspect and service the brakes, or when truckers use the brakes improperly on a steep downgrade, truck brakes can fail, leading to a deadly crash.
If you have been injured in a Brooklyn truck accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may have a claim for compensation. Your damages may include medical expenses, lost earnings, diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, and other losses. Contact a Brooklyn auto accident lawyer at Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP at (212) 986-7353 to schedule a free consultation.
Our Truck Accident Case Results
$6.5 Million - Man Hit by Truck in Queens
WRSMH attorneys Bryce Moses and Ashley Jacoby obtained a large verdict for a man who was struck by a truck in Queens.
Bryce Moses, Ashley Jacoby
$3.5 Million - Young Woman Run Over By Garbage Truck
Bryce Moses represented a young woman who was run over by a garbage truck in Brooklyn that shattered her ankle in three places.
Bryce Moses
$3.3 Million - NY Truck Accident Case
The plaintiff asserted that the injuries suffered in the collision with the truck will permanently prevent her from working.
Kenneth Halperin, Philip Russotti
$3 Million - New York Truck Accident
Cliff Shapiro and another WRSMH attorney were able to settle a truck accident case for the amount of $3,000,000 on behalf of a 45 year old delivery man from Queens.
Clifford Shapiro
$2.9 Million - Vehicle Hit by Truck
Victor Goldblum successfully represented a client who underwent three surgeries as the result of injuries sustained in a truck collision.
Victor Goldblum
$2 Million - Client Rear-ended by a Tractor Trailer While Stopped at a Traffic Light
Plaintiff sustained multiple injuries when he was rear-ended by a tractor trailer while he was stopped at a traffic light.
Ashley Jacoby
$2 Million - Rockland County Woman Rear-ended by a Semi-tractor Trailer
Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP obtained $2 million for a client who was injured after being rear-ended by a semi-tractor trailer.
WRSMH LLP
$2 Million - Flatbed Tractor Trailer Backed Into Minibus
Cliff Shapiro obtained a recovery for a 32-year-old male who was in the course of his employment with Access-A-Ride when his vehicle was struck by a flatbed tractor trailer.
Clifford Shapiro
$1.8 Million - Two Clients Struck by Garbage Truck
WRSMH attorneys obtained a $1,800,000 settlement a year before trial for two plaintiffs who were injured after they were struck by a garbage truck.
Clifford Shapiro, Noah Katz
$1.5 Million - Bronx Woman Injured in Truck Collision
WRSMH attorneys Clifford Shapiro, Robert Bellinson, and another WRSMH attorney were able to obtain a settlement in the amount of $1,500,000 on behalf of a fifty-one year old librarian from Bronx County.
Clifford Shapiro, Robert Bellinson
$1.5 Million - New York City Department of Sanitation Truck Accident
This motor vehicle accident involved a 43 year old woman who was rear-ended by a New York City Department of Sanitation truck.
Michael Fitzpatrick, Clifford Shapiro
$1.5 Million - Rear-Ended by a Truck at Red Light
Our client, was stopped at red light when she was rear-ended by a truck. Victor Goldblum was able to obtain $1,500,000 for our client, who required surgery as a result of the crash.
Victor Goldblum
$1.5 Million - Back Seat Passenger Underwent Lumbar Fusion
The plaintiff, a 29 year old male, was injured when he was a back seat passenger of a car that was sideswiped by a commercial truck which caused the car to be pushed off of the road into a tree.
Michael Fitzpatrick
$1.41 Million - Queens Box Truck Rollover Leaves Occupant Injured
The plaintiff, an occupant of a truck, was injured in a single vehicle accident and required surgeries to the neck and back.
Ashley Jacoby
$1.35 Million - Rear-End Truck Accident Causing Injuries
Plaintiff sustained injuries to his knee and spine after his vehicle was rear-ended by a truck.
Ryan Lawlor
$1.3 Million - Crash with Fire Department Truck
Philip Russotti and Brielle C. Goldfaden obtained a $1.3 million settlement after jury selection on a trial against the City of New York, the New York City Fire Department and an FDNY employee.
Philip Russotti, Brielle Goldfaden,William Hepner
$1.3 Million - Parked Car Sideswiped by Commercial Truck
Our client in this case was a 37-year old man who was injured when his parked school bus was sideswiped by the defendants' commercial truck.
Kenneth Halperin,
$1.150 Million - Garbage Truck Accident Case
Bryce Moses and another WRSMH attorney were able to obtain a settlement in the amount of $1,150,000 on behalf of our client, a 35-year-old man from Kings County.
Bryce Moses,
$1.1 Million - Struck by Garbage Truck Which Attempted Right Turn from Left Lane
Kenneth J. Halperin obtained a $1,100,000 settlement for a man who was operating his livery cab when he was struck by a garbage truck that attempted to make a right turn from the left lane and broadsided his vehicle.
Kenneth Halperin
$950,000 - Man Rear-Ended by Tailgating Truck
WRSMH successfully represented a client who suffered multiple injuries after being rear-ended by a truck that was tailgating.
WRSMH LLP