Legal Help for People Harmed by Reckless Truckers in New York
In many ways, truck drivers are the lifeblood of this country: they keep products moving across the U.S. and are instrumental in our daily lives, whether we realize it or not. However, that importance does not decrease the responsibility truck drivers have to be safe on the road and make sure they never endanger anyone else. Due to its large size, when a commercial truck is involved in any kind of accident, the consequences can be disastrous.
When such an accident occurs, it can be difficult to determine exactly who is to blame, but it is vital to hold the responsible parties accountable for their negligence. If you or a loved one has been injured due to truck driver negligence, call Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP, at (212) 986-7353 to schedule a free consultation with a top NY truck accident law firm.
Truck Driver Regulations
Commercial truck drivers in the United States have rules and restrictions they have to follow as part of their jobs. Without these rules, trucking companies would push their drivers to stay behind the wheel much longer than they reasonably can, and more collisions and injuries would occur due to truck driver fatigue.
These hours of service (HOS) regulations are:
- There is an 11-hour driving limit, so truckers can only drive for up to 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off-duty.
- There is also a 14-hour limit, which means truckers may not drive for more than 14 hours after coming on duty following at least 10 hours off-duty.
- Truck drivers have to take a rest break of at least 30 minutes once every 8 hours, which must be spent off-duty or in a sleeper berth.
- A truck driver cannot drive more than 60/70 hours on duty in any 7/8 consecutive days. The 7/8-day period restarts only after at least 34 consecutive hours spent off-duty.
Negligence and Liability
Whether a badly-loaded commercial truck overturns and spills dangerous chemicals, or a fatigued trucker slams into another vehicle, truck accidents are extremely dangerous.
After any serious accident, there is the question of "Who’s to blame?" Truck driver negligence means the trucker himself acted in a way that a reasonable person would not have in the same situation. For example, if the trucker chose to violate HOS laws and stay behind the wheel for 18 hours, that would be negligence. In some cases, this violation might have been due to pressure from the trucking company, which could open both the driver and the company up to civil action.
Some drivers’ actions are solely their fault. For example, taking a sharp turn too fast, or tailgating other cars, would be examples of truck driver negligence and not make the company liable to the victims. On the other hand, something that might seem like negligent behavior by the driver could be due to company policies that create an unsafe environment, making the trucking company liable as well.
Talk to the Top New York Truck Driver Negligence Lawyers
Sorting through all the details of an accident that was caused by truck driver negligence can be difficult. That is why you need an experienced and knowledgeable attorney to represent you and fight to make sure you are compensated for your injuries. Call Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP, at (212) 986-7353 right now to discuss what happened and talk about your options.
Additional Information
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
Luigi Izzo obtained $2 million for a client who was injured after being rear-ended by a semi-tractor trailer.
Luigi Izzo
$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 - 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 - 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 - 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
$1.5 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
$1.41 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 - 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,
$1.3 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
$1.150 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
Luigi Izzo successfully represented a client who suffered multiple injuries after being rear-ended by a truck that was tailgating.
Luigi Izzo