Content reviewed by:
Alex Shulman
If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a Bronx truck accident, you may be entitled to compensation to cover many of your related expenses and losses. Having an experienced team of truck accident lawyers by your side is useful, though, as trucking companies and insurance carriers often do not make it easy to recover an appropriate payout based on your case facts.
Enter Shulman & Hill. We are a team of experienced Bronx truck accident lawyers who have the knowledge and resources to build compelling cases for our clients. We work with care and efficiency, navigating the process and negotiating for fair compensation on our client’s behalf.
Our Bronx personal injury lawyers provide a free legal consultation to truck collision victims in the Bronx and elsewhere in New York City. Contact us today to get started.
The Benefits of Hiring a Bronx Truck Accident Law Firm to Handle Your Case
Seeking compensation can be an overwhelming and terrifying experience. If you hire a lawyer who does not make time for your case, it may only make your situation more difficult and frustrating. At Shulman & Hill, our focus will not shift from your case until the process is over. In fact, our past success can attest to that.
We have worked on numerous motor vehicle accident cases in the Bronx. Our firm works closely with our clients to plot a course of action that is best for each unique case, whether you are pursuing a personal injury lawsuit or workers’ compensation benefits in the Bronx. We may start by investigating the cause of your accident and collecting evidence that shows how you were injured, including police reports and medical records. To build the strongest case possible, we can consult with medical professionals and similar experts to help illustrate how your injuries have affected your life.
From there, we can prepare and file all necessary legal documentation on your behalf. We can represent your best interests throughout the full extent of the legal process. If necessary, we are prepared to represent you before a jury trial or a workers’ compensation judge to ensure that justice is served.
Why Choose Shulman & Hill for Your Bronx Truck Accident Case?
Our experience speaks for itself. To date, our law firm has recovered more than $700 million for our clients. However, it is our personal approach to every case that truly sets Shulman & Hill apart from the rest. When you work with us, we can take care of every aspect of your case. This allows you to focus on what is most important, which is healing and rehabilitating your injuries.
Our lawyers can handle traffic accident cases from start to finish. We can assess your legal options, develop a plan to pursue compensation, and help you navigate the legal process. We know how to build a strong case to hold the careless driver and their employer liable in truck accident lawsuits.
We can fight to help injured clients seek an appropriate payout based on their case facts and the damages available. We take on cases other firms might not, including those that involve victims who are on the clock or those who died from their injuries.
We Handle Bronx Work-Related Collision Cases
Sometimes, a client contacts us after they suffered work-related injuries in a truck accident caused by another driver. This is common when more than one tractor-trailer collides, for example. The victim, as a commercial driver, could qualify for workers’ compensation benefits.
However, they also could qualify to file a third-party claim against the other driver’s employer in a truck accident case. This could allow them to recover additional damages, including pain and suffering and other non-economic losses.
Our team has both a workers’ compensation and a truck accident department. We handle both types of cases for our clients, which is a significant advantage over having to hire separate firms for each. Let us review your options with you today for free.
Our Team Can Manage Wrongful Death Cases Based on a Bronx Truck Accident
At Shulman & Hill, our attorneys handle wrongful death cases based on Bronx truck collisions. If your loved one died in this type of crash, we may be able to help you pursue compensation.
New York only allows the victim’s personal representative to file these actions. This is generally the executor of the will. Recoverable damages include medical bills, funeral and burial costs, conscious pain and suffering of the victim, income losses, and loss of services.
Recoverable Damages in a Bronx Truck Accident Case
Being involved in a car accident with a big truck is often chaotic. Whether you are in the truck or in another car, the damage that can unfold after a truck accident is immense and devastating. The aftermath can be long-lasting and often traumatizing. Many occupants of passenger vehicles suffer lasting injuries and impairments.
These accidents not only have the potential to cause bodily harm or death, but they may also result in considerable financial losses. While no amount of money can make up for permanent injuries, financial recovery may greatly reduce worry and frustration because you know you can pay for your ongoing care needs.
The potentially recoverable damages in every truck accident case are different. Truck accident victims suffer different injuries, have various losses and expenses, and the strength of their evidence could vary widely. Some common types of recoverable damages in successful truck accident cases with serious injuries include:
- Medical bills, current and future
- Income missed while the victim was out of work, including future lost income
- Past and future pain and suffering
When our attorneys represent a Bronx truck crash victim, we gather paperwork and other evidence that allows us to show the damages our client suffered and how the crash affected their everyday life. This may be essential to convince the insurance company or judge and jury that our client deserves compensation based on their case facts.
Bronx Truck Accident Injuries Are Often Serious
When occupants of a smaller vehicle suffer injuries in a tractor-trailer crash, they are often serious. In many cases, they are catastrophic, life-altering injuries. This could include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Other neck and back injuries
- Injuries to internal organs
- Amputation or loss of use injuries
- Burns and disfigurement
All too often, victims of these crashes suffer lasting impairments that prevent them from returning to their previous careers and activities. They could require ongoing treatment and support or even around-the-clock nursing care. The cost of managing injuries like this is staggering.
Sometimes, a victim dies because of a fatal Bronx truck accident. When this occurs, the victim’s personal representative may pursue a wrongful death case to recover compensation for survivors. This could include money for a wide range of damages suffered by the victim prior to their death and their surviving loved ones after death.
Common Causes of Bronx Truck Accidents
Road accidents are a devastating—and often deadly—aspect of driving. Intoxicated drivers, road hazards, distracted driving, and speeding can all cause a collision to happen at any time. When those collisions involve a tractor-trailer, the effects of the crash are often amplified. Injuries may be catastrophic.
Another prominent cause of truck accidents is fatigue. Truck drivers often drive up to 11 hours at a time without breaks. They may feel pressured by their employer to meet tight deadlines and ensure they make deliveries on time.
Like most traffic accidents, human error is often at the heart of 18-wheeler collisions. When a commercial driver makes a mistake behind the wheel of a large truck, the consequences could be deadly. Because of their size, it takes longer to stop these trucks and more space to maneuver them. A crash could occur because of carelessness or recklessness, such as:
- Failing to stop at a red light or stop sign
- Ignoring traffic signs or signals
- Improper lane changes
- Failure to yield to oncoming traffic
- Following too closely
- Inattentive driving
- Other violations of traffic laws that lead to a collision
In many cases, a careless or reckless trucker makes a mistake behind the wheel, and one or more other vehicles get involved in a collision because of the size and weight of these trucks and trailers. This is especially true on congested streets and busy expressways.
The Cause of Your Truck Collision Often Allows Us to Determine Liability
The truck driver who violated traffic laws and whose mistake was the proximate cause of the crash is generally liable. Thanks to a legal doctrine known as respondeat superior, their employer might be vicariously liable, too. This means our team could file claims and lawsuits against trucking companies and other corporations for clients who suffered serious injuries in these crashes.
Sometimes, there could be other causes of a truck accident. For example, a defective part could break and make it impossible for the driver to maintain control of the truck. If this occurs, our attorneys know how to show what led to the crash and seek to hold the parts manufacturer or another liable party accountable.
What to Do After Being Injured in a Bronx Truck Accident
Knowing what to do following a truck crash could help you build a stronger case and recover fair compensation. Consider these steps:
Seek Medical Help
If you were struck and injured by a truck in the Bronx area, you should seek medical evaluation and treatment immediately. In addition to ensuring your injuries do not become worse over time, seeing a doctor soon after your accident is an important step in your pursuit of compensation, as it helps establish a paper trail documenting the extent of your injuries.
Contact the Police
Call 911 and stay at the scene until the police arrive and you have permission to leave. If you have injuries, they can ensure there is an ambulance at the scene, and you get the medical transportation and care necessary based on your injuries.
Document Your Accident
If it is safe to do so, take pictures of the scene of the truck crash, including any visible damage to your vehicle, your injuries, other vehicles that were involved, and the surrounding area. Note any witnesses who saw the accident take place and save their contact information. Lastly, collect contact and insurance information from all other drivers involved in the crash.
Report Your Accident
Your pursuit of compensation starts by filing a claim with your personal insurance provider. This can help compensate you for property damage, some lost income, and your basic medical expenses.
Truck drivers or others who were injured while driving for work should notify their employer as soon as possible. Filing a written report of the accident and resulting injuries can help make the process of pursuing workers’ compensation benefits much smoother.
Consider Contacting a Truck Accident Lawyer
If another driver caused your accident and serious injuries, you may qualify for additional compensation to help cover your pain and suffering, loss of earnings, and medical costs. To help build the strongest case on your behalf, you should consider contacting a Bronx personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Shulman & Hill offers free, no-obligation legal consultations.