Long Island Truck Accident Lawyer

Numerous factors can influence how severe your injuries may be if you are ever harmed in a motor vehicle accident on Long Island. The size of the vehicles involved in the accident is one such factor. Large trucks and similar commercial vehicles have the potential to cause serious harm.

Have you or a loved one been injured in a truck accident? If so, you may be able to recover compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and other such damages.

Our experienced and dedicated Long Island truck accident lawyers at Shulman & Hill can help you pursue what you may be entitled to. To learn more, schedule your free legal consultation today.

Long Island Truck Accidents: Essential Information

All types of motor vehicle accidents are relatively common on Long Island when compared to most other areas of New York State. This is likely due to population density. When an area’s roads are consistently busy, accidents are more likely to occur.

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles reports that more than 10,000 accidents involving large commercial trucks occur throughout New York State every year. On Long Island, there are numerous fatal crashes involving tractor-trailers each year, particularly on the Long Island Expressway.

Causes of Long Island Truck Accidents

Long Island truck accidents have many potential causes. They include the following:

Drowsy Driving

Drowsy driving can be as dangerous as drunk driving. Some experts suggest that lack of sleep can have a similar effect on drivers that the effects of alcohol have.

There are laws and regulations that dictate how long a trucker is permitted to drive before resting. However, many truckers report driving longer than is safe and skipping sleep to make deliveries on time. They state that they feel pressure from their employers to adhere to delivery schedules. This can result in truckers driving when they should not do so.

Unqualified Truckers

Operating a large commercial truck is much more difficult than operating a small car. Trucking companies have a duty to only hire truckers who are qualified for their jobs. Sadly, some trucking companies hire truckers who lack the training or experience necessary to operate large trucks safely. Or, companies may overlook such factors as a history of alcohol abuse when hiring drivers.

General Negligence

Examples of negligence that may cause typical car accidents can also cause truck accidents on Long Island. They include:

• Speeding
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Aggressive driving
• Failure to yield the right-of-way
• Ignoring traffic signals

It is also important to understand that the negligent party who causes a truck accident is not always another driver. For example, truck accidents can occur if a trucking company fails to regularly inspect and maintain its trucks, hires unqualified drivers, fails to enforce regulations and practices to ensure safe driving, or does not sufficiently secure cargo to the vehicles. Sometimes the company that owns the cargo that is being transported may be considered negligent.

This is one of many reasons it is important to coordinate with a Long Island personal injury law firm when seeking compensation after a truck accident. Our Long Island truck accident attorneys are qualified to investigate your accident and help identify who may be liable. This is key to determining who may be responsible for compensating you.

The Consequences of a Long Island Truck Accident

A Long Island truck accident can leave you with major injuries which will almost certainly require costly medical treatment. Paying for your treatment can be particularly difficult if your injuries are so severe that they prevent you from working. If your injuries result in a permanent disability and/or chronic pain, your overall quality of life can be permanently affected.

You may be entitled to compensation for such losses. Contact a Long Island personal injury lawyer at Shulman & Hill to see if you qualify.

Seeking Compensation After a Long Island Truck Accident

In New York, car accident victims usually start to seek compensation by filing claims to collect money from their own insurance for their medical expenses and lost earnings, regardless of who may have caused the accident.

If you are involved in a truck accident on Long Island though, you may be entitled to seek additional compensation for pain and suffering and any other losses not covered by your insurance by filing a lawsuit against the party who was at fault for the accident. This is often (but not always) the trucking company that was involved.

Recovering compensation from the insurer of a large company can be a particularly complex process. You are much more likely to reach a fair settlement or verdict if you have legal representation.

The Role of a Long Island Truck Accident Law Firm

Our attorneys can help you pursue compensation after a Long Island truck accident in numerous ways. They include:

Investigating

Identifying the parties who may be responsible for compensating you may require conducting a thorough investigation into your accident. We have the resources necessary to do so.

Filing a Lawsuit

Your top priority after a Long Island truck accident should be your recovery. We will handle the process of documenting your accident and losses and filing all necessary paperwork.

Negotiating

This may be the most important reason to hire a Long Island truck accident attorney. Insurance companies are profit-driven businesses like any other so they may not be motivated to compensate claimants fairly.

If you attempt to work directly with an insurance company instead of hiring a lawyer, an insurer will typically have a better chance of convincing you to settle for less than your claim may be worth.

While no attorney can honestly promise you will receive a specific sum of money when you file a claim, our attorneys can aggressively negotiate for an appropriate settlement on your behalf.

Why Choose Shulman & Hill?

Shulman & Hill has a consistent track record of delivering results. Over the years our lawyers have successfully recovered more than $300 million for our various clients.

To learn more about what we can do for you, call us today at 516.613.3196 or contact us online to schedule your free case evaluation.