Brooklyn Truck Accident Lawyers

Experienced Truck Accident Lawyers In Brooklyn, New York

Simply put, commercial trucks are large, heavy vehicles that can be extremely dangerous if they are involved in an accident. According to the NYPD, about one-third of all commercial truck accidents in New York City takes place in Brooklyn. These accidents often result in serious injuries or even wrongful death. Given the severity of these types of cases, the importance of having an experienced Brooklyn truck accident lawyer by your side cannot be overstated.

The injuries you sustain from a truck accident can range from minor to severe, leaving you with long-lasting effects. If the truck driver was at fault, you could be compensated for your injuries, destroyed property, and accumulating medical bills. To explore what your options are and build your personal injury case, call Rosenberg & Rodriguez today at (718) 509-4960 for a risk-free consultation and learn more about how we can help get what you’re owed.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Brooklyn

There are unfortunately many truck accidents in NYC, especially in Brooklyn. While there can be many reasons for a truck accident, below are some of the most common causes our truck accident attorneys in Brooklyn frequently see:

Distracted Truck Drivers

Though it’s against the law in New York State to use handheld cell phones while driving, many truck drivers ignore this regulation. Using their phone to make status calls or navigate along their delivery route. As a result, they put themselves and others at risk of serious injury or death if they lose control of their vehicle due to avoidable carelessness.

Fatigued Truck Drivers

Truck drivers often have to comply with difficult schedules, which can lead to sleep deprivation. Federal trucking regulations restrict the number of hours a driver is allowed on the road at one time, but even well-rested truck drivers can become fatigued due to the mental exhaustion of driving a big vehicle. Some drivers ignore restrictions in order to get a job done, pushing forward until they eventually fall asleep at the wheel.

Hazardous Road Conditions

New York City roads are notoriously underdesigned and poorly maintained, making truck accidents a common occurrence throughout the five boroughs. Some of the most prevalent dangers on Brooklyn roads include potholes, uneven road conditions, obstructed signs, construction debris, crumbling roads, and other poor road conditions.

Aggressive Truck Drivers

Too many drivers operate their vehicles recklessly, especially those driving large trucks. It’s easy to get frustrated when we share the road with these large commercial vehicles, but it’s important to remember that everyone is just trying to get where they’re going. That said, some truck drivers may feel like they have the right of way and zip through busy streets without regard for others. If you’ve been injured by an aggressive truck driver, contact our Brooklyn truck accident lawyers now.

Weather

New York City is especially dangerous for drivers during parts of the year when the weather is icy or wet. Drivers need to use extra care, especially on these days, as even a small mistake can cause a truck accident in Brooklyn. Trucks are particularly dangerous in slippery conditions, as they can slide, jackknife, and flip over if the driver isn’t careful. This not only endangers the truck driver but anyone who happens to be nearby.

Impaired Drivers

It’s an unfortunate truth that some truck drivers get behind the wheel while impaired. They may take drugs to stay awake or drink alcohol, thinking they’ll be able to make their deadlines. This puts not only themselves at risk, but everyone else on the road as well. Drunk driving accidents are treacherous and those responsible must be held accountable.

Falling Cargo

If cargo is not strapped down in a truck, it can fall out onto the highway–which you might have heard about before or seen in a movie. This creates obstructions for other drivers and makes it difficult for them to stay in their lane. As a result, they could get into an accident or even veer off the road. Either way, it’s incredibly dangerous for everyone involved and often leads to traffic jams as people try to avoid spillage.

Work Zone Issues

If contractors need to do work on the road, they must set up cones, barriers, and signposts to warn drivers of lane changes. Different types of equipment are used on the road to guide motorists safely around areas being worked on. This can include traffic cones, traffic barriers, and large traffics signs that direct lanes of traffic from one area to another for safety precautions.

Common Types of Truck Accidents in Brooklyn

Sadly, truck accidents in Brooklyn often cause devastation due to the large size of these vehicles. Colliding with a truck can easily lead to serious injury or death, as well as extensive property damage. Some common scenarios associated with truck accidents include:

• Jackknifes
• Tire Blowouts
• Truck Rollovers
• Driver Blind Spots
• Wide Turns
• Head-On Collisions
• Rear-End Accidents
• Lost Loads
• T-Bone Accidents

Labor Shortage Means Less Experienced Drivers on the Road

The lack of available truck drivers in the USA has resulted in more young and inexperienced individuals driving trucks. If the present labor market trend continues, by 2024 there will be a predicted shortage of 175,000 truck drivers according to the American Trucking Association (ATA). The trucking industry is struggling to meet demands, which has resulted in an increased number of accidents on the roads. These collisions are often caused by fatigued, overworked drivers who may not have the proper qualifications or experience. These trucks can cause serious damage and even fatalities to other motorists on the roadways.

When trucking companies face a high demand for deliveries, they sometimes lower their standards for hiring and training new drivers. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), this can lead to more accidents because inexperienced drivers are 41% more likely to cause them. Given the shocking depletion of experienced truck drivers, accidents are much more likely to occur. If you’ve been injured by a truck driver, don’t leave your future to chance. Contact our team of skilled truck accident lawyers in Brooklyn to secure maximum compensation for your injuries.

Brooklyn Truck Accident Statistics [Updated 2021]

The NYPD’s large truck accident statistics for October 2019 show that there were 1,415 accidents citywide. Brooklyn had the most incidents with 393 reported – which averages out to more than 12 motor vehicle accidents involving large trucks per day in the borough.

There were 7,437 city-wide crashes in January 2021. These accidents mostly involved cars and SUVs, but trucks and commercial vehicles were also common occurrences:

• 559 large vehicle accidents (188 in Brooklyn)
• 14 fire truck accidents (6 in Brooklyn)
• 73 ambulance accidents (18 in Brooklyn)
• 332 pick-up truck accidents (92 in Brooklyn) 

In Brooklyn within a month’s time, there were almost 300 truck accidents and a lot of these accidents led to fatalities or permanent injuries.

According to the Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research (ITSMR) New York State Fact Sheet on large truck crashes, there were nearly 3,000 personal injury crashes and 76 fatalities in 2020. Fatality and personal injury (F&PI) crashes involving large trucks are more likely to involve multiple vehicles than all F&PI crashes. Large truck fatality and personal injury crashes typically occur during weekdays from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm, according to the ITSMR.

Most Common Areas In Brooklyn For Truck Accidents

Most Brooklyn commercial trucks, such as garbage trucks and dump trucks, weigh over 10,000 pounds. These large vehicles usually stay local. They don’t often achieve highway speeds, but when they crash into a smaller car, their weight allows them to cause severe damage and injuries.

Out of all the boroughs, Brooklyn sees the most truck accidents with an average of 200 per month. While it’s impossible to know when and where these semi-truck accidents will occur, there are some areas that see more crashes than others. Some hotspots for commercial truck accidents in Brooklyn include:

• 8th Avenue and Union Street
• 18th Avenue and 86th Street
• 19th Street and 5th Avenue
• 39th Street and 4th Avenue
• 57th Street and 8th Avenue
• Apollo Street and Meeker Avenue
• Atlantic Avenue and Rockaway Avenue
• Atlantic Avenue and Logan Street
• Atlantic Avenue and Utica Avenue
• Arlington Avenue and Shepherd Avenue
• Avenue D and Remsen Avenue
• Bay Parkway and Cropsey Avenue
• Walworth Street and Willoughby Avenue
• Williamsburg Street and Wythe Avenue

Distribution centers in industrial parks have become a hotbed for truck accidents, causing citizens to demand traffic impact studies. For example, six people were killed on Third Avenue in Sunset Park in a recent year, but no changes have been made to improve safety. At Rosenberg & Rodriguez, we not only represent injured victims but we advocate for change in our community. Safety must be a top priority and when a negligent truck driver or company ignores public safety, they must be held accountable. Our highly-qualified Brooklyn truck accident attorneys are ready to fight for you and our city to demand justice and change.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Causes Most Truck Accidents in Brooklyn?

The Large Truck Crash Causation Study revealed that human error is the primary cause of 87% of truck accidents, with the vehicle itself being to blame in 10% of cases and environmental factors accounting for 3%.

Usually, someone is at fault for a truck accident through carelessness or reckless behavior. However, more than one party may hold responsibility. For example, a distracted or tired truck driver, an irresponsible cargo loading company, or a negligent trucking company with absurd requirements for drivers could all be to blame. The most common factors discovered to lead to truck accidents in Brooklyn include:

• Fatigued driving
• Reckless driving
• Speeding
• Drunk driving
• Distracted driving
• Vehicle malfunction

How Do I Prove Negligence After a Truck Accident in Brooklyn?

Given the complexity and severity of truck accidents, it’s often necessary to investigate how the accident occurred and who may be at fault. At Rosenberg & Rodriguez, our dedicated Brooklyn truck accident lawyers will independently investigate your case, separate from any investigations done by law enforcement or federal agencies.

Depending on the situation, there might be multiple parties responsible for your accident. For example, this could include the truck driver, trucking company, other drivers on the road, those who maintain and inspect the trucks, and manufacturers of any defective parts. Our legal team will look into various types of evidence to determine if negligence was a factor, including:

• The trucking company’s internal records, requirements, hiring practices, training process, and more
• The driver’s logs
• The truck maintenance logs
• Cell phone records from drivers who may have been distracted
• NTSB investigation results
• Police reports and accident reports
• Any citations or arrests related to the accident
• The truck’s black box recorder
• Drug and alcohol screening results for the truck driver
• Footage from surveillance cameras, traffic cameras, and dashcams
• Witness statements 

Is The Truck Company Or Driver Responsible For An Accident Caused By Intoxicated Driving?

If a truck driver operates a vehicle while intoxicated and gets into an accident, the driver will obviously be at-fault. However, the trucking company may also be at least partially responsible because they chose to hire that person to represent their company. Trucking companies must conduct rigorous screening and training before allowing someone to drive for them. When a truck driver is found to be intoxicated, there is a good chance that they have a past record of similar activity. If this is found to be true, our Brooklyn truck accident lawyers can argue that this person should never have been hired in the first place and shift additional blame onto the trucking company.

What Laws Apply To Truck Accidents In Brooklyn?

When a truck is involved in an accident, multiple sets of laws could come into play to determine who is at fault and how damages will be paid. These include not only regulations from the Department of Transportation and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration but also state law, plus any local restrictions that might apply. To figure out which laws are relevant to your particular accident, it’s best to consult with a knowledgeable truck accident lawyer Brooklyn residents trust.

What Are The Height And Weight Restrictions For Trucks In New York?

If you want to operate a trucking or commercial transportation business in New York, your vehicles must meet certain weight, height, and width restrictions.

New York’s truck height restriction is 13’6″, and the width can be no more than 8′ 6″. Drivers with taller trucks or wider loads need a permit to operate on New York roadways. If a truck violates the height and width restrictions, it risks causing property damage, like crashing into an overpass.

Aside from the initial cars involved in the collision, other vehicles could be impacted as well. This could result in serious injury to all those involved. If a driver breaks these state laws, they or their employer can be held liable for any property damage or personal injuries related to the accident. The maximum combined weight is 34,000 lbs, plus 1,000 lbs for every foot between the first and last axles; however, under no circumstances can this exceed 80,000 pounds.

Contact Our Brooklyn Truck Accident Lawyers Today

If you or a loved one have been injured in a commercial truck accident, reach out to our Brooklyn truck accident lawyer right away for legal help—you may only have a limited time to file suit against responsible parties for compensation. In most cases, the statute of limitations is three years from when the crash occurred, but it’s highly recommended to begin working on a personal injury claim as soon as possible. At Rosenberg & Rodriguez, your first consultation is completely free. Call us at (718) 509-4960 to learn more and get started on your truck accident case today.