New York 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyer
18-wheelers and other large commercial trucks are involved in traffic accidents that result in thousands of fatalities every year. In 2019 alone, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), 4,479 fatal accidents were reported nationwide. Another 110,000 injury crashes were reported. Whether the accident was caused by negligent driving, poor truck maintenance, inadequate safety equipment, or trucker fatigue resulting from hours of service violations, if you or someone you care about was hurt in an 18-wheeler truck crash, you have the right to seek compensation. We can help.
The 18-wheeler truck accident attorneys at Rusk, Wadlin, Heppner & Martuscello, LLP are here for you and your family after your large truck crash in Kingston, Marlboro, Ulster or elsewhere in the Hudson Valley. We will pursue your claims against negligent truckers, freight companies, insurance companies, and any other parties who should be held responsible for compensating you and your family for your injuries, your pain and suffering, your medical expenses, and other legal damages.
Common Types of 18-Wheeler Accidents
A number of different types of accidents commonly occur involving 18-wheelers and other large trucks. While some types of truck accidents are more dangerous than others, any accident involving an 18-wheeler and another vehicle or vehicles is likely to result in a serious injury or fatality. The nature of the accident may, however, provide useful insight as to who was responsible for the accident, as well as how to prove liability. At Rusk, Wadlin, Heppner & Martuscello, LLP, we help victims of all manner of truck accidents recover the compensation they are due.
Some of the most common types of truck accidents include:
- A jackknife accident occurs when the 18-wheeler folds in such that the truck cabin winds up at an angle with the trailer. Jackknifes commonly occur when the driver brakes too hard too quickly. Jackknife accidents can block entire freeways and lead to multi-vehicle pileups.
- An override accident occurs when a truck rear-ends a passenger vehicle, causing the truck to drive over the smaller car.
- Underride accidents occur when passenger vehicles rear-end large trucks and wind up wedged underneath the truck bed. The smaller car may find itself crushed or dragged into a different part of traffic.
- A rollover accident occurs when the 18-wheeler fully tips over, often after taking a sharp turn at high speeds or on a wet or icy roadway. Rollovers are more likely to occur when a truck is overloaded or unbalanced. The truck bed might also break open, spilling its cargo onto the road and creating additional hazards.
- Lost load. Truck cargo must be stored securely in the truck bed or trailer and must not be overloaded or unbalanced. Unbalanced, overloaded, or unsecured cargo can fly loose from the truck and strike other vehicles, leading to an accident.
- Blind spot. 18-wheelers have significantly larger blind spots than other vehicles. When a smaller vehicle, such as a passenger car or a motorcycle, rides in the truck’s blind spot and the truck driver makes a sudden turn or lane change, a serious accident can occur.
These are just a few of the types of accidents that are common among 18-wheelers. Other types of accidents common to passenger vehicles, such as T-bone crashes and head-on collisions, are similarly likely to occur. If you’ve been hurt in an accident with an 18-wheeler, talk to a seasoned New York truck accident lawyer to find out how to hold the proper parties responsible and get the compensation you deserve.
Call a Dedicated New York Truck Accident Lawyer for Help After a Hudson Valley 18-Wheeler Accident
Accidents with large trucks are rarely minor. If you or someone you care about has been involved in a crash with an 18-wheeler or other large truck, it’s likely that a serious injury or worse has occurred. We’re here to help get you and your family the compensation you deserve. For a free consultation on your possible 18-wheeler accident claim, contact the dedicated large truck accident attorneys at the New York personal injury law firm Rusk, Wadlin, Heppner & Martuscello, LLP, in Kingston at 845-331-4100 or in Marlboro at 845-236-4411.
