A fully-loaded 18-wheeler can weigh up to 80,000 lbs, according to federal law. In a collision with a large truck, passenger vehicle occupants are likely to suffer serious or fatal injuries.
If you or your loved one has been hurt in a trucking accident, contact Michael J. Redenburg, Esq. P.C.
We serve Manhattan and New York City, representing people who have been injured through the negligence of others.
Why Choose Michael J. Redenburg, Esq. P.C.?
- Our firm handles all trucking accident cases on a contingency fee basis. This means no cost to you until we win your case.
- Our attorneys are dedicated to protecting your rights and will not settle your case for less than fair value.
- We maintain a smaller caseload, so we can provide the personal service your case deserves.
Trucking Accident Statistics
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) provides the following facts about large truck accidents in 2021:
- 494,000 large truck crashes occurred in 2021.
- 5,788 large trucks were involved in fatal crashes.
- 117,000 large trucks were involved in injury crashes.
- Bicyclists and pedestrians were involved in 45% of all fatal and 10% of all injury large truck accidents involving single vehicles.
- 54% of all fatal accidents involving large trucks occurred in rural areas.
- 37% of all fatal large truck crashes and 24% of all injury crashes occurred at night.
- 74% of fatal and 84% of injury large truck accidents involved a collision with a vehicle in transport.
- 33% of fatal crashes and 15% of injury crashes in construction zones involved at least one large truck.
- 3% of large trucks involved in fatal crashes and 2% involved in non-fatal crashes were hauling hazardous materials at the time of the accident.
Why Is a Trucking Accident So Dangerous?
Large commercial trucks on the roadways present a great risk for other motorists. Although any type of motor vehicle collision can cause serious injuries or death, truck accidents are particularly dangerous for several reasons.
- Size and weight disparity: While a fully-loaded 18-wheeler can weigh up to 80,000 lbs., the average passenger vehicle weighs only 3,000 to 4,000 lbs. This can mean serious, catastrophic, or fatal injuries for passenger vehicle occupants in a collision with a large truck.
- Stopping distance: Large trucks need more time and distance to slow or stop. This makes tailgating by truckers particularly dangerous.
- Slow acceleration: The weight of a large commercial truck makes acceleration slow, which can endanger other motorists when a large truck attempts to merge.
- High center of gravity: Tractor-trailers are less stable and more difficult to maneuver because of their high center of gravity.
- Blind spots: The extra length of tractor-trailers creates truck driver blind spots that can lead to accidents.
- Jackknifing: The trailer is connected to the tractor at a swivel point, which means the rig may jackknife while braking, when the load is not distributed properly, or if the driver loses control.
Trucking Accidents Are Different than Auto Accidents
Commercial trucks, or ‘big rigs’ tend to weigh up to 80,000 pounds, twenty times more than the weight of typical automobiles.
Despite regulations that exist to ensure truckers do not drive more than 11 hours per day, many times they’re given financial incentives for traveling large distances quicker, which can directly harm other drivers’ safety.
Bigger Insurance Policies – Truck drivers’ insurance policies are many times larger than standard auto accident policies.
This can put the total value of insurance in the millions, so you know that the different insurance carriers named in a lawsuit will do everything they can to prove they were not liable. Veteran insurance adjusters will be called in to use a variety of tactics, such as offering a low-ball payout, when your case might be worth far more.
Having an experienced lawyer by your side can help make the entire process less stressful.
Increased Property Damage Coverage: As mentioned above, the weight and overall size of an 18-wheeler commercial rig are far larger than a typical vehicle. Accordingly, any surrounding property is going to be affected much more than in a crash involving two autos.
More Serious Injuries – Similarly, the injuries that are common in car accidents are also far more severe and can include extensive medical bills. From serious whiplash and broken bones to brain trauma and severe lacerations, injuries following a truck accident are often life-changing.
Much Larger Medical Bills: The amount of time spent in a hospital tends to be much longer than car accident-related injuries.
Victims of truck accidents are unable to return to work for a prolonged period of time, if at all. An accident with a large commercial truck is far more likely to result in death than a crash between two passenger cars.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), there are generally between 3,000 and 5,000 deaths due to truck accidents every year.
Considering the number of variables involved in truck accidents and the considerable resources wielded by the trucking companies and their insurers, getting a no-cost case assessment is a recommended first step when deciding whether to obtain the services of a lawyer.
Why You Need an Attorney
Trucking accidents are complex cases involving federal regulations and multiple potentially liable parties. They also tend to cause serious or catastrophic injuries to passenger vehicle occupants. Our NYC truck accident lawyers have the knowledge, resources, and experience to thoroughly investigate trucking accidents, determine liability, and fully assess the extent of the injuries suffered. We can negotiate skillfully on your behalf or fight for your rights at trial, if necessary.
News
- On January 16, 2019, at around 8:20 a.m., a private garbage truck collided with a car driven by a rookie NYPD Officer who had just finished his night tour in Manhattan. The recent police academy graduate died as a result of the head-on collision.
- On January 21, 2019, a tractor-trailer became disconnected from its cab and slammed into the F and M subway station 6th Avenue and 23rd Street. No injuries were reported.
- On February 5, 2019, a truck slammed into parked cars and rows of homes to avoid a hitting a cat in Brooklyn, NYC. It has been reported that the truck driver was doing his overnight job moving around delivery trucks when the accident occurred. Although local residents were not surprisingly shocked by the truck crash, thankfully, no one was injured.
- On July 26, 2022, a young woman riding a CitiBike down a quiet Upper East Side street was fatally struck by a truck Tuesday morning, according to police. The 28-year-old woman was biking east — and against traffic — along East 85th Street between Madison and Park avenues about 10:50 a.m when she was hit by the tractor-trailer, according to police.
- On August 31, 2023, a tractor-trailer crashed into an overpass on I-87 going southbound at exit 10, shutting down three lanes of traffic. Officials said that they were inspecting the integrity of the supporting beams of the overpass after the crash. There was a 10-mile delay going southbound to get to the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge. Getting to the George Washington Bridge from the area will take at least 40 to 45 minutes.
Contact Us Today If You Have Been in a Trucking Accident
If you or your loved one has been hurt in a trucking accident, it is important to speak with an experienced car accident lawyer as soon as possible. Contact Michael J. Redenburg, Esq. P.C. to schedule a consultation at 212-240-9465. Attorney Michael J. Redenburg, with decades of experience handling motor vehicle accident cases, also represents clients in a wide range of related cases, including:
- Car Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Bicycle Accidents
- E-bike Accidents
- Taxi Accidents
- Ride-sharing Accidents
You can have confidence that we will aggressively pursue the compensation you deserve.