Truck Accident Attorneys in Manhattan
Among the most consistently serious types of motor vehicle accidents are truck accidents, as they are often the source of life-threatening injury as well as property damage. If you have sustained serious injuries in a truck accident, you should consider your legal options. Truck accidents are very complicated, as these vehicles are very large and the driver has a very demanding job. Regardless of what caused the accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. If you need an experienced attorney that will fight on your behalf, contact Swerling Law to schedule a free consultation today.
What factors cause truck accidents?
Our society relies heavily on truck drivers to pick up and deliver goods in a timely manner but often fails to consider the complexities of the job. There are a wide variety of factors that can cause a truck to get involved in an accident. Some of the most common causes of truck accidents include, but are not limited to the following:
- The nature of the job: Working as a truck driver requires an individual to drive for long hours each day while trying to abide by regulations and meet a deadline. Recent changes to truck driver regulations require that an individual can only drive for 70 hours a week, as opposed to the previous 82 hours a week. Truck drivers cannot drive for more than 11 hours out of each 14 hour work day. These regulations exist to prevent drowsy and otherwise unsafe driving.
- The weight of the truck: Trucks can weigh up to 80,000 lbs and if a driver is not paying attention, they may miss the critical window of time where they must step on the breaks before it is too late. In many cases, these vehicles require roughly two football fields worth of space to come to a complete stop without colliding with other vehicles. Therefore, it is essential for truck drivers to pay great attention while driving so they can slow down before they cause an accident.
- Poor visibility: It is no secret that trucks are massive vehicles. Trucks have large blind spots that make it difficult for the driver to see other cars and pedestrians that surround them. Truck drivers must account for this by taking extra precautions, especially when they make turns and switch lanes.
- Mechanical problems: Trucks require regular maintenance to make sure the vehicle is suitable for driving, especially before a long trip. Trucks have to undergo more maintenance than cars do because they are often making major trips across the country. If a truck is not well maintained, issues can arise that would have been avoided had maintenance occurred when it was supposed to.
Contact a Manhattan Truck Accident Attorney
If you have been seriously injured in a New York City truck accident, be sure to consider your legal options because you may be entitled to significant compensation. At Swerling Law, we can help you recover a maximum compensation award for your medical bills, lost wages, and more. Contact Swerling Law today to schedule a free consultation with our experienced legal team.