Garden City Truck Accident Lawyer

The tree-lined streets and distinguished character of Garden City create a sense of peace and security. But when the immense weight and force of a commercial truck shatter that peace, the consequences are devastating. A collision with a fully loaded semi-truck, which can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, is not just another traffic accident; it is a catastrophic event that can leave you with severe injuries, mounting medical bills, and worry about how you will provide for your family. 

At Rosenberg & Gluck, LLP, we understand the physical, emotional, and financial trauma you are enduring. We are here to listen to your story, protect your rights, and fight for the justice and compensation you deserve. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a commercial truck collision, a Garden City truck accident lawyer from our firm is ready to help you through the legal process. Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation to discuss your case.

Schedule A Free Case Consultation

Why Choose Rosenberg & Gluck, LLP for Your Garden City Truck Accident Claim

When you are choosing a law firm to represent you after a serious truck accident, you need a team with the right experience, resources, and dedication. Your future depends on it. At Rosenberg & Gluck, LLP, we have built our reputation on providing legal counsel to accident victims across Long Island, and we bring that commitment to every client we serve in Garden City.

Here is why so many families trust us during their most difficult times:

• Focused Personal Injury Experience: Unlike other firms that handle many different types of law, our practice is 100% dedicated to personal injury. This singular focus has allowed us to develop a deep and nuanced understanding of accident law and helps us advocate for the injured.
• Over a Century of Combined Knowledge: Our team of dedicated lawyers brings together more than 100 years of combined legal experience. We collaborate on our cases, meaning you benefit from the collective wisdom and diverse perspectives of our entire firm.
• A Proven Record of Local Success: We believe you deserve a law firm that has a history of success in the same courthouses where your case will be heard. Our long track record of securing favorable verdicts and settlements in Nassau County and throughout Long Island gives our clients a distinct advantage.
• The Resources to Challenge Goliaths: Trucking and insurance companies have vast financial resources and teams of aggressive lawyers. We level the playing field. Our firm has the financial capacity to advance the high costs of complex litigation, enabling us to hire top experts, conduct thorough investigations, and utilize every available resource to build the strongest possible case for you.

We are not just your lawyers; we are your partners and advocates. We are always prepared to take a case to trial if that is what it takes to secure the full and fair compensation you need to rebuild your life.

Who May Be Held Liable in a Truck Accident

One of the key reasons truck accident cases are so complex is that the truck driver may not be the only party at fault. A thorough investigation often reveals that negligence occurred at multiple levels, creating several potential sources of recovery for your damages. Our legal team will meticulously investigate every aspect of your accident to identify all liable parties, which may include one or more of the following.

The Truck Driver

The person behind the wheel is the most immediate and obvious potential defendant. A driver’s decision to speed to meet an unrealistic deadline, glance at a text message, or continue driving while exhausted can have catastrophic consequences for innocent people like you. 

When a driver operates their commercial vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or simply fails to follow the basic rules of the road, their direct negligence makes them liable for the harm they cause. We hold careless drivers accountable for their actions.

The Trucking Company (Motor Carrier)

A trucking company’s responsibility extends far beyond simply owning the truck. These corporations have a legal duty to ensure their operations are safe. This includes properly vetting and training their drivers, regularly maintaining their entire fleet of vehicles, and creating policies that encourage compliance with safety laws. 

When large commercial carriers prioritize profits over people by hiring unqualified drivers or pressuring them to violate hours-of-service rules, they create a culture of negligence and must be held accountable for the resulting devastation.

The Truck or Parts Manufacturer

Sometimes, an accident happens even when the driver and trucking company do everything right. The cause may lie in the vehicle itself. A critical component, such as a faulty brake system from a manufacturer like Bendix, a defective tire that blows out unexpectedly, or a malfunctioning engine part from a company like Cummins, can lead to a total loss of control. 

The makers of these trucks, including major brands have an obligation to put safe products on our roads. We can hold them liable for design or manufacturing defects.

The Cargo Shipper or Loader

The way cargo is loaded and secured inside a trailer is critical to the truck’s stability. If a separate company were responsible for loading the freight, its negligence could cause a serious accident. An unbalanced load can make the truck top-heavy and prone to rolling over in a turn. Improperly secured cargo can shift dramatically during a sudden stop, causing the driver to jackknife. 

Our investigation will examine the bill of lading and other records to identify the cargo shipper or loader and determine if their carelessness contributed to your injuries.

A Maintenance or Repair Company

Many trucking companies outsource the service and repair of their vehicles to third-party maintenance shops. If one of these independent mechanics performed a shoddy brake job, used a substandard replacement part, or failed to diagnose a serious mechanical issue, their negligence can be a direct cause of a subsequent accident. 

Our legal team can subpoena  maintenance and service logs for the truck involved in your crash to determine if a third-party repair company’s error played a role in what happened to you.

A Government Entity

In some situations, the cause of an accident can be traced to the roadway itself. A government entity may be liable if the crash was caused by a dangerous road design, a lack of appropriate warning signs, a malfunctioning traffic light, or a failure to repair a large pothole. It is absolutely critical to know that claims against a municipality in New York have very strict and short deadlines. You must file a formal notice of claim within just 90 days of the accident. It is vital to contact an attorney immediately to preserve your rights.

Should I Accept the First Offer from the Insurance Company?

Shortly after your accident, you will likely receive a call from an insurance adjuster representing the trucking company. They may seem friendly and concerned, and even make a quick offer to settle your claim. It can be tempting to accept, especially when medical bills are piling up. However, it is crucial that you understand the adjuster’s true role: their job is to protect their company’s profits by paying you as little as possible.

The first offer is almost always a lowball offer. It is a calculated attempt to make your claim go away quickly and cheaply, before you have a chance to consult with an attorney and understand the true value of your case.

This initial offer will likely not account for:

• Future Medical Expenses: The long-term costs of physical therapy, future surgeries, rehabilitation, or lifelong care for a permanent disability.
• Lost Earning Capacity: If your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous job or working at all, you are entitled to compensation for the income you will lose over your lifetime.
• Full Pain and Suffering: The immense physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life you have experienced cannot be rushed or minimized.

Do not sign any documents, provide a recorded statement, or accept any money from an insurance company without speaking to an experienced truck accident lawyer first. Once you accept a settlement, you forfeit your right to seek any further compensation, even if your injuries turn out to be far more severe than you initially realized. 

Instead, let us handle all communications with the insurance company. We will protect you from their tactics and fight for a settlement that covers the full extent of your losses.

Compensation Available in a Garden City Truck Accident Lawsuit

No amount of money can undo the trauma of a serious truck accident. However, securing fair compensation is essential for relieving the financial burdens placed on you and your family, allowing you to focus on your physical and emotional recovery. The goal of a personal injury lawsuit is to recover damages that make you “whole” again, at least from a financial standpoint.

In New York, you may be entitled to recover compensation for two main categories of damages:

Economic Damages: These are the tangible, verifiable financial losses you have incurred as a result of the accident. They include:

• All past, current, and future medical bills (hospital stays, surgeries, medication, therapy, assistive devices)
• Lost wages from being unable to work
• Loss of future earning capacity if you are disabled or cannot return to your former career
• Property damage to your vehicle
• Out-of-pocket costs for things like transportation to doctor’s appointments

Non-Economic Damages: These damages are meant to compensate you for the profound, personal, and non-financial ways the accident has impacted your life. While harder to quantify, they are just as real and devastating. They include:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress and mental anguish
• Loss of enjoyment of life (inability to partake in hobbies or activities you once loved)
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Loss of consortium (impact on your relationship with your spouse)

In cases where a loved one has tragically died in a truck accident, the surviving family members may be able to file a wrongful death claim to recover damages for funeral and burial expenses, lost financial support, and more. It is important to know that the New York statute of limitations for wrongful death is two years from the date of death.

Garden City, New York Truck Accident FAQs

After a traumatic accident, it is normal to have many questions. Below are answers to some of the common concerns we hear from truck accident victims and their families.

How much does it cost to hire a truck accident lawyer?

We understand that the last thing you need right now is another bill. That is why Rosenberg & Gluck, LLP handles all personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay us absolutely nothing upfront. We cover all the costs of investigating and litigating your case. We only get paid attorney’s fees if and when we successfully recover compensation for you through a settlement or jury verdict. Our fee is a percentage of the amount we win for you. If we don’t win, you don’t owe us a fee.

What if I was partially at fault for the accident?

You may still be able to recover compensation. New York follows a “pure comparative negligence” rule. This means that a court will determine the percentage of fault for each party involved. Your total compensation award will then be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found to be 10% at fault for the accident, your final award would be reduced by 10%. It is the insurance company’s goal to shift as much blame as possible onto you, which is why having an attorney to defend you is critical.

How long will it take to resolve my truck accident case?

Every case is unique, so there is no set timeline. A straightforward case might settle in a matter of months, while a more complex case involving multiple defendants or a dispute over liability could take a year or longer, especially if it proceeds to trial. We will work to resolve your case as efficiently as possible while never sacrificing the quality of our preparation or the pursuit of the maximum compensation you deserve. We will keep you informed and involved at every stage.

How is a truck accident case different from a regular car accident case?

Truck accident cases are significantly more complex for several reasons. They involve the extensive federal regulations of the FMCSA, often have multiple potentially liable parties (not just the driver), and deal with catastrophic injuries and much higher damages. The evidence, which can include electronic data from the truck’s “black box,” driver logs, and maintenance records, is more complex to obtain and analyze. This is why you need a law firm with specific experience in litigating commercial trucking accidents.

Contact Our Trusted Garden City Truck Accident Lawyers Today

The moments after a truck accident are filled with pain, confusion, and fear. You should not have to carry the burden of a complex legal fight while you are trying to heal. Let the compassionate and experienced team at Rosenberg & Gluck, LLP, stand up for you. We will handle every detail of your case so you can focus on what matters most: your recovery.

When you partner with us, we will:

• Conduct a comprehensive investigation aimed at identifying and security all evidence, including surveillance camera footage and the truck’s data recorder.
• Handle all communications with insurance companies and defense attorneys.
• Work with leading medical and financial experts to calculate the full value of your past and future damages.
• Fight tirelessly to negotiate a fair settlement or, if necessary, advocate for you powerfully in court.

Our Garden City truck accident attorneys are proud to serve our community and can assist clients in both English and Spanish (Hablamos Español). Contact us today at (631) 451-7900 or through our online form for a free, no-obligation case review. Let us show you how we can help you turn your life right side up again.

Schedule A Free Case Consultation

Rosenberg & Gluck, LLP

225 Franklin Ave #325-C, Garden City, NY 11530 (516) 973-3452