Long Island Truck Accident Lawyer

Truck drivers have a duty to keep other drivers safe by following the rules of the road and proper protocol. When an accident occurs, the results can be devastating. If you or a loved one has been in an accident with a truck, a Long Island truck accident lawyer can help you file a claim or lawsuit.

At Rosenberg & Gluck LLP, we help you seek damages to pay your medical bills and compensate you for pain and suffering. Our Long Island personal injury lawyers can review your options during a free, no-obligation consultation.

Why Choose Rosenberg & Gluck LLP for Your Long Island Truck Accident Case

Truck accident victims suffer significant injuries that can bring big medical bills and require a lot of time to recover from. The legal team you select makes a significant difference when seeking compensation from liable parties. 

Rosenberg & Gluck LLP offers dedicated support and experienced representation for victims across Long Island. We understand the challenges you’re facing and are prepared to assist.

Dedicated to Long Island Communities

Our firm has deep roots in Long Island. We serve clients throughout Nassau County and Suffolk County, from Hempstead to Riverhead. This local presence means we understand the specific roadways, courts, and factors influencing truck accident cases in our communities. 

Proven Experience With Complex Truck Accident Claims

Truck accident cases aren’t simple. They involve federal trucking regulations, multiple potentially liable parties, and aggressive insurance companies. 

The attorneys at Rosenberg & Gluck LLP have a strong record of handling these complex commercial truck accident claims and know how to investigate these incidents thoroughly, which is essential when you need to file a claim for a truck accident and pursue full compensation.

English and Spanish Representation

Clear communication is vital during your case, and Rosenberg & Gluck LLP proudly offers services in both English and Spanish. If you or your family members feel more comfortable discussing your case with a Spanish-speaking legal professional on Long Island, we provide that support.

Client-Focused Approach

Your well-being is our priority. While you focus on healing, your Long Island truck accident lawyer from our firm diligently works to protect your legal rights. We manage the legal burdens so you don’t have to. 

Contact Rosenberg & Gluck LLP at (631) 451-7900 today for help with your case.

Recovering Damages in Your Long Island Truck Accident Case

Our truck accident attorneys will have to look at several areas before determining what compensation you should seek. Various factors affect your financial recovery, including the kinds and severity of truck accident injuries suffered and who is liable for your accident.

We can also help you seek recovery for monetary and non-monetary damages.

Economic Damages

Monetary damages are documented with records, receipts, invoices, and other similar documents. These include your:

• Medical Expenses: You may seek compensation for all documented medical expenses incurred due to the truck accident injuries, including doctor visits, hospital stays, surgeries, physical therapy, prescription medications, medical equipment, and any ongoing or future medical care required as a result of the accident.
• Wages: you can pursue damages for both past and future lost wages if the injuries from the truck accident have prevented or will prevent the injured party from working. This also includes the loss of benefits such as health insurance, retirement contributions, and other employment-related benefits.
• Other Expenses: Other documented out-of-pocket expenses directly resulting from the truck accident may be recoverable, including costs for vehicle repair or replacement, rental car expenses, transportation to medical appointments, and household assistance or modifications if the injured party is unable to perform certain tasks.

Non-Economic Damages

These damages are harder to put a price tag on, but represent a very real human loss. Examples include:

• Pain and Suffering: Compensation may be awarded for the physical pain and emotional distress experienced as a result of the truck accident injuries. 
• Mental Anguish: You can seek compensation for the mental and emotional suffering experienced due to the truck accident, including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other psychological effects.
• Loss of Life Enjoyment: Damages may be available to compensate for the diminished ability to participate in and enjoy life’s activities due to the injuries sustained in the truck accident. These activities include the inability to engage in hobbies, exercise, and other social activities.
• Disfigurement: You may pursue recovery for any permanent disfigurement or scarring resulting from the truck accident injuries. 
• Loss of Quality of Life: This compensation takes into account the broad impact of the injuries on the individual’s daily life and well-being.
• Loss of Companionship: In some cases, the spouse may seek damages for the loss of companionship, emotional support, and consortium resulting from the injuries or death of their loved one in the truck accident. 

Helpful Evidence for Recovering Damages

We look at all of your damages and determine which damages you can pursue. We’ll also come up with the value of your case by evaluating your evidence to build the strongest case possible for you.

Forms of evidence we could review include:

• Official police report
• Your medical records
• Photographs and/or videos of the accident scene
• Photographs or videos of your injuries
• Eyewitness testimony
• Video surveillance
• Cell phone records if the driver was using the phone at the time of the accident
• Expert witness evaluations

Wrongful Death Damages

If your loved one was tragically killed in an accident, we may be able to help you seek damages that could help you cover your loved one’s final medical bills and funeral expenses. 

This money is called damages for wrongful death, and it helps with things like lost income and support the person would have provided. 

The sooner you Contact us, the sooner we can start working on your behalf. During a free case review, you can tell us more about your accident.

How We Investigate a Truck Accident Claim

Determining responsibility for damages is crucial in truck accidents, but establishing liability can be complex. This is due to factors such as applicable state and federal regulations and the potential for multiple at-fault parties.

The Long Island truck accident lawyers at Rosenberg & Gluck LLP, look at both the actions of the truck driver as well as those of the parent company when investigating trucking accidents. 

Evidence From the Trucking Company

Truck companies train drivers in methods that deflect blame and deny responsibility for accidents. However, certain physical facts and documents make it difficult for drivers to cover up negligence and safety violations.

As attorneys, we have legal access and can fight to obtain copies of a truck driver’s:

• Logbook
• Results from the highway patrol, alcohol, and drug tests
• Driving record
• Training history

We may be able to uncover violations and hold drivers and truck companies liable for injuries and fatalities they cause through negligence. 

We can send the trucking company a spoliation letter, which demands the trucking company preserve any evidence it has that could give more insight into who is responsible for the accident.

This evidence can include the items mentioned above as well as:

• Truck maintenance records
• Data from the truck’s onboard computer
• Dashcam video
• Driver’s employment history

Our lawyers evaluate many factors when investigating tractor-trailer accidents. We investigate the accident scene for critical evidence, including information that may assist in accident reconstruction, such as the length of skid marks the truck made at the accident scene. Can a truck accident lawyer help you understand and use this kind of evidence? Absolutely—and that’s why getting legal help early makes a difference.

We may also be able to review the truck’s brake pads and other components for defects.

Who Can You Hold Liable in a Truck Accident?

A knowledgeable Long Island truck accident lawyer can establish legal responsibility for truck accidents. However, assist in these situations. 

A hiring company might be liable for an accident caused by a contractor if the company controls all aspects of the contractor’s work. If the truck driver was deemed at fault for the accident, the driver and the trucking company might be liable. 

In addition, the cargo owner, the company responsible for loading the car, the manufacturer, and the truck’s mechanics could be liable if they partook in negligent acts, such as overloading a semi-truck.

What Happens if More Than One Party is Responsible for Your Trucking Accident?

Our truck accident lawyers at Rosenberg & Gluck LLP, investigate all potentially liable parties to determine who should be held responsible for your injuries. 

We’re prepared to do what it takes to hold the right party and their insurance company responsible so that we can help you get the financial compensation you need. Dealing with an insurance company after a truck accident can be overwhelming, but our team knows how to push back against low offers and delay tactics.

Deadline To File a Personal Injury Lawsuit After a Truck Accident

You generally have three years to file a lawsuit after your trucking accident. There might be exceptions that could shorten your deadline to file, such as if you are suing a municipality. If you want to file a wrongful death action, you generally have two years.

Contact us as soon as possible to discuss how any exceptions could affect your potential case.  If you miss the statute of limitations, you cannot bring a claim for damages.

Common Causes of Devastating Long Island Truck Accidents

Truck accidents on highways like the Long Island Expressway or Sunrise Highway happen in various ways, and many factors contribute to these serious collisions. 

Driver Fatigue and Hours-of-Service Violations

Truck drivers often face long hours and tight deadlines. Federal Hours-of-Service regulations limit driving time to prevent fatigue. When drivers or trucking companies violate these rules, tired truckers become a major hazard, leading to preventable accidents.

Distracted Driving and Reckless Behavior

Any distraction, from using a cell phone to adjusting a GPS, takes a truck driver’s attention from the road. Given the size and weight of a commercial truck, even a moment of inattention causes catastrophic results. 

Reckless behaviors like tailgating or aggressive lane changes also contribute to serious crashes.

Improper Cargo Loading and Securement

Cargo that is improperly loaded, unbalanced, or not secured correctly shifts during transit. This shift alters the truck’s center of gravity, making it difficult to control or causing it to overturn. 

Overloaded trucks also strain braking systems and tires, increasing accident risk. A Long Island truck accident lawyer at our firm examines loading records to find liability.

Poor Truck Maintenance and Equipment Failure

Trucking companies must maintain their fleets in safe operating conditions. Worn tires, faulty brakes, broken lights, or steering system defects lead to tragic accidents. Regular inspections and timely repairs are essential; failure to perform them constitutes negligence.

Speeding

Large trucks like 18-wheelers require a much longer distance to stop than passenger cars. When truck drivers speed, they reduce their reaction time and increase the force of impact in a collision. Aggressive driving puts everyone on Nassau and Suffolk County roads at risk.

FAQ for Long Island Truck Accident Lawyer

What Should I Do After a Truck Crash on Long Island?

After receiving medical attention, contact a Long Island truck accident lawyer immediately to protect your rights. Preserve any evidence you have, such as photos of the scene and your injuries, and contact information for witnesses. 

Don’t give a recorded statement to any insurance adjuster before speaking with an attorney.

How Is a Truck Accident Case Different From a Regular Car Accident Case in New York?

Truck accident cases are far more complex than typical car accidents. They often involve:

• Severe Injuries: The sheer size and weight of commercial trucks mean collisions frequently result in catastrophic injuries or fatalities.
• Federal Regulations: The trucking industry is heavily regulated, and violations of these rules often constitute negligence.
• Multiple Liable Parties: Liability extends beyond the driver to the trucking company, cargo loaders, maintenance providers, or manufacturers.
• Aggressive Insurers: Trucking companies and their insurers have significant resources and act quickly to protect their interests. 
• Complex Evidence: Evidence includes ELD/black box data, maintenance logs, driver records, and cargo manifests, which require specialized knowledge to obtain and analyze.

What If the Truck Involved in My Accident Was a Town or County Vehicle?

Special rules apply if a municipal vehicle, such as a sanitation truck or a vehicle owned by Nassau County or Suffolk County, caused your accident. You must file a Notice of Claim with the correct government entity within 90 days of the accident. 

Failure to meet this short deadline bars you from recovering compensation. Contact a Long Island truck accident attorney immediately if a government truck was involved to learn more.

What Kind of Evidence Does My Long Island Truck Accident Lawyer Need for My Claim?

A Long Island truck accident lawyer gathers extensive evidence to build a strong case, including the official police accident report, eyewitness statements, photographs or videos of the accident scene, vehicle damage, and your injuries. If you’re unsure what steps to take next, consult a lawyer for a truck accident to ensure your rights are protected from the start.

They also secure medical records, employment records to prove lost wages, and footage from any available traffic cameras. 

Attorneys often subpoena the truck’s black box data (EDR/ELD), driver qualification files, hours-of-service logs, inspection and maintenance records, and cargo loading documents from the trucking company.

Call Today for Your Free Consultation

A Long Island truck accident creates immense upheaval in your life, but you don’t have to face the trucking companies and their insurers alone. Taking action with a dedicated legal team by your side is the first step toward reclaiming your future. 

The lawyers at Rosenberg & Gluck LLP are ready to listen to your story and fight for the compensation you need. Call us today at (631) 451-7900 for your free, no-obligation consultation.