Truck owners and drivers use steel trucks, but given the massive size and weight of these trucks, and their material, they can be devastating to their drivers and other motorists when they are involved in traffic accidents.
Steel truck accident victims often suffer serious injuries, overwhelming medical bills, and lifelong financial challenges. If you or a loved one is recovering from injuries from an accident involving a steel truck, a New York steel truck accident lawyer can help you file a personal injury or a wrongful death lawsuit if you lost a loved one.
Call Morelli Law Firm today at (212) 751-9800 for a free case review.
Common Causes of Steel Truck Accidents
Working with a lawyer can help you investigate the cause of your accident and prove your case. Some common causes of steel truck accidents are:
Driver Fatigue
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), truck drivers must adhere to the Hours of Service regulations (HOS). These regulations govern the number of hours per 24 hours that a driver should be behind the wheel before taking a break.
Despite these regulations, drivers often feel they must push through their fatigue to deliver the goods entrusted to their care by unrealistic deadlines.
Driver fatigue is one of the major causes of truck accidents. Drowsy drivers cannot control their vehicles properly. As a result, they might cause severe accidents before they wake up and respond to a road situation.
When they fail to adhere to the HOS rules, and drivers’ fatigue causes an accident, they could be held liable for injuries and other damages. When they fail to adhere to the HOS rules, and driver’s fatigue causes an accident, they could be held liable for injuries and other damages arising.
Driving Under the Influence
It is unequivocally illegal in every state to drive under the influence of impairing substances and drugs. Truck drivers are held to stricter standards than other motorists. Understandably, accidents involving steel trucks cause far more severe injuries, most of which are often life-changing. Any driver who operates a steel truck under the influence of substances poses an extreme danger to themselves and those around them.
Improper Loading of Cargo
Steel trucks are hauling trailers filled with products. Regardless of the size, the load must be properly packaged and secured so that the weight is equally distributed across the truck. Failure to load the cargo properly increases the risk of an accident. This is, particularly, the case when a steel truck is coming to a sudden stop. Additionally, when the load is not firmly secured, it might fly off onto the road, causing an oncoming vehicle to crash.
Mechanical Failure
Brakes are unquestionably the most important safety elements in a vehicle. Well-maintained brake systems are important in trucks because it takes more work to stop a steel truck over a short distance. Truck owners and cargo companies must ensure that the braking systems of their trucks are regularly inspected and maintained. If a failure to carry out timely maintenance causes an accident in which you were injured, the truck owner and companies might be found responsible for your injuries.
Weather
Even though a driver cannot control the weather conditions, they have a duty to reasonably adjust to the changing conditions to ensure their safety and that of other road users.
If you are ready to see how a New York steel truck accident lawyer can help you with your case, we are ready to speak with you about it. Give Morelli Law Firm a call today at (212) 751-9800.
Steel Truck Accidents Differ from Other Accidents
Steel truck accidents are different from other accidents in the following ways:
Large Insurance Policies
Truck driver’s insurance can be 50 times larger than passenger car accident policies. The value of such an insurance policy can amount to millions of dollars, which tells you that a driver’s insurer could do all they can to prove they are not liable.
They will use their adjusters to employ intricate tactics, such as contacting you and offering quick compensation with a “large amount” of money. This seemingly large payout is likely far less worth than what you are entitled to receive. A steel truck accident lawyer can help you build a case as you seek to recover fair compensation.
Increased Property Damage
A commercial steel truck weighs more than 80,000 pounds, which translates to more than 20 times the weight of a passenger car. That means any property the truck comes into contact with at the time of the accident will be affected much more than a crash involving two passenger cars.
Higher Medical Bills
As noted above, injuries suffered in steel truck accidents are far more severe, requiring intensive medical care and bills. The amount of time a victim spends in hospitalization and treatment tends to be longer than in other auto-accident injuries, thus translating to more damages.
A steel truck lawyer can work with experts in the medical field to accurately assign a monetary value to your current losses, including economic and non-economic damages. Some of the damages that we might be able to help you recover include:
- Medical bills associated with the accident
- Future medical bills
- Medical equipment, such as wheelchairs and crutches
- Lost income due to the accident
- Future loss of income and loss of earning potential
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional anguish
Greater Chance of Death
Accidents involving large trucks are more devastating and cause far more fatalities than other vehicles. According to the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA), almost 5,000 people are killed in truck accidents every year.
Because of the complexity of accidents involving steel trucks and the resources wielded by them and their insurers, facing them head-on can be daunting and overwhelming. Fortunately, our attorneys can help you with the case on a contingency-fee-basis. This means you do not have to pay anything upfront. We will receive payment only if we have recovered your damages.
New York Steel Truck Accident Lawyer Near Me 877-751-9800
Call Morelli Law Firm Today for Legal Help
If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a steel truck due to a negligent driver, you can seek counsel from a New York steel truck accident lawyer who could help you understand your legal options. Contact Morelli Law Firm today at (212) 751-9800 for a free case evaluation.