Due to the size and weight of semi-trucks, accidents involving these large vehicles can put drivers at risk of injury or death, especially drivers in passenger vehicles. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), there were a little over 5,000 fatal truck and bus accidents in the United States in 2018, which represents a 48 percent increase since 2009.
In New York, the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) reported 11,848 large truck collisions in 2014, of which 3,760 led to an injury and 74 to a fatality. If you or a loved one were involved in a traffic collision with a semi-truck that led to an injury or your loved one’s death, you may be entitled to receive compensation for your damages and losses.
Our team at Morelli Law Firm may be able to represent you, whether you decide to pursue an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit. If your accident occurred in White Plains, New York, we may be able to assign a White Plains semi-truck accident lawyer to work on your case and guide you throughout the litigation process. Have more questions? Call our team at (212) 751-9800 today to get the answers before you take legal action. We offer free, no-obligation case reviews to accident victims in and around White Plains.
Multiple Liable Parties May Be Involved in a Semi-Truck Accident Case
As you begin building your semi-truck accident case, one of your immediate legal concerns may involve identifying who may be liable for your damages. While it may seem obvious to pursue compensation from the truck driver, there may be more than one liable party in your case, especially if the truck driver is an employee and not an independent contractor.
Potentially liable parties in your case may include:
- The semi-truck driver
- The trucking company that employs the driver
- The truck manufacturer, if a manufacturing or design issue is found to be the cause of the accident
- The maintenance company who worked on the truck, if a maintenance issue is found to be the cause of the accident
- A third-party driver, e.g., another passenger vehicle driver
In many cases, if the truck driver works for a trucking company, their employer may be held liable for damages caused in an accident. The trucking company may also be held liable if:
- They encouraged employees to disregard hours of service regulations set by the FMCSA to meet delivery deadlines
- They did not screen their employees for driving, criminal, and general background histories before hiring
- They did not perform regular maintenance checks on their truck fleet
- They did not abide by other federal safety regulations
Your lawyer may bring up other arguments that demonstrate the liable parties’ negligence in your case.
A Personal Injury Team Can Provide Several Services to Build Your Case
Hiring a White Plains semi-truck accident lawyer to work on your case may be convenient for you if you are still healing from your accident-related injuries. As part of our services to our clients, Morelli Law Firm may perform the following legal services when building your case:
- Investigating your truck accident to determine potentially liable parties
- Collecting evidence to support your claim or lawsuit, e.g., the police report, photographs and videos of the accident, and medical records of your injuries
- Filing paperwork related to your case
- Handling communications with the at-fault party or parties and their insurers
- Acting as your legal representative during in-person meetings
- Negotiating a settlement on your behalf
- Filing a lawsuit and acting as your attorney on trial
If you would like to learn more about what our legal team can do for your case, call our client intake team at Morelli Law Firm at (212) 751-9800. We offer a free consultation to prospective clients who are interested in pursuing compensation for their damages.
White Plains Semi-Truck Accident Lawyer Near Me 877-751-9800
Do Not Let Your Case Miss the Statutory Deadline
If all parties are not able to reach a settlement agreement, your lawyer may advise you to bring a personal injury lawsuit to continue your pursuit of compensation. You and your legal team may need to keep track of the statutory deadline related to your case so that you file your lawsuit in time, as claimants only have a certain amount of time to take legal action.
According to New York Civil Practice Law & Rules (CVP) §214, you generally have three years to file a personal injury lawsuit in New York. If your loved one passed away in the semi-truck accident, you may file a wrongful death lawsuit. Per New York Estates, Powers & Trusts (EPT) §5-4.1, you generally have two years after the decedent’s death to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
Morelli Law Firm May Be Able to Represent You
If you are interested in getting legal assistance with your personal injury claim or lawsuit, Morelli Law Firm may be able to give you a helping hand. Our team can investigate how your semi-truck accident occurred and whether there might be more than one liable party for your financial damages and other losses.
If you qualify, a White Plains semi-truck accident lawyer from our firm may be able to work on your case and fight for fair compensation on your behalf. Our lawyers work on a contingency-fee-basis, so you do not have to worry about paying any attorney’s fees unless and until we win your case. There are no up-front payments required for us to begin working on your case.
Call Morelli Law Firm today at (212) 751-9800 to speak with a team member about your legal options in a free consultation on your case.