Sarah was driving on the highway with her husband and 2 children. She noticed that traffic ahead was slowing so she applied her brakes. When she looked in her rearview mirror she noticed that the there was a large commercial truck behind her and it did not appear as if the driver was slowing down. An auto accident involving a tractor-trailer or semi-truck often results in serious injury for the occupants of the other involved vehicle because big trucks, 18-wheelers and tractor-trailers are heavy and cannot react quickly in order to avoid an accident. In fact, in the United States, a person sustains either a traumatic injury or fatal injury every 16 minutes as the result of big rig accidents. While the trucking industry is vital to our economy with $600 billion in revenue, the industry presents an increased risk for serious auto accidents. A car accident involving an 18-wheeler or other big truck can result in serious injury for the people in the car. In fact, when a death results from a truck accident, 98% of the fatalities affect people in passenger cars. If you are in need of a personal injury lawyer because you or a family member suffered a serious injury as the result of an accident with a big truck or other commercial vehicle, contact an experienced Nassau County truck accident Lawyer who will review the events that lead to your injuries and help you receive the compensation to which you are legally entitled.
Rules of the road for trucksDrivers of large trucks have 2 sets of rules that they must follow. Just like drivers of cars and small trucks like SUVs, minivans and pick up trucks, drivers of large trucks must follow New York State's traffic regulations. Thus, it is against the law to exceed the speed limit, to run through a red light, to make illegal lane changes, and to drive while drunk.
There are also federal laws related to securing a license to drive a large commercial truck. Drivers must first attend special classes on how to operate a truck safely. 49 CFR §380. Drivers must also follow rule related to loading and unloading trucks, hauling hazardous materials, and maintenance. Truck drivers are also limited to the number of hours they are permitted to drive without rest.
Pursuing a claimTruck accidents can leave victims with severe, life-threatening injuries. The victim's entire family is affected. The law recognizes that is unfair for the victim to have to deal with both the physical pain and the financial losses that result from such an accident. In order to make sure that the person reasonable for the accident is held responsible, contact an experienced attorney to discuss the process for filing a claim. Do so immediately, and do before settling your case with the insurance company.
Through a personal injury lawsuit you may be able to collect compensation to pay for your medical bills such as bills related to your hospital stay, surgery, medication, medical equipment, therapy and counseling. You can also seek compensation for the wages you lost because you were unable to work while recovering from your injuries. For example, a broken leg or other types of bone fractures may require surgery. Even if surgery is not required it will take at least 6 weeks for the fracture to heal, plus additional weeks of rehabilitation to help regain muscle strength. Similarly, a brain injury such as a concussion can take weeks, months or even years to heal. You may be awarded damages of the paychecks you missed as well as for other types of benefits and compensation you missed.
In addition to demanding compensation for medical expense and lost wages, you can also demand compensation for pain and suffering. If a loved one is killed in the accident, you may be able to recover compensation by filing a wrongful death lawsuit.
Contact the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & AssociatesFiling a claim to collect compensation for your truck accident injuries is complicated, involving personal injury rules, trucking laws, traffic laws, and insurance regulations. To learn the process for asserting your legal rights and demanding compensation for the losses you suffered, contact the attorneys at the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & Associates. Our staff is experienced in handling claims resulting from truck accidents and other type of vehicle accidents, as well as workers' compensation cases stemming from truck accidents. Contact us at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your case. We represent clients in the following locations: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Long Island, Manhattan, Nassau County, Queens, Staten Island, Suffolk County and Westchester County.