NY State tractor-trailer accident lawyer discussed common causes of truck accidents
Whether you’re a driver or a pedestrian using the road, one of the dangers you face is an accident involving a tractor-trailer. 2012 data from the New York State DMV shows that there were over 10,000 accidents involving large trucks in that year alone. They resulted in dozens of fatalities and at least a few thousand nonfatal injuries.
Just recently, two tractor-trailer accidents in New York State led to fatalities. In one case, a tractor-trailer struck an SUV carrying two people; in the other case, a tractor-trailer hit a passenger vehicle with no passengers. Both accidents led to the deaths of the smaller vehicle’s driver (and injuries to the SUV passenger). When you have a collision between a massive tractor-trailer and a car, generally the occupants of the car are going to fare worse.
Responsibility for an accident isn’t automatically assigned in whole or part to a tractor-trailer driver. The accident needs to be investigated to see if the passenger vehicle driver contributed to it in some way. In the aftermath of a crash, a reputable tractor-trailer accident lawyer will review the details carefully to help you figure out who may have been responsible for what happened.
In some cases, the tractor-trailer driver may have been fatigued, intoxicated, or distracted. They may not have adequately checked their blind spots before making turns. Perhaps they were violating other traffic laws, such as the speed limit for a given location.
In other situations, an accident occurs in part because of some fault in the truck’s construction. Maybe it hasn’t undergone maintenance or there’s a defective part. There may also be issues with how the cargo has been loaded, which can either contribute to an accident or lead to a worse outcome afterwards as unsecured cargo spills out onto the road.
Don’t hesitate to contact us to go over what happened during your crash and to receive advice and legal advocacy. While many tractor-trailers travel the roads without major incidents, you need an experienced attorney on your side if something does go wrong.