WESTCHESTER, NY’S #1 TRUCK ACCIDENT ATTORNEY IS NORMAN GERSHON

Regardless of how safely you drive or how well you follow the rules of the road, driving can always be dangerous for you or a loved one. Truck accidents are among the worst types of accidents you can have while driving. Because of their size and weight, any kind of collision with a semi-truck or tractor-trailer can cause severe injury or even death.

If you have been involved in a large truck accident and incurred significant losses, including medical bills, pain & suffering, and lost income, then an experienced Westchester, NY attorney can help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact the Law Offices of Norman Gershon to talk about your accident in a free legal consultation with our firm. Call 914-485-1444 or complete our contact form for a free consultation.

Many various factors could lead to a trucking accident. Equipment failure and operator error may play a role in your accident. Weather and road conditions may also be important factors in determining the outcome of your case. Truck drivers must obtain a commercial license to operate large trucks and are usually subject to drug and alcohol testing by their employer. However, even given these additional measures, fatal truck crashes continue to happen.

Westchester truck accidents involving large trucks, semi-trucks, or 18-wheelers are unique for various reasons. An experienced truck accident attorney can help you navigate the difficulties and intricacies of your case, including:

Intoxicated Truck Drivers 
In their research on truck driver fatalities across multiple states, The National Transportation Safety Board and The National Institute on Drug Abuse looked at the comprehensive drug screenings on blood specimens taken from 168 fatally injured drivers. A shocking statistic revealed by the data indicated that one or more drugs were detected in 67% of these fatally injured drivers, and 33% of these drivers had detectable blood concentrations of psychoactive drugs or alcohol.

Driver Fatigue
If a truck driver is drowsy or tired, it can lead to reckless behavior and tragic loss. This behavior includes drivers failing to maintain their lanes or failing to avoid contact with other vehicles. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has instituted various policies to curb truck accident rates. These laws include regulating a driver’s schedule and lowering the number of continuous driving hours permitted. Although these regulations have helped lower accident frequency, the FMCSA has determined that driver fatigue is still contributing to approximately 20-40% of truck accidents.

Substandard Inspection
According to the FMCSA, about 23% of the more than 2 million vehicles involved in roadside inspections had serious violations. Unsafe and defective trucks are a significant cause of truck accidents.

Driver Error
A semi-truck traveling at speeds in excess of 55 mph has a significantly higher rate of rollovers and jackknife-related accidents. Driver errors may include: speeding, wide turns, following too closely, not paying attention to their blind-spots, aggressive driving, and more.

There are many potential defendants in any truck accident case. Hiring an experienced attorney is your best bet in ensuring each responsible party is held accountable.

If your Westchester, New York truck accident results from a failure to use reasonable care, the driver and the owner of the vehicle can be found liable. There may be multiple other potentially at-fault parties, including:

• The truck driver
• The owner of the truck or tractor-trailer
• The person or company that leased the truck
• The manufacturer (of the vehicle, tires, or any parts that could have contributed to the accident)
• The loader of the truck’s cargo

Proving liability can be complex as trucking companies continuously try to deny and shift responsibility. Don’t let a company keep you from the justice you deserve. Contact a Westchester truck accident attorney to fight for you.