There are fewer things on the highway as intimidating as a huge truck speeding down the road. The fact that New York is one of the busiest metropolitans in the world means trucks are a common sight to motorists in the city.
As important as they are to the economy of the country, trucks do pose a serious danger to the lives of daily commuters. This is why the Law Office of Carl Maltese has a dedicated team of attorneys who specialize in truck accident law.
Victims of truck accidents are entitled to receive fair compensation for injuries sustained due to the negligence of truck drivers. Help from The Law Office of Carl Maltese is just one call away at (631) 857-3703.
New York Accident Statistics
The debate on whether cars are safer than trucks is a complicated one, but the statistics make for grim reading in both cases.
There were 206,754 car accidents in New York in 2019 alone. While this number did decline due to the enforced lockdown measures in 2020 to 110,834, it was still a lot higher than what authorities would have hoped for. On average, 292 people die each year as a result of motor vehicle accidents.
The New York truck accident statistics are no better, with 16,434 and 8,115 truck collisions occurring in 2019 and 2020 respectively. Furthermore, the fatalities caused by truck accidents are much less, with 2019, for example, witnessing 80 deaths.
Truck Accidents Are Usually More Serious
Looking at the numbers alone, it would be easy to think that cars are a lot more dangerous than trucks due to the much higher number of accidents they are involved in. However, before coming to that conclusion, it is important to consider these factors:
There are a lot more cars on the road, so they are statistically more likely to be involved in a car crash
A person is more likely to suffer severe injuries or death in a truck accident than in a car accident
In truck accidents, it is usually the other vehicle’s occupants who suffer the most rather than the truck driver, meaning truck drivers will likely survive the crash
Accidents involving trucks usually end up being pile-ups or destroying a lot of property
These facts show clearly that in terms of safety, trucks do pose a much greater risk to road users. In fact, in most truck accidents, 75% of the injuries or fatalities are suffered by occupants of the other vehicle.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
There are many reasons why truck accidents happen, such as:
Driver fatigue
Poor vehicle maintenance
Speeding due to unfair deadlines set by trucking companies
Driving while intoxicated
Poor driver training
Extreme weather conditions, such as storms or blizzards
Distracted driving, for example, texting or eating while behind the wheel
Poor road conditions
How Can the Law Office of Carl Maltese Help?
Victims of truck accidents should approach experienced truck accident lawyers as quickly as possible for assistance in getting the compensation they deserve. At the Law Office of Carl Maltese, the following services are offered:
Free Case Evaluation
The first step is to sit down and discuss how best the personal injury case can be handled. Experienced lawyers can help with providing legal advice, establishing who the at-fault party is, gathering evidence, and calculating the possible damages that may be awarded.
All this is discussed during the free consultation during which victims can ask questions and get more clarity regarding their rights and what they are entitled to from the trucking company and its insurance provider.
Legal Representation in Court
When it comes to fighting against insurance companies that are unwilling to offer fair compensation, victims will need a strong Long Island semi truck accident lawyer by their side if they are to stand a chance of winning the case.
Fighting for Maximum Compensation
The amount of compensation awarded is not only dependent on the injuries suffered or property destroyed, but also on the ability of the personal injury lawyer to present the case before the courts.
Final Thought
Truck accidents usually result in some of the worst injuries witnessed on the road and because of this, truck accident law has emerged as a specialized branch that deals specifically with these types of situations.
The Law Office of Carl Maltese has the required experience and knowledge to properly represent victims of truck accidents.