New York City Truck Accident Lawyers

Helping Victims of Big Rig, 18-Wheeler Accidents

When a big rig is involved in an accident, the damage is likely to be substantial. After a truck accident, you do not want to trust your future to an attorney who cannot effectively handle your personal injury claim. A good lawyer can make the difference between getting the benefits you deserve and getting a settlement that does not meet your needs.

With more than 40 years of experience and more than half a billion dollars recovered in verdicts and settlements, The Perecman Firm, P.L.L.C. can confidently handle your claim. Our New York City truck accident lawyers are committed to helping semi-truck, big rig, and 18-wheeler accident victims, and their families, recover maximum compensation.

We have secured some of the highest settlements in New York State and have received national recognition for our work assisting injured victims, including:

• U.S. News' Best Law Firms in America, 2011-2022
• Selected to the list of Best Lawyers in America©, 2008-2022
• Selected to the list of Super Lawyers®, 2007-2021
• David H. Perecman is listed as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers by The National Trial Lawyers

Schedule your free case evaluation with a NYC truck accident attorney by calling (212) 577-9325.

Thorough Investigations for Semi-Truck Accidents

At The Perecman Firm, P.L.L.C., our truck crash attorneys thoroughly investigate and analyze all accident claims in order to understand what happened and who was at fault for the accident.

There are rules and regulations designed to reduce the chances of driver-related mistakes occurring. For example, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has imposed maximum hours-of-service limits on drivers in an attempt to reduce driver fatigue and requires regular inspections of trucks to limit maintenance problems.

During the discovery process of a truck accident lawsuit, our attorneys will look into the circumstances leading up to the crash, including whether the truck was properly maintained, if the driver was taking the necessary time to rest, and much more.

Some of the factors we look for include:

• Whether the driver was distracted by their phone before or during the crash
• Whether the driver was following the rules of the road, tailgating, improperly changing lanes, etc.
• Falsified maintenance records, inspection logs, driver’s logs, etc.
• Driving in a reckless manner because of weather conditions, road gradient, visibility, etc.
• Driving without a valid commercial driver's license or insurance
• Whether the driver was fatigued from driving past their mandated limits
• Whether the truck was overloaded or improperly loaded
• Drug or alcohol use
• Speeding

We review log books, computer info, accident reports, and other evidence to see exactly who was negligent in your accident. We will also look at your injuries to see what level of compensation is necessary, especially if those injuries require continuing medical care. We will assess all areas of liability and work hard to hold all appropriate parties accountable.

Damages in Truck Accident Cases

Truck accidents often lead to:

• Serious property damage
• Devastating injuries
• Hefty medical bills
• Time missed from work
• Reduced earning potential
• Various other expenses

Serious injuries can dramatically change a victim’s life, as well as the lives of their loved ones.

At The Perecman Firm, P.L.L.C., we pursue personal injury and wrongful death claims against negligent truckers and trucking companies to help victims recover the compensation they need to recover and move forward.

Who Is Responsible for Your Accident?

If you or a loved one was involved in a serious truck wreck, a New York City truck accident attorney from our firm can help you pursue a claim for compensation against the truck driver, the trucking company, or both. We can also help you identify other possible defendants who could be held responsible for your injuries.

Truckers can be held responsible if they are negligent, which you can prove by showing that a safety rule was broken or by showing that no reasonable CDL driver would have behaved in the way the trucker did.

Trucking companies can be held accountable based on the negligence of their employees, who are considered to be acting on the company’s behalf. If the company itself failed to set or enforce reasonable policies to protect safety, such as checking an operator’s driving record before hiring him or her, then the company can be considered negligent in its own right.

Often, a trucking company’s insurance policy will have higher limits, potentially leading to more money to pay out damage claims. Our lawyers can help you determine what an optimal course of action is.

Hours of Service Regulations for Truck Drivers

The FMCSA sets regulations for both passenger and property-carrying truck drivers in the United States.

Property-Carrying Drivers

• Truck drivers may drive for up to 11 hours following a 10-hour break.
• Truck drivers may only remain on duty for up to 14 hours following their 10-hour break. This includes pre and post-trip preparations, stopping to make a phone call, stopping for food, unloading the vehicle, etc.
• Truck drivers who have worked for more than eight consecutive hours since their last off-duty period must take a 30-minute break before resuming driving activities.
• Truck drivers cannot drive after 60/70 hours on duty in 7/8 consecutive days. The driver can restart their 7/8 consecutive day period after they take a 34-hour break off duty.

Passenger-Carrying Drivers

• Truck drivers may drive for up to 10 hours after taking eight consecutive hours off duty.
• Truck drivers may only remain on duty for up to 15 hours following their eight-hour break.
• Truck drivers cannot drive after 60/70 hours on duty in 7/8 consecutive days. The driver can restart their 7/8 consecutive day period after they take a 34-hour break off duty.

No matter the reason, whether it is pressure from the trucking company, recklessness, or anything else, when a truck driver chooses to drive past their limits, it puts the lives of everyone else on the road at risk.

Talk with Us as Soon as Possible After an Accident

If you or someone you love has been injured in a semi-truck rollover, head-on collision, jackknife accident, underride accident, or any other type of crash, contact The Perecman Firm, P.L.L.C. to learn more about your rights to compensation. We represent injured people throughout the five boroughs of New York City, including the Bronx and Manhattan.

Schedule a free consultation with our firm by calling (212) 577-9325 or filling out a case evaluation form.