In New York, multiple car accidents occur daily, many involving truck drivers. Due to a truck’s weight and size, these accidents result in severe injuries or death more often than in collisions involving smaller vehicles. Many truck drivers have to drive for many miles without resting, even though they are obligated to do so.
Because of this, faulty truck parts, DUI, or other reasons, truck accidents can occur without warning. You should immediately contact a truck accident lawyer in New York if you are a car accident victim.
A lawyer can help you establish the liable parties, prepare your case, and ensure that you receive rightful compensation for your economic and non-economic damages. Here are some common causes of car accidents in New York.
Drug and Alcohol Usage
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about one in every three U.S. traffic fatalities involve a drunk driver. In New York, about 30% of traffic fatalities are due to DUIs.
Drunk driving or driving while under the influence of drugs almost immediately renders a driver at fault for the accident, depending on how the accident occurred. Since New York follows the pure comparative negligence system, the parties involved in the accident will be assigned a percentage of fault (if any) and will receive compensation based on this percentage.
In some cases, you can also partially blame the bar or restaurant that served the drunk driver that caused the accident under New York’s dram shop laws. You can also use New York’s social host liability laws in your case to make the social host liable for serving an underage driver alcohol.
Faulty Car Parts
Not all car accidents are caused by a driver’s inattention. Sometimes, defective car parts contribute to car accidents. This often happens in truck accident cases since trucks usually cover longer distances than regular cars and often have to undergo technical inspections.
For example, under New York state laws, trucks must undergo vigorous brake inspections once every twelve months. Maintenance is dictated by how many miles the truck must drive each month.
Tire defects, insufficient underride protection, or trailer malfunctions can also contribute to severe auto accidents. In such scenarios, the truck driver might not be the only liable party in your car accident case. You can sue their employer, truck parts manufacturers, or other entities to receive compensation.
Distracted Driving
Each driver has a duty of care to one another when they are behind the wheel. That duty is breached and can result in a serious car accident when a driver isn’t paying attention to the road because they are texting and driving, talking on the phone, or changing radio stations.
Why You Should Hire a Car Accident Lawyer
There are many other causes of car accidents, but they all require legal action if they were caused by negligence. With a personal injury claim and a good lawyer by your side, you can receive compensation for your injuries, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional anguish, property damage, and more. While you rest and heal, your lawyer will build your case, initiate negotiations, and ensure you receive fair compensation for your losses.
