Long Island Truck Accident Attorney

At the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP, our personal injury attorneys do everything we can to help victims and their families in the aftermath of a truck crash. We put the full resources of our firm into recovering the compensation you need and deserve.

You Could Be Eligible to Collect Damages After a Truck Accident on Long Island

After an accident, you could be suffering many losses. Your Long Island NY truck accident lawyer could identify your losses, including:

Medical Costs

You could have injuries, a new or worsened condition, and other health consequences because of the accident. These damages could also create other losses, like:

• Ambulance costs
• Hospital stays
• Follow-up visits
• Medication costs
• Physical therapy
• Psychological therapy

The consequences of your accident may also:

• Keep you out of work
• Force you to miss out on wages, benefits, tips, and bonuses
• Prevent you from earning wages at the same level as before the accident 

With our help, though, you may recover an award to cover these losses.

Non-Economic Losses

Not all accident-related damages are financial. Non-economic losses can include pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and loss of enjoyment of life.

How Our Attorneys Can Help You and Your Family with Your Truck Accident Case

We are ready to find out what really happened in your accident and seek the money you deserve. Truck accidents can have many potentially responsible parties and involve multiple insurance companies. We will pursue every available option to seek fair compensation for you.

We Will Secure Evidence to Support Your Claim

Examples of the kinds of evidence that may support a truck accident claim include:

• The truck driver’s logbook, which may include evidence of overwork and fatigue
• The truck’s electronic data recorder, or “black box,” which may contain evidence of speeding, failure to brake, and other negligent acts
• Maintenance records for the truck
• Evidence of drug or alcohol impairment
• The trucker’s driving record
• Physical evidence from the accident scene
• Photos of the accident scene
• Evidence of vehicle defects
• Cell phone records that indicate driver inattention
• Accident reconstruction
• Eyewitness testimony

At the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP, we are ready to stand up for your right to seek compensation for the losses you’ve suffered. We have the resources to independently investigate the crash to find out what really happened.

Your lawyer will determine who should be held accountable for the accident. We pursue all available sources of insurance coverage. This way, we can ensure clients are compensated fairly for the long-lasting impact of severe injuries.

Our Law Firm Gets Results for People Injured in Truck Accidents on Long Island

All accidents are different. Those that involve heavy trucks often produce the most serious injuries. They also involve some of the most complex legal issues. That’s why it’s important to work with a law firm with experience handling complex personal injury matters. We also have a track record of getting results for clients.

Here are just a few examples of the many successes we’ve had in helping people who suffered serious injuries in crashes:

• $95,000 settlement: We won this award for a driver who suffered knee injuries in a crash. A truck driver made an improper right turn from the left lane of traffic. The victim’s resulting injuries required arthroscopic surgery.
• $450,000 settlement: We won this award for a man sideswiped by a trucker changing lanes. The at-fault party caused a fractured leg that required operative intervention
• $700,000 settlement: We secured this award for a woman hit by a truck that pulled out of a gas station into traffic. The truck driver did not yield the right of way, causing multiple fractures and years of rehabilitation.

Our truck accident attorneys have handled claims involving:

• Tractor-trailers (18-wheelers)
• Delivery trucks
• Garbage trucks
• Construction vehicles
• Other large commercial vehicles

Client Reviews Could Help You Make a Decision About Hiring Us

Our past clients have many positive things to say about our firm:

• “Richard was very helpful from the beginning. He handled our car accident case with such responsibility and punctuality. Throughout the case, Richard checked in often, as did his wonderful staff at the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP.” – Fleet
• “Mr. Jaffe is truly professional and highly knowledgeable. He was always accessible for any questions or concerns I had. He showed true compassion for what I was going through, I highly recommend Mr. Jaffe.” – Catherine

Read more of our reviews on our testimonials page.

How Much Is Your Case Worth?

It’s impossible to predict how much compensation you could recover without first having a consultation about the specifics of your case. We want to listen to the details of your case and present you with your legal options.

If a truck crash injured you or caused your loved one’s passing, contact the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP now for a free case evaluation.

You Can Use Common Causes of Truck Accidents As Your Grounds to Sue

Personal injury lawyers Richard Jaffe and Stephen Cohen have secured numerous settlements and verdicts for truck accident victims. They have 40-plus years of combined experience in personal injury and wrongful death litigation. They also know how to conduct investigations to establish the causes or contributing factors of a crash.

Some common causes of truck accidents include:

• Driver fatigue – Truckers pressured to stay on the road well beyond the hours allowed under federal law
• Driver negligence – Speeding, tailgating, changing lanes, pulling out, running stoplights, distracted driving
• Truck maintenance – Worn tire treads, worn brakes, broken lights
• Dangerous cargo – Improperly secured or hazardous freight
• Negligent hiring – Accidents, violations, DWI, drug use, no valid CDL

Truck Accidents Cause Severe Losses

Tractor-trailers and other heavy trucks are susceptible to the same types of accidents that cars may be involved in. However, due to their size, weight, and unique handling characteristics, some types of truck crashes are unfortunately common.

This makes it even more important to get our truck accident lawyer serving Long Island’s help if you have been the victim of a truck crash. Injuries and property damage are usually greater in these accidents than those involving passenger vehicles.

Types of Truck Accident Claims We Handle

A truck’s massive size and weight can cause it to maneuver, stop, and accelerate differently from a lightweight car. The designs of many trucks also make the impacts different from collisions that involve cars of similar sizes and designs.

Some of the most common types of truck accidents we handle include:

Jackknifing

When an 18-wheeler or tractor-trailer jackknifes, it puts everyone on the road in danger. The trailer can drift into an adjacent traffic lane in jackknife accidents. It could then hit other vehicles or create serious road hazards. Blocked traffic lanes or debris from spilled loads can result in these situations.

Rear-end Collisions

A fully loaded tractor-trailer can weigh 80,000 pounds or more. According to the basic laws of physics, it will take a heavy truck much longer to stop than a smaller vehicle. When truck drivers speed or follow vehicles too closely, the potential for a rear-end collision rises.

Head-on Collisions

Any time two vehicles strike each other head-on, the results are likely to be devastating. When one of those vehicles is a heavy truck, the outcome is often even worse. These kinds of accidents may happen when a truck crosses the median or center line – a possible result of trucker fatigue.

Most large trucks and the trailers they pull lack rear bumpers. This may allow a passenger car to slide under the trailer or truck body during an accident. One study found that underride happened in three-quarters of all rear-end truck collisions. These accidents can cause very serious injuries that are often fatal.

Spilled Cargo

Heavy trucks haul tons of cargo. If the load is not put on the truck and secured properly, it may fall off the truck and strike another vehicle. This could then cause a serious accident when other drivers try to avoid the debris.

Rollover Accidents

Trucks have a very high center of gravity, which makes them prone to tipping. This can happen when:

• A trucker takes a turn too fast
• A truck driver swerves to avoid a collision

This problem becomes worse when cargo is not loaded properly, allowing it to shift in the trailer or cargo area of the truck.

Bridge Strikes

Some trucks are unable to fit under bridges, overpasses, and other structures that cross the roadway. When a truck driver does not pay attention to their vehicle height and the clearance of upcoming obstacles, the truck can collide with the structure. This could cause a serious accident.

Sideswipe Accidents

Large trucks – and particularly 18-wheelers – require much more space to turn and maneuver. A sideswipe accident may occur if a truck driver turns improperly or makes a lane change without checking for traffic.

Richard Jaffe Has Seen Firsthand the Serious Injuries Truck Crashes Can Cause

Richard Jaffe is not only an attorney. He is also:

• A licensed EMT (emergency medical technician)
• A firefighter
• Understanding of what you are going through, because he assists victims of traumatic injuries in his role as a first responder
• Aware that accident victims endure severe pain and face a long road to recovery

We prioritize delivering exceptional client service and keeping our clients informed about the status of their cases. You will work directly with attorneys Stephen Cohen and Richard Jaffe when our firm takes on your case.

Your case is important to us, so we won’t hand you off to a paralegal or an assistant. We will even give you our cell phone numbers. This way, you can contact us whenever you have questions or concerns.

Long Island Truck Accident Lawyer FAQs

Our team wants to empower you with all available information.

What Makes Truck Accidents Different from Car Accidents?

Basic physics accounts for the severity of many collisions that involve a heavy truck and a passenger vehicle. A fully loaded 18-wheeler can tip the scales at 80,000 pounds or more. That’s roughly 20 times heavier than the typical passenger car. When a heavy truck and a lightweight car collide, the car – and its occupants – usually fare worse.

How Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Help Me After a Truck Accident?

Insurance claims and lawsuits from a truck accident are often much more complex than those from a car accident. This fact makes it even more critical to get help from an experienced personal injury attorney.

Your lawyer can fully – and independently – investigate the true cause of your accident and identify everyone who may be liable for the crash. Your lawyer can then work to recover fair compensation from all available sources.

Who Could Be Held Responsible for the Accident?

In addition to the truck driver, several others may also be responsible for a crash. The trucking company can usually be held liable for their driver’s negligence.

Other potential defendants include:

• The company that owned or leased the truck and trailer (often two different companies)
• The cargo owner
• The company that loaded the cargo
• The company that maintained the truck
• The manufacturer of defective equipment

Can I Sue a City or County Government for My Accident?

A municipality could be liable for your accident. Its representatives might have designed a street, highway ramp, or intersection in a way that led to your accident.

Patch reports that some of the worst intersections in the state are on Long Island, including:

• Long Beach Boulevard and East Park Avenue
• North Hempstead Turnpike and Glen Cove Road
• Searingtown Road and Northern Boulevard
• West Sunrise Highway and South Central Avenue
• North Wantagh Avenue and Hempstead Turnpike

What Should I Do After a Truck Accident?

Regardless of your specific circumstances, hiring an attorney should be something you do shortly after your collision. Seeking medical attention should be your first priority. However, hiring an attorney may not be far behind on your to-do list.

An attorney will serve you as soon as you hire them by:

• Advising you about when, and how, to contact your insurance company
• Becoming your touchpoint for insurance companies to contact you
• Defending your rights against not only insurance companies, but also defendants in your case and their attorneys
• Helping you get the medical care you need
• Organizing all records of your injuries and medical care
• Preserving evidence from the accident scene
• Advising you in all aspects of your case

There is no downside to hiring an attorney as soon as possible. Because our fee structure requires no upfront payment, you don’t pay any more for hiring us sooner than later. 

We’ll begin protecting you as soon as we become your attorneys. We’ll prevent:

• Insurance companies, liable parties in your case, and other attorneys from bothering you
• Insurance companies from taking advantage of you or twisting your words
• You from making any statements that could harm your case

Though it’s your decision of whether to accept a settlement, we’ll advise you on whether any offers you receive are fair. Insurance companies may dangle quick, low settlement offers in front of you, hoping you’ll take the quick payout. As your attorney, we’ll advise you on what we believe is best for you, not what’s best for the insurance companies.

Should I Hire an Attorney If I Only Have Minor Injuries?

You should hire an attorney even if you believe your accident or your injuries are minor. Circumstances can change, sometimes in a major way. You may find out that:

• Damage to your vehicle is more serious than you first believed
• Your injuries are worse than you first believed
• Your total losses are costlier than you first believed
• A loved one’s seemingly non-fatal injuries end up being fatal
• Insurance companies are not offering the amount of compensation you believed that they would, which may require you to take legal action 
• Other circumstances make a lawyer necessary

An attorney from our firm is familiar with truck accidents in Long Island. We have seen how a victim’s losses can spiral beyond their control. 

Hiring our firm can provide several benefits. Our legal help may:

• Allow you to get the treatment and rest that you need to recover
• Help you avoid the details of a truck accident case, which can be traumatic for a victim
• Provide more time for you to be with your loved ones
• Result in a financial recovery

Our attorneys are ready to help you. 

How Long Do I Have to Pursue a Truck Accident Lawsuit?

In New York, you generally have three years under CVP § 214 to file a personal injury lawsuit. Failure to take legal action before this timeline ends could be detrimental, as you could lose your claim to damages.

Losing a loved one to a truck accident could entitle you to collect damages. EPT § 5-4.1 imposes a similar timeline of two years on wrongful death lawsuits.

What Are the Most Common Causes of a Truck Accident?

As with car crashes, there are many potential causes of truck accidents. Many of the causes are similar to those of car accidents. However, there are unique factors in the trucking industry that affect how accidents can occur.

Driver fatigue is a particular concern with truckers, despite federal hours of service rules that limit time behind the wheel. Some truckers even use prescription or over-the-counter drugs to stay awake. Poorly maintained equipment, speeding, and inexperience are other common causes of truck accidents.

Can I Afford an Attorney to Help Me Get Compensation for My Truck Accident?

Yes. At the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP, we handle truck accident claims on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay us nothing up front, and we charge no attorney’s fees unless and until we recover compensation on your behalf.

Even the claim review and initial consultation are completely free. These aspects also come with no strings attached. 

Reach Out to Our Attorneys Today to Begin Your Path Toward Justice

Call the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP to start your case. We offer free consultations, including home and hospital visits. Se habla español.

For a free legal consultation with a truck accidents lawyer serving Long Island, call 516-358-6900

LEGALLY REVIEWED BY:

Richard S. Jaffe, Trial Attorney and Litigator

March 14, 2022

Attorney Richard S. Jaffe is known for his reputation as a fierce litigator and trial attorney who has secured several multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements over the past 20 years. Fighting for the rights of those who have been injured as a result of negligence may be Richard’s passion, but that is just the beginning when it comes to the myriad ways he gives back to his community.

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