Big Rig Accident Lawyer Serving the Hudson Valley
Helping Victims of Serious Truck Accidents
Long-haul trucking is an important part of the national economy. Big rigs, semi-trucks, tractor-trailers, and other large commercial vehicles are a constant presence on New York highways. Big rigs are also extremely dangerous when something goes wrong. Big rig trucks are massive vehicles, weighing around 35,000 pounds while empty and upwards of 80,000 pounds when fully loaded. When a big rig collides with a passenger car, a motorcycle, or any other vehicle on the road, a catastrophic injury is likely to occur. In most cases, people outside the truck suffer the most.
If you or someone you love has been involved in an accident with a big rig causing serious injury or death, call the commercial truck accident lawyers at Dupée & Monroe, P.C. Our big rig accident legal team has the knowledge, training, and experience to aggressively represent your interests and help you obtain maximum compensation from a reckless truck driver, insurance company, freight company, or other responsible parties.
Common Causes of Big Rig Accidents
The big rig accident attorneys at Dupée & Monroe have decades of experience investigating traffic accidents, and we know what to look for. Commercial truck accidents present unique risks to truckers and other drivers on the road, and certain factors more commonly lead to big rig collisions. Risk factors that are especially dangerous in big rig accidents include:
Driver Fatigue. Long-haul truckers work long, punishing hours. It’s easy to get distracted or doze off after dozens of hours on the road over a few days. Federal regulations limit the amount of time a trucker can work behind the wheel in a given day or workweek, but many truckers ignore these regulations, often at the insistence (or deliberate indifference) of their employers. When a drowsy truck driver causes a crash, catastrophic injury is likely to follow.
Intoxicated Drivers. Driving for hours on end is not only exhausting; it can also be dreary and boring. Many truck drivers resort to drugs or alcohol in an effort to stay focused and alert or distract themselves from the tedium of the road. Intoxication has the opposite effect, creating a much greater risk of a serious accident.
Unbalanced Loads and Overload. Big rig trucks must be loaded properly, securely, and in accordance with the weight limits for the particular vehicle. When a haul is loaded improperly, it can cause the driver to lose control while on the road. Unbalanced loads or overloaded hauls can topple a trailer bed or send the trailer careening into other lanes of traffic.
Unsecured Loads. Big rig hauls must not only be balanced; they must be properly secured. An unsecured load can cause objects to bounce around the truck bed, limiting the driver’s control. Objects can also come entirely loose and go flying into traffic, causing other cars to swerve and collide with objects or one another.
Aggressive Driving Tactics. Truck drivers can get impatient, just like any other driver. Unfortunately, big rigs require much more precision control, and even a small mistake can send the trailer or the haul flying. When truckers speed, dart in between lanes of traffic, pass on the right, drive on the shoulder, or engage in other aggressive behaviors, a serious accident is likely to occur.
Who Is Liable After a Big Rig Accident?
Big rig accidents can be caused by any number of factors. Depending on how the accident occurs, one or more parties may be to blame. The big rig accident lawyers at Dupée & Monroe are well-versed in investigating the circumstances of a big rig crash and rooting out the proper parties to blame. We’ll fight for your recovery against all responsible parties, including:
- Truck drivers
- Freight Companies
- Clients and Third-Party Contractors
- Truck Manufacturers
- Auto Manufacturers
- Insurance Companies
- Government Entities
Talk to an experienced truck accident lawyer at Dupée & Monroe to discuss who may be held liable in your case and how to maximize your recovery.
Dedicated Big Rig Truck Accident Attorneys with a Proven Track Record of Success
If you have been injured in a large commercial truck accident, trust your representation to a law firm with an established record of successfully obtaining compensation for personal injury victims. Contact Dupée & Monroe, P.C. today for a free consultation.
