Tractor-Trailer Accident Lawyer Serving the Hudson Valley
Helping Victims of Catastrophic Accidents
Tractor-trailers, also known as semi-trucks, semi-trailer trucks, or semis, are long-haul trucks used to ferry goods across and between states. The freight industry is a vital part of the U.S. economy, but it poses certain risks to other people on New York and interstate roads. Tractor-trailers are massive vehicles, weighing eight times as much as the average passenger car while empty and up to 20 times as much with a full load. Semi-trucks can be difficult to control at the best of times, and when freight companies and drivers ignore safety regulations in the pursuit of profit, the risks are even greater. When a tractor-trailer collides with a passenger car, the results are likely to be catastrophic.
If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident with a tractor-trailer causing serious personal injury or wrongful death, call the large truck accident lawyers at Dupée & Monroe, P.C. Our semi-truck accident legal team has the knowledge, training, and experience to aggressively represent your interests and help you obtain maximum compensation from a negligent truck driver or trucking company.
Trucker Fatigue and Hours of Service Regulations
One of the primary risk factors for tractor-trailer accidents is driver fatigue. Long-haul truckers work long, punishing hours to carry goods from one side of the country to the other. It’s easy for drivers to get tired, distracted, and even simply bored. Truckers are at high risk to try to keep their energy and focus by utilizing distractions, stimulants and other drugs, or alcohol. Even without those behaviors, dozens of hours behind the wheel are simply exhausting, increasing the likelihood of a costly driving mistake.
To alleviate the dangers of long-haul trucking, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has established “hours of service” regulations. These regulations dictate the maximum amount of time truckers are permitted to be on duty, including maximum hours between rest breaks, maximum hours in a given day, and maximum hours in a given week.
Unfortunately, not every driver follows these rules. Truckers are often encouraged by their employers, tacitly or explicitly, to push through in order to complete more trips more quickly, increasing revenue. When truck drivers ignore hours of service regulations, they dramatically increase the risk of a catastrophic accident. Truckers and their employers can and should be held to task for any accidents that result from pushing past the legal limits to generate extra income. A seasoned New York tractor-trailer accident lawyer can help investigate the driver who caused your accident to determine if they were ignoring hours of service rules or other applicable safety regulations.
Compensation Available After a Major Tractor-Trailer Accident
Accidents involving tractor-trailers are rarely minor. Especially when there’s another vehicle involved, serious injury or death is likely to occur. If you or someone you care about was seriously injured in a tractor-trailer accident, our dedicated semi-truck accident lawyers can help you get the maximum compensation for your claims. Our seasoned tractor-trailer injury legal team helps clients recover all available damages, including:
- Past and future medical costs
- Property loss or property damage
- Loss of wages
- Loss of future income earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
Depending on the conduct of the truck driver and their employer, you may be entitled to punitive damages. Punitive damages are meant to punish bad actors and are awarded on top of the damages necessary to compensate the accident victim. Punitive damages are available when a defendant’s conduct was especially egregious or grossly negligent, such as if a driver was driving while intoxicated or a company has a pattern of deliberately eschewing safety training and equipment. Talk to your tractor-trailer accident attorney to find out if punitive damages may be available in your case.
Zealous Tractor-Trailer Trucking Accident Attorneys with a History of Success
If you have been injured in a tractor-trailer truck accident, trust your representation to a law firm with an established record of successfully obtaining compensation for accident victims. Contact Dupée & Monroe, P.C. today for a free consultation.
