Syracuse, New York, Semi-Truck Accidents

Jed Dietrich, Esq., Recognized as a Super Lawyer and an American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys 10 Best Attorneys, Has Spent His Entire Career Standing Up for The Victims of Negligence. If You Have Been Injured in a Syracuse Semi-Truck Accident That Was Not Your Fault, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. Could Help You File a Personal Injury Lawsuit Against a Reckless Truck Driver, Negligent Transportation Logistics Company, or Unsafe Cargo Shipper.

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The Empire State’s economy is continuously changing. However, its success still depends on the interstate logistics industry. So, while Syracuse may not be the largest city in New York, its strategic location belies the importance of trucking. Each day, thousands of heavily laden semi-trucks rumble past Syracuse on the New York State Thruway, bound for the Big Apple or on their way to Interstate 81 and the American South.

However, the success of the trucking industry is dependent on every truck driver’s commitment to safety. With many truckers driving upward of 60,000 miles per year, there is ample opportunity to be involved in accidents—accidents that can, in most cases, only be avoided through an unwavering attention to traffic conditions.

While most semi-truck drivers take the responsibility of driving a multi-ton vehicle very seriously, accidents still happen, and they happen with alarming regularity. In the aftermath of a collision, victims rarely escape unscathed. They may suffer serious and potentially life-altering injuries, which could range in severity from deep lacerations to partial amputations. Recovery is seldom easy, and it can often feel like an impossibility.

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. believes nobody should be forced to bear the burden of a semi-truck driver’s negligence or a logistics company’s poor practices. Our experienced team of attorneys could help you turn the tables on the multibillion-dollar trucking industry, fighting for your rights and refusing to accept bad-faith settlement offers.

Since founding the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. in 2005, we have helped clients across the region secure more than $250 million in damages. We could help you, too. Please message us online or call us at 866-529-5334 to speak to a truck accident lawyer near Syracuse and begin exploring your options for effective legal relief.

The Critical Difference Between Car Crashes And Semi-Truck Accidents

After an ordinary car crash, most victims take predictable steps to limit their financial losses.

In no-fault states like New York, victims typically submit claims to their own insurance companies, which must, under most circumstances, pay survivors’ medical expenses and compensate at least a portion of their lost income from work. If they have suffered serious injuries, they might also consider initiating a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault motorist.

However, far too many semi-truck accident victims make the mistake of thinking that commercial vehicle collisions are typically resolved in the same manner as other car crash-related claims. In reality, though, any insurance claim involving an 18-wheeler has the potential to become incredibly complex with minimal warning.

Semi-truck accident claims differ from car crashes in the following respects:

1. Injuries Are Often More Severe: A fully-loaded tractor-trailer can weigh upwards of 80,000 pounds, equivalent to nearly two-dozen passenger-sized vehicles. Even at low speeds, the simple force generated by a semi-truck is sufficient to twist metal and crush bone. In a collision, the occupants of the smaller car are almost always injured, often very seriously.
2. The Driver May Not Be Solely Liable: In most car accident claims, the at-fault driver is solely or primarily liable for accident-related damages. However, even when a semi-truck driver’s negligence is the apparent cause of a crash, the driver could share liability with their employer or another third party. While some states have tried to limit this form of vicarious liability, New York still permits survivors to pursue anyone whose negligence caused or contributed to their injuries.
3. Semi-Truck Companies Are Bound by More Rules: The interstate trucking industry is regulated at the state and federal levels. Under state and federal law, logistics companies must maintain safe vehicles, perform regular inspections, and ensure that their drivers are fit for duty. Any minor oversight could compromise a vehicle’s safety, endangering the public.

In many cases, the relative complexity of semi-truck accident claims can work to victims’ advantage, as they may be afforded several opportunities to recover damages from multiple defendants. However, the success of any claim could be contingent on the availability of high-quality evidence—evidence that many companies will quickly try to suppress, hoping to offload liability and limit their financial losses.

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has spent decades aggressively advocating for the rights of commercial vehicle crash victims across the region. Our experienced team of attorneys could help you or a loved one investigate the causes of your Syracuse semi-truck crash, uncovering the evidence needed to build a compelling claim for compensation. Please call us at 866-529-5334 to schedule your 100% free, no-obligation consultation as soon as possible.

Common Commercial Vehicle Crash Injuries

Semi-truck accidents are rare, but they nonetheless exact a devastating toll.

According to some reports, commercial vehicles are involved in more collisions now than ever before, causing a significant number of deaths and injuries. The National Safety Council, for instance, believes that semi-trucks and other large commercial vehicles are involved in nearly 10% of all fatal crashes annually, despite accounting for only 5% of all registered motor vehicles.

In a regular review of large truck-related accidents, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found the following:

1. Over a single recent year, an estimated 5,788 people were killed in traffic crashes involving large trucks, up 17% from years past;
2. In the same year, about 155,000 people were injured in semi-truck-related accidents; and
3. Overall, over half a million large trucks played some role in police-reported collisions nationwide.

While most reported semi-truck-related collisions are not fatal, they are disproportionately likely to culminate in serious and potentially life-threatening injuries.

Common semi-truck crash injuries could include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Cuts and lacerations;
2. Broken or fractured bones;
3. Crushing injuries, including crushed bones;
4. Facial and dental injuries;
5. Traumatic brain injuries (TBI);
6. Internal organ damage;
7. Burns, including chemical burns;
8. Disfiguring injuries;
9. Partial or total amputation; and
10. Death.

Even for survivors with no-fault insurance policies and comprehensive health coverage, the costs of a crushed bone or full-body burn could prove insurmountable. However, you do not have to accept the threat of bankruptcy due to a semi-truck driver’s negligence.

Potential Defendants And Damages In A Syracuse Semi-Truck Crash Lawsuit

Under Empire State law, accident victims have a legal right to file a claim for compensation against the person or party who caused their injuries.

In most car crash claims, there is only one defendant, most often the driver of another car. However, in semi-truck-related litigation, it is not uncommon for multiple defendants to be listed in a single lawsuit.

Common defendants include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. The semi-truck driver;
2. The semi-truck driver’s employer;
3. A tractor or trailer manufacturer;
4. An automotive parts maker; or
5. A cargo shipper.

Since New York does not currently cap or otherwise limit compensation in most commercial vehicle claims, victims could receive as much money as they need to begin rebuilding their lives and reclaiming their independence.

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. could help you recover damages for losses, including the following:

1. Your existing medical bills;
2. Your anticipated long-term care needs;
3. Physical rehabilitation fees;
4. Mental health counseling;
5. Lost income from work;
6. Diminished earning potential;
7. Emotional pain and suffering;
8. Loss of enjoyment;
9. Disfigurement; and
10. Wrongful death.

Although the Empire State does not limit damages in semi-truck accident claims, it does enforce a strict statute of limitations. If you wait too long to contact an experienced commercial vehicle crash lawyer near Syracuse, you could lose your opportunity to seek justice.

Do not delay: please message the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. online, or call us toll-free at 866-529-5334 to speak to an attorney and schedule your no-cost consultation.

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Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 1-866-529-5334 so that our aggressive, tenacious, and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Syracuse, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!

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