Work trucks are everywhere in New York City. Driving these trucks can be challenging, especially on the city’s jam-packed roads around tons of other vehicles. Not surprisingly, traffic accidents involving commercial work trucks aren’t all that uncommon.
When you suffer injuries while driving your work truck in New York, it’s important to know that you have rights. The Platta Law Firm can help you assert a legal claim and fight to recover compensation for your medical care, loss of income, and other crash-related damages.
Our New York truck accident lawyers have over 150 years of combined experience handling complex civil disputes. As top-rated trial attorneys in NYC, we’re known for standing up to powerful insurance companies and employers and helping our clients win hundreds of millions in life-changing financial awards.
Don’t settle for less than your work truck accident case is worth. Trust our award-winning New York trial attorneys to help you maximize your recovery. Reach out to our law office in Manhattan to schedule a free consultation now.
Why Workers in NYC Trust The Platta Law Firm After Life-Changing Truck Accidents
Recovering from a work truck accident in New York will take time. The more time and energy you have to invest in your recovery, the better. However, it’s important to exercise your legal right to seek compensation from an insurance company, a negligent motorist, or another responsible party.
Hiring an experienced New York personal injury lawyer can take the burden of litigation off your shoulders and give you the time you need to get better. You have the power to choose your legal representation – and your choice matters. Here’s why injured workers, motorists, and families in New York consistently trust The Platta Law Firm:
- We are nationally recognized trial attorneys with over 150 years of combined experience
- Our case results include hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements and jury verdicts
- Our attorneys have been distinguished as leaders in personal injury litigation by some of the nation’s top legal organizations, including Super Lawyers, Lawyers of Distinction, and the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys
- Contingency fee representation means it costs nothing to hire our truck accident attorneys in New York unless we recover compensation for you
When you choose The Platta Law Firm, you’ll get the personalized, compassionate, trustworthy legal representation you deserve. You’ll also have the full force of our law firm’s experience and resources behind your work truck accident case. You have a limited time to take action, so don’t hesitate to contact our New York City, NY, law office to set a time for a free consultation now. Members of our team are always available to take your call.
What Causes Most Work Truck Accidents?
Work trucks are vehicles outfitted for a specific commercial purpose, like plumbing, electrical work, or landscaping. Some of the most common types of work trucks in New York City include:
- Snow plows
- Platform trucks
- Dump trucks
- Service body trucks
- Tow trucks
- Street cleaners
- Bucket trucks
- Food trucks
- Garbage trucks
- Cranes
- Digger derricks
- Fuel trucks
- Water trucks
These trucks have to navigate the streets of NYC as they travel to residential homes, businesses, and construction sites. Work truck drivers are legally required to comply with applicable state and federal safety regulations, as well as local New York City traffic laws. So are other motorists on the road.
Unfortunately, not everyone follows the rules. As a result, simple mistakes, errors in judgment, and blatant violations of safety rules cause serious accidents involving work trucks across the city. Some of the most commonly cited causes of work truck accidents include:
- Driver distraction, including texting and driving or talking on the phone
- Speeding
- Failing to secure ladders and other equipment to the vehicle properly
- Unevenly loaded equipment
- Inadequate vehicle maintenance, including skipping mandated inspections
- Vehicle malfunctions
- Braking errors
- Drug and alcohol use
- Following too closely
- Illegal turns
- Improper stopping
- Drowsy driving
Sometimes, environmental factors – including bad weather conditions, road defects, or vehicle defects – can also contribute to car accidents involving work trucks in New York.
It’s important to know exactly why and how a work truck accident happens. When you hire The Platta Law Firm, our New York personal injury attorneys will carefully investigate your crash to thoroughly understand the cause and, in turn, identify who’s at fault. Once liability is clear, we’ll determine the best course of action to help you secure the compensation you need to get back on your feet.
Will I Qualify for Workers’ Compensation If I’m Injured in a New York Truck Accident?
Regardless of who caused the work truck accident, anyone involved in the wreck can suffer serious injuries. As a work truck driver, your injuries may require costly medical care and interfere with your ability to work for the foreseeable future. When you get into a work truck accident while you’re on the job, there’s a chance that you may qualify for workers’ compensation benefits.
As stated in WCL Workers’ Compensation (WKC) Chapter 67, Article 1, Section 2, any employer in the state of New York with at least one employee is required to carry a workers’ compensation insurance policy. So, you’ll qualify for workers’ compensation benefits after a work truck accident if:
- You’re classified as an employee, rather than a contractor, and
- Your accident occurred while you were performing work-related tasks or responsibilities.
So, unless you’re a sole proprietor or an independent contractor, there’s a good chance that your crash-related injuries will help to qualify you for workers’ compensation. If you’ve been injured in an accident in your work truck in New York City, contact our personal injury attorneys to discuss your case. We can evaluate your situation, determine whether you might qualify for workers’ compensation, and help you fight the insurance company when it attempts to misclassify you or deny your claim in some other way.
What Benefits Can I Recover Through Workers’ Compensation After a Work Truck Accident?
In New York, injured work truck drivers who qualify for workers’ compensation will be able to seek benefits for:
- Reasonably necessary costs of medical care, including hospitalization, surgery, medication, medical devices, rehabilitation, and follow-up care
- Lost wages equivalent to two-thirds of your average weekly wage, subject to statutory caps
- Reduced earning benefits equivalent to two-thirds of the difference between what you earned before your accident and what you can earn now
- Cash disability benefits for loss of use or permanent impairment
Families can also seek death benefits if a driver is killed in a work truck accident in New York City. Death benefits can help families pay for a victim’s funeral and handle the sudden loss of financial support they experience after the fatal crash.
Will My Work Truck Accident Be Covered
By Auto Insurance?
All vehicles – including commercial work trucks – must be covered by an auto insurance policy. New York’s insurance minimums are the same for vehicles used for personal reasons and commercial purposes. Current minimum requirements include:
- $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident in liability coverage for bodily injury, and
- $10,000 per accident in property damage coverage.
Motorists are also required to carry at least $50,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits, which cover crash-related medical bills and expenses. Since New York is a no-fault state, you’ll have to seek benefits from your own insurance company first, regardless of who caused your work truck accident.
So, whether you’re a work truck driver or another motorist who’s injured in a work truck crash, insurance will cover your costs and expenses – up to a point. If your damages exceed your policy limits and someone else caused the work truck collision, you can seek additional compensation directly from them (or their insurance carrier).
Who’s Liable for My Work Truck Accident?
Commercial work truck accidents can happen for a multitude of reasons. In New York, knowing the cause(s) is critical because liability extends to anyone who contributes to a work truck accident. Most often, anyone whose negligence causes an accident with a work truck can be liable – or financially responsible – for damages, including:
- The driver of a commercial work truck
- Work truck passengers
- Drivers of passenger vehicles
- Motorcyclists
- Pedestrians
- Bicyclists
- Bus drivers
- Transportation companies
- The owner of a work truck
- Vehicle mechanics
- Property owners
- Government agencies
Negligence involves a deviation from expected standards of care. Not all work truck accidents are caused by someone’s negligence, though. There are times when defective trucks or vehicle components – like brakes, airbags, or transmissions – will contribute to a collision.
In these situations, the manufacturer of the commercial work truck can be strictly liable for a crash. Strict liability does not require a victim to prove a manufacturer’s negligence. Rather, a victim must simply demonstrate that the work truck (or another vehicle) suffered from a design defect, manufacturing defect, or marketing defect and that the defect caused their injury or loved one’s wrongful death.
Common Work Truck Accident Injuries
Work trucks tend to be slightly larger and heavier than other vehicles on the road. They may also haul trailers and have large pieces of equipment rigged to the outside. This can make work trucks more difficult to maneuver, hard to stop, and more likely to cause serious damage in a wreck.
At The Platta Law Firm, we help work truck accident victims – including drivers and other motorists on the road – seek compensation for any physical injuries or losses they’ve experienced in a crash, including:
- Broken bones
- Cuts and lacerations
- Chest injury
- Burn injury
- Concussion injury
- Brain injury
- Back injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Paralysis injury
- Neck injury
- Whiplash injury
- Crush injury
- Amputation injury
- Eye injury
- Knee injury
- Leg injury
- Catastrophic injury
- Wrongful death of a family member
Any injury sustained in an accident involving a work truck can be devastating, especially if it leaves you unable to work for a period of time. The sooner you report your accident to the NYPD, seek medical care at the closest emergency room, and reach out to our experienced truck accident attorneys in New York, the better your chances of getting the compensation you need to cover your losses and move forward with your life.
Commercial Work Truck Accident FAQ
Whether you got into an accident while driving your work truck through New York City or were injured in a crash with a work truck, it’s common to have questions about your rights and future. This can be an incredibly stressful time. The Platta Law Firm has the answers you need to move forward.
Why Should I Hire a Personal Injury Attorney After an Accident in My Work Truck?
Whether you file a claim for insurance benefits or seek damages in a personal injury lawsuit, you’re significantly more likely to win if you have an attorney advocating for you. In fact, hiring an attorney puts you in a position to win up to 3.5 times more in compensation than handling the case on your own. When you hire The Platta Law Firm, you’ll have an award-winning team of New York truck accident attorneys taking charge of all aspects of your work truck accident case. We’ll invest whatever manpower and resources are needed as we:
- Carefully investigate the circumstances of your work truck accident to assess the underlying cause and establish liability
- Evaluate work truck maintenance and inspection records, cell phone records, dash cam footage, red light camera footage, photographs of damaged property and the scene of the collision, medical records, eyewitness statements, and other evidence
- Consult expert witnesses, including medical professionals, rehabilitation specialists, accident reconstruction professionals, mechanics, and other professionals who can lend insight into the specific details of your case
- File a claim with your insurance company and represent your best interests as we work to negotiate maximum benefits on your behalf
- Pursue additional compensation from a negligent or otherwise liable party if your damages exceed your auto insurance policy limits
While we will do everything in our power to negotiate a prompt and just monetary award, we also know that there are times when the best results are achieved in court. As award-winning New York trial attorneys, we will be more than ready to protect your best interests and bring your work truck injury claim to a jury whenever necessary.
How Long Will I Have to Seek Compensation After a New York Work Truck Accident?
In New York, work truck injury victims will not have unlimited time to seek financial compensation after an accident. The statute of limitations will vary based on the type of legal claim you file:
- Workers’ compensation: two years from the date of your work-related truck accident
- Personal injury lawsuit: three years from the date you were injured in a work truck accident
- Wrongful death lawsuit: two years from a work truck accident victim’s death
Your claim must be filed within the applicable statute of limitations. If you miss the filing deadline, you lose the ability to recover compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, distress, and other damages.
Can I Recover Compensation If I’m Partly to Blame for
My Work Truck Crash?
Yes, but contributory negligence can affect how much money you might be able to recover through a personal injury lawsuit. Civil lawsuits are subject to New York’s pure comparative fault statute. Shared fault triggers a proportionate reduction in recoverable damages.
If you’re 15 percent at fault for a work truck accident, your settlement agreement or jury award will be reduced by 15 percent. The more fault you share, the less money you can recover for your resulting losses. Shared fault will not, however, affect a claim for workers’ compensation benefits since it is a no-fault system.
How Much Is My Work Truck Accident Claim Worth?
Whether you file a claim for insurance or seek damages in a lawsuit, you’ll have the opportunity to request compensatory damages after your accident in your work truck. Compensatory damages can include both economic and non-economic awards for:
- Medical bills, including but not limited to hospitalization, surgery, medication, and rehabilitation
- Nursing care and assistance
- Disability
- Reduced earning capacity
- Lost wages
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Inconvenience
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Chronic physical pain
- Disfigurement
- PTSD
Several factors will influence what these damages will be worth and, in turn, how much you can collectively receive in a settlement or from a jury.
- What types of injuries did you suffer in the work truck accident?
- Are your injuries permanent?
- How long will you need medical care?
- Are you partly at fault?
- How old are you?
- What are your insurance policy limits?
- Will you be unable to work for a period of time?
- If so, for how long?
- How has the work truck crash altered your quality of life?
The more serious your injuries and the more of an impact the crash has had on your life, the more you might be able to get when your work truck injury claim is resolved.
Call The Platta Law Firm for Help After a Commercial Work Truck Accident in NYC
If you were hurt in an accident involving a work truck in NYC – yours or someone else’s – call The Platta Law Firm. You have rights as a victim, but they can be hard to assert. Our New York truck accident lawyers can help you navigate this stressful time and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Our winning strategies have helped clients win hundreds of millions in financial awards. Discover the impact we can have on your life by calling our New York law office today. We represent clients in Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, Staten Island, and surrounding areas, so schedule your free consultation with our team today.
