Types of Commercial Truck Accidents in New York City

Learn the most common types of commercial truck accidents in NYC, from jackknifes to underrides, and who may be liable. Call Davidoff Law at (718) 268-8800.

Commercial trucks play a critical role in keeping New York City businesses, stores, and neighborhoods supplied with goods and services. However, because of their size and weight, accidents involving these vehicles often result in severe injuries and complex legal claims. 

Understanding the different types of commercial truck accidents can help injured victims recognize how these crashes occur, who may be responsible, and what legal options may be available. 

If you were injured in a commercial truck accident in New York City, contact Davidoff Law at (718) 268-8800 for a free consultation.

What Is Considered a Commercial Truck?

A commercial truck is any truck used to transport goods, equipment, or materials for business purposes. While semi-trucks are one type of commercial truck, many other vehicles used throughout New York City also fall into this category.

Examples of commercial trucks include:

• Semi-trucks and tractor-trailers
• Box trucks
• Delivery trucks
• Moving trucks
• Dump trucks
• Garbage trucks
• Utility and service trucks
• Tow trucks
• Cement mixer trucks

These vehicles vary in size and purpose, but they can all cause devastating injuries when involved in a collision.

Commercial Truck Accidents by the Numbers

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), 5,904 large trucks and buses were involved in fatal crashes across the United States in 2021, while an estimated 161,000 were involved in injury crashes. 

Because of their size, weight, and longer stopping distances, commercial truck collisions often result in catastrophic injuries, making it critical to identify how the crash occurred, who may be responsible, and what legal options are available to injured victims.

What Types of Commercial Truck Accidents Occur Most Often?

Commercial truck accidents occur in many different ways, depending on the type of vehicle, road conditions, and the circumstances leading up to the crash.

Choques por alcance

Because commercial trucks require much longer stopping distances than passenger vehicles, choques por alcance often occur when a truck driver cannot stop in time. These crashes may result from distracted driving, speeding, following too closely, or brake failure.

Accidentes con navajas

A jackknife accident occurs when the trailer swings outward and forms a sharp angle with the cab, resembling a folding pocketknife. These accidents often happen when drivers brake suddenly or lose traction on wet or icy roads.

Jackknife accidents can block multiple lanes of traffic and lead to multi-vehicle collisions.

Accidentes por alcance por debajo del vehículo

Underride accidents occur when a smaller vehicle slides underneath the rear or side of a commercial truck. These crashes often result in lesiones catastróficas or fatalities because the upper portion of the passenger vehicle can be crushed.

Override Accidents

An override accident occurs when a commercial truck rides over the rear of a smaller vehicle during a collision. Because of the truck's size and weight, these crashes frequently cause severe injuries.

Rollover Accidents

Commercial trucks have a higher center of gravity than passenger vehicles, making them more susceptible to rollovers during sharp turns, sudden steering maneuvers, or cargo shifts.

Rollovers can block roadways, spill cargo, and involve multiple vehicles.

Blind Spot (No-Zone) Accidents

Commercial trucks have large blind spots along the front, rear, and both sides of the vehicle. Drivers may unintentionally strike nearby vehicles when changing lanes or merging if those vehicles are hidden within these "No-Zones."

Wide Turn Accidents

Large trucks often need additional space to complete right turns. During these maneuvers, the trailer may swing into adjacent lanes or trap nearby vehicles, cyclists, or pedestrians.

Wide turn accidents are especially common on the narrow streets and busy intersections found throughout New York City.

T-Bone Collisions

Side-impact collisions may occur when a truck driver runs a red light, fails to yield, or enters an intersection without enough clearance. Because commercial trucks generate tremendous force, these crashes often cause serious injuries to occupants of passenger vehicles.

Head-On Collisions

Although less common, head-on collisions involving commercial trucks are among the most devastating. These crashes may occur because of driver fatigue, impaired driving, distracted driving, or vehicles crossing the center line.

Cargo Spill Accidents

Improperly secured cargo can shift or fall from a commercial truck while it is in motion. Cargo spills may create road hazards, cause drivers to lose control, or trigger chain-reaction crashes involving multiple vehicles.

What Causes Commercial Truck Accidents?

While every accident is different, many commercial truck crashes result from preventable mistakes or safety violations.

Common causes include:

• Driver fatigue
• Conducción distraída
• Exceso de velocidad
• Following too closely
• Improper cargo loading
• Brake failure
• Tire blowouts
• Poor vehicle maintenance
• Inadequate driver training
• Unsafe lane changes
• Conducir bajo los efectos del alcohol
• Poor weather or road conditions

Determining the cause of the accident is often one of the most important steps in identifying who may be legally responsible.

Who May Be Liable for a Commercial Truck Accident?

Commercial truck accident claims are often more complicated than ordinary car accident cases because multiple parties may share responsibility.

Depending on the circumstances, liable parties may include:

• The truck driver
• The trucking company
• The truck owner
• A cargo loading company
• A maintenance or repair contractor
• The manufacturer of a defective truck or truck component
• A government entity responsible for roadway maintenance, in limited circumstances

An experienced attorney can investigate the accident, identify every potentially liable party, and pursue all available sources of compensation.

What Injuries Are Common in Commercial Truck Accidents?

Because commercial trucks can weigh many times more than passenger vehicles, collisions often result in catastrophic injuries that require extensive medical treatment and long-term rehabilitation.

Lesiones cerebrales

The force of a truck collision can cause concussions, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), skull fractures, and other serious head injuries. Victims may experience memory loss, difficulty concentrating, headaches, dizziness, or permanent cognitive impairments.

Lesiones de la médula espinal

Damage to the spinal cord may result in chronic pain, limited mobility, partial paralysis, or permanent paralysis. These injuries often require lifelong medical care, rehabilitation, and assistive devices.

Broken Bones

Commercial truck accidents frequently cause fractures involving the arms, legs, ribs, pelvis, hips, and facial bones. Some victims require multiple surgeries and months of physical therapy before they can return to normal activities.

Internal Injuries

The tremendous force generated during a truck collision can cause internal bleeding, organ damage, punctured lungs, and other life-threatening injuries that require immediate emergency treatment.

Muerte por negligencia

Tragically, some commercial truck accidents result in fatal injuries. When a loved one dies because of another party's negligence, surviving family members may have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim under New York law.

What Compensation May Be Available?

If someone else's negligence caused the commercial truck accident, you may be entitled to recover compensation for both your financial losses and the personal impact of your injuries.

Daños económicos

Economic damages compensate you for measurable financial losses, including:

• Gastos médicos
• Future medical treatment
• Rehabilitation costs
• Salarios perdidos
• Loss of future earning capacity
• Daños materiales
• Other accident-related expenses

Daños no económicos

Commercial truck accidents often have life-changing consequences beyond financial losses. Depending on your case, compensation may include:

• Dolor y sufrimiento
• Angustia emocional
• Permanent disability
• Disfigurement
• Pérdida del disfrute de la vida

Daños por muerte por negligencia

If a commercial truck accident results in a fatality, certain surviving family members may pursue compensation for losses allowed under New York's wrongful death laws. Depending on the circumstances, recoverable damages may include funeral and burial expenses, loss of financial support, and other damages permitted by law.

How Does New York Law Affect Commercial Truck Accident Claims?

Several New York laws may affect your right to recover compensation after a commercial truck accident.

New York follows a pure comparative negligence rule under CPLR § 1411. This means you may still recover compensation even if you were partially responsible for the accident, although your recovery is generally reduced by your percentage of fault.

In most cases, CPLR § 214(5) gives injured victims three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, different deadlines may apply depending on the parties involved.

Because commercial trucks are motor vehicles, New York's no-fault insurance laws often apply. However, victims who suffer a serious injury under New York Insurance Law may be able to pursue compensation beyond basic no-fault benefits through a personal injury lawsuit.

Many commercial trucking companies and drivers must also comply with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations governing driver qualifications, hours of service, vehicle inspections, maintenance, and cargo securement. Violations of these regulations may become important evidence when determining liability.

What Should You Do After a Commercial Truck Accident?

The actions you take after a commercial truck accident can significantly affect both your recovery and your legal claim.

1. Call 911 immediately: Report the accident and request emergency medical assistance if anyone is injured.
2. Busque atención médica: Even if you believe your injuries are minor, prompt medical treatment creates important documentation linking your injuries to the accident.
3. Documentar la escena: If it is safe to do so, take photographs of the vehicles, road conditions, visible injuries, skid marks, and any cargo involved in the crash.
4. Gather information: Obtain the truck driver's contact information, employer details, insurance information, license plate number, and the names of any witnesses.
5. Avoid discussing fault: Do not provide recorded statements to insurance companies or accept a settlement offer before understanding the full extent of your injuries.
6. Contact a truck accident lawyer: An attorney can preserve evidence such as driver logs, electronic logging device (ELD) data, maintenance records, and other information that may be critical to your claim.

Preguntas frecuentes (FAQ)

Contact Our Personal Injury Lawyer at Davidoff Law for a Free Consultation

Commercial truck accidents can leave victims facing devastating injuries, overwhelming medical bills, and uncertainty about the future. If you were injured in a commercial truck accident in New York City, contact Davidoff Law today at (718) 268-8800 for a free consultation. 

Our experienced truck accident attorneys can investigate your case, identify the responsible parties, and fight for the full compensation you deserve.