Suffolk County Truck Accident Attorney

Skilled Truck Accident Lawyers Representing Suffolk County, NY

Each day in Suffolk County we share our roads with all types of trucks including 18 wheelers, box trucks, dump trucks and more. These types of vehicles pose a significant risk of harm to people in other vehicles traveling on the roads due to many factors. First, trucks are significantly heavier than other vehicles. This causes breaking issues and also increases the amount of force applied to other vehicles in a truck accident. Another factor increasing the risk of harm in truck accidents is that many trucks have several blind spots making it more difficult to see other vehicles. Couple this with the fact that trucks usually move at a slower rate of speed causing other vehicles to often pass it and you have a recipe for disaster. Further, truck cannot maneuver with the same agility as a car, often needing more space to execute turns. Often a truck will have to depart its lane in order to execute a wide turn. This can lead to a dangerous situation for other vehicles traveling next to the truck. Another leading cause of truck accidents is that truck drivers are often forced to work long hours in order to do their jobs leading to fatigue which causes lack of focus. Obviously, this will lead to reduced reaction times or worse falling asleep behind the wheel. If any of these factors have resulted in a truck accident, it is important to hire a Suffolk County Truck Accident Attorney to help work out the details.

If you have been involved in an accident with a truck in Suffolk County, look no further than our law firm. Our Suffolk County truck accident lawyers have over twenty years of experience litigating all types of truck accident cases. Our managing partner, Steven Palermo has recovered millions of dollars for his Suffolk County Truck accident clients including a 3.2 million dollar settlement for a pedestrian struck by a delivery truck and a 1.7 million dollar settlement for a road worker struck by a minibus.

Feel free to give us a call anytime to discuss your case. We have five convenient office locations in Suffolk County and another location in Nassau County. If you are unable to meet us at one of our offices, we can always travel to you. Further, we offer evening and weekend appointments.

Important Deadlines

There are several deadlines to consider if you have been injured in a truck accident. First, if your injuries required medical treatment, you will need to complete a no-fault application with your insurance carrier within 30 days. All motor vehicle accidents in New York State require the use of no-fault insurance for medical treatment. The no-fault carrier that will be responsible for your treatment is the insurance carrier of the vehicle that you were occupying at the time of the accident, regardless of whose fault the truck accident was. Failing to properly complete the no-fault application within the thirty day deadline could cause the insurance carrier to deny all of the medical bills.

The statute of limitations to file a law suit for injuries suffered in a truck accident is usually three years. However, should there have been a wrongful death as a result of a truck accident, the statute of limitations is two years. Also, if your accident was against a municipally owned vehicle such as a bus or a town construction vehicle, the statute of limitations is reduced to 90 days. It is not always apparent if you’ve been involved in an accident with a vehicle that is owned by a municipality. Therefore, it is a good idea to hire an attorney to investigate immediately. One of the first steps our truck accident lawyers take upon being retained is to check the ownership records of the vehicle that caused your accident to ascertain the owner’s information to make sure any statute of limitations is met.

How much is my Suffolk County Truck Accident case worth?

The value of an injury suffered in a truck accident is an accumulation of several different factors. These include any accident related economic expenses such as damage to your car as well as non-economic losses such as pain and suffering. At Palermo Law, our experience in handling thousands of accident cases allows us to accurately assess the value of your case to determine the fairest settlement or jury award. In cases of long-term injuries, we partner with experts in the fields of medicine and economics to make sure that your compensation is adjusted for future inflation. This allows you the peace of mind knowing that you will be compensated for years to come.

Common Causes of Suffolk County Truck Accidents

Distracted Driving

Any activity that distracts a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving. These types of distractions include the use of a hand held navigation device, cell phone use and texting.

Speeding

Driving above the legal limit is a leading cause of truck accidents. Further, high impact accidents often result in significant injuries.

Following too Closely

Tailgating, especially at high speeds reduces reaction times and often leads to rear-end accidents.

Aggressive Driving

Operating a truck in a hostile or aggressive manner may include following too closely, failing to signal and repetitive lane changes.

Other factors to consider exclusive to truck accidents:

• Was the truck not properly loaded?
• Was the truck driver overly tired from driving long hours?
• Was the truck driver properly licensed to operate a big rig?
• Was the truck driver taking medications or drugs to help stay awake?

Five Essential Tips for Truck Accident Victims Immediately following an accident

1. Seek medical attention for any injuries, even minor injuries. Often injuries that result from a motor vehicle accident intensify in the hours and days following an accident. It’s good to be cautious.
2. Obtain a Police Accident Report. It is always a good idea to call the police to the scene of the accident. However, it is also possible to file a police report following the accident.
3. Contact your automobile insurance carrier to report the accident. Any medical bills will need to be paid by your no-fault insurance.
4. Do not give any statements to the other vehicle’s insurance company without first consulting with an attorney.
5. Contact an experienced truck accident lawyer for a free consultation.

What About No-Fault Insurance?

What is no-fault insurance?

No-Fault insurance is an insurance program that provides medical benefits, lost wages, and other incidental expenses for victims of truck accidents in New York. Every car insurance policy in New York is required to provide this coverage. The insurance policy of the vehicle that you are occupying at the time of the truck accident is the policy that is responsible for paying your no-fault benefits, regardless of fault.

If you are struck as a pedestrian or while riding a bicycle, the vehicle that struck you is going to pay your no-fault benefits. The minimum amount of coverage that is required in New York State for no-fault is $50,000 – once your benefits exceed $50,000 the no-fault carrier will not be responsible for your medical bills, lost wages, or other incidental costs unless you have purchased additional no-fault benefits.

Palermo Law is a law firm that has a Suffolk County Truck Accident attorney that is fully familiar with all aspects of no-fault car insurance. We will complete your no-fault application, apply for lost wages, coordinate independent medical examinations, and ensure that all medical bills are being paid by the insurer.

How will I pay for my medical bills following a truck accident?

The primary source of medical insurance following a truck accident is no-fault insurance. The insurance carrier of the vehicle you are traveling in is responsible for all of your medical bills related to your car crash regardless of whose fault the accident was. The only obligation that you have in order to get those bills paid is to complete and file a no-fault application within thirty days of your accident. Failure to do so, could result in your medical bills being denied. Although not necessary, It’s always a good idea to consult with an attorney to make sure that you completed the application properly. If we are retained to handle your truck accident case, our law firm will file all the insurance forms necessary on your behalf, free of charge.

How can I get lost wages if I am in a truck accident?If you are injured in a truck accident in New York State then you are eligible to receive lost wage compensation through your no-fault insurance carrier. Every motor vehicle insurance policy issued in New York requires at least two thousand dollars a month of lost wage protection and you are eligible to receive 80% of your total salary up to the two thousand dollars per month limit.

If you have purchased additional lost wage coverage you may be eligible for a higher amount. If you are a high-wage earner, this amount will not be sufficient. In those instances, any unreimbursed wages will have to be recovered from the responsible party’s insurance carrier at the end of your case.

In order to receive lost wages from your no-fault carrier, they must receive a completed no-fault application, verification of your employment, and a disability note from a healthcare provider. The no-fault application must be filed within thirty days of the date of the accident, or your carrier may deny the claim. Further, the wage verification must be completed by your employer, as soon as possible (there is no specific deadline for this).

Once you start receiving lost wages from your no-fault carrier, you will need to submit updated disability notes from your doctor from time to time. Also, your lost wage benefits may be terminated by your no-fault carrier should you be deemed to be fully recovered during a no-fault IME.

Dealing with no-fault insurance can often be confusing and frustrating. There is so much red tape that it usually requires a professional such as a personal injury law firm to get your full benefits. At Palermo Law, our Suffolk County truck accident lawyers are dedicated to all aspects of your personal injury claim. That means that we not only file a bodily injury claim on your behalf but also handle all no-fault paperwork and all property damage claims. It is our goal to take as much stress off your shoulders as possible, allowing you to concentrate on your recovery.

Consult With A Suffolk County Truck Accident Attorney

The unfortunate fact is that truck accidents usually cause serious injuries to the occupants of the opposing vehicle due to the substantial weight of the truck. Further, trucking companies stand to lose a substantial amount of money due to the injuries that their vehicles cause. In order to try and reduce their financial liability, truck companies have created emergency response teams. These teams are deployed at a moment’s notice and are quickly on the spot gathering all types of evidence in attempt to protect itself from a law suit.

This can put an innocent victim at a significant disadvantage should litigation become necessary. That’s why it is always a good idea to hire a truck accident lawyer as soon as possible. Our team of lawyers and investigators can immediately start working to gather evidence on your behalf such as videos and photographs of the accident scene, witness statements and police reports. We can even hire experts in accident reconstruction to document all physical evidence that can later be used to recreate the accident. That’s why the sooner you contact a Suffolk County Truck Accident Attorney the better. We always offer a free no obligation initial consultation and can even travel to you if you are unable to visit one of our six locations.