New York City Truck Accident Attorney
New York City truck accident lawyers at Meirowitz & Wasserberg help injured victims seek maximum compensation. Truck accidents can involve multiple liable parties including drivers, trucking companies and cargo loaders. Contact us for a free consultation.
Expertise
Samuel Meirowitz is “Top 100 Trial Lawyer” and an accomplished personal injury lawyer, trial attorney and relentless advocate for his clients. Previously, he served the State of New York for four years as a prosecutor in the Bronx District Attorney’s office. Mr. Meirowitz is admitted to practice law in New York and Florida State Courts.
Content written by Samuel Meirowitz
Samuel Meirowitz is “Top 100 Trial Lawyer” and an accomplished personal injury lawyer, trial attorney and relentless advocate for his clients. Previously, he served the State of New York for four years as a prosecutor in the Bronx District Attorney’s office. Mr. Meirowitz is admitted to practice law in New York and Florida State Courts.
Experienced Personal Injury Attorney
In 2025 alone, there were more than 6,000 large commercial truck crashes and over 900 smaller commercial truck crashes in NYC. Many of these accidents caused injuries and some fatalities.
Truck accidents differ from car accidents because trucks can weigh thousands of pounds, potentially causing more serious injuries and property damage. They can also involve several at-fault parties, such as the driver, truck owner and cargo loaders who may not have followed NYC trucking rules and regulations.
If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, you need a lawyer who can navigate the complex truck accident liability rules. Our team of lawyers has spent years representing NYC residents injured by the negligence of commercial trucking companies. We can help you and your family seek maximum compensation for your injuries.
Contact us directly to discuss your case and legal options.
Quick Links
- How Meirowitz & Wasserberg Handles NYC Truck Accident Cases
- NYC Truck Accident Statistics and High-Risk Corridors
- Types of Truck Accidents in New York City
- Common Causes of NYC Truck Accidents
- NYC Truck Laws: FMCSA, Local Law 96 and Liability Rules
- Who Is Liable for a Truck Accident in New York?
- Common Injuries in NYC Truck Accidents
- Truck Accident Settlements and Compensation in New York
- What to Do After a Truck Accident in NYC
- NYC Truck Accident FAQs: Filing Deadlines, Liability and Settlements
"The size and weight of a large truck upon impact is so much more devastating."
How Meirowitz & Wasserberg Handles NYC Truck Accident Cases
Meirowitz & Wasserberg has represented NYC truck accident victims across the city — from Manhattan to Staten Island. We represent people, not corporations. Each individual receives personalized attention and support with the goal of securing fair compensation for their injuries.
Our experienced truck accident lawyers handle each step of your case with compassion and professionalism. We are here to safeguard your legal rights by investigating, determining liability, getting expert witnesses and handling insurance carrier disputes.
We’ve secured over $500 million in settlements and verdicts for our clients. Contact us for a free NYC truck accident consultation, and let us put our experience to work for you.
NYC Truck Accident Statistics and High-Risk Corridors
According to the NYPD, most NYC truck accidents involve large commercial vehicles with six or more tires. In 2025, there were 6,066 large truck accidents in NYC. Smaller commercial trucks with four tires were involved in 909 accidents.
Brooklyn had the highest number of large and small commercial truck accidents with 2,396 total accidents in 2025, while Queens came in second with 1,685.
One of the highest risk corridors for commercial truck accidents is the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE). Every day, 13,000 trucks cross the BQE into NYC. One out of every 10 of these trucks is an 18-wheeler.
These heavy freight trucks are more likely to cause:
- Extensive property damage.
- Severe and life-changing injuries such as broken bones, brain trauma and internal bleeding.
- Larger medical bills due to long hospital stays.
NYC DOT set the legal weight limit for these trucks at 80,000 pounds, but many have been overweight. Overloading these trucks can create dangerous driving conditions.
Types of Truck Accidents
Truck accidents are unique, and the types of truck accidents in New York City include jackknife accidents, wide-turn collisions, rear-end accidents, underride accidents, cargo spills and rollover accidents.
- Jackknife Accidents: This type of accident happens when the cab turns over 90° from the trailer. This is more common on slick roads, when inexperienced drivers are involved, or when the driver is braking hard.
- Wide-Turn Collisions: Wide-turn collisions occur when trucks swing wide before turning. When the truck moves into a lane occupied by another vehicle, it can cause a collision. This type of accident can happen if a truck driver fails to use turn signals or enters the lane too fast.
- Rear-End and Underride Accidents: Rear-end collisions can occur when vehicles driving ahead of large trucks stop suddenly. Without ample time to brake, the truck is likely to crash into the car from behind. Underride accidents happen when a truck stops suddenly and the car behind it lacks enough braking distance. The car can consequently slide under the trailer, often leading to fatal injuries.
- Cargo Spills and Falling Debris: If a truck is loaded improperly, the load can spill onto the road, causing an accident.
- Rollover Accidents: Trucks can lose control and roll on their side, crushing any object or vehicle they land on.
Common Causes of NYC Truck Accidents
Many NYC truck accidents are caused by environmental or unforeseen factors, but most crashes are avoidable if trucking companies and drivers remain alert and careful.
NYC truck accidents may result from:
- Driver fatigue, which can occur if a driver violates the rules for property-carrying. and long-haul routes into NYC. These include Hours of Service policies that set limits on driving time and require breaks.
- Distracted driving and cell phone use that can be hazardous on NYC’s high-traffic streets.
- Overloaded or improperly secured cargo spilling onto busy NYC roads.
- Blind spots on large commercial vehicles in tight NYC streets.
- Poor vehicle maintenance causing brake failures and tire blowouts.
Our lawyers have represented victims of truck accidents caused by many of these situations.
NYC Truck Laws: FMCSA, Local Law 96 and Liability Rules
NYC has several laws, rules and regulations governing commercial trucks. These policies keep truck drivers and the public safe. If any of these laws or regulations are broken, it could lead to a truck accident.
These rules and regulations include:
- FMCSA Federal Regulations: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration limits NYC truck drivers to an 11-hour driving limit, a 14-hour on-duty window, and a 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving. A driver must be off duty for 10 consecutive hours before returning to work.
- NYC Local Law 96: Under this law, commercial trucks must park overnight in designated areas. Non-commercial vehicles are not allowed to park in these areas.
- NYC Truck Route Network: Trucks with six tires or three or more axles are only allowed to use certain routes in an NYC borough.
- New York State Weight Limits and Inspections: The commercial truck weight limit is 80,000. Trucks must also go through inspections. If any defects are found, the vehicle must be placed out of service until the defects are fixed.
Violations of these laws can establish negligence on the part of the driver, the truck owner, the workers who loaded the vehicle or other at-fault parties. An experienced New York City truck accident lawyer will find all potential causes of liability in your case.
Who Is Liable for a Truck Accident in New York?
It is on a case-by-case basis, but the people who are liable normally is the driver of the truck and also whoever the truck is registered to, and or the company that the truck belongs to, the owner of the truck.
Section 388 of the New York Vehicle and Traffic Law provides that all operators and owners of most vehicles – trucks and trailers included – are “jointly and severally” liable for a truck accident.
That means your NYC truck accident claim can have multiple liable parties, including:
Truck Drivers
Truck drivers can be owner-operators, employees or independent contractors.
Owner-operators refer to self-employed truck drivers or businesses that operate delivery trucks for their clientele. These drivers should have “bobtail” insurance policies. This type of policy covers their liability for damage caused when using a trailer for personal use, rather than for their clients.
A trucking company may assume liability when operating for purposes related to the company or a client. When a company driver or employee is involved in an accident while on duty, New York law stipulates that the employer is liable for the employee’s negligent acts if they lead to a horrific crash.
Hiring a truck driver as an independent operator doesn’t automatically mean that the employer is legally responsible for any negligent act. However, in New York, the trucking company may be held liable for the negligent act of an independent contractor depending on the degree of control exercised over the truck driver.
For example, the employer might be responsible if the following conditions apply:
- The employer required the independent contractor truck driver to wear a uniform.
- The employer supplied them with insurance.
- The employer required the driver to deliver the cargo in specific ways.
- The employer paid the driver’s taxes from their paycheck.
- The employer may hold vicarious responsibility for the independent contractor’s negligent act.
The same applies when the employer is negligent in retaining and supervising an independent contractor, when the employer is under a non-delegable mandate to protect an NYC truck accident victim from danger, and when the delivery work is inherently dangerous.
Trucking companies
Trucking companies may incur vicarious liability for a truck accident if the driver is operating the truck for company purposes.
In other cases, the trucking company may be straight-out negligent for:
- Inadequate driver training.
- Allowing improper loading of the cargo.
- Pressuring drivers to meet unrealistic deadlines.
They might also be utilizing inexperienced drivers who overlook safety regulations and maintenance schedules.
Cargo loaders
Cargo loaders must operate carefully and in line with the law. Therefore, they can be liable for a truck accident if they load the truck improperly and, as a result, the cargo spills onto an oncoming vehicle or road and causes a catastrophic accident.
They can also be held responsible for overloading trucks in a way that makes them unsafe to operate.
The FMCSA regulations require the truck driver to:
- Maintain a logbook showcasing hours driven.
- Adhere to scheduled maintenance requirements.
- Document hours of operation and rest breaks.
- Non-use of alcohol and controlled substances.
- Proper loading of a truck, particularly when containing hazardous materials.
- Driving a maximum of eleven hours a day.
Breaking traffic laws, driving under the influence of drugs, etc., may be considered an act of negligence.
Employers of negligent third parties
In New York, the respondeat superior law stipulates that an employer is liable for their employees’ negligent acts while on the job.
Employers can also be held responsible for:
- Hiring unfit or unqualified drivers.
- Not supervising the driver properly.
- Not training the track driver adequately.
Transit companies
Transit companies can be held accountable for negligent acts such as selecting an unfit or unqualified truck company and failing to monitor the driver’s hours.
Government agencies responsible for maintaining the roads
The NYC municipality can be liable if the truck accident resulted from poor road maintenance. These include pothole-ridden roads, narrow lanes or highways without shoulders.
Manufacturers of Defective Truck Components
If defective components in the truck contributed to the truck accident, the product or truck manufacturer might be liable.
Generally, truck accident lawsuits rely on a finding of negligence. In other words, the plaintiff must show the following:
- The negligent party owed them a duty of care (for example, to drive reasonably).
- The party breached its duty of care through negligent acts.
- The breach caused the victim’s injuries.
- The breach was the proximate cause of the accident that resulted in harm to the victim.
- The victim sustained actual injuries or losses.
In case of product liability, the plaintiff will have to prove that:
- They suffered injuries or losses.
- The defective component was unreasonably dangerous.
- The driver was operating the truck as directed by the manufacturer, and maintenance was up to date.
You can also seek product liability claims under strict liability, eliminating the need for proof of negligence. In such a case, the victim must demonstrate that the defect originated in the product’s manufacturing process. That calls for analysis, testing and experts’ testimonies.
Common Injuries in NYC Truck Accidents
Common injuries in NYC truck accidents tend to be more serious than those in a regular auto accident, and they range from head injuries to death.
Trucks weigh 20–30 times as much as typical passenger vehicles. When they collide with motorists, cyclists or pedestrians, the resulting injuries can be catastrophic or even fatal.
Head injuries
It’s common for victims of truck accidents to sustain head injuries. A severe blow to the head may result in concussions or skull fractures, especially in the cranial bone. This can cause traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).
Broken bones
Truck accident victims can sustain severely broken bones that require expensive surgeries. Wrist injuries resulting from collisions with the steering wheel, dashboard or airbag are common.
Serious fractures can cause internal bleeding, nerve damage, permanent deformity and infection, hence the need for prompt medical attention.
Burns
People can suffer severe burns in truck accidents following a fuel tank explosion upon impact. The burns can also result from friction if the victim is ejected from the car or scraped against the car’s interior. Additionally, victims can sustain chemical burns when hazardous materials in transit spill on their skin.
Generally, burns are difficult to treat and may require surgery or plastic surgery.
Crushing injuries
Truck accidents can lead to mashed organs and compressed nerves. The resulting internal damages can be hard to locate and cause varying symptoms, from numbness to excruciating pain.
Lost limbs
A victim’s limb may be crushed and removed in an accident. Arms or legs can also be so severely damaged that they need to be removed for the victim to survive.
Neck injuries
Neck injuries are common, especially in rear-end truck accidents. Whiplash, for instance, occurs when the neck whips back and forth rapidly in a collision, damaging the neck’s bones and soft tissues.
Back injuries
Common back injuries resulting from truck accidents include spinal cord damage, herniated discs, compression fractures and soft tissue injuries.
Bony structures protect the spine. In between these structures are discs that serve as shock absorbers. When the bony structures or discs experience injuries, they can collapse, bulge or leak, leading to severe back injuries.
Paralysis
Spinal cord injuries can cause partial or total paralysis. Once the spinal cord is affected, it can disrupt communication between the brain and different body parts, making it hard for victims to move the injured body parts. In severe cases, the victim might lose the use of extremities or require help breathing, speaking and eating.
Wrongful death
Truck crashes are often fatal. If your loved one dies in a truck accident because of someone else’s negligent acts, you may receive compensation for their wrongful death.
Wrongful death damages include:
- Funeral expenses.
- Loss of financial support.
- Medical costs.
- Pain and suffering endured before their death.
- Loss of companionship or familial relationship.
Truck Accident Settlements and Compensation in New York
Settlements in New York truck accidents are generally higher than auto accident settlements because injuries may be more severe. Additionally, the limits for commercial trucking insurance tend to be higher. For example, our NYC truck lawyers obtained a $725,000 settlement for a pedestrian who was struck by a commercial truck, suffered a leg fracture, and required surgery on their spine.
You may be able to recover compensation for past and future medical expenses; lost wages and diminished earning capacity; pain and suffering; and long-term care costs such as rehabilitation, home modifications or in-home assistance. Victims can also pursue compensation for out-of-pocket costs and, in tragic cases, wrongful death damages on behalf of a loved one.
The New York statute of limitations (the time limit to file your case) is three years. This means that if you want to file a lawsuit, doing so as soon as possible will give you more legal options.
Seeking representation sooner can also allow your truck accident lawyer to preserve evidence in your claim, such as driver logs, maintenance records and more.
What to Do After a Truck Accident in NYC
After a truck accident in NYC, there are a few things you should do to protect your health as well as your legal options.
- Step 1: Call 911 — a police report is essential for truck accident claims.
- Step 2: Seek immediate medical care and document all injuries.
- Step 3: Photograph the scene, truck markings (USDOT number, carrier name) and vehicle positions.
- Step 4: Get witness information.
- Step 5: Do not speak with the trucking company or their insurance company. Don’t sign anything they ask you to sign without an attorney.
- Step 6: Consult a New York City truck accident lawyer as soon as possible to preserve critical evidence.
In some cases, the victim might be incapacitated. If you are a family member of someone who was seriously injured in a truck accident, you can help them through these steps if they are unable to do so.
NYC Truck Accident FAQs: Filing Deadlines, Liability and Settlements
Three years from the date of injury. Cases against New York City require a Notice of Claim within 90 days. Early filing preserves critical evidence — driver logs, black box data, carrier maintenance records and more.
Commercial truck accidents in NYC might have multiple liable sources, and typically, the insurance companies for these parties will pay out any settlements. Commercial trucking insurance policies are typically much larger than personal auto policies. Get a free case review from a licensed truck accident lawyer to learn more.
Settlements vary widely based on injury severity, liability and carrier coverage, so it’s impossible to give an accurate average settlement amount. But some cases with serious injuries and high insurance coverage limits have been settled for millions. An attorney evaluation is the only way to get an idea of the potential settlement for your specific case.
Yes — New York allows you to recover damages even if you are at fault, but your recovery is reduced by how much you’re deemed at fault. For example, if you’re deemed 20% at fault, you can recover 80% of damages.
Don’t respond to them on your own. Make sure you consult with an attorney before speaking with the trucking company or signing anything.
An attorney will subpoena the black box data, driver logbooks, carrier dispatch records and any other evidence. This evidence is time-sensitive — another reason to retain counsel quickly.
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- New York Personal Injury
- New York Car Accidents
- New York Truck Accidents
- New York Motorcycle Accidents
- New York Bicycle Accidents
- New York Pedestrian Accidents
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- New York Slip & Falls
- New York Wrongful Death
- New York Mesothelioma
- New York Train Accident
- New York Burn Injury
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