Did you get hurt or lose a loved one in a truck wreck in Queens? Commercial vehicle accidents are all too common. At Hecht, Kleeger & Damashek, P.C., our Queens truck accident lawyers are here to help. We have the knowledge and skills you need to demand and win fair compensation.
Call us today at (212) 490-5700 or use our online contact form to reach out.
Why HKD?
Truck accidents differ from car crashes. You can’t handle them the same way. A major difference is that commercial vehicles can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. Collisions with them cause severe and catastrophic injuries, which lead to higher damage awards. The federal and state governments also regulate commercial trucking. After an accident, you need to determine whether one or more regulatory violations contributed to the crash.
All of this is to say that you need an experienced truck accident attorney for these cases. You shouldn’t rely on a personal injury lawyer focused on car accidents. Our team at Hecht, Kleeger & Damashek, P.C. understand the unique factors involved in truck wrecks.
Decades of Experience
After a severe trucking accident in Queens, you want a law firm with years of experience behind it. Because we’ve been doing this for so long, we act fast. We know how to dive into an investigation, including identifying relevant parties and preserving evidence while it’s out of our reach.
We know there’s no time to waste. We get to the bottom of what happened and file a lawsuit quickly. Our goal is to win you a maximum settlement as soon as possible.
A Record of Success
You want to recover as much compensation as possible after a truck accident. You should work with lawyers who know how to make that happen. We’ve recovered more than $500 million in settlements and verdicts for our clients. In some motor vehicle accident cases, we’ve won million and multimillion-dollar results. Talk with us about our results and what your case may be worth.
Free Consultations
It’s hard to decide whether to hire a Queens truck accident attorney without knowing more about your situation. Do you have a valid claim? How can a lawyer help? The best way to get your questions answered is by setting up a free consultation. You can reach out to us online or call (212) 490-5700. You’ll tell us your story, and we’ll explain your options.
Industry Recognition
Many well-respective legal organizations have recognized our work or service.
What Is a Commercial Vehicle?
Commercial vehicles are those that carry goods or passengers for compensation. The most common example is a semi-truck or 18-wheeler. But many of the large trucks and vehicles you see around Queens are commercial vehicles, including:
- Delivery trucks
- USPS mail trucks
- Flatbeds
- Cement mixers
- Dump truck
- Tow trucks
- Refrigerator trucks
- Tankers
- Hazardous materials vehicles
- Mobile cranes
- Garbage trucks
- Construction vehicles
Queens Truck Accidents We Handle
Don’t hesitate to call us after a:
- Jackknife truck accident
- Wide turn accident
- U-turn accident
- Runaway truck accident
- Brake failure accident
- Rollover accident
- Tire blowout accident
- Override accident
- Underride accident
- Head-on accident
- Read-end accident
- Side impact “T-Bone” accident
- Blindspotaccident
- Lane change accident
- Lost load/unsecured load accident
What To Do After a Truck Accident in Queens
Get Medical Help
At this point, you’re likely home or still receiving treatment at a hospital, such as New York-Presbyterian – Queens, Queens Hospital Center, Mount Sinai Queens, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, NYC Health + Hospitals, and Flushing Hospital Medical Center.
If you haven’t seen a doctor, we recommend you go right away. After a truck accident, a doctor should thoroughly examine you. You could have injuries you don’t realize, like a concussion. The pain in your side could be a cracked rib. Back pain could be a herniated disc. To pursue compensation in a truck accident claim, you need to document your injuries.
Get a Copy of the Police Report
If you aren’t sure about the police collision report, contact the precinct that covers the accident’s location – Queens has 15 precincts. The police may need the information to complete the report.
You also can obtain a copy of the report within 30 days. After 30 days, the police transfer the reports, and you have to request a copy from the DMV. We recommend you get a copy of the crash report for your free consultation.
Notify Your Insurer
If you were driving at the time, notify your auto insurance company of the crash. You don’t have to answer any questions or give a statement. If an adjuster asks for more than the necessary information, tell them you aren’t ready to answer questions.
Call a Queens Truck Accident Lawyer
Don’t try to handle this matter yourself. This is a complicated legal matter, and your focus should be on your recovery. Call us, and one of our experienced truck accident attorneys for Queens will deal with the insurance claim process and filing a lawsuit if necessary.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Queens
Commercial motor vehicle accidents happen for all sorts of reasons, from overly tired drivers to vehicle defects. You need a truck accident lawyer who knows how to get to the bottom of what happened and why.
Common contributing factors include:
- Drowsy driving
- Distracted driving
- Failing to keep a lookout
- Driving impaired due to alcohol or drugs
- Hours of service violations
- Safety regulation violations
- Unqualified truck operators/licensing violations
- Inexperienced truck operators
- Speeding
- Truck operator error
- Negligent hiring and retention
- Negligent trucking maintenance
- Truck or part defect
- Equipment malfunction
- Poorly secured cargo
- Overloading
- Bad weather
- Road construction
- Work zones
Truck Accident Liability
Another factor in trucking accidents is that the at-fault party might not be who you expect. You might think the truck driver is to blame. But maybe they did nothing wrong. Liability can fall on a company you’ve never heard of.
Liable parties may include:
- The truck driver
- The trucking company
- A truck manufacturer or retailer
- The cargo owner
- The loading company
- A vendor
- A local government
- A government agency
Federal and New York Trucking Regulations
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration heavily regulates motor carriers in the U.S. Those are businesses that operate commercial vehicles. The regulations include a wide range of topics, including:
- Specialized training, licenses, and endorsements
- Hours of service limits
- Truck weight and size limits
- Inspection requirements
- Maintenance requirements
- Alcohol and drug testing
- Low BAC limits
During our truck accident investigations, we dig into the trucker and trucking company’s backgrounds. We look for any evidence of possible regulatory violations. A violation might be related to the cause of the crash and help us prove negligence.
Common Truck Accident Injuries
Our Queens truck accident attorneys have helped people suffering from:
- Bone fractures
- Lacerations and abrasions
- Dislocated joints and hyperextensions
- Soft tissue injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Whiplash
- Knee injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Partial or complete paralysis
- Amputations
- Crush injuries
- Nerve damage
- Severe burns
- Sensory loss
- Psychological trauma
Compensation for Truck Accident Injuries
Whether we file a lawsuit or focus on the insurance claim, our goal is to get you the best financial recovery possible. The liable party should fully compensate you for your physical, emotional, and financial injuries.
Personal injury damages include:
- Current and future medical bills
- Lost wages
- Property damage
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental anguish and emotional distress
- Permanent disfigurement
- Disability
- Reduced earning capacity when you can’t work
- Loss of normal life
- Reduced quality of life
- Loss of consortium
What Is My Queens Truck Accident Case Worth?
The value of a truck accident case depends on many factors, including the severity of your injuries and insurance policy limits. Luckily, commercial vehicles must carry a lot more insurance coverage than the typical driver. That gives you a better chance of recovering full and fair compensation.
To learn more about what your case might be worth, schedule a free consultation. We’ll talk with you about what influences final settlement amounts and court awards.
Queens Truck Accidents FAQs
- Do I Have To File a Lawsuit After a Truck Accident? It depends on the circumstances. Often, filing a lawsuit is necessary for us to take advantage of discovery. We can further our investigation. We’ll talk with you about when filing is helpful or necessary.
- How Long Do I Have To File a Lawsuit? New York’s personal injury statute of limitation gives you three years from the accident date to file. Cases involving a municipality have a shorter deadline. We’ll discuss when you might have more or less time.
- What if My Spouse Died in a Truck Crash? If you lost a spouse, child, or parent in a trucking accident, talk with us about New York wrongful death lawsuits. Your family might have the right to demand compensation.
- The Insurance Company Asked for a Statement. What Do I Do? Call a lawyer first. Politely decline to give any insurance company a statement until you’ve gotten legal advice. We’ll help you practice what to say and how to say it.
- The Insurance Company Is Blaming Me. What Do I Do? Call a lawyer. Insurance companies try to limit how much they have to pay. You can and should fight back. Don’t accept blame for a crash you didn’t cause.
Let a Queens Truck Accident Lawyer Help You
You don’t have to go through the truck accident claims process on your own. You’re better off hiring an experienced law firm to handle it. We investigate and collect evidence, which we use to prove the other party was negligent. That’s hard to do on your own, especially when you’re hurt.
If you’re ready to talk with us about the crash, call us at (212) 490-5700. Or you can use our online form to request a free consultation. There are no upfront fees. We handle the initial costs of bringing your case, and you only pay us if we recover compensation.
CLIENT REVIEWS
05/01/2015
“I cannot recommend Jon Damashek highly enough. I attribute the favorable outcome of my case to his consummate and tireless dedication and tenacity. Just as important, he was truly there with me every step of the way. He was very…
5
Mike, HKD CLIENT
05/01/2015
“I had the opportunity to work with Jon Damashek and had an amazing experience. I have known Jon for many years and always felt very comfortable relying on his expertise, knowledge of the law, and more importantly – his ability…
5
Steven, HKD CLIENT
06/05/2019
I had the opportunity of having this amazing team of lawyers work on my case. When I first met with Jordan Hecht and Michael Kusz, I really liked their energy and the spunk that they had, it meant business and…
5
Anonymous, HKD CLIENT
07/05/2015
I cannot recommend Jon Damashek highly enough. I attribute the favorable outcome to my case to his consummate and tireless dedication and tenacity. Just as important, he was truly there with me every step of the way. He was very…
5
Mike W., HKD CLIENT
07/05/2015
I had the opportunity to work with Jon Damashek and had an amazing experience. I have known Jon for many years and always felt very comfortable relying on his expertise and knowledge of the law and more importantly his ability…
5
Steven B., HKD CLIENT
07/05/2015
I have worked with countless attorneys over the years and Jon Damashek stands out among them. I have seen first hand him advocate for his clients vigorously. He fights for the rights of the seriously injured, does not back down…
5
Wendy B., HKD CLIENT
07/05/2015
I know all three named partners at this firm and highly recommend them. They are very professional and tireless advocates for their clients. If you need a personal injury attorney, you cannot do better than Hecht, Kleeger & Damashek.
5
Eric G., HKD CLIENT
07/05/2015
After meeting with Jon Damashek I knew immediately he was the right attorney for me. I had met with other attorneys in the past, but Jon’s experience, knowledge, and track record were most impressive. I highly recommend Jon Damashek and…
5
Ryan G., HKD CLIENT
07/05/2015
After meeting a half dozen lawyers at different firms, I decided to go to Hecht, Kleeger and Damashek. As soon as I met Jon Damashek, I knew I had to look no further. Mr. Damashek made me feel at ease…
5
Michael R., HKD CLIENT
07/05/2015
I retained Hecht, Kleeger & Damashek for a serious personal injury case. They were very professional and managed to obtain a settlement for me that far exceeded my expectations. I would strongly recommend this firm for anyone’s legal needs.
5
Peter M., HKD CLIENT