Manhattan Truck Accident Lawyers
More Than 50 Years Fighting for Manhattan Truck Accident Victims
Because of the weight and size of tractor-trailers, 18-wheelers, and other large commercial vehicles, truck accidents produce the most severe injuries of any motor vehicle collision category. Victims face simultaneous physical recovery and a complex legal process to pursue compensation.
Many truck accident victims sustain severe injuries that permanently alter their quality of life, including:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Spinal cord damage
- Neck injury
- Paralysis
- Severe burns
- Nerve damage
- Internal bleeding
- Crushed limbs or organs
- Amputations
- Disfigurement
- Permanent disability
These injuries don’t just affect the body. They reshape every aspect of daily life and demand thorough medical evaluation alongside well-supported legal evidence to pursue a fair outcome.
If you’ve been injured in a truck accident in Manhattan, contact an attorney as soon as possible. We can investigate what happened, identify who is responsible, and pursue compensation for your pain, suffering, medical costs, and financial hardship. We represent clients across the borough, from Inwood and Harlem to the Financial District and Chinatown.
Call us at (646) 846-4776 to schedule a free consultation with our Manhattan truck accident lawyers. We offer Spanish-speaking services!
Holding Negligent Drivers Accountable After a Manhattan Truck Crash
To pursue a truck accident claim in New York, you must prove the crash resulted from another party’s negligence or recklessness. Many truck accidents happen because drivers disregard traffic signals, speed, drive under the influence, or fall asleep behind the wheel. These behaviors violate state law and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations designed to protect everyone sharing the road.
Establishing fault is rarely straightforward. Electronic logging device (ELD) data, maintenance records, and hours-of-service logs all become critical evidence. Complex cases often require accident reconstruction and expert testimony to connect a driver’s conduct to the injuries your family suffered.
Who Can Be Liable in a Truck Accident?
Truck accidents frequently involve multiple parties, and determining liability requires a detailed investigation into the crash and everyone connected to it. The driver is often the starting point, but other individuals and companies may share responsibility.
Potentially liable parties include:
- Truck driver: May be held responsible for negligent conduct such as distracted driving, speeding, or driving under the influence.
- Trucking company: Can be liable for failing to maintain vehicles, inadequately training drivers, or pressuring employees to violate FMCSA hours-of-service rules, which limit drivers to 11 hours of driving within a 14-hour on-duty window and require 10 consecutive hours off-duty before the next driving period.
- Truck manufacturer: May face a product liability claim if a design defect or faulty part contributed to the crash.
- Cargo loaders: Can be responsible if improperly loaded or unsecured cargo shifted and destabilized the truck.
- Maintenance providers: A third-party service that failed to properly inspect or repair the vehicle may be held accountable for resulting mechanical failures.
- Other drivers: Passenger vehicle drivers who contributed to the crash through unsafe maneuvers or failure to yield may also share liability.
We review maintenance logs, inspection records, accident reports, and federal regulatory compliance to identify every negligent party and pursue accountability.
What to Do After a Truck Accident in Manhattan
The steps you take immediately after a truck accident can have a direct impact on your health and your legal claim.
Steps to take after a truck accident include:
- Seek Medical Attention: Move to a safe area if possible and call 911. Your health comes first.
- Document the Scene: Photograph vehicle damage, skid marks, road signs, and surroundings from multiple angles. For commercial trucks, photograph the US DOT number displayed on the vehicle, which identifies the driver and trucking company beyond what a license plate reveals.
- Exchange Information: Collect contact, license, and insurance details from all drivers. Note the truck’s company name and vehicle number.
- Gather Witness Details: Ask bystanders for their names and phone numbers. Eyewitness accounts can support your claim.
- Request a Police Report: Make sure officers document the incident. This report is critical evidence.
- Contact an Attorney Promptly: Surveillance footage and other evidence can disappear quickly. Reaching out to our Manhattan truck accident lawyers as soon as possible can help preserve what your case needs.
Wrongful Death Claims After a Fatal Truck Accident
Not every truck accident victim survives. When a fatal crash takes a loved one, families are left grieving while facing funeral costs, lost income, and financial uncertainty. We help surviving family members pursue compensation for pain and suffering, medical expenses, and loss of companionship.
In New York, wrongful death claims are governed by EPTL 5-4.1 and carry a two-year filing deadline running from the date of death. Filing a wrongful death claim allows your family to hold the negligent driver or trucking company accountable for the harm they caused.
Why Manhattan’s Streets Make Truck Accidents So Dangerous
Manhattan’s dense street grid, narrow lanes, high pedestrian volume, and constant construction activity create conditions that put large commercial vehicles at serious collision risk. The FDR Drive and West Side Highway carry heavy commercial truck traffic and are frequent sites of serious crashes. Delivery trucks, freight vehicles, construction trucks, moving trucks, and sanitation vehicles move through the borough at all hours.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, passenger vehicle occupants accounted for 62% of all fatalities in large truck crashes in 2024. Pedestrians and cyclists represent a significant additional share, a vulnerability that is especially pronounced on Manhattan streets. Growth in e-commerce has intensified commercial vehicle volume across the borough, adding driver fatigue and schedule pressure that surface regularly in the tractor-trailer accident cases we handle.
Hear From Our Happy Clients
-
"Always answers when I call."
Always answers when I call.- Satisfied Client
Why Manhattan Clients Choose Loscalzo & Loscalzo, P.C.
Truck accident cases demand focused, sustained attention from attorneys who understand New York law and the specific pressures these claims create. We’ve represented injury victims in Manhattan for more than 50 years, with a practice devoted entirely to personal injury law. Every attorney on our team works exclusively on behalf of injured people, not on commercial, corporate, or insurance-side matters.
What sets our representation apart:
- One Attorney, Start to Finish: We assign a single dedicated attorney to each case from initial consultation through resolution. You’ll know who is handling your case and have a consistent point of contact throughout.
- More Than 100 Years of Combined Experience: Our attorneys bring over 100 years of combined legal experience to every case, including catastrophic injury claims and wrongful death arising from fatal truck accidents.
- Exclusive Personal Injury Focus: We handle nothing but personal injury cases. That focus shapes how we investigate, negotiate, and, when necessary, litigate truck accident claims.
- Free Consultation, No Upfront Fees: We offer a free initial case evaluation so you can understand your options without financial pressure. We don’t charge upfront legal fees.
- Meetings Where You Need Them: When you’re recovering at home or in the hospital, we come to you. We also meet at your place of business when that’s more practical.
- Spanish-Speaking Services: We provide support for Spanish-speaking clients to make legal guidance accessible to more members of our community.
- Careful Case Evaluation: We accept cases we believe have a valid legal basis, which keeps our attention focused on every client we represent.
- Professional Affiliations: Our firm holds memberships with legal organizations including the American Bar Association (ABA) and the New York State Trial Lawyers Association (NYSTLA).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Sue for a Truck-Related Mechanical Malfunction?
Yes. If a mechanical failure or design defect contributed to the crash, you may file a claim against the trucking company or manufacturer. These parties are legally required to keep their vehicles safe and properly maintained. An investigation can uncover negligence in design or upkeep and form the basis of your case.
What Damages Can I Recover in a Truck Accident Lawsuit?
Recoverable damages may include compensation for pain and suffering, past and future medical expenses, lost income, property loss, future medical care, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life. The specific damages available depend on the facts of your case. Our truck accident attorneys can assess which categories of loss apply to your situation.
How Long Do I Have to File a Truck Accident Claim in New York?
Under CPLR 214(5), personal injury claims carry a three-year deadline from the date of the accident. Wrongful death claims have a two-year deadline under EPTL 5-4.1. If a government vehicle was involved, a Notice of Claim must be filed within 90 days, and the lawsuit itself must be filed within one year and 90 days. Missing any of these deadlines may bar your right to compensation entirely.
What Are Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Manhattan?
Truck accidents in Manhattan frequently involve driver fatigue, hours-of-service violations, poor vehicle maintenance, distracted driving, and improperly loaded cargo. City-specific conditions, including heavy pedestrian traffic, narrow lanes, and active construction zones, add risk that is distinct from highway driving. These factors often appear together in serious crash investigations.
How Does Insurance Work in Truck Accident Cases?
A truck accident can involve multiple insurers covering the driver, trucking company, cargo owner, or manufacturer, with each policy carrying different terms and coverage limits. Identifying all applicable coverage sources is a critical step in pursuing compensation. Our attorneys can work through those layers and pursue claims against every available source of recovery.
What Sets Us Apart?
-
Free Initial Consultation
-
We Keep You Informed From Start To Finish
-
We Offer Spanish-Speaking Services
-
We Can Travel To You, If Needed
-
You Have Direct Access To An Attorney
-
Over 50 Years of Legal Experience
