Rear-End Truck Accidents In Buffalo, New York

In 2016, a 47-year-old man was injured after being rear-ended by a truck while traveling on the I-90 in Buffalo, New York. Jed Dietrich, Esq. fought to recover $958,427.20 for the man by establishing that the truck driver was following the vehicle too closely and was at fault for the accident.

When a 46-year-old man suffered a spinal fracture and knee injury after an accident with a tanker truck that kept him from working, Jed Dietrich, Esq. battled to obtain $700,000.00 to compensate the man for his for lost wages, damages and pain and suffering.

Jed Dietrich, Esq. was able to recover $450,000.00 for a 47-year-old man that needed cervical surgery after being in a rear-ended by a tractor-trailer when the driver blacked out and pushed his car into four other cars.

A rear-end accident with a tractor-trailer forced a 31-year-old woman to obtain left shoulder and bicep surgery. Jed Dietrich, Esq. successfully obtained $250,000.00 for the woman after four depositions and mediation.

Over the past 2 decades, Jed Dietrich, Esq. has a proven track record of winning Buffalo, New York truck accident cases for his clients.

If you, or a loved one, have been injured in a rear-end truck accident, you want the best personal injury attorney in Buffalo, New York. Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his elite and top rated team of Buffalo, New York truck accident lawyers have settled $175,000,000.00 on behalf of their clients. We will battle to obtain the best possible result for YOU!

Rear-End Truck Accidents

A rear-end accident is when one vehicle collides with the back of the vehicle in front of it. This type of collision occurs frequently, especially with larger automobiles like trucks and tractor-trailers.

Trucks can weigh upwards of 80,000 pounds, whereas the average passenger vehicle is 5,000 pounds. Trucks take much longer to stop, and when traveling at high speeds, the collisions between trucks and smaller passenger vehicles can be devastating. Some common reasons that rear-end truck, big rig and semi accidents occur are:

1. Following Too Closely: The conditions on the road can change in an instant. If a truck is tailgating another vehicle, a sudden stop can lead to a rear-end crash in Buffalo, New York.
2. Distracted Driving: Texting, eating and inattention to the road can cause a driver to be unaware of their surroundings and fail to stop in time.
3. Traffic: Congested roads and condensed traffic patterns force vehicles to drive close together, increasing the risk of rear-end truck, big rig and semi crashes.

If you have been injured in a rear-end truck accident, you need a superior truck accident attorney in Buffalo, New York that is familiar with rear-end collisions. Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his superb team of lawyers at the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. will zealously fight to obtain the best possible result for you.

Rear-End Truck Accident Statistics

A truck travels over 500 feet between the time that the truck driver realizes that there is a dangerous situation on the road, and the time that the truck comes to a complete stop.

In the Large Truck Crash Causation Study, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration concluded that 87% of truck crashes were the fault of the driver. Of these accidents, 38% were due to decisions that the driver made.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration also stated that the most common type of truck collision is a rear-end crash, which occurs 29% of the time.

The table below illustrates the number of truck accident injuries per year in the United States:

Annual Truck Accident Injuries In United States

Statistics via: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Truck accidents, big rig collisions and semi crashes, especially rear-end collisions, are very common on busy roads and interstate highways in Buffalo, New York.

You need a superb and top rated, recognized Best Lawyer of America, Buffalo, New York truck accident lawyer that has extensive experience in rear-end collisions. Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his elite staff at the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. have successfully settled a vast number of personal injury cases where one was injured in a rear-end crash with a truck. If you have been injured, call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. at (716) 839-3939 today for a free consultation.

Stopping Distance And Rear-End Truck Crashes

It takes the average driver 1.5 seconds to recognize a hazard on the road, and make the decision to apply the brakes. In that time period, a vehicle that is moving at 65 miles-per-hour will travel 143 feet. Once the brakes are applied, it takes a normal passenger vehicle approximately 245 feet to come to a complete stop. The average truck requires over 450 feet.

The weight and speed of large trucks makes it very difficult for drivers to respond quickly to dangerous conditions. In total, from the time that a truck driver perceives a dangerous situation to the time the vehicle stops, a truck travels close to the length of two football fields.

Additionally, there are several factors that can increase the stopping distance of a truck. These include, but are not limited to:

1. Weather: If it is snowing or raining, the visibility of a truck driver is decreased, which could cause a big rig, tractor-trailer or semi truck operator to brake more slowly. When ice accumulates on the road, the stopping distance of a truck is also increased because the tires lack the traction necessary to slow down an 80,000-pound vehicle.
2. Freight Load: Trucks transport heavy freight. When a truck is fully loaded, the increased weight makes it more difficult for the vehicle to slow down and stop.
3. Traction: When pavement is worn out, it is more difficult for the tires of the truck to grip the road. This increases the distance that the truck travels before safely stopping.
4. Brake Lag: In some cases, there is a delay from the time that the driver puts his foot on the brake to when the truck actually begins to slow down. This is a mechanical problem with trucks that has contributed to rear-end accidents.

There are several factors that go into a personal injury case involving a rear-end tractor-trailer, big rig truck and semi truck accident. In this situation, you need a top rated personal injury law firm with a proven track record of handling rear-end truck accident cases in Buffalo, New York. If a tractor-trailer, big rig truck or semi truck has rear-ended you, call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. today at (716) 839-3939.

Determining Fault In Rear-End Tractor-Trailer Accidents

Section 1129 of the New York Vehicle and Traffic Law requires drivers to maintain a safe distance between their vehicle and the vehicle in front of them. In most cases, if a driver is aggressively tailgating you or driving recklessly, then they are liable in the event of a rear-end accident.

However, there are some circumstances where the fault in rear-end crash can be shared, or even completely on the front driver. Some examples of this include:

1. If the front driver makes an illegal traffic maneuver or violates the rules of the road;
2. If the front driver stops abruptly to turn and does not signal;
3. If the front driver stops or reverses the vehicle and their brake lights do not work; and
4. If the front driver has a flat tire or mechanical problem, and does not pull over to fix it and a rear-end crash occurs.

In these cases, the driver who has been struck can actually be held liable, in whole or in part, for the accident. The legal doctrine of comparative negligence allows a jury to allocate fault between both parties involved in the accident, which reduces the amount of damages a plaintiff can recover based upon their own percentage of fault.

For example, if Driver A slams on their brakes and crosses into a turning lane without signaling to try and make the traffic light, and Driver B hits them from behind, both drivers may be held liable. It might be determined that Driver A, who cut across the traffic lanes, was 75% responsible, and Driver B, who hit Driver A, was 25% responsible. Driver B may sue Driver A for injuries sustained as a result of the rear-end accident. If the jury awards Driver B $50,000 in damages, the award would be reduced by his percentage of fault, 25%. Driver B would be able to recover $37,500.

If you are injured in a rear-end accident with a tractor-trailer, big rig driver or semi truck driver you need a superior and top rated personal injury attorney in Buffalo, New York. Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his seasoned team of trial lawyers and paralegals understand the nuances of rear-end accident liability and will use their experience to fight to obtain the best results possible for your personal injury case. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. is aggressive, tenacious and hardworking and is available 24 hours a day at (716) 839-3939.

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Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at (716) 839-3939 so that our aggressive, tenacious and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Buffalo, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!

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