Truck Accidents In Buffalo, New York

Jed Dietrich, Esq. is a top rated Buffalo, New York personal injury lawyer.

Jed Dietrich, Esq. has settled many cases for 1 million dollars, or more, for injuries caused by the negligence of truck drivers.

You do not want to fight big truck companies without an experienced and aggressive lawyer on your side. Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his highly rated team of lawyers and paralegals battle for people injured by trucks in New York.

In New York State in 2017, there were over 12,838 crashes that involved large trucks. 93 of those accidents were fatal to the occupants of the smaller vehicle.

Trucks bring special risks to the road. Commercial trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. When these vehicles collide with smaller vehicles, severe damage can occur. The forces exerted onto the body during an accident involving a truck can cause catastrophic damage to your brain, spine, ligaments, muscles and other areas of your body because of a truck’s significant weight.

Trucks require more stopping distance than smaller vehicles. This can result in multiple-car-accidents.

If you were injured in a tractor trailer, semi-truck or other large vehicle accident, call our highly rated truck accident lawyers today at (716) 839-3939 for a free consultation. We are available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!

Our firm has significant experience with truck accident litigation and we can help.

On July 1, 2013, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) addressed the issue of truck driver fatigue. The FMCSA sets forth rules that penalize drivers who work too much. The safety regulations state that:

1. A truck driver can drive no more than 70 hours in a week;
2. If a truck driver drives 70 hours in a week, work may only resume after the driver has had 34 hours of consecutive rest which must include at least sleeping two nights between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m.;
3. Truck drivers must take a 30-minute break during the first eight hours of a shift;
4. Truck drivers can drive no more than 11 hours in a day; and
5. Truck drivers can work no more than 14 hours in a day.

These rules are monitored by a review of a truck driver’s logbook. A truck driver’s logbook contains the following information:

1. Identity of the driver;
2. Information about the exact truck being driven;
3. The number of miles travelled in a 24-hour period; and
4. Information about whether a truck driver is driving, sleeping, off-duty or on-duty but not driving.

The logbook is broken down into fifteen-minute intervals. It tracks a truck driver’s driving history.

Paper logbooks were used to record a truck operator’s driving information for many years. Using a paper logbook, however, makes it easier to lose track of hours. Negligent truck drivers occasionally falsify their paper logbooks to meet delivery deadlines.

In June of 2017, a truck driver fell asleep at the wheel in Buffalo, New York. The driver hit a walker who died as a result of that truck driver’s negligence.

If you suspect that you were in an accident as a result of a truck driver’s negligence, contact the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. as we are top rated truck accident lawyers with extensive experience. We can help you!

After you have been injured in a car accident involving a truck, we will scrutinize the logbook and compare black-box-data (recorded crash information) from the vehicle. We will also review other official documentation to determine if the trucker was negligent in the operation of his rig.

Because of the persistent problem with truck drivers working more hours than they should, the Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Rule was instituted on December 18, 2017. This rule requires that:

1. An Electronic Logging Device must be used by commercial drivers who are required to keep track of their hours on the road;
2. An Electronic Logging Device that is certified and registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration must be used; and
3. Supporting documentation must be kept to verify hours of driving and working in general.

Electronic Logging Devices track a driver’s every move. The Electronic Logging Device is linked to a global positioning system and the vehicle's engine. It can detect movement of a vehicle and even warns against speeding.

Jed Dietrich, Esq. and the top rated aggressive lawyers at the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. are exceptional Buffalo, New York truck accident lawyers that will thoroughly explain and investigate the Electronic Logging Devices of negligent truck drivers to tenaciously fight to obtain the best personal injury result for you.

Because truck drivers sit higher than many other vehicles, there is a common misconception that truck drivers have better visibility of the road.

Large commercial vehicles, however, have many blind spot areas where a truck driver is unable to see other cars, SUVs and vans. A blind spot is the area around a tractor trailer where the driver cannot directly view other vehicles.

The New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee has advised that vehicles should avoid the “No-Zone.” The No-Zone is an area around a truck where the driver cannot see you.

A truck driver’s “No-Zones” are:

1. Directly in front of the truck;
2. The length of the trailer and three lanes to the right side of the trailer;
3. Anywhere you cannot see the driver in the side-view mirror;
4. Half the length of the trailer on the left side; and
5. Directly behind the truck.

Knowing the most common blind spots of a tractor trailer or a semi-truck is particularly important when switching lanes.

You should always pass a large truck on the left. The largest blind spot for a truck driver is on the right side of their vehicle. Avoiding these areas can prevent potentially serious accidents.

An informational video on truck blind spots produced by AAA, American Bus Association, American Trucking Associations for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and Our Roads, Our Safety: Partnership for Responsible Driving can be found here.

Truck drivers have a responsibility to check all of the areas surrounding their vehicle while moving. If a truck driver fails to check blind spots before maneuvering, they may be at fault for causing an accident.

If you were injured as a result of a negligent truck driver call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. now at (716) 839-3939 for a free consultation. We are available 24 hours per day and 7 days per week. There is never a fee until we WIN for you.

If you are injured as a result of a truck driver’s negligence, the top rated lawyers at our truck accident firm will evaluate your case and fight for your damages.

Black’s Law Dictionary defines damages as, “the monetary amount a court can award a plaintiff.” Damages from a personal injury accident provide money for your lost wages, medical bills, pain and suffering and property damage.

There are generally two types of monetary damages available:

1. Compensatory Damages; and
2. Punitive Damages.

Compensatory damages are the “main” monetary awards provided in most truck accident litigation. Compensatory damages include money for:

1. Lost wages;
2. Medical bills;
3. Loss of enjoyment of life;
4. Pain and suffering; and
5. Property damage.

Punitive damages punish a defendant for gross negligence or reckless conduct.

We may be able to pursue both of these types of awards on your behalf.

In summary, our aggressive, tenacious and hardworking highly rated New York truck accident lawyers will evaluate your case for free and battle for your damages.

1. Why are Injuries From Truck Accidents More Serious Than Other Car Accidents?
2. Are There Special Regulations That Truck Drivers Must Follow?
3. Should I Hire the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. Lawyers?

Why are Injuries From Truck Accidents More Serious Than Other Car Accidents?

Because trucks weigh much more than most other vehicles on the road, you are more likely to be seriously injured in a truck accident than in other types of accidents involving cars, SUVs or vans.

Are There Special Regulations That Truck Drivers Must Follow?

Yes. Truck drivers must maintain a logbook that tracks their entire work day. A violation of a logbook rule can be evidence of a truck driver’s negligent operation of his tractor trailer, semi-truck or big rig.

The lawyers at the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. will review the truck driver’s logbooks and black box vehicle information to determine if the truck driver was negligent or reckless, thereby jeopardizing your safety.

Should I Hire the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. Lawyers?

Yes! Because truck accidents can result in permanent and severe injuries.

Even more important, insurance companies want to pay you the smallest possible amount.

You need a highly rated and experienced truck injury lawyer to battle to obtain the compensation that you deserve.

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!