BROOKLYN TRUCK ACCIDENT LAWYER

Brooklyn Personal Injury Attorney » Brooklyn Truck Accident Lawyer

If you’re the victim of a Brooklyn semi-truck accident, you need legal representation. A seasoned Brooklyn truck accident lawyer will help you recover compensation from at-fault drivers and their insurance companies. The attorneys at Chopra & Nocerino stand ready to fight for you. We understand vehicle accidents can be overwhelming and will ensure you receive the support necessary to focus on your recovery.

How Can Chopra & Nocerino Help With Your Brooklyn Truck Accident Claim?

Chopra & Nocerino have more than 20 years of combined experience fighting for personal injury victims harmed in Brooklyn truck accidents. Our award-winning attorneys are familiar with New York injury law’s complexities and know how to beat insurance companies that don’t want to pay what you deserve. We refuse to accept a settlement that doesn’t fairly compensate our clients and will take your case to court to secure optimal compensation.

We have represented numerous clients in Brooklyn truck accident claims. Some of our top settlements and verdicts include:

$2.55 Million – Our female client was sitting as a passenger in a parked vehicle when an armored truck rolled into her. We were prepared to go to trial, and the jury had been selected but the defense decided to settle before trial began.
$2.25 Million – Settlement obtained while in trial for our client, who was a passenger in a vehicle struck by a commercial truck. The accident resulted in a 2-level disc replacement surgery.
$1.5 Million – Our client was struck by a semi-truck while crossing a Brooklyn street. The injury required a single-level discectomy to the cervical spine and surgery on the left shoulder.

When you hire a Brooklyn truck accident lawyer from Chopra & Nocerino, expect nothing but the best. We devote our full attention to your case from the minute you walk in our door.

Brooklyn Neighborhoods We Serve

Driving through Brooklyn is not easy. As New York City’s most populous borough, Brooklyn’s 2.6 million residents cover just 69.4 square miles. People converge daily on Brooklyn’s roads to commute to work, deliver goods, or run errands. They navigate through chaotic, narrow streets and a mix of cars, motorcycles, taxis, and commercial trucks. As a result, drivers are always at risk of an accident that may cause severe damage and debilitating injuries.

Crown Heights
Bensonhurst
Bushwick
Park Slope
Borough Park

Kensington
Flatbush
Sunset Park
Bedford Stuyvesant
Williamsburg

What Compensation Is Available After a Truck Accident in Brooklyn, NY?

A truck’s size, weight, and mass are much greater than cars, motorcycles, pickups, and other vehicles. Commercial trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds—much more than the standard car weight of 4,000 pounds. Their size makes them formidable in an accident. The force and weight of a truck are enough to cause extreme damage and injuries even when traveling at low speeds.

If you’re involved in a truck accident, your potential compensation depends on several factors, including the extent of your injuries, insurance caps, and who is at fault. Victims may collect a combination of economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages include compensation for measurable costs, including:

Past and future medical expenses: Hospital stays, surgeries, doctor’s visits, diagnostic exams, physical therapy, rehabilitation and medication
Lost wages: Reimbursement for any unearned income during your recovery period
Loss of earning capacity: If you cannot return to your job because of disfigurement or injuries.
Household expenses: Compensation for hiring outside help to assist you with living activities your injuries prevent you from handling

Non-economic damages include compensation for pain and suffering, emotional distress, mental trauma, and loss of enjoyment of life.

Fatal Truck Accidents | Wrongful Death Claims

Not everyone will survive a truck accident. If your loved one succumbs to truck accident injuries, you may be eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit.

Wrongful death damages in NY may include:

“I was extremely satisfied with the amount of the settlement that Chopra & Nocerino was able to obtain in my case. The firm doggedly pursued the insurance companies to bring about such a munificent settlement. Moreover, the firm always conducted itself in a highly professional manner. I would recommend them to anyone who is in need of a personal injury law firm.”

– Donald L.

The Brooklyn truck accident attorneys at Chopra & Nocerino will determine your case’s worth and fight for the compensation you deserve.

How Long Will It Take To Resolve My Truck Accident Case?

It depends. Some cases take weeks or months to resolve, while others may take a year or longer. If the defendant offers a fair settlement, you can avoid trial and move on quickly. Cases that go to trial may take several years to complete.

Who Is Liable for a Truck Accident in Brooklyn, NY?

There may be multiple responsible parties in a Brooklyn truck accident, especially if the truck is commercial or government-owned. A few parties that may be liable include:

Truck driver: Commercial truck drivers must follow New York’s service hours, which limit driving to 11 hours following at least 10 hours off duty, among other constraints. They also must adhere to the rules of the road.
Employers: Transport companies must ensure their drivers follow New York truck laws, including service hour restrictions. Their commercial trucks must contain electronic logging devices to track driver time.
Truck owners: New York’s vicarious liability law may hold truck owners accountable for any injuries or deaths caused by negligent truck drivers.
Manufacturers: Defective truck parts may fail, causing an accident. Manufacturers are liable for damages caused by defective components.
Governmental entities: Local governmental agencies are liable for accidents caused by city dump trucks, fire trucks, and other government-owned vehicles.

How Chopra & Nocerino Can Help Commercial Truck Accident Victims

Sorting out liability for an accident can be complex. Our attorneys will investigate your crash from top to bottom. We’ll review accident footage and police reports, collaborate with expert witnesses, and investigate vehicle defects. After assembling all available documentation, we’ll deal directly with liable insurance companies to get you fair compensation.

Some of the insurers who may contribute to your damages include:

The goal is to hold the appropriate parties accountable and obtain just compensation for your losses.

How Long Do I Have To File a Truck Accident Lawsuit in Brooklyn?

The New York personal injury statute of limitations generally gives you three years from the truck accident to file a lawsuit. If you don’t act before that deadline, your case will likely be time-barred, preventing you from collecting damages.

If the defendant is a state or local government, you must file a Notice of Claim within 90 days of the accident. You must also file your lawsuit within one year and 90 days. Failure to do so is grounds for dismissal.

Remember, the longer you wait to pursue a claim, the harder it is to gather the evidence needed to prove your case. It’s best to contact a Brooklyn truck accident law firm promptly so they can start the documentation process.

What if I'm Partially at Fault for the Accident with a Semi-Truck?

New York follows a pure comparative fault system. That means you can still collect compensation even if you’re partially responsible for the truck accident. However, courts may reduce your award by the percentage you’re accountable for the collision.

For instance, assume you are 30 percent responsible for a truck accident and incur $150,000 in damages. You could collect up to $105,000 in compensation but not the remaining $35,000.

Chopra & Nocerino has helped multiple clients recover compensation in complex cases where the fault was disputed. In one case involving a fire truck, the local government argued it was protected under the “emergency doctrine” since it was responding to an emergency call. We still recovered $1.475 million for our client.

Does Insurance Cover All Damages From a Truck Accident?

Insurance will not necessarily cover all of your damages from a truck accident. It depends on the severity of your injuries, insurance limits, and who was at fault for the accident. Most insurance policies will cover economic and non-economic damages arising from the collision. However, they won’t cover any punitive damages. A court may award punitive damages if the at-fault party’s actions were particularly egregious.

If you receive an award for punitive damages, the at-fault party is responsible for paying them directly. However, punitive damage awards are rare.

What Are the Common Causes of Brooklyn Truck Accidents?

From January 2023 through March 2024, there were 5,083 truck accidents in Brooklyn, resulting in 2,045 injuries and 20 deaths. Some of the most frequent causes of Brooklyn truck accidents include:

Driver-related Issues

Over 30 percent of truck accidents occur due to driver-related factors. Driver inattention caused 1,281 Brooklyn truck accidents last year, and driver fatigue can also cause a collision. Drugs and alcohol use account for a small portion of Brooklyn truck accidents.

Improper Driving Behavior

Truck drivers must pay attention to their surroundings, including other vehicles. Passing too closely, failing to signal a lane change, and failing to yield to a lane change may result in 18-wheeler accidents.

Environmental Factors and Conditions

Sometimes, bad weather and poor road conditions play a role in truck accidents. Icy and wet roads, unrepaired potholes, and road repairs may increase the risk of a collision.

Vehicle-Related Issues

Commercial trucks can haul extremely heavy cargo. Overweight trucks increase the crash risk because they're harder to maneuver and can't respond as quickly to driver corrections, such as sudden braking. Manufacturer defects, such as defective brakes or tires, also can contribute to an accident.

Where Do Most Truck Accidents Occur in Brooklyn, and How Serious Are the Injuries?

While a truck accident can happen anywhere in Brooklyn, there are a few roads where collisions occur more frequently. The most recent data available from the city show that truck accidents have occurred on the following streets and highways:

Brooklyn & Atlantic Avenue
Brooklyn Queens Expressway and Atlantic Avenue
Gowanus Expressway
Belt Parkway

Kings Highway
Flatbush Avenue
Linden Boulevard

Because trucks are much heavier than other vehicles, the force from an accident can cause catastrophic injuries or death. Injuries sustained in truck accidents include:

Spinal cord injuries
Nerve damage
Fractures

Recovery from injuries suffered in a truck accident may be long and arduous, especially if your injuries are severe.

Get a Free Consultation With Our Brooklyn Truck Accident Attorneys

If you’re involved in a truck accident, seeking legal guidance as soon as you’re physically able is imperative. The attorneys at Chopra & Nocerino have vast experience representing personal injury victims, and we’ve recovered millions of dollars in damages for our clients.

To speak with a skilled and experienced truck accident lawyer in Brooklyn, complete our online intake form or call (855) NYC-HURT.