On Saturday, June 24 around 6:00 a.m., a car crashed into a tractor-trailer in Long Island City, Queens.

According to CBS New York , the driver of the car crashed into a tractor-trailer, and the collision sheered off the top of the car as it slid under the truck. The police believe the driver of the car ran a red light and broadsided the big rig while traveling on Queens Boulevard. The driver, 28-year-old Steven Narvaez died at the scene of the accident. Emergency personnel took his passenger, a 17-year-old girl, to Elmhurst Hospital where staff evaluated she was in critical condition.

The truck driver was unharmed and remained at the scene. It appeared that police conducted a sobriety test on the truck driver and officials are investigating the crash, but made no arrest.

Truck Accidents

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) heavily regulates the trucking industry. Truck drivers are subject to regulations that limit the number of hours they are allowed to drive. Most trucks have an electronic control module (ECM), also called a black box. The ECM records data about the truck operation, such as times driven, speed, braking, etc.

Truck Accident Statistics

An estimated 500,000 truck accidents occur annually. However, the US Department of Transportation reports that passenger vehicle drivers are responsible for more than 75% of the accidents.

In 2015, 16 percent of the deaths in truck accidents were truck drivers, 69 percent were occupants of passenger vehicles and 15 percent were pedestrians, bicyclists or motorcyclists according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

For Serious or Fatal Truck Accidents Seek Legal Help

When another driver causes a serious accident, you should seek legal help as soon as possible. Sackstein Sackstein & Lee, LLP  has extensive experience dealing with truck accidents and other vehicle accident cases and can help you protect your rights to recover compensation.