Sackstein Sackstein & Lee, LLP
154-08 Northern Boulevard
#2C
Flushing, NY 11354
Telephone: (718) 587-0911
A crash with a tractor-trailer, box truck, or dump truck is not just a bigger car accident. A fully loaded tractor-trailer can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, and the injuries these collisions cause are often catastrophic. Truck accident claims also involve federal safety rules, commercial insurance policies, and companies that send their own investigators to the scene within hours.
Sackstein Sackstein & Lee, LLP has represented injured New Yorkers since 1952. From our office in Flushing, we help people hurt in truck crashes throughout Queens hold drivers and trucking companies accountable. Consultations are free, and you pay no fee unless we recover compensation for you.
Commercial trucks are banned from New York City’s parkways, so they are concentrated on the borough’s expressways and designated truck routes. We regularly see serious truck crashes on and around:
Trucks that wander off designated routes onto residential streets, or onto parkways with low overpasses, create added danger for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.
If you were hit by an Amazon, UPS, FedEx, or other delivery van, our firm also handles delivery vehicle accident claims, which follow some different rules.
Identifying every responsible party matters, because each may have its own insurance policy. Depending on the facts, a claim may be brought against:
Interstate trucking companies are regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and New York applies most of the same rules to trucks that operate only within the state. Key rules include:
Much of the most important evidence in a truck case is in the trucking company’s control, and some of it does not have to be kept for long. Carriers are generally required to keep hours-of-service records for only six months. We send preservation demands early for:
Our Queens personal injury lawyers also handle slip and fall and workers' compensation cases.
Truck claims usually involve more serious injuries, commercial insurance policies with higher limits, federal and state trucking regulations, and several parties who may share the blame. They also depend on evidence, such as electronic driving logs and engine data, that the trucking company controls and that can be lost if it is not preserved quickly.
Federal rules set minimum liability coverage for interstate carriers: generally $750,000 for trucks hauling general freight, $1 million for oil, and up to $5 million for certain hazardous materials. Many carriers carry more than the minimum, and other responsible parties may have their own policies.
You may still have a claim against the trucking company. When a driver operates under a carrier’s operating authority, the carrier may be responsible for the crash even if it calls the driver an independent contractor. The owner of the truck and other companies involved in the trip may also be responsible.
Claims involving New York City vehicles, such as Sanitation or Department of Environmental Protection trucks, have special rules. You generally must file a notice of claim with the New York City Comptroller within 90 days of the accident, and a lawsuit generally must be started within one year and 90 days.
Most truck accident injury claims must be filed within three years of the crash. Wrongful death claims generally must be filed within two years of the date of death, and claims against the city or another public entity have much shorter notice deadlines.
Generally, yes. New York’s no-fault rules apply to trucks as well as cars, so to recover for pain and suffering you usually must show a “serious injury” as defined by state law. Qualifying injuries include a fracture, significant disfigurement, the permanent loss of use of a body part, and a permanent or significant limitation of a body function or system. For lawsuits filed on or after May 26, 2026, an injury that only kept you from your usual activities for 90 of the first 180 days no longer qualifies on its own. Because truck crashes so often cause severe injuries, many victims still meet this standard.
Yes, in many cases. Truck drivers must yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and take care to avoid cyclists, especially when making turns. Right-turning trucks that cut across crosswalks and bike lanes are a common cause of serious injuries in Queens. You are also entitled to no-fault benefits for your medical bills and some lost wages.
You may still recover compensation. For motor vehicle injury lawsuits filed on or after May 26, 2026, New York bars recovery only if your share of the fault is greater than the combined fault of the people you are suing. If you were 50% at fault or less, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you were found 20% at fault, your recovery would be reduced by 20%.
It’s best not to give a recorded statement or sign anything before speaking with a lawyer. Trucking insurers often contact injured people quickly, and early statements are frequently used to minimize claims.
There is no upfront cost. Truck accident cases are handled on a contingency fee basis, typically one-third of the recovery, as permitted under New York court rules, and you pay a fee only if we recover compensation for you.
The trucking company and its insurer start building their defense right after a crash. You deserve someone working just as quickly for you. Call our Flushing office at (718) 587-0911 to schedule your free consultation. If your injuries make travel difficult, we can meet you at home or in the hospital by appointment.
