Trucks can create serious risks when they carry loads that are wider, taller, longer, or heavier than normal limits. These vehicles may need special permits, routes, escorts, warning signs, and other safety measures before they can travel on New York roads. If you get hurt in a crash with an oversized load truck on Long Island, NY, call (212) 433-3100 to learn more about your rights.
A Long Island oversized load truck accident lawyer can investigate whether a trucking company, driver, loading company, or another party failed to follow safety rules. Carrion Accident & Injury Attorneys, PLLC represents people injured in truck crashes and can pursue compensation for the harm caused by another party’s negligence. Call 212-CARRION for a free consultation.
Why Choose Carrion Accident & Injury Attorneys, PLLC for an Oversized Load Truck Accident Case in Long Island, NY?
Oversized load crashes on Long Island, New York, may involve more than ordinary driver error. An investigation may need to examine permits, route plans, load dimensions, vehicle records, escort requirements, and the way the cargo was secured.
Carrion Accident & Injury Attorneys, PLLC focuses on personal injury cases, including claims involving serious motor vehicle accidents.
Our Long Island truck accident lawyers can help clients with:
- Investigating how the oversized load was transported
- Identifying every party that may share responsibility
- Preserving trucking, cargo, and accident evidence
- Handling insurance claims and settlement negotiations
Truck accident claims can involve several companies and insurance policies. Our Long Island personal injury attorneys can investigate the crash and pursue compensation from the parties responsible for the client’s injuries. Call to set up a free consultation.
What Is an Oversized Load?
An oversized load exceeds legal limits for a vehicle’s size, weight, or both. These loads may include construction equipment, large machinery, building materials, manufactured homes, or other cargo that cannot be divided into smaller shipments.
New York limits vehicle dimensions and weights under New York Vehicle and Traffic Law § 385. Trucks that exceed applicable limits may need special permission before entering certain roads, and certain overweight and oversized vehicles must have permits from the New York Department of Motor Vehicles. Some vehicles may also need escort vehicles.
Oversized loads can pose additional risks because they may extend beyond the truck itself, require more room to turn, or require a longer distance to stop. Drivers may also have trouble seeing nearby vehicles when hauling unusually large cargo.
How Oversized Load Truck Accidents Happen
Transporting an oversized load requires careful planning. A mistake before or during the trip can place nearby drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians at risk.
Common causes of oversized load accidents include:
- Failing to obtain required permits
- Using an unsafe or unauthorized route
- Improperly securing the cargo
- Misjudging the height or width of the load
- Failing to use required warning signs or lights
- Driving too fast for the size of the load
- Improper turns or lane changes
- Failing to use required escort vehicles
- Driver fatigue or distraction
Large loads can also strike bridges, signs, utility lines, nearby vehicles, or roadside objects. When cargo shifts or falls from the truck, several vehicles may become involved in the crash.
Who May Be Liable for an Oversized Load Accident?
Truck accident liability often extends beyond the driver. Several businesses may have played a role in planning, loading, maintaining, or transporting the oversized cargo.
Potentially responsible parties may include:
- The truck driver
- The trucking company
- The company that loaded the cargo
- The owner of the truck or trailer
- A company responsible for securing the load
- An escort vehicle operator
- A maintenance or repair company
The facts determine who may be responsible. For example, a driver may cause a crash by speeding, while a loading company may share liability if it failed to secure the cargo correctly.
Identifying all responsible parties can also be important because commercial trucking cases may involve multiple insurance policies.
Compensation After an Oversized Load Truck Crash
People injured in truck accidents may face hospital bills, rehabilitation, missed work, and long-term health problems. A personal injury claim may seek compensation for both financial and personal losses.
Depending on the circumstances, compensation may include:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical treatment
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Property damage
- Physical pain
- Emotional suffering
- Disability or impairment
The amount available depends on the injuries, available evidence, insurance coverage, and other facts of the case.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After an Oversized Load Truck Accident in New York?
New York generally gives an injured person three years to file a personal injury lawsuit under New York Civil Practice Law & Rules § 214. If you file a lawsuit after this deadline has expired, your case may be dismissed for that reason.
Some claims, such as those involving a government entity, can have different deadlines, so determining the applicable filing period should be done as soon as possible. A Long Island truck accident attorney can help you determine the deadline that applies to your case.
Contact a Long Island Oversized Load Truck Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Oversized load truck accidents can involve complex safety rules, multiple businesses, and evidence that is not available in an ordinary car accident claim. Permit records, cargo information, route plans, and trucking records may all help determine who caused the crash.
Carrion Accident & Injury Attorneys, PLLC can investigate the collision, identify responsible parties, and pursue compensation for your injuries and losses. Contact our Long Island oversized load truck accident attorneys to discuss your legal options after an oversized load truck accident.
