Were you recently hurt in a car accident involving a large commercial truck in Buffalo, NY? You may be entitled to compensation from the truck driver, trucking company, or another responsible party. An experienced Buffalo truck accident lawyer at O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers can help you fight for full compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and more.
With over 84 years of experience in personal injury law, you can trust that our lawyers have the ability to win for you. In fact, we’ve won more big insurance settlements than any other firm around.
Even if you’ll make a complete recovery, life is rarely easy after suffering an injury. If you’ve been injured in an accident, contact our law offices in Buffalo, New York, at (716) 222 2222 for a free consultation with a Buffalo truck accident attorney who can help.
How Can O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers Help Me Recover Compensation After a Truck Accident in Buffalo?
Truck accidents have the potential to be catastrophic. Litigating a truck accident case can be more difficult than your ordinary car accident case. Trucking companies and their defense teams have the resources to fight your personal injury claim.
To even the score, you’ll want an experienced Buffalo personal injury attorney in your corner. O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers has been recognized as one of the Top 50 law firms in upstate New York by Super Lawyers. We’re known for providing the quality and caring legal representation you need after a traumatic accident.
When you hire us, you can trust our Buffalo truck accident attorneys to:
- Handle all paperwork and communications with the at-fault parties
- Gather and analyze evidence, including the truck’s black box recorder, maintenance records, hours-of-service logs, witness statements, and more
- Hire trucking industry experts and other specialists
- Use our strategic negotiation skills to win a top-dollar settlement
- Litigate your case at trial if necessary
The insurance company knows how much compensation you deserve. So do our Buffalo personal injury lawyers. To learn more about how we’ll help you maximize your financial recovery, contact us today.
How Common Are Trucking Accidents in New York?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) publishes data about accidents involving large trucks in all 50 dates. According to the FMCSA reports, 7,772 large trucks were involved in motor vehicle accidents across New York state in 2022.
That’s more than 21 car accidents involving semi-trucks and big rigs each day. However, no two truck accidents are exactly the same. Some are relatively minor. Others can be devastating.
In 2022, truck wrecks caused 5,007 injuries and, sadly, 124 fatalities in New York alone.
At O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers, we have the tools to handle any type of truck accident claim, including those involving:
- Underride accidents
- Override accidents
- Jackknife accidents
- Accidents involving spilled cargo and hazardous substances
- Rollovers
- Tire blowouts
- Head-on collisions
- Sideswipes
- Rear-end collisions
- Accidents where the truck’s “tractor” disconnects from the “trailer”
- Blind spot accidents
- Multi-vehicle accidents and pileups
- Fatal trucking accidents
While understanding the stats on truck wrecks can be helpful, you’re more than just a statistic. Count on our lawyers to handle every aspect of your truck accident claim if you are injured. Just call to schedule a free consultation with our lawyers today.
How Much Compensation Can I Recover By Filing a Buffalo Truck Accident Lawsuit?
Again, no two truck accident victims share the exact same experiences.
Here are a few of the most important things we’ll evaluate when assessing your case value:
- The nature and severity of your injuries
- Whether the crash caused long-term or permanent damage
- Whether the injuries interfere with your ability to work
- Your medical treatment costs and out-of-pocket expenses
- Whether you’re being blamed for the crash and, if so, whether the insurer can prove it
- Whether your earning capacity has changed
- How the injury will impact your quality of life and future work prospects
At O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers, we’re known for standing up to insurance companies on behalf of our injured clients. Even if you’re already dealing with insurance, they often change their tune once our lawyers get involved.
What Is My Truck Accident Case Worth?
The worth of truck accident cases in Buffalo often depends on the following:
- The severity of your injuries
- Available insurance policies
- Vehicle damage
- Time missed from work
- Impact of the accident on your quality of life
A skilled truck accident lawyer can help you determine what your case is worth and help you avoid settling for less.
What Types of Damages Can I Recover After a Truck Wreck in Buffalo?
You can seek compensation for economic and non-economic damages under New York law.
You may be entitled to compensation for:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and employee benefits
- Lost future earning potential
- Rehabilitation
- Nursing assistance
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Mental health issues
- PTSD
- Diminished quality of life
- Permanent disfigurement or scarring
- Loss of consortium
Punitive damages may also be available if the jury finds clear evidence that the defendant’s acts were intentional or especially shocking.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer in Buffalo?
We know that your injuries are expensive enough. Like most firms, O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers uses a contingency fee structure for our attorneys’ fees. When you hire us, you agree to pay a percentage of your settlement or verdict. We don’t charge any upfront costs.
What Happens to My Compensation if I’m Partly at Fault for a Truck Accident in New York?
Your settlement or verdict will be reduced if you share some blame for the truck wreck. New York follows a pure comparative negligence law. Each party is responsible for their percentage of fault.
If you were 20% liable, your compensation is reduced by 20%. If you were 80% liable, you can still take home 20% of your compensation under New York’s victim-friendly law.
You don’t lose your compensation entirely unless you are 100% responsible. However, don’t let the insurance companies get away with unfairly blaming you for your injuries. Our lawyers will evaluate the evidence and do everything possible to downplay any allegations that you were responsible for.
What Causes Most Commercial Truck Accidents in Buffalo, New York?
Despite strict regulations, trucking accidents remain relatively common.
Some of the most common causes of truck accidents include:
- Distracted driving
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Following too closely
- Speeding
- Aggressive driving
- Wide turns
- Driving in blind spots
- Improperly secured cargo
- Inexperienced truck drivers
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Drunk driving
- Fatigued truck drivers
- Violation of FMCSA regulations
If you were injured in a truck accident, we can help you find out why it happened. Call today for your free case evaluation.
Our Accident Lawyers in Buffalo Will Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Injuries
Some common examples of truck accident injuries include:
- Broken bones
- Eye and facial injuries
- Chest injuries
- Whiplash
- Nerve damage
- Soft tissue damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Concussions
- Back injuries
- Organ damage
- Burns
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
It can be tough to get back on your feet again after these and other injuries. Our lawyers are here to help from the start. Even if you’re still receiving medical care, call our Buffalo truck accident attorneys to learn about your legal options today.
Who Pays My Damages After a Truck Accident in Buffalo?
Anyone who shares responsibility for your crash can be liable for your damages.
For example, responsible parties might include:
- Truck drivers
- Trucking companies
- Freight loaders or brokers
- Truck mechanics
- Manufacturers of defective truck parts
- Third-party drivers
- Bicyclists or pedestrians
- Government agencies
Many truck accidents happen because of driver error. You may wonder how you could recover compensation from a truck driver who may not have much money.
It’s well-settled that employers can be held liable for negligent acts employees commit. Under federal trucking industry regulations, trucking companies are responsible for their truck drivers’ negligent driving regardless of whether drivers are classified as employees or independent contractors.
How Do I Prove Negligence in a Buffalo Truck Accident Case?
To recover compensation after an accident occurs, you must prove that someone else was responsible, which typically means proving they were negligent.
Negligence means:
- The defendant owed you a legal duty of care
- A breach of duty occurred
- The breach directly caused your accident
- You suffered damages
Police and transportation authorities always investigate serious truck wrecks. The trucking company will also conduct an investigation. These investigations can be time-consuming, and, unfortunately, they don’t always tell the whole story.
Our legal team will conduct our own investigation to gather critical evidence to prove your case. The sooner we start our investigation, the more likely it is that we’ll recover the strongest evidence possible.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Trucking Accident in New York State?
In New York, the statute of limitations gives you three years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. Victims who fail to take legal action within three years give up their right to sue for damages.
Contact a Seasoned Buffalo Truck Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Contact O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers right away if you or a family member were involved in a truck accident in Buffalo, New York. We proudly serve al throughout Erie County and surrounding areas.
An experienced Buffalo truck accident lawyer can help you take on the at-fault parties and fight for every dollar. We offer free initial consultations, so there’s no reason to wait.
Our Personal Injury law firm in Buffalo also provides:
- Bicycle Accident Attorneys in Buffalo, NY
- Brain Injury Lawyer in Buffalo, NY
- Buffalo Catastrophic Injury Lawyers
- Buffalo Dog Bites Lawyers
- Buffalo Personal Injury Lawyers
- Car Accident Lawyers in Buffalo, NY
- Child Injury Attorneys in Buffalo, NY
- Construction Accident Attorneys in Buffalo, NY
- Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in Buffalo, NY
- Pedestrian Accidents Lawyer in Buffalo, NY
- Premises Liability Lawyers in Buffalo, NY
- Product Liability Attorneys in Buffalo, NY
- Slip And Fall Accident Lawyers in Buffalo
- Truck Accident Attorney in Buffalo
- Uber Accident Attorneys in Buffalo
- Wrongful Death Attorney in Buffalo, NY
Visit Our Personal Injury Law Office in Buffalo, NY
O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers
4549 Main St Suite 201 Buffalo, NY 14226
Phone: (716) 222-2222
Opening Hours: From 7:00 am to 7:00 pm
7 days a week
