Content Reviewed By:
John Richmond, Co-Founding Member
- November 5, 2024
Truck traffic has reached an all-time high on Interstate 190, US 62, and many state highways that pass through Niagara Falls. The increase in home delivery services has also heightened truck traffic, even in residential neighborhoods. The massive size of commercial trucks makes truck accidents especially likely to cause catastrophic injuries to drivers and passengers of smaller vehicles. This inherent danger gives truck drivers a greater responsibility to drive safely.
Although truck drivers must meet more training and background requirements than other drivers, some are as likely as any other driver to drive distracted, speed, or make other mistakes that cause serious injuries. Our experienced Niagara truck accident lawyers can help you hold them accountable.
Why Work With Richmond Vona For Your Truck Accident Claim
Our top-rated Niagara Falls personal injury lawyers are serious trial lawyers who aggressively fight large corporations and provide compassionate support to every client. We use advanced technology and think outside the box to maximize results. With more than three decades of combined experience in Western New York, we are familiar with doctors, lawyers, and judges in Niagara Falls, and they know we will not accept less than you deserve.
We have recovered more than $175 million in settlements and verdicts for our clients, including $4.25 million in a recent case involving a tractor-trailer driver who sustained multiple injuries when another semi jackknifed while attempting to pass multiple cars.
When you choose Richmond Vona, you will receive fully personalized legal guidance from a caring three-to-four-person team dedicated to fighting for you. You will be able to call anytime to express ideas or thoughts, knowing we will always be there for you. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you only pay if we win, and the initial consultation is free. Call us today at (716) 500-5678 to learn what we can do for you.
Richmond Vona’s Client-Centered Approach
“John and I want our clients to feel confident in our legal abilities, comfortable in our approach to the practice of law, and a sense of relief that we're gonna handle their matter so they can focus on getting better. For us, it's personal."
How Personal Injury Claims Benefit You After a Truck Accident
Truck accidents can cause severe injuries that necessitate lifelong medical care and rob you of your livelihood. Insurance companies often refuse to pay fair compensation, leaving you to foot most of the bill. A personal injury claim allows you to seek full compensation for your losses. Our knowledgeable Niagara Falls truck accident attorneys can help you pursue economic and non-economic damages if a careless truck driver seriously injures you.
Economic and Non-Economic Damages in Truck Accident Claims
Economic damages are compensation for your accident’s financial costs, while non-economic damages are compensation for the intangible effects of the accident on your life. Examples of economic and non-economic damages include:
- The cost of current and ongoing medical care
- Lost wages, including the loss of future earnings
- The cost of domestic services, such as housekeeping and childcare
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of society
- Loss of consortium
The last thing you need when recovering from severe injuries is a legal battle. We are here to shoulder that burden and help you receive the medical care you need while we do the fighting. We have strong relationships with numerous doctors in Niagara Falls. We can help you obtain the appropriate medical care and document your treatment to strengthen your case.
What If My Loved One Was Killed in a Truck Accident?
If your loved one has died from a truck accident, our caring Niagara Falls wrongful death lawyers can help you recover damages in a wrongful death lawsuit if you are the victim’s spouse, dependent, or next of kin. In New York, family members can recover the following economic damages for their loved one’s loss, including:
- Funeral and burial costs
- The deceased’s probable lifetime income had they survived
- Loss of estate value
- Loss of inheritance
- Medical bills
You may be able to recover non-economic damages on your lost loved one’s behalf if they suffered before death.
How Long Do I Have To File a Claim After a Truck Accident?
The New York personal injury statute of limitations provides up to three years to file your truck accident lawsuit. However, this amount of time doesn’t mean you should wait to contact an attorney. Trucking companies and their insurers work quickly to protect their bottom line after an accident, and you will need to do the same to keep them from getting the upper hand.
After a truck accident, the insurance company will quickly send an investigative team to the accident site to look for evidence against you. An insurer’s goal is to minimize your payout. If you wait too long to involve an attorney, the evidence the insurance company obtained may have disappeared. When you work with our experienced Niagara Falls truck accident lawyers, we’ll dispatch our own investigative team to ensure you have the same advantages as the insurance company.
How Insurance Companies Seek To Minimize Payouts
One of the most common strategies insurance companies use to minimize compensation is to blame you for the accident. However, we can access all the same evidence as the insurance company and overcome this tactic to protect your rights.
Insurance companies may also downplay your injuries or claim you had them before the accident. If you wait too long to file your claim or seek medical treatment, the insurance company could use this as evidence that your injuries are not severe.
Insurance companies also try to get injured accident victims to make costly mistakes. They hire smooth-talking adjusters who work to gain your trust so you will let down your guard. They hope you will make statements they can construe as admissions of fault. They will attempt to compel you to give a recorded statement they can use against you or pressure you to accept a lowball settlement and sign away your rights to fair compensation.
With our experienced truck accident lawyers on your side, we will handle the insurance company for you and offer advice on whether to accept a settlement. The sooner we get involved, the less damage the insurance company can do before we start protecting your claim.
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This law firm goes above and beyond to fight for you. Their entire team treats you with respect and truly cares about your well-being. Look no further if you need a personal injury lawyer.
John Richmond and the team at Richmond Vona did an incredible job with my complicated personal injury case. They made sure no stone was unturned and got me the settlement I deserved for my situation. They treat you well, explain everything you need to know and more so you are always in the loop about the status of your case. John was easy to get in touch with anytime during the process and made signing paperwork easy and understandable. Their entire staff is professional and helpful throughout the process These guys are fair, trustworthy, and will stand up for you!
This firm’s attention to detail is second to none. It’s evident that they are true professionals and really care about their injured clients. This is the firm to call if you have been seriously injured due to someone else’s negligence.
How Richmond Vona Can Assist with Critical Steps of a Truck Accident Claim
A truck accident can create overwhelming hardships. When the unexpected happens, Richmond Vona can relieve your stress and handle the legal details while you recover.
For example, New York’s Vehicle and Traffic Law requires you to file an MV_104 Report of Motor Vehicle Accident within 10 days of the accident to avoid suspension of your license, even if you were not at fault. We can complete this report for you, stand with you until your case is resolved, and handle all of the following:
- Perform a forensic analysis of the accident site.
- Interview eyewitnesses.
- Identify and review video surveillance and photographic images.
- Identify the responsible parties.
- File your initial insurance claim and deal with the insurance company.
- Negotiate a settlement.
- Take your case to court if the insurance companies refuse to offer fair compensation.
We will also take the time to get to know you and explain everything about your case. Your convenience and ability to access your legal team are always our highest priority.
An Attorney Can Help You Determine Liability
Commercial truck crash claims are more complex than typical car accident claims in Niagara Falls because numerous parties, including large trucking companies, are often liable. These companies carry larger insurance policies than drivers, which can increase your compensation.
One of the most important jobs of a reputable Niagara Falls truck accident injury lawyer is to identify all of the liable parties in a commercial truck accident, which may include the following:
Trucking Companies
- Liable for the negligence of employees while on duty
- Potentially liable for the negligence of independent contractors performing work on their behalf
- Liable for driver negligence if they own the truck, regardless of the driver’s employment status
- Liable for their own negligence, such as:
- Hiring drivers without appropriate background checks
- Failing to properly train drivers
- Imposing unrealistic schedules
- Failing to properly maintain trucks
Truck Drivers
- Employees
- Liable for accidents from speeding, drunk driving, or other law violations
- Liable while off duty if the driver owns the truck
- Liable while off duty if the trucking company owns the truck
- Independent Contractors
- Liable if the trucking company owns the truck
- May be jointly and separately liable if the driver owns the truck
Third-Party Companies
- Companies that loaded the cargo
- Truck maintenance or mechanic shops
- Manufacturers of trucks or truck parts
If a truck driver is an independent contractor who owns the truck, the trucking company may still be held liable for its own negligence, such as negligent hiring and inadequate instruction. Trucking companies generally cannot be held liable for the actions of independent contractors who own their own trucks.
If a truck driver is an independent contractor who owns the truck, the trucking company may still be held liable for its own negligence, such as negligent hiring and inadequate instruction. Trucking companies generally cannot be held liable for the actions of independent contractors who own their own trucks.
Let Richmond Vona Handle the Tough Liability Questions
Identifying liability after a truck accident is a complex task that requires experience with truck accident cases. Our knowledgeable Niagara Falls truck accident attorneys can identify all the parties responsible for your truck accident so you can recover the best result possible.
Richmond Vona is Here to Help
When the negligence of a truck driver or trucking company injures you, you deserve substantial compensation for your pain and suffering, lost wages, medical bills, and more. Our dedicated Niagara Falls truck accident lawyers are committed to helping you get the best potential outcome.
With over $175 million in compensation recovered, we are ready to fight for you. Contact us online today or call (716) 500-5678 to schedule your free consultation.
