Commercial trucks are common on New York roads, moving goods that keep the city alive. Sharing highways, local streets, and expressways with passenger cars can be dangerous, and when accidents happen, the results are often severe.
A tractor-trailer weighing tens of thousands of pounds does not stop or turn like a regular car, leaving drivers and passengers vulnerable to serious injury. Many crashes occur when drivers ignore safety rules or cut corners.
Getting guidance early can make a big difference if you’ve suffered an injury in a truck collision. Contact The Law Offices of Jason B. Kessler for help with your case from a trusted commercial Queens truck accident lawyer.
Key Takeaways: Understanding Why Commercial Truck Crashes Occur
- Driver fatigue causes deadly crashes: Hours-of-service violations and pressure to meet unrealistic delivery schedules push truckers beyond safe limits, slowing reaction times and impairing judgment.
- Inadequate training creates dangerous drivers: Companies that rush drivers through training programs put poorly prepared operators behind the wheel of vehicles requiring advanced skills.
- Mechanical failures stem from neglected maintenance: Brake failures, tire blowouts, and steering problems often result from skipped inspections and deferred repairs that save money but cost lives.
- Improper cargo loading causes instability: Overloaded trailers, unbalanced weight distribution, and unsecured cargo create rollover risks and loss of vehicle control.
- Speeding and aggressive driving increase severity: Commercial vehicles traveling too fast cannot stop in time to avoid collisions, and their massive weight turns minor mistakes into fatal accidents.
- Distracted driving affects truck operators too: Cell phones, dispatch communications, eating, and other distractions divert attention from the road at moments when focus is critical.
- Call a truck accident attorney: Commercial vehicle crashes involve complex liability questions, multiple potentially responsible parties, and insurance companies with teams of lawyers protecting their interests.
Driver Fatigue and Hours-of-Service Violations
Tired truckers cause some of the most horrific accidents on New York roads. Federal regulations limit how many hours commercial drivers can drive precisely because fatigue impairs driving ability as severely as alcohol. Yet economic pressures and tight delivery schedules push drivers to exceed these limits.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requires drivers to take mandatory rest breaks, limiting consecutive driving hours. After 11 hours behind the wheel, truckers must take a 10-hour break. They can't drive more than 60 hours in seven or 70 hours in eight consecutive days without an extended rest period. These rules exist because research proves that exhausted drivers make mistakes.
When trucking companies or drivers violate hours-of-service regulations, they gamble with public safety. A fatigued driver's reaction times slow dramatically, and their ability to judge distances and speeds deteriorates. Some drivers even experience microsleep episodes, where they briefly lose consciousness while the truck continues barreling down the highway at 65 miles per hour.
How Electronic Logging Devices Expose Violations
Modern trucks use electronic logging devices that automatically record driving hours, making it harder for drivers to falsify paper logbooks. When we investigate truck accidents, we subpoena these electronic records. They often reveal hours-of-service violations that contributed to the crash.
Some companies pressure drivers to manipulate even electronic logs by taking personal conveyance exceptions meant for off-duty activities or switching between team drivers improperly. Others create delivery schedules that mathematically require violating hours-of-service rules to meet deadlines. This corporate pressure puts everyone on the road at risk when exhausted drivers try to meet impossible demands.
Inadequate Driver Training and Inexperience
Driving an 18-wheeler is far more demanding than operating a regular vehicle. Commercial trucks handle differently, need unique braking skills, and require constant attention to the trailer’s movement.
Some companies rush training to get drivers on the road quickly. Federal minimum requirements allow a commercial license with surprisingly little hands-on experience, and shortages often push barely prepared drivers into New York’s crowded streets and unpredictable weather.
Passing the licensing test shows basic ability, but real safety comes from experience in heavy traffic, rain, snow, and emergencies. Companies that skip proper training put everyone at risk. At the Law Offices of Jason B. Kessler, our truck accident lawyers work to hold both negligent drivers and the companies that fail to train them responsible for the crashes they cause.
Mechanical Failures From Deferred Maintenance
Commercial trucks require careful maintenance to remain safe on New York roads. Federal rules require inspections for brakes, tires, lights, and steering systems because failures at highway speeds can be deadly.
Some companies treat maintenance as optional, skipping repairs or inspections to save money. This negligence can lead to catastrophic accidents on highways like the Cross Bronx Expressway or Hutchinson River Parkway.
Brake issues are especially dangerous since trucks need far more stopping distance than cars. Worn brakes, defective tires, or faulty steering make trucks hard to control and can trigger multi-vehicle crashes.
Routine maintenance catches these problems before they become deadly. The Law Offices of Jason B. Kessler, a truck accident lawyer, helps victims hold drivers and companies responsible for accidents caused by neglect.
Improper Cargo Loading and Weight Distribution
How cargo is loaded can make the difference between a safe trip and a serious crash. Trucks that exceed weight limits or have poorly secured loads put everyone on New York highways at risk.
Overloaded trucks take longer to stop, strain brakes and tires, and become harder to control. Improper weight distribution, front to back or side to side, can cause rollovers, especially on exit ramps, curves, or busy streets.
Shifting cargo can change the truck’s balance and lead to multi-vehicle accidents. These crashes often involve cars trapped under trailers or debris scattered across the road. Federal rules exist to prevent these dangers, but not all companies follow them.
Speeding and Aggressive Driving Behaviors
Speed limits apply to all vehicles but are especially important for commercial trucks. An 80,000-pound truck traveling at highway speeds carries far more energy than a car, making any mistake far more dangerous.
Some drivers push to make up time, tailgating, changing lanes unsafely, or ignoring road conditions. Even under ideal circumstances, a loaded truck going 65 miles per hour needs more than 500 feet to stop. Snow, ice, rain, and fog in New York make stopping even harder. Trucks with high centers of gravity face a greater risk of losing control if drivers don’t adjust speed for conditions.
Distracted Driving in Commercial Vehicles
Truck drivers spend long hours alone, leading to distractions like using cell phones, adjusting the GPS, or eating while driving. Federal rules ban texting and limit phone use to hands-free devices, but some drivers ignore them.
Dispatch messages, logging systems, and navigation tools all compete for attention. Looking away for just a few seconds at highway speeds can cover hundreds of feet without seeing the road.
At 60 miles per hour, three seconds means 264 feet traveled blindly, where traffic can slow, merge, or hazards appear. These distractions turn otherwise avoidable situations into serious accidents. In New York, crowded streets and highways make the risks even greater. The Law Offices of Jason B. Kessler helps victims hold drivers and companies accountable for preventable crashes.
Inadequate Training for Specific Driving Conditions
New York roads are challenging and demand specific training. Driving in Manhattan is very different from highway travel in Westchester, and winter weather adds further hazards that out-of-state drivers may never have experienced.
Trucking companies should train drivers for these conditions, including dense traffic, aggressive passenger drivers, winter roads, and known problem areas. Many accidents happen because drivers are unfamiliar with the environment.
A trucker who doesn’t know tight city streets may strike vehicles or infrastructure when turning. One unprepared for ice or snow may brake too hard, causing a jackknife. Out-of-state drivers may also miss weight restrictions, low bridges, or unsafe routes for large trucks.
Drug and Alcohol Use Among Commercial Drivers
Federal law strictly forbids commercial drivers from operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Random, post-accident, and reasonable suspicion testing exist to keep impaired drivers off New York roads, yet some still break the rules.
A trucker impaired by alcohol, illegal drugs, or prescription medications that affect alertness is a danger. Judgment and reaction time slow, and controlling an 80,000-pound vehicle becomes difficult. Some drivers take stimulants to fight fatigue or use prescription medications that impair driving.
These actions put innocent people at risk. After a major truck accident, the authorities must test the driver and collect all critical evidence. Trucking companies that delay or avoid testing can be held responsible.
Blind Spot Accidents and Mirror Adjustment Failures
Commercial trucks have large blind spots on all sides. Drivers cannot see areas directly in front, behind, or alongside the trailer in mirrors, so they must check carefully before changing lanes, turning, or backing up.
Some drivers skip these checks, leading to sideswipes, collisions during turns, or backing into vehicles and pedestrians. Poorly adjusted mirrors make the problem worse, reducing visibility and creating unnecessary risks.
Trucks also need extra space to complete turns, often swinging into adjacent lanes. Drivers must monitor mirrors constantly to avoid crashing into cars that may try to share the lane. Mistakes like turning too quickly, starting a turn from the wrong position, or failing to check blind spots often reveal inadequate training.
Company Policies That Prioritize Speed Over Safety
Many truck accidents are linked to company cultures prioritizing on-time delivery over safety. Drivers face pressure to meet impossible schedules, skip inspections, or exceed hours-of-service limits, often fearing job loss if they refuse.
Speeding or cutting corners may keep a company’s profits intact, but it puts everyone on New York roads at risk. These policies matter in legal cases because companies that encourage unsafe practices share responsibility with drivers.
Investigating communications, dispatch instructions, and patterns of violations often uncovers systemic safety failures. Some companies spend more on safety, proper maintenance, and driver training, while others cut corners to save money.
Legal Accountability for Commercial Vehicle Crashes
Truck accidents differ from typical car crashes because multiple parties may share liability. The driver, trucking company, maintenance provider, cargo loading company, truck manufacturer, and parts suppliers all potentially bear responsibility depending on what caused the collision.
Federal regulations create specific duties for trucking companies and drivers. Violations of these regulations often automatically establish negligence. We investigate every aspect of the truck's operation, maintenance history, driver qualifications, and company policies to identify all responsible parties and maximize your recovery.
The Law Offices of Jason B. Kessler has nearly 20 years of experience handling complex truck accident cases throughout White Plains, Queens, and Manhattan. We understand federal trucking regulations, know how to investigate commercial vehicle crashes, and fight aggressively against insurance companies and corporate defendants who try to minimize their liability. Our team treats every client like family and works tirelessly to turn your setback into a comeback.
Taking Action After a Commercial Vehicle Collision
Truck accidents can leave you with serious injuries, mounting medical bills, and uncertainty about the future. Many of these crashes happen because of driver fatigue, poor maintenance, lack of proper training, or company negligence—failures that should never have put you at risk. Commercial vehicle accidents are rarely simple—they involve federal rules, multiple responsible parties, and insurance companies ready to fight.
If a truck accident injures you in New York, contact the Law Offices of Jason B. Kessler, a dedicated Queens personal injury attorney. We will look at every detail, hold all liable parties accountable, and guide you toward the compensation you need. Reach us at 914-220-1088 today.
FAQs About What Causes Commercial Truck Crashes
Are truck drivers or trucking companies usually at fault for accidents?
Both may share responsibility, as drivers make errors or violate rules while companies create pressure to cut corners, defer maintenance, or operate unsafely. Liability depends on the specific circumstances of each crash.
How can I tell if driver fatigue caused my truck accident?
Electronic logging device records, dispatch communications, and the driver's hours-of-service history reveal whether fatigue played a role, information that legal investigation obtains through discovery in your case.
Do truck accidents happen more often in certain weather conditions?
Rain, snow, ice, and fog increase truck accident rates because commercial vehicles require greater stopping distances and are more prone to losing control when drivers fail to adjust for conditions.
Can a trucking company be liable even if the driver was an independent contractor?
Yes, trucking companies often maintain significant control over independent contractors' operations and can be held liable for negligent hiring, training, or creating pressure that led to unsafe operation.