Two people were injured after a tractor-trailer struck a maintenance vehicle and caught fire. According to a report on the Daily Freeman, state police identified the drivers as William Edward Potts, 29, of Tucson, Arizona, and Antonio F. Domingues, 56, of Wallkill, New York. Police said Potts was driving the large truck. The fire broke out in the truck’s fuel tank, which ruptured after the collision spilling about 75 gallons of diesel fuel.
Both Potts and Domingues were transported after the truck accident to a nearby hospital for treatment of what police described as non-life-threatening injuries. Potts was issued several tickets including one for violation of New York’s Move Over Law. A social media post by New York State Police said the truck crashed into a marked work zone.
What is New York’s Move Over Law?
In New York State, the Move Over Law is a crucial regulation designed to enhance road safety, particularly for emergency responders and maintenance workers. Enacted to prevent accidents and protect those working on the side of the road, this law mandates that drivers must exercise caution and shift lanes, if possible, when approaching emergency vehicles, tow trucks, or maintenance crews parked on the shoulder with flashing lights activated. If changing lanes is not feasible due to traffic or other conditions, drivers must reduce their speed to a safe level while passing these stationary vehicles.
The legislation is intended to provide a buffer zone of safety for individuals attending to emergencies or performing roadside maintenance. By creating space between these workers and passing vehicles, the Move Over Law aims to minimize the risk of collisions and potential injuries or fatalities. Violating the Move Over Law can result in significant penalties, including fines and points on the driver’s license. However, the consequences of non-compliance extend far beyond legal repercussions; failure to adhere to this law can lead to accidents with severe consequences for everyone involved.
Potential for Severe Injuries
In New York, violations of the Move Over Law have unfortunately led to a significant number of injuries over the years. Failure to adhere to this crucial safety regulation has resulted in numerous accidents involving emergency responders, maintenance workers, and stranded motorists. Accidents caused by trucks often result in catastrophic or major injuries such as traumatic brain injury, spinal cord trauma, internal organ damage, multiple broken bones, amputations, etc.
Such injuries can require significant medical treatment and rehabilitation and leave individuals with temporary or permanent disabilities that prevent them from working and earning an income. The injuries sustained in these accidents not only affect the victims physically but also have profound emotional and psychological impacts on their families.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
Victims who have been injured in truck accidents may be able to seek compensation for damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, lost income and benefits, hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc. Families of deceased accident victims may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit seeking compensation for damages such as lost future income, funeral costs, medical expenses, pain and suffering, etc.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, or if you have lost a loved one in a motor vehicle accident caused by a negligent or careless driver, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you.
For over 53 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. Our law firm recently recovered $5,600,000 for a bicyclist who was hit by a van, and $2,550,000 for another victim of a truck accident, and $3,000,000 for a pedestrian who was hit by a car, and $2,000,000 in a hit-and-run accident, and the full $1,000,000 insurance policy for a pedestrian who was hit by a truck, and $4,625,000 for a driver who was in a car and was hit by a van, and $2,500,000 for a man who fell through an improperly secured hole. Also, one of our clients obtained a verdict for $43,940,000 and another of our clients got a verdict for $23,500,000, both in medical malpractice cases.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury, lead poisoning and medical malpractice cases including, brachial plexus palsy (Erb’s palsy) and cerebral palsy cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
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Source: https://www.dailyfreeman.com/2024/06/08/two-injured-after-tractor-trailer-strikes-maintenance-vehicle-on-thruway-in-bloomington-officials-say/