Nancy Welo, 67, was injured in a truck accident in Brewster, New York, after the driver of a tractor-trailer made an unsafe lane change and struck the vehicle which she was driving. According to a report in Mid-Hudson News, state police said the crash occurred when the tractor-trailer, operated by a 66-year-old man from Arkansas, was traveling southbound and made an unsafe lane change.
Unsafe Lane Change Triggers Collision
Police said the 18-wheeler struck Welo’s vehicle and she lost control and struck the median guide rail. Her vehicle then overturned and entered the northbound lane where it collided with a septic tank truck. The truck left the roadway after impact, struck an earthen embankment and overturned down a gulley.
Officials said the debris from that truck them slammed into another vehicle driven by a resident of Connecticut. Welo was transported to an area hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. The investigation is ongoing. Our thoughts and prayers are with Nancy Welo and all those who were affected by this crash. We wish those injured the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.
Accidents Caused by Truck Driver Negligence (Carelessness)
Unsafe lane changes by large truck drivers are a common cause of serious accidents and often stem from negligence (carelessness). These vehicles have significant blind spots, making it essential for truck drivers to exercise heightened caution when changing lanes. Drivers may be found negligent (careless) when they fail to check mirrors, properly signal, or account for smaller vehicles in their blind spots.
Large trucks require ample time and space to execute lane changes safely. Failure to signal denies nearby drivers the opportunity to adjust their speed or position, increasing the risk of a collision. Additionally, distracted driving — whether due to operating cell phones, in-cab technology, or fatigue — often contributes to unsafe lane changes. A distracted truck driver may not adequately assess surrounding traffic before maneuvering. Speeding and reckless driving only tend to compound this danger. At high speeds, large trucks need more distance to stop, leaving little room for error if a lane change goes wrong.
Who is Liable for a Truck Driver’s Carelessness?
When a truck driver’s negligence (carelessness) causes an accident, several parties may be held liable depending on the circumstances. The primary responsibility often falls on the truck driver if their actions such as speeding, distracted driving or improper lane changes, caused the collision.
However, liability may extend beyond the driver. The trucking company can be held accountable if the driver was acting within the scope of their employment when the accident occurred. Additionally, trucking companies may face direct liability for hiring/retaining such drivers, failing to properly train or supervise drivers, ignoring safety regulations, or allowing unsafe practices such as exceeding hours-of-service limits, etc. Determining liability in truck accidents requires a thorough investigation, including examining driver logs, maintenance records and company policies. An experienced New York truck accident lawyer can help injured victims and their families pursue their legal rights and secure maximum compensation in such cases.
Contacting an Experienced Truck Accident Lawyer
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.
Other TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com
Source: https://midhudsonnews.com/2024/11/28/holiday-crash-snarls-traffic-on-i-684/