Large trucks and tractor trailers cause devastating injuries to car and motorcycle drivers and passengers. The reason is obvious: Eighteen wheelers are a lot bigger and heavier than cars or other light-weight vehicles, and they can't stop as quickly. A significant impact between a big rig and a car leaves the car pulverized, and the occupants severely injured or dead.

Because these impacts are so dangerous, tractor trailer operation is highly regulated by both New York State and the Federal Department of Transportation. A responsible tractor trailer accident lawyer needs to be familiar with the codes, rules and regulations regarding tractor trailer maintenance, loading, securing of load, lighting, and logging of travel/rest time, rest requirements, commercial driver drug and alcohol testing, and many other regulations.

Tractor trailer drivers can cause accidents in many ways: Driver fatigue, speeding, poor tire maintenance, overloading, following too closely, failing to yield to other vehicles, failing to obey stop signs or other traffic control signals such as red lights, cell phone use, CB radio use, speeding and many other acts of carelessness. Commercial drivers are often in a hurry; time is money. They sometimes travel too fast for the weather or traffic conditions.

Victims of tractor trailer or commercial vehicle accidents are entitled to the same kind of compensation as the victims of ordinary car crashes, with one important difference; usually commercial vehicles are very well insured, with a million dollars or more of coverage, whereas many cars are insured for only $25,000 to $100,000. If you are injured by tractor trailer negligence, you can recover for your medical expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life and other damages.

If a car collides with a tractor trailer, the resulting injuries can be severe, including crush injuries, paralysis, sever scarring, brain damage, amputations, severe back and neck injuries, broken bones, and death.

The Syracuse truck accident attorneys of Michaels & Smolak have recovered millions of dollars for clients injured in tractor trailer collisions and for other injuries to cover their medical bills, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and more. If you or a loved one has been a victim of a truck accident, contact us for a free consultation with an experienced lawyer who can inform you of your legal rights and maximize your compensation.