A recent trucking accident in New York killed a woman on a motorcycle. The accident happened when she pulled out in front of the dump truck at a red light, according to My FOX NY.
Officers reports that the truck driver said he didn’t see the motorcyclist roll in front of his truck. He hit the gas when the light turned green, ran into the motorcyclist and dragged her for a short distance. It all happened just before 7:00 a.m. on a road just north of Albany. The motorcyclist died at the scene of the accident. No charges have been filed against the driver of the truck.
Our New York trucking accident lawyers understand that large trucks operate much differently than our passenger vehicles and motorcycles. For this reason, it’s important for drivers to be extremely cautious when traveling among these vehicles. According to the most recent statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were nearly 300,000 large trucks involved in accidents in just 2010. In these accidents, there were nearly 4,000 people killed and another 100,000 more injured. These are the most recent numbers available and they illustrate a near 10 percent increase from the previous year’s statistics. As we continue through the summer travel season, motorists of all types are asked to be careful when traveling near large vehicles as accidents with trucks oftentimes produce deadly results.
It’s important to steer clear of these large vehicles whenever possible. You never want to tailgate them or cut in front of them. It’s also a good idea to pass them swiftly. Never linger beside a large vehicle, or a vehicle that has a gross weight rating of 10,000 pounds or more.
Of the people who are injured and killed in these kinds of accidents, it’s usually the occupants of the other vehicles involved that are affected. In 2010, officials reported that about 75 percent of the people killed were the occupants of the other vehicles involved, 10 percent were nonoccupants and close to 15 percent were the occupants of the large trucks.
In the state of New York, there were close to 120 large trucks that were involved in fatal accidents in 2010. This accounts for more than 7 percent of the total vehicles that were involved in accidents in the state during that year.
It’s important to be cautious when traveling near these large vehicles. Safe driving habits can be your savior against a potentially fatal trucking accident. Luckily, the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) offers you these safe driving tips:
-Cutting in front of a truck can cut your life short. Leave plenty of room.
-Stay out of truck’s blind spots.
-Always wear a seat belt.
-Keep your eyes on the road and avoid distractions.
-Never drink and drive.
-Make sure you can see the driver at all times.
-Avoid making turns close to a truck.
If you or a loved one has been injured contact the New York City injury attorneys at Law Offices of Nicholas Rose, PLLC to schedule a free and confidential appointment. Call 718-261-0546.
More Blog Entries:
Lyons v. Lancer Illustrates Complexities of New York School Bus Accidents, New York Injury Lawyers Blog, May 27, 2012
