Over 85 years of trial work for injured New Yorkers and their families.

If you were hit by a commercial truck in Queens, the damage may be far worse than what a typical car accident produces. Truck collisions cause severe fractures, internal organ damage, spinal injuries, and traumatic brain injuries at rates that dwarf other types of motor vehicle crashes. A Queens, NY truck accident lawyer at Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP can level the playing field. We offer free consultations and handle every truck accident case on a contingency fee basis.

Truck Accident Lawyer Queens, NY

A loaded tractor-trailer can weigh 20 to 30 times more than a sedan. When those two vehicles collide, the physics are devastating for whoever is in the smaller one. FMCSA crash data shows that nearly 6,000 people died in crashes involving large trucks in 2022, and the vast majority of those fatalities were occupants of the other vehicle, not the truck.

Beyond the severity of the injuries, truck cases involve multiple potential defendants and complex regulatory frameworks that do not apply to passenger vehicle crashes. A truck accident attorney in Queens has to investigate not just the driver but also the trucking company, the broker, the cargo loader, and the maintenance provider. Federal hours-of-service rules, electronic logging requirements, drug testing protocols, and inspection records all come into play. These cases demand a different kind of preparation than a fender bender on Queens Boulevard.

Types of Truck Accident Cases We Handle in Queens

Queens sits at the crossroads of several major freight corridors. The Long Island Expressway, the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, and the Van Wyck Expressway funnel commercial traffic through the borough around the clock, and surface streets in areas like Long Island City, Maspeth, and Jamaica see a constant flow of delivery vehicles and heavy trucks. We handle many types of truck collision cases, including:

Tractor-trailer collisions. The most serious truck crashes typically involve 18-wheelers and other large combination vehicles. We investigate driver fatigue, hours-of-service violations, and whether the trucking company cut corners on maintenance or hiring to build the strongest possible case.
Delivery and box truck accidents. Queens has one of the densest concentrations of commercial deliveries in New York City. Drivers making frequent stops, double-parking on busy streets, and rushing to meet tight delivery windows create hazards for everyone around them.
Garbage and sanitation truck crashes. Both private waste haulers and city sanitation vehicles operate on tight schedules in residential neighborhoods throughout Queens. Our firm has recovered significant settlements for clients struck by negligently operated municipal vehicles, and we understand the procedural requirements for filing claims against the city.
Construction vehicle collisions. Cement mixers, dump trucks, and flatbeds hauling materials are a regular presence on Queens roads, particularly near active development sites. When these vehicles are involved in crashes, the construction company and the vehicle operator may both share liability.
Bus and commercial passenger vehicle accidents. Charter buses, airport shuttles, and intercity coaches traveling to and from JFK and LaGuardia airports are governed by many of the same federal regulations that apply to freight carriers. When they crash, the injuries to passengers and other motorists are often severe.
Wide-turn and blind-spot crashes. Large trucks making turns at Queens intersections frequently swing into adjacent lanes or fail to see passenger vehicles and motorcyclists in their blind spots. The driver may not even realize contact was made until it is too late.
Hit-and-run truck collisions. When the at-fault truck leaves the scene, identifying the vehicle and its owner requires prompt investigation. Surveillance cameras, toll records, and fleet GPS data can help track down the responsible party, but time is a factor.

Why Choose Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP for Truck Accident Cases in Queens, NY?

Substantial Recoveries in Truck and Vehicle Collision Cases

Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP has recovered over $131 million in verdicts and settlements for injured clients. Our truck-related results include a $7,208,000 recovery for a worker killed by a company truck, a $5,250,000 settlement for a man who suffered life-changing injuries after being struck by a negligently driven truck, a $1,850,000 settlement for a driver hit by a street sweeper, and a $1,200,000 settlement for a woman dragged by a Department of Sanitation truck. We also obtained a $1.5 million jury verdict for a man whose car was struck by a tractor-trailer. Each of these cases required a different strategy, but the preparation behind them was the same: thorough, aggressive, and focused on the client’s full recovery.

If you are looking for a personal injury lawyer in Queens, our firm brings the same dedication to truck cases, motorcycle accidents, and every other serious-injury matter we take on.

Attorneys Who Have Been Doing This for Generations

Paul J. Edelstein handles truck accident and personal injury cases at the firm. He graduated from Brooklyn Law School in 1995 and has represented injured plaintiffs for his entire career. Paul is a member of the American Bar Association and the New York State Trial Lawyers Association, and has been recognized by both Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers.

The firm itself goes back to 1937, when Paul’s grandfather opened a law practice in Brooklyn. That is three generations of attorneys who have built their careers on one side of the courtroom: the plaintiff’s side. We only get paid if we win your case, which means we take on the financial risk so you do not have to.

What Is Important to Understand About a Truck Accident Case?

Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Truck Accident Cases

Truck accident injuries tend to be among the most severe of any motor vehicle collision, and the compensation available reflects that. New York law allows truck crash victims to pursue damages in several categories:

Medical costs, from emergency room treatment and surgery through long-term rehabilitation, physical therapy, assistive devices, and any future procedures your physicians anticipate
Lost wages and diminished earning capacity, covering the income you have missed and any permanent reduction in what you are able to earn going forward
Pain and suffering, which compensates for physical pain, emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and the ways your injuries have changed your daily life
Property damage, including the cost to repair or replace your vehicle and personal belongings

In fatal truck accidents, the victim’s surviving family may file a wrongful death claim seeking compensation for funeral expenses, lost financial support, and loss of companionship.

One of the features that distinguishes truck cases from standard auto claims is the number of potentially liable parties. The truck driver is the most obvious defendant, but the trucking company can be held liable for the driver’s actions under respondeat superior. If the cargo was loaded improperly and shifted during transit, the loading company may share fault. If a mechanical failure caused or contributed to the crash, the maintenance provider or the manufacturer of the defective part may be responsible. Our attorneys investigate every link in that chain.

What Are Important Aspects of a Truck Accident Case?

Trucking companies and their insurers move fast after a serious crash. They send investigators to the scene, they download data from the truck’s onboard systems, and they begin building a defense before the injured person has even left the hospital. That is why acting early matters so much.

Electronic logging devices and onboard data recorders capture the driver’s hours, speed at impact, braking activity, and other critical information. This data can be overwritten or lost if a preservation demand is not sent quickly
Driver qualification files kept by the trucking company reveal whether the driver had proper commercial licensing, adequate training, a clean driving record, and current medical clearance
Maintenance logs and inspection records show whether the truck was serviced according to federal and manufacturer schedules, and whether documented mechanical issues were addressed or ignored
Medical records that connect your injuries directly to the truck collision are essential. Insurance adjusters will look for gaps in treatment or prior conditions to argue that the truck crash was not the real cause of your pain

What Is the Truck Accident Case Timeline?

Truck cases often move more slowly than standard car accident claims because of the number of parties involved and the volume of records that need to be reviewed. The general progression tends to follow this path:

Immediate aftermath (days to weeks): Get medical treatment, report the accident to police, and speak with a truck accident lawyer in Queens before providing any statements to the trucking company’s insurer
Investigation and preservation (weeks to months): Your attorney sends spoliation letters, subpoenas the trucking company’s records, reviews the driver’s history, and retains accident reconstruction specialists if the facts are disputed
Ongoing medical treatment (months to over a year): Settling before you reach maximum medical improvement can mean leaving money on the table, because the full extent of your long-term medical needs may not yet be clear
Demand and negotiation (weeks to months): Your attorney presents the completed case to the insurer. Trucking policies often carry higher limits than personal auto policies, but the carriers fight proportionally harder
Litigation and trial (if necessary): If no fair settlement is reached, the case proceeds to court. In Queens, trial timelines depend on the court calendar and can take one to several years

What Should You Bring to Your Truck Accident Consultation?

Bring whatever you have available. Even a partial file gives your attorney a head start:

The police report or the report number
Any photographs of the crash scene, the vehicles, road conditions, and your injuries
Medical records and bills from treatment so far
Names and contact details for anyone who witnessed the accident

Your attorney will review the facts, explain how New York law applies, and give you an honest assessment of whether you have a case worth pursuing.

What Are Important New York Legal Resources for Truck Accident Cases?

New York law and federal regulations both play a role in truck accident claims. These are the most relevant statutes and agencies:

Under CPLR Section 214, most personal injury lawsuits in New York must be filed within three years of the accident. Claims involving government-owned trucks require a notice of claim within 90 days
CPLR Section 1411 establishes New York’s pure comparative negligence rule, allowing you to recover compensation even if you share some fault, with your award reduced by your percentage of responsibility
The FMCSA publishes federal large truck crash data and commercial vehicle safety statistics
The NYS Department of Health tracks motor vehicle crash injuries and fatalities by county
The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee coordinates statewide traffic safety campaigns and publishes annual crash reports

Reach Out to Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP to Schedule a Consultation

If you or a family member was injured in a truck accident in Queens, our firm is ready to review the details at no cost. We handle truck accident cases on a contingency fee basis, so you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation on your behalf. Contact us to schedule a free consultation with a Queens truck accident attorney.

Truck Accident Statistics in Queens

In 2023, 4,353 people died in large truck crashes nationwide, and most of those killed were occupants of passenger cars rather than the truck. Tractor-trailers were involved in roughly 73 percent of those deaths. Queens has made real progress on street safety, and city data shows traffic deaths in Queens fell from 39 to 24 during the first half of 2025 compared with the same stretch a year earlier. Even so, the borough’s expressways and industrial corridors move freight around the clock, and a single collision with an 80,000-pound vehicle can change a family’s life. A truck accident lawyer in Queens reads these numbers as people, not data points.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Queens

No two crashes are identical, but the same handful of failures show up again and again in the truck accident cases our firm handles. Understanding what went wrong shapes how we build a claim and establish who is liable for the harm.

Driver fatigue. Federal rules cap how long a trucker can stay behind the wheel, yet drivers and carriers often push those limits to hit delivery windows. A tired driver reacts slowly and drifts across lanes. Fatigue is one of the most common and most preventable factors in serious truck wrecks.
Speeding and aggressive driving. A loaded tractor-trailer needs far more room to stop than a car, and that gap widens on wet Queens pavement. When a trucker tailgates or races a yellow light, the physics leave little margin. Reckless conduct can also open the door to punitive damages.
Distracted driving. Phones, dispatch screens, navigation units, and paperwork all pull a driver’s eyes off the road. At highway speed, a few seconds of inattention covers the length of a football field.
Improper loading and overweight cargo. Cargo that shifts or exceeds legal limits changes how a truck handles and brakes. Poorly secured loads cause rollovers and jackknifes, and they raise questions about the shipper and the loading crew, not only the driver.
Poor maintenance and brake failure. Trucks rack up enormous mileage, and skipped inspections lead to worn brakes, bald tires, and dead lights. Maintenance records often reveal a carrier that cut corners.
Blind spots and wide turns. Large trucks have deep blind zones on every side, and their wide right turns trap cars and pedestrians. Many Queens intersections were never built for vehicles this size. Construction zone truck crashes add another layer of danger where lanes narrow without warning.
Inadequate hiring and training. A carrier that rushes an unqualified driver onto the road, or ignores a troubling driving history, can be held responsible for putting a dangerous operator behind the wheel.

Whatever the cause, the injuries tend to be severe, and symptoms can surface days later. A truck accident attorney in Queens preserves the evidence that ties a specific failure to your injuries, and helps you avoid common mistakes that weaken a claim.

Queens Truck Accident Lawyer FAQs

Should I talk to the trucking company’s insurance adjuster?

You should be cautious with these calls. Insurers for large carriers move fast, and a friendly conversation is often an effort to lock you into a low number or a damaging quote. You are not required to give a recorded statement. It is wise to speak with a lawyer before an insurance adjuster calls again.

What if a city or sanitation truck caused the crash?

Claims against a government agency follow different and shorter deadlines than claims against a private trucking company. Missing an early notice requirement can end a case before it starts. Sanitation, transit, and other municipal vehicles are common on Queens streets, and these claims against public agencies need prompt attention.

How is a truck accident case different from a car accident case?

Trucking is a regulated industry, so there is usually more evidence and more potential defendants. One crash may involve the driver, the carrier, a leasing company, a cargo loader, and a maintenance contractor. Federal logbooks, inspection records, and electronic control module data all come into play, which is why a truck accident lawyer in Queens investigates a commercial wreck differently.

How much is my truck accident claim worth?

There is no fixed formula, and any lawyer who promises a number early is guessing. Value depends on the severity of your injuries, your medical costs, lost income, and the long-term effect on your life. Several factors shape the value of a case, and we document each one fully before we negotiate the claim.

Will my truck accident case go to trial?

Most cases settle, but the ones that resolve well are prepared as if they will be tried. When we build a file a jury could rely on, insurers take the claim seriously. If the carrier refuses a fair offer, our firm is ready to take a Queens, NY truck accident case to a verdict.

Do I have a claim if I refused the ambulance?

Refusing the ambulance does not bar a claim. Adrenaline masks injuries, and problems like concussions or disc damage can show up days after the crash, so seeing a doctor promptly protects both your health and your case. If you are unsure whether you have a case, a short conversation with a truck accident attorney in Queens can tell you.

Can I still recover if the truck driver was not ticketed?

A missing ticket does not decide a civil claim. Fault in a truck accident case is proven with evidence such as the police report, witness accounts, camera footage, and the truck’s own data. We gather that proof independently rather than relying on what an officer wrote at the scene.

What if the truck driver had no insurance or fled?

You may still have options. Coverage can come from the trucking company, the vehicle owner, or your own policy. When the other driver has no insurance, the route to compensation changes, and a lawyer can identify every source available to you.

How do I get a copy of the crash report?

For collisions police responded to, you can request the report from the precinct, or order it from DMV once it reaches the state system. Keeping your own copy helps, though our firm can obtain the full crash file on your behalf.

Local Information for Queens Truck Accident Cases

Queens sits between two major airports and a web of expressways, so freight moves through the borough at all hours. That traffic concentrates on a handful of corridors where trucks and everyday drivers mix.

Most Dangerous Locations for Truck Accidents in Queens

Northern Boulevard. A long commercial spine with heavy truck traffic, constant turns, and busy pedestrian crossings.
Woodhaven and Cross Bay Boulevards. Wide, fast roads that carry trucks toward the Rockaways and JFK and see repeated serious crashes.
Rockaway Boulevard near JFK. Airport cargo and freight trucks feed this stretch throughout the day and night.
Atlantic Avenue. A truck route through dense neighborhoods where large vehicles share narrow lanes with cars and buses.
Grand Central Parkway and the Astoria Boulevard corridor. High speeds and tight merges create rear-end and sideswipe risks with commercial vehicles.

What Are Important Local Resources for Queens Truck Accident Cases?

After a serious crash, medical care and records come first. The resources below may help injured people in Queens. Our firm does not endorse any outside provider or agency, and this list is offered only for convenience.

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center — (718) 206-6000. A Level 1 Trauma Center equipped for the severe injuries truck crashes cause.
NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst — (718) 883-3000. A Level I Trauma Center serving central Queens.
NYS DMV Crash Records — (518) 486-9786. Where you can search for and order a copy of the police crash report.

About Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP

Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP is a personal injury firm that has recovered millions of dollars for injured people across New York City. Name partners Glenn K. Faegenburg and Arthur Blyakher bring decades of courtroom work to every claim, and Glenn is recognized among the Eight Figure Litigators for the results he has secured. When a trucking company’s insurer will not offer a fair settlement, our firm is prepared to try the case.

What Our Clients Say

★★★★★

“I highly recommend the Edelstein, Faegenburg & Brown LLP, specifically Paul Edelstein. His dedication, compassion, and professionalism made a difficult time much easier to manage… Paul walked me through the process with assurance and diligence and did an amazing job at getting me the best possible settlement.” — Zoe Cabrera

Contact Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP

If a truck has injured you or someone in your family, it helps to start early, since evidence from a commercial crash can fade quickly. The consultation is free, and in that first conversation we listen to what happened, explain your options in plain language, and tell you honestly whether you have a claim. Our attorneys are reachable and we return calls promptly. Contact us to speak with a Queens truck accident lawyer about your case.

Queens Truck Accident Lawyer