(845) 802-0047Construction trucks are large and nearly impenetrable vehicles. They have to be. They are meant to function in hostile environments and take a lot of abuse on job sites. Construction trucks need to be able to take a hit and handle contact with heavy and potentially damaging objects, like large trucks, construction materials, or even other construction trucks. This is why they are built like moving fortresses. However, they are generally not meant to be on the roadways. When they are on the roadways, they can cause significant damage to other vehicles in a New York trucking accident.
This is because other motor vehicles on the roadways, including smaller passenger vehicles like sedans, are simply not built to haul tons of dirt or sustain loads of boulders dumped into their back bed. Thus, when a smaller passenger vehicle is involved in a New York trucking accident with a larger construction vehicle, it is very likely that innocent people may be seriously injured or wrongfully killed.
Risk Factors for Construction Trucks
There are many possible reasons why New York trucking accidents may be caused by construction trucks. The truth is, construction trucks are just risky vehicles. While the underlying factor could be driver inexperience or training, even the best construction truck drivers will have difficulty handling these vehicles on the roadways. They are inherently risky. This is why most construction trucks are not meant to be operated on our roadways but are instead supposed to be trucked to and from job sites. This does not always happen, and sometimes larger trucks like dump trucks must be driven on the road to unload their cargo given their sheer size and function.
In addition, some of the other risks for construction trucks include the following:
- Massive blind spots, sometimes because there are no mirrors as these vehicles are not meant for normal road travel;
- The larger size means different vantage angle, which is more difficult to gauge distance and speed;
- More difficult maneuvers, including turning, merging, backing up, and other actions;
- Greater turn radius is needed;
- Significant momentum due to the sheer heavyweight, which means even low-speed collisions could be catastrophic;
- Larger wheels which may stick out and create hazards;
- The greater distance needed to stop due to the momentum;
- More difficult inspections and maintenance because there are more moving parts to check and service; and
- Other dangerous risks.
Causes of New York Trucking Accidents Involving Construction Vehicles
There are many possible causes of New York trucking accidents involving construction vehicles. Many of these reasons are similar to what other motor vehicles may experience. However, there are some unique causes due to the inherent properties of these large construction vehicles.
Some of the most common causes of construction vehicle accidents including the following:
- Failure to yield;
- Following too closely or tailgating;
- Speeding;
- Improperly merging lanes;
- Imprudently entering the highway;
- Failing to give enough distance and time when maneuvering;
- Unsecured cargo, including rocks or other dangerous debris;
- Failing to use hazards or directional signals;
- Not use emergency flashes on the side of the roads; and
- Other common causes.
Victims Injured in a New York Trucking Accident Involving Construction Vehicles Should Call Our Law Firm
Construction vehicles are meant to be rough and tough. They will not collapse and splinter in a New York trucking accident. Rather, they will act as a battering ram and cause significant damage to other vehicles that they hit. This is very serious because it can easily result in serious personal injuries or the wrongful death of occupants in any other type of vehicle hit by a construction truck. If you or a loved one have been seriously injured or if a loved one was wrongfully killed in a construction truck accident occurring anywhere in New York, please call our New York trucking accident lawyer to learn what your rights to compensation may be.