(845) 802-0047One of the most troubling types of motor vehicle accidents is a hit and run accident. Many times the other driver is acting maliciously to avoid exchanging insurance information or to simply hide from his or her responsibilities and obligations under New York law. But in other instances, a driver may sincerely not realize he or she has hit another vehicle. This is particularly true in New York trucking accidents. Large commercial vehicles are so powerful and big that truck drivers may not realize they have swiped, backed into, or hit another vehicle. Even at a low speed or a glancing collision could result in serious personal injuries to an occupant of a smaller, passenger vehicle.
What is even worse is that, unless the commercial vehicle has identifying advertisements, logos, or markings, a white semi-tractor trailer will likely blend in with other tractor trailers, big rigs, box trucks, and other commercial vehicles on the roadway. There may also be no damage or evidence of a collision on a tractor-trailer given that the bumpers and back ends of the truck are meant to come into contact with bays and withstand minor impacts. This makes it even harder to identify a tractor-trailer in a hit and run truck accident.
Common Ways Hit and Run New York Trucking Accidents Occur
There are several possible ways that a hit and run trucking accident could occur in New York. Most of these crashes occur while both vehicles are moving on a roadway, but a New York trucking accident could also occur when a passenger vehicle is parked or stopped at a red light and the tractor-trailer is moving. These types of collisions can be just as dangerous as when both vehicles are moving.
Some of the most common ways that hit and run trucking accidents occur in New York include the following:
- Trucks making a wide turn and glancing, sideswiping, or grazing another vehicle and continuing down the road in the opposite direction after the turn;
- Unsafe merges onto a highway and clipping another vehicle but continuing down the highway;
- Improper lane changes and causing the trailer to hit or crush another vehicle that has not cleared the lane;
- Overtaking and passing where a truck grazes another vehicle;
- In roundabouts; and
- Other common ways.
What to Do in a Hit and Run New York Trucking Accident
If you have been involved in a New York trucking accident and the tractor-trailer does not stop, stay come and always presume that the truck driver did not realize he or she has hit your vehicle no matter how hard the impact was. Most guidelines will tell you after a crash to immediately call 911, but this is bad advice unless you are in danger of losing consciousness. Look up and try to get the other driver’s attention and get a description so law enforcement can locate that vehicle and locate you. Follow these steps if you believe you have been the victim of a hit and run crash:
1. Don’t go right to your phone to call.
Use the few seconds before the truck is out of range to try and get the driver’s attention. Honk your horn and flash your lights to try and get the truck driver’s attention as he or she drives away to get the truck to stop. This may also bring attention to you and other vehicles may come to your rescue.
2. Look up and at the truck instead of your phone to get a description.
Try to focus on the truck as it drives away and look for identifying information such as the vehicle plate, logos, unique damage or markings (i.e. graffiti), and other observations or descriptions that may help you or law enforcement identify this truck.
3. Call 911 for help.
In the seconds that the other vehicle has left the scene and you tried to get the truck driver’s attention and description, now call 911 for help. Give the best description and direction the commercial truck was traveling. If you are injured call for an ambulance and get medical treatment. Do not be a hero, even a little bit of pain should be evaluated because it could be a sign of a bigger problem (think tip of the iceberg).
4. Do not leave the scene of impact.
Do not chase the other truck. If you are able to, pull over to the side of the road to make it safer for you and other traffic. But do not hunt down the tractor-trailer. If you leave the scene of the crash you may expose yourself to a vehicle and traffic violation. Not only does this earn you a ticket, but it can make your New York trucking accident case much harder and less-favorable in front of a jury.
5. Get medical treatment.
If you are injured you need to have your complaints documented by first responders. Even what seems like a minor injury could be a more serious injury.
6. Contact your insurance company to put a claim in.
This needs to be done as soon as practicable after a motor vehicle accident.
7. Contact a New York trucking accident lawyer if you have been harmed in a hit and run trucking accident.
All 18 wheeler crash cases are more complicated than other motor vehicle accidents, especially anytime one vehicle flees the scene of an auto accident. If you or a loved one have been hurt in a New York trucking accident, please call our experienced New York trucking accident lawyer to learn how we can help protect your rights to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, lost of consortium with loved ones, lost future earnings, and other damages caused by the big rig crash.