New York City Truck Accident Attorney Jonathan C. Reiter Weighs In On Report about Fatigued Truckers, Increased Accident Risks
New York, NY (PRWEB) December 07, 2014 -- Commenting on a recent PIX11 report about the risks associated with truckers who drive while fatigued, New York City truck accident lawyer Jonathan C. Reiter of The Law Firm Of Jonathan C. Reiter today stressed the importance for truckers to adhere to federal hours-of-service regulations and truck companies to retain detailed logs of truck driver behavior.
Reiter, an attorney in New York City with more than 38 years of experience, based his comments on a Nov. 24 PIX 11 report, “Fatigue among truck drivers a growing threat on U.S. highways.” The article cites a pair of fatal truck accidents in the New York City area during the month of November as cause for concern among New York residents and commuters.
“The dangers of driving while fatigued are well-documented,” Reiter said. “A truck driver – or any driver, for that matter – who chooses to drive while tired may exhibit behaviors similar to a driver who’s impaired by alcohol or drugs. A fatigued driver who manages to stay awake has slowed reaction times. And even if a driver falls asleep for a split second, that’s enough time for a fatal accident to occur.”
According to the article, statistics obtained from the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles revealed close to 100 fatalities have occurred in truck accidents across New York State in 2013 alone. Nationwide, PIX11 reports that the number of fatal truck crashes rises to nearly 4,000. In 2012, New York State recorded 12,000 accidents involving large trucks.
PIX11 reports that truck driver fatigue is believed to be a factor in a growing percentage of truck accidents, including a June 7 crash in New Brunswick, N.J. that critically injured comedian Tracy Morgan and killed comedian James McNair. The driver of the truck involved in the crash was reported to have been awake for over 24 hours at the time of the crash, PIX11 reports.
“Federal hours-of-service regulations exist for a reason: to ensure truck drivers receive adequate and consistent rest on a weekly basis,” Reiter said. “Trucking companies are required to keep detailed log books to show their employees take mandatory breaks and stay off the road when they’re required by law to do so. But this isn’t always the case. Some truckers may choose to stay on the road when they’re too tired to drive. Trucking companies may even encourage such behavior, or even worse, omit information in their own records.”
Reiter said that it’s critical for injury victims to consult with an experienced lawyer immediately after being involved in an accident with a large truck, delivery van or any other type of commercial vehicle.
“Typically, a trucking company and its insurance carrier will begin an investigation immediately after the accident. They’re often at the scene within hours of the crash,” Reiter said. “They will look for possible evidence that may limit the liability of the driver and the company. That’s why people injured in these accidents and families who lost loved ones need an experienced attorney working on their behalf. It’s critical to seek the advice of legal counsel as soon as possible after a truck accident.”
About The Law Firm Of Jonathan C. Reiter
Serving clients throughout the world for more than 30 years, New York City attorney Jonathan C. Reiter and his talented team of attorneys have obtained more than $150 million for clients worldwide. An experienced Manhattan personal injury lawyer, Reiter and his fellow lawyers at The Law Firm Of Jonathan C. Reiter, have a well-earned reputation for handling a wide range of cases, including airline accidents, medical malpractice, medical misdiagnosis, mass transit accidents, auto accidents and other personal injury cases. The law firm works on a contingency fee basis. As a result, clients only pay fees if the law firm wins their case. To schedule a free consultation, call (212) 736-0979.
The Law Firm Of Jonathan C. Reiter
The Empire State Building
350 5th Ave Suite 6400
New York, NY 10118
(212) 736-0979
http://www.jcreiterlaw.com
Jacob M Del Hagen, Big Voodoo Interactive, http://www.bigvoodoo.com, +1 (413) 650-0593, [email protected]
Share this article