A+ rating on Better Business Bureau•Google reviews: 5.0•Martindale Hubbell Client Rating: 5.0•Lawyers.com Client Rating: 5.0•Avvo Client Rating: 5.0•Facebook Rating 5.0•Best Dog Bite Lawyers – Queens, NY (2025) (Expertise.com)•Best Bicycle Accident Lawyers – Queens, NY (2025) (Expertise.com)•Best Car Accident Lawyers – Middletown, NY (2025) (Expertise.com)•A+ rating on Better Business Bureau•Google reviews: 5.0•Martindale Hubbell Client Rating: 5.0•Lawyers.com Client Rating: 5.0•Avvo Client Rating: 5.0•Facebook Rating 5.0•Best Dog Bite Lawyers – Queens, NY (2025) (Expertise.com)•Best Bicycle Accident Lawyers – Queens, NY (2025) (Expertise.com)•Best Car Accident Lawyers – Middletown, NY (2025) (Expertise.com)

Truck Accidents Lawyer in Levittown — Personal Injury Representation

Local Truck Accident Help

Truck Accident Claims Guide

If you or a loved one were injured in a truck accident in Levittown, you face medical care, lost income, and the stress of dealing with insurers and multiple responsible parties. The Ahearne Law Firm PLLC represents people in Hudson Valley and across New York who are dealing with the aftermath of collisions involving commercial trucks, tractor trailers, and delivery vehicles. Allan J. Ahearne, Jr. and the firm focus on helping clients understand their rights, gather necessary evidence, and press for fair compensation while keeping communication clear and direct throughout the process.

Truck collisions often involve complex liability issues because multiple entities can share responsibility, including drivers, trucking companies, maintenance providers, and equipment manufacturers. The physical injuries from these crashes can be severe and recovery may be long, and insurance companies will often act quickly to limit payouts. Early action to preserve evidence, document injuries, and obtain medical care can protect your claim and help build a clear narrative for insurance adjusters or a jury, while keeping important deadlines and procedural requirements in mind.

How Representation Helps After a Truck Crash

Representation after a truck accident helps you address the many practical and legal tasks that follow a serious collision. That includes preserving and analyzing evidence such as driver logs, electronic control module data, maintenance and inspection records, and witness statements. A trained legal team can also calculate the full scope of recoverable losses, which may include past and future medical care, wage loss, diminished earning capacity, property damage, and pain and suffering, then pursue those amounts with insurers or in court if needed.

About Ahearne Law Firm and Allan J. Ahearne, Jr.

The Ahearne Law Firm PLLC serves clients throughout the Hudson Valley and New York with a focus on Personal Injury matters including truck collisions. Led by Allan J. Ahearne, Jr., the firm handles investigations, negotiations, and litigation related to serious motor vehicle injuries. The practice emphasizes clear communication with clients, prompt follow up on medical documentation, and a readiness to pursue claims through litigation when settlement is insufficient. For residents of Levittown and surrounding communities, the firm aims to provide accessible guidance and responsive representation tailored to each client’s circumstances.

Understanding Truck Accident Claims

A truck accident claim involves more than proving that a truck struck a passenger vehicle. It requires establishing who had legal responsibility for safe operation and maintenance, which can include the truck driver, the trucking company, mechanics, cargo loaders, and vehicle manufacturers. Federal and state regulations affect hours of service, vehicle maintenance standards, and driver qualifications, and those rules often shape liability and proof. Collecting driver logs, maintenance records, electronic control data, and witness statements is essential to assembling a claim that shows how the crash occurred and why a party should be held accountable.

Claims typically move through a sequence of investigation, notice to insurers, discovery of evidence, negotiation with carriers, and possibly litigation. New York’s statute of limitations for most personal injury claims is three years from the date of the accident, so timeliness is important. The process also involves documenting economic losses, like medical bills and lost wages, and non-economic losses such as pain and suffering. Because multiple insurers and potential defendants are often involved, coordinating discovery and settlement demands early helps protect a claimant’s right to recover full compensation.

Need More Information?

Key Terms and Glossary for Truck Accident Claims

Liability

Liability refers to the legal responsibility a person or company has for the results of their actions or omissions in connection with a truck accident. Determining liability means showing which party failed to meet the standard of care required under law and how that failure caused the collision and resulting injuries. In truck cases, liability can rest with the driver for negligence, the carrier for improper hiring or supervision, maintenance providers for faulty repairs, or vehicle manufacturers for defects. Establishing liability requires factual investigation and documentary evidence tying the conduct to the harm suffered by the claimant.

Damages

Damages refer to the monetary compensation a person may seek after a truck accident to address losses caused by the collision. These losses can include past and future medical expenses, lost earnings, reduced earning capacity, rehabilitation costs, property damage, and compensation for physical pain and emotional distress. Calculating damages often requires medical records, expert opinions on prognosis and future care needs, wage statements, and documentation of other financial impacts. The goal of damages is to place the injured person, as closely as possible, in the position they would have been in had the incident not occurred.

Comparative Negligence

Comparative negligence is a legal principle that can reduce an injured person’s recovery if they share fault for the accident. In New York, a claimant can recover damages even if partially at fault, but the award will be reduced in proportion to their percentage of fault as determined by the fact finder. For example, if a plaintiff is found to be 20 percent responsible, their recoverable damages are reduced by that amount. Understanding how comparative negligence may apply to a truck case is important because multiple vehicles and conditions often factor into allocation of fault.

FMCSA Regulations

FMCSA Regulations refer to federal rules issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration that govern the operation of commercial motor vehicles, including hours of service for drivers, maintenance standards, cargo securement, driver qualifications, and recordkeeping. These rules influence liability by creating specific duties for carriers and drivers that can be cited when investigating a crash. For example, violations of hours of service limits or failure to maintain logs can be powerful evidence that a driver or carrier acted in a way that increased crash risk. FMCSA records and company files are often sought during discovery in truck accident cases.

PRO TIPS

Preserve Evidence Quickly

After a truck collision, take prompt steps to preserve all available evidence including photographs of the scene, vehicle damage, road conditions, and visible injuries. Collect contact information from witnesses and retain copies of police reports, medical records, and any communications with insurance companies to support later claims. Acting quickly helps prevent loss of critical evidence and strengthens your ability to document exactly what happened and who may be responsible.

Seek Prompt Medical Care

Even if injuries seem minor at first, obtain medical evaluation and follow recommended treatment, because symptoms can emerge or worsen over time and medical records provide essential documentation of causation. Timely care supports both recovery and the evidentiary trail necessary to show that injuries were caused by the accident and not by unrelated events. Keep records of all appointments, treatments, medications, and referrals to establish the full scope and prognosis of your injuries.

Contact an Attorney Early

Contacting an attorney soon after a truck collision can help protect your claim by guiding evidence preservation, securing witness statements, and advising on communications with insurers. Early involvement also helps identify potential responsible parties beyond the driver, such as the carrier or maintenance providers, and increases the likelihood of preserving perishable business records and electronic data. Timely legal guidance can clarify options and deadlines so you can focus on recovery while your claim is advanced thoughtfully.

Comparing Legal Options After a Truck Crash

When Comprehensive Representation Is Advisable:

Serious Injuries or Complex Liability

When injuries are severe, long term, or require ongoing care, a more thorough approach is advisable to document future needs and secure full financial recovery. Serious injuries often involve multiple medical specialists, rehabilitation plans, and expert testimony to support projections of future care and lost earning capacity. A comprehensive approach coordinates medical documentation, economic analysis, and legal strategy to pursue compensation that reflects both present and anticipated impacts of the injury.

Multiple At-Fault Parties Involved

Cases that involve multiple potentially responsible parties, such as the driver, the carrier, a maintenance contractor, or a manufacturer, require careful investigation to allocate fault and pursue all available insurance sources. Gathering and analyzing records from different entities, including driver logs and company maintenance files, can be complex and time sensitive. A comprehensive approach helps ensure that all avenues of recovery are explored and that the coordination of claims does not overlook important sources of compensation.

When a Limited Approach May Be Enough:

Minor Injuries and Clear Liability

When medical treatment is brief, injuries are minor and liability is clearly attributable to the truck driver, a more focused effort may resolve the claim quickly through negotiation with the responsible insurer. In those circumstances, the primary tasks are documenting treatment, submitting medical bills and wage loss information, and negotiating a fair settlement. A targeted approach can save time and cost while still pursuing reasonable compensation for short term losses.

Modest Medical Bills and Quick Resolution

If medical bills are modest and the insurer accepts responsibility, parties sometimes reach prompt resolution without protracted discovery or litigation. The focus then is on assembling clear evidence of economic losses and negotiating a settlement that reflects the claimant’s recovery timeline. While such claims may be simpler, care should still be taken to consider any future medical needs or lingering effects before accepting a final offer.

Common Situations That Lead to Truck Accident Claims

Collisions with Passenger Vehicles

Collisions between commercial trucks and passenger vehicles often result from limited visibility, wide turns, failure to yield, or driver inattention, and they typically lead to significant injury and property damage that require thorough documentation and medical care. These crashes may involve multiple insurers and potential defendants, and careful preservation of scene photos, witness statements, and medical records is essential to support a claim and determine what compensation may be recoverable.

Underride and Rollover Accidents

Underride collisions, when a passenger vehicle slides under a truck trailer, and rollovers can cause catastrophic injury and require investigation of equipment condition, trailer design, and cargo securing methods to determine responsibility. Gathering maintenance logs, examining trailer side guard compliance, and obtaining reconstruction data can be key steps in showing how these particular crash types occurred and which parties may be liable for resulting harm.

Brake Failure and Maintenance Issues

Brake failure and other maintenance problems can lead to high speed collisions and are often traced to inadequate inspection, poor repairs, or failure by a carrier to follow maintenance schedules, which requires collecting service records and company maintenance policies. Locating maintenance invoices, mechanic notes, and inspection reports quickly helps determine whether negligent repair or negligence in fleet maintenance contributed to the crash and supports a claim against the responsible entities.

Levittown Truck Accident Attorney

Why Choose Ahearne Law Firm for Truck Crash Claims

Ahearne Law Firm PLLC serves clients across Hudson Valley and New York with focused attention to truck accident matters, including investigation of commercial carrier records, coordination with medical providers, and negotiation with multiple insurers. Allan J. Ahearne, Jr. and the firm emphasize direct communication with clients, timely case development, and readiness to pursue litigation when settlement does not fairly compensate for the losses sustained. For Levittown residents, the firm aims to provide practical guidance and prompt action after a crash to protect legal rights and preserve crucial evidence.

Clients can expect support managing interactions with insurance adjusters and help assembling documentation of economic and non-economic losses. The firm assists in gathering medical records, wage statements, and bills, and coordinates with necessary professionals to evaluate long term care needs and rehabilitation prospects. If settlement negotiations do not yield appropriate results, the practice is prepared to pursue claims in court, while keeping clients informed about options, timelines, and potential outcomes throughout the process.

Get Help for Your Truck Accident Claim

People Also Search For

truck accident lawyer Levittown

Levittown truck collision attorney

Hudson Valley truck crash claim

New York commercial vehicle accident

truck accident compensation NY

tractor trailer accident Levittown

truck crash injury claim Nassau County

Ahearne Law Firm truck accident

FAQS

What should I do immediately after a truck accident in Levittown?

Seek medical attention immediately, even if injuries do not appear severe, because some conditions emerge later and medical records are essential for a claim. Call the police so an official report documents the scene, take photographs of the vehicles, road conditions, and visible injuries, and collect contact information from witnesses and the other driver. Notify your own insurance company but be cautious in giving recorded statements to other insurers without legal advice. Preserving evidence early makes a significant difference in a truck case, where driver logs, maintenance records, and electronic control module data can vanish or be altered. Save all medical bills and correspondence, record your symptoms and limitations, and keep notes on missed work and additional expenses. Timely steps help protect your rights and provide the foundation for calculating a full recovery.

How long do I have to file a truck accident claim in New York?

In New York, the general statute of limitations for personal injury claims, including most truck accident cases, is three years from the date of the accident, and missing that deadline can bar recovery. There are limited exceptions and different deadlines for claims against governmental entities, so it is important to determine the applicable time period promptly. Initiating investigation and claiming preservation early helps ensure deadlines are met while evidence is still available. Because deadlines can vary based on the parties involved and the circumstances, consult early to understand the specific timeline for your situation. Even when the statute appears straightforward, early action protects against delays that can jeopardize witnesses, records, and crucial data needed to prove liability and damages.

Who can be held responsible in a truck accident case?

Multiple parties can be liable in a truck accident case including the truck driver, the employing carrier, shippers, maintenance or repair providers, and component manufacturers when a defect contributes to a crash. Liability depends on who owed a duty of care, whether that duty was breached, and whether the breach caused the harm you suffered. In commercial trucking, company policies, hiring practices, and vehicle maintenance are often important areas of inquiry. Investigators commonly seek driver logs, dispatch records, inspection and maintenance files, and cargo documentation to identify responsible parties. Establishing liability may require coordination of documentary proof, witness testimony, and technical analysis to show how a particular party’s conduct led to the collision and injuries.

What types of damages can I recover after a truck crash?

Recoverable damages typically include compensation for medical expenses, both past and anticipated future treatment, as well as lost wages, diminished earning capacity, and property damage to your vehicle and belongings. Non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and emotional distress may also be part of a claim when injuries cause significant physical or psychological impact. In select cases punitive damages or other remedies may be pursued when conduct is particularly reckless, depending on the facts and applicable law. Calculating future medical and economic losses often requires medical records, projections from treating professionals, and sometimes vocational analysis to estimate long term effects on earning capacity. Clear documentation of all bills, receipts, and employment records supports an accurate assessment of economic damages, while detailed records of daily limitations and symptom progression help substantiate non-economic losses.

Will my own insurance cover injuries from a truck collision?

Your own auto insurance policies may provide coverage for certain losses after a truck collision, such as medical payments coverage or uninsured motorist coverage if the at-fault party lacks adequate insurance. The availability and scope of your coverage depend on the particular policies you carry and the facts of the accident, including whether the at-fault vehicle is adequately insured. Reviewing policy terms and coordinating claims can ensure you access all benefits available to you while pursuing claims against responsible third parties. Dealing with multiple insurance companies can be complex, and improper communications may affect recoveries, so it is important to document all interactions and understand your rights under your policies. If coordination of coverages or subrogation claims arises, timely legal guidance can help protect your interests and reduce the risk of claim denials or offsets that erode net recovery.

How long does it take to resolve a truck accident claim?

The time to resolve a truck accident claim varies widely depending on the complexity of liability, severity of injuries, number of parties involved, and the willingness of insurers to negotiate fairly. Some relatively straightforward claims may settle in a matter of months, while complex cases involving extensive discovery, multiple defendants, or trial can take a year or more to reach resolution. Medical treatment timelines also affect negotiation, because parties often wait for a clearer picture of future care needs before finalizing a settlement. Because resolution timing is case specific, maintaining communication about milestones and realistic expectations is important. Early investigation, preservation of records, and strategic handling of settlement negotiations can help move a claim forward efficiently while ensuring that recovery reflects both current and anticipated long term needs.

Do I need to preserve electronic data from the truck?

Yes, electronic data from the truck, such as the electronic control module, GPS logs, and event data recorders, can be highly informative about vehicle speed, braking, engine performance, and driver actions immediately before a crash. This information can corroborate witness accounts, show whether hours of service rules were observed, and reveal mechanical issues that played a role in the collision. Since this data can be overwritten or lost, requesting preservation quickly is important to prevent its destruction. Preservation letters or early litigation steps can secure perishable data and compel carriers to retain relevant records, while investigative work may involve forensic review of electronic files and consulting technicians familiar with commercial vehicle systems. Prompt action ensures that valuable technical evidence remains available to support claims about causation and fault.

What if the truck driver was working for a company at the time of the crash?

If the truck driver was working for a company at the time of the crash, the employer can often be held responsible for acts committed within the scope of employment under doctrines that attribute liability to employers. Carrier responsibility may include negligence in hiring, training, supervision, dispatching practices that encourage unsafe conduct, or failure to maintain equipment. Determining employer involvement typically requires obtaining payroll, dispatch, and job assignment records to show the relationship and duties at the time of the incident. Claims against companies often involve additional layers of insurance and corporate defenses, making thorough investigation and targeted discovery essential to reveal policies or practices that contributed to the crash. Understanding corporate structure and insurance coverage ranges helps identify all potential sources of recovery for medical costs, lost earnings, and other damages.

Can I still pursue a claim if I was partially at fault?

New York applies comparative negligence which allows a claimant to recover damages even if partially at fault, but the final award will be reduced by the claimant’s percentage of responsibility. For example, if you are found 30 percent at fault, any damages awarded would be reduced by 30 percent. This rule means that a partial finding of fault does not necessarily bar recovery, but it can affect the net amount received after allocation of responsibility. Because comparative fault can be disputed and reallocated through evidence and witness testimony, gathering detailed documentation and a clear factual account of the events helps minimize unwarranted fault assessments. Timely investigation and a focused presentation of causal factors can influence how fault is apportioned in settlement talks or at trial.

How can Ahearne Law Firm help with my truck accident case?

Ahearne Law Firm can assist by guiding evidence preservation, coordinating medical documentation, handling communications with multiple insurers, and pursuing claims against all potentially responsible parties in Levittown and across New York. The firm helps assemble police reports, witness statements, medical records, and business documents such as driver logs and maintenance files, and develops a structured approach to pursuing fair compensation that reflects both immediate and anticipated losses. Clients receive regular updates and clear explanations of options throughout the process. When settlement is not adequate, the firm is prepared to pursue litigation, including filing suit, conducting discovery, and presenting a case at trial to seek appropriate compensation. The practice aims to reduce the stress of legal proceedings for injured individuals and their families by managing case tasks while focusing on practical outcomes that address medical needs and financial impacts of the crash.

Personal Injury Services in Levittown

Explore our injury practice areas

⚖️ All Personal Injury Services