Truck Accident Lawyer in Brooklyn, NY

Fighting for Injured New Yorkers for 39+ Years

Brooklyn Personal Injury Attorney

What Our Clients Say

Who Needs a Truck Accident Lawyer in Brooklyn?

You need a Brooklyn truck accident lawyer if you were injured in a collision involving a commercial truck, tractor-trailer, 18-wheeler, box truck, delivery vehicle, flatbed, tanker, or garbage truck. This includes drivers and passengers in other vehicles, pedestrians struck by commercial trucks at crosswalks or in parking lots, cyclists hit by delivery trucks in bike lanes, and workers injured by trucks at job sites. If you were hurt in Flatbush, Williamsburg, Bay Ridge, Sunset Park, Crown Heights, or anywhere else in Brooklyn, and a negligent truck driver or trucking company caused your injuries, you have a potential claim. A Brooklyn tractor-trailer accident victim, a pedestrian struck by a delivery truck on Atlantic Avenue, or a cyclist hit by a commercial vehicle in Park Slope all face the same problem: going up against a company with lawyers already working against them.

Common Situations We Handle

Tractor-Trailer and 18-Wheeler Collisions

Large commercial trucks traveling through Brooklyn on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE), the Belt Parkway, or on Flatbush Avenue Extension can cause catastrophic damage when they collide with passenger vehicles. These crashes often involve crushing weight and high speeds.

Delivery Truck Accidents

Brooklyn sees heavy delivery vehicle traffic daily, from Amazon and FedEx trucks double-parked in Williamsburg and Park Slope to commercial box trucks making stops in Sunset Park's industrial corridors. When these vehicles pull out into traffic or block sightlines, serious accidents follow.

Wide-Turn and Lane-Change Crashes

Trucks making wide right turns at Brooklyn intersections, such as Tillary Street and Flatbush Avenue near the bridge approaches, frequently sweep into adjacent lanes. Cyclists and pedestrians are especially vulnerable.

Rear-End Truck Collisions

A fully loaded commercial truck traveling at highway speed on the BQE or Belt Parkway needs a much longer stopping distance than a passenger car. When truck drivers follow too closely or are distracted, rear-end collisions cause severe neck, back, and spinal injuries.

Overloaded or Improperly Loaded Trucks

Federal regulations govern how commercial trucks must be loaded. When cargo shifts during transit or a truck exceeds its weight limit, handling is compromised and accidents become more likely. These cases often involve multiple responsible parties.

Fatigued or Distracted Truck Drivers

Federal hours-of-service rules exist because drowsy truck driving is deadly. Violations are documented in driver logs and electronic data. When a truck driver pushes past legal driving limits on a run through Brooklyn, that evidence can be the center of a liability case.

Garbage and Sanitation Truck Accidents

New York City streets, including residential blocks in Flatbush, Bed-Stuy, and Crown Heights, see regular sanitation vehicle activity. These trucks operate in confined spaces with limited visibility and have caused serious pedestrian and cyclist injuries.

Hit-and-Run Truck Accidents

Commercial trucks that leave the scene of an accident in Brooklyn create unique investigative challenges. We work with accident reconstruction experts and pull available camera and GPS data to identify the responsible vehicle.

Why Hiring a Truck Accident Lawyer Matters

Going without legal representation after a truck accident in Brooklyn almost always means leaving significant money on the table. Trucking companies are required by law to carry substantial insurance, and their insurers deploy adjusters and defense attorneys the moment a serious accident occurs. Their job is to minimize what they pay you.

Without an attorney, you face a trained insurance defense team while you are recovering from injuries, missing work, and managing medical appointments. The power imbalance is real. Truck accident claims involve federal regulations, electronic logging devices, black box data, driver qualification files, and maintenance records, all of which must be obtained quickly before they disappear or are destroyed.

Michael Gunzburg has spent 39 years taking on insurance companies in court. He has gone to trial against trucking carriers, won appeals at the Appellate Division, and has the CPA credentials to dismantle the economic arguments insurers use to minimize your losses. One of his clients received a $1.0 million settlement after a Roehl Transport tractor-trailer crushed their vehicle. Another received $450,000 after being pinned against a cement divider by an 18-wheeler. These outcomes don't happen by accident. They are the result of aggressive preparation, deep legal knowledge, and a willingness to go to trial when an insurer won't pay what a case is worth.

Who Can Be Held Responsible?

In a Brooklyn truck accident, more than one party may share legal responsibility. The investigation determines who is actually liable, and that process takes time, which is one reason why acting quickly matters.

Potentially responsible parties include:

• The truck driver, for negligent driving, fatigue, distraction, or intoxication
• The trucking company, for negligent hiring, inadequate training, pushing drivers past federal hours-of-service limits, or failing to maintain vehicles
• The vehicle owner, if different from the trucking company
• A cargo loading company, if improperly loaded freight caused or contributed to the accident
• A truck manufacturer or parts supplier, if a mechanical failure like a brake defect or tire blowout caused the crash
• A maintenance contractor, if negligent repair work contributed to the accident
• A municipality, if a road defect or dangerous intersection contributed to the collision

Identifying all responsible parties is not just an academic exercise. It directly affects how much you can recover. Many cases that initially look like they involve only one party reveal additional defendants once the truck's maintenance records, driver logs, and company policies are reviewed.

What You May Be Entitled to Recover

Truck accident victims in Brooklyn may be entitled to recover both economic and non-economic damages. What you can recover depends on the specific facts of your case and the severity of your injuries.

Economic damages may include:

• All past and future medical expenses, including surgeries, hospitalizations, physical therapy, and prescription medication
• Lost wages for time missed from work during recovery
• Loss of future earning capacity if your injuries affect your ability to work long-term
• Out-of-pocket costs related to your injury, including transportation to medical appointments

Non-economic damages may include:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of consortium for your spouse or family members

In cases involving especially egregious conduct, such as a truck company that deliberately falsified driver logs, punitive damages may also be available.

Michael Gunzburg's background as a CPA gives him a concrete advantage when calculating economic losses. Insurance companies frequently argue that future damages are speculative. His ability to build precise financial models for lost earning capacity and future care costs makes those arguments much harder to sustain.

Important Deadlines and Legal Rules

The statute of limitations for most truck accident injury claims in New York is three years from the date of the accident. Miss that deadline and your case is almost certainly over, regardless of how strong it is.

There are shorter deadlines you need to know:

• If the truck involved was a city vehicle (a NYC sanitation truck, for example), you must file a Notice of Claim within 90 days of the accident and file suit within one year and 90 days.
• No-fault insurance requires you to file your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) application within 30 days of the accident to receive coverage for medical bills and lost wages, regardless of fault.
• Critical evidence, including black box data, electronic logging device (ELD) records, dash cam footage, and driver qualification files, can be deleted or overwritten quickly. Sending a litigation hold notice to the trucking company as soon as possible is an important step your attorney should take immediately.

New York follows pure comparative negligence, meaning that even if you are found partially at fault for the accident, you can still recover compensation. Your award is reduced by your percentage of fault, but you are not barred from recovery.

Do not wait. Every day between the accident and when you retain counsel is a day the other side uses to build their case.

What Happens After You Call Michael Gunzburg, P.C.

When you call 212-725-8500, you reach a firm where the attorney handling your case is directly accessible, not a case manager or paralegal acting as a gatekeeper.

You Speak With a Lawyer, Not a Screener

Your initial consultation is with Michael Gunzburg directly. He listens to what happened, tells you honestly whether you have a case, and explains what the process looks like from here. There's no sales pitch and no pressure.

Your Case Is Prepared for Trial From Day One

Every truck accident case at this firm is built as if it will go to trial, even if it settles before. That means preservation letters go out immediately, accident reconstruction experts are engaged early, and black box and ELD data is requested before it can be overwritten.

We Handle the Insurance Companies So You Don't Have To

From the first contact with an adjuster to the final negotiation, our office handles all communications. You focus on your recovery. We focus on your case.

You Get Regular, Clear Updates

Calls are returned within 24 hours. Email updates go out throughout the case. You will never have to wonder what is happening with your claim or feel like you've been handed off to someone who doesn't know your situation.

You Pay Nothing Unless We Win

This firm works on a full contingency basis. There are no upfront fees, no hourly charges, and no costs charged to you during litigation. Our fee comes from your recovery. If we don't win, you owe nothing.

Benefits of Hiring a Truck Accident Lawyer

You Get the Full Value of Your Damages, Not a Quick Settlement

Truck accident victims who try to handle their own claims routinely accept settlements far below what their cases are worth. An experienced attorney knows how to calculate and document the full scope of your losses, including future costs the insurer won't bring up.

You Have Someone Who Knows How to Read the Evidence

Truck accident cases live and die on documentary evidence: driver logs, maintenance records, ELD data, GPS logs, and black box readouts. Knowing what to ask for, when to ask for it, and how to use it in court is the difference between a strong case and a weak one.

Your Lawyer Has the Financial Credentials to Fight Back on Damages

Michael Gunzburg's CPA background means he doesn't outsource the financial analysis of your case. When a trucking insurer argues that your future lost wages are speculative, he can build the economic argument to counter them in court.

You Have a Lawyer Who Has Actually Been to Trial

Many personal injury attorneys settle every case. Michael Gunzburg has tried cases before juries, won appeals at the Appellate Division, and argued before the New York State Court of Appeals. Trucking company defense teams know the difference.

You Don't Pay Unless You Win

Contingency representation means you access 39+ years of trial experience without any upfront cost. The financial risk stays on us, not on you.

Key Takeaways

• Brooklyn truck accident victims have three years to file a personal injury lawsuit, but much shorter deadlines apply when city vehicles are involved or when no-fault benefits are needed.
• Critical electronic evidence from commercial trucks, including black box and ELD data, can be deleted quickly; preserving it requires prompt legal action.
• Trucking companies carry large insurance policies and deploy defense attorneys immediately after serious accidents, making experienced legal representation the best way to level the playing field.
• Michael Gunzburg, P.C. is one of the only personal injury firms in Brooklyn where the attorney is also a licensed CPA, giving clients a direct advantage in calculating and proving economic damages.
• This firm works on a contingency basis, meaning you pay nothing unless your case is won.

Proven Results and Client Experience

Michael Gunzburg, P.C. has secured significant results in truck and commercial vehicle accident cases. When a Roehl Transport tractor-trailer weighing 80,000 pounds crushed a passenger vehicle on I-84, the firm secured a $1.0 million trial settlement for the seriously injured young passenger. In a separate case, a woman pinned against a cement divider by an 18-wheel tractor-trailer received a $450,000 settlement. These cases, along with a broader track record that includes a $20 million structured settlement and a $10.1 million settlement, reflect a firm that prepares every case for trial and has the credentials to back it up.

Clients consistently describe the same experience: direct access to the attorney, honest assessments of their cases, and communication that makes them feel like the only client. Many have continued working with the firm for nearly 20 years and have referred family members and friends.

"He treated my matter as if it were the most important case in his office."

"Always available to talk, even during other trials."

"Never misleads you; openly discusses case limitations and fights for you throughout the entire process."

Michael Gunzburg holds a Juris Doctorate from Brooklyn Law School and a B.S.B.A. from Boston University, and has been a Certified Public Accountant in New York State since 1987. He is a member of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association, the American Association of Justice, and the Brooklyn Bar Association, where he has served on the legal referral panel since 1989.

Common Questions About Truck Accident Claims in Brooklyn

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

Call 911, get medical attention even if you feel okay, and document the scene as much as possible. Photograph the truck, its license plate, the DOT number on the door, the damage to your vehicle, and any visible injuries. Get the truck driver's name, employer, and insurance information. Do not give a recorded statement to the trucking company's insurer before speaking with an attorney. Evidence from the truck's black box and cameras can be overwritten quickly, and contacting a lawyer the same day, or the next, is the best way to protect it.

How long do I have to file a truck accident lawsuit in Brooklyn?

For most truck accident claims against private trucking companies, New York's statute of limitations gives you three years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. If a government vehicle was involved, such as a NYC sanitation truck, you must file a Notice of Claim within 90 days and file your lawsuit within one year and 90 days. Missing either deadline typically ends your right to compensation permanently.

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

Truck accidents are more complex in nearly every way. Federal regulations govern how commercial trucks must be maintained, loaded, and operated. Drivers are subject to hours-of-service rules. Companies are required to keep detailed records. There are often multiple defendants, including the driver, the trucking company, the vehicle owner, and possibly a cargo loader or maintenance contractor. The insurance policies involved are typically much larger, which means the defense is better funded. These cases require earlier and more aggressive legal action than standard car accident claims.

What if the truck driver was an independent contractor, not an employee?

This is a common argument trucking companies make to avoid liability. Whether it holds up depends on how much control the company exercised over the driver's work. Courts look at factors like whether the company set the driver's schedule, owned the truck, or required specific delivery windows. In many cases, the trucking company can still be held liable even when it claims the driver was an independent contractor. Don't assume this argument eliminates your claim.

Can I recover compensation if I was partly at fault?

Yes. New York follows pure comparative negligence, which means your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault, but you are not barred from recovery unless you are 100% at fault. If a jury finds you 20% at fault for the accident, you recover 80% of your total damages. Trucking defense teams often try to shift blame onto the victim. An experienced attorney knows how to counter those arguments with evidence.

What is a truck's black box, and why does it matter?

Commercial trucks are equipped with Electronic Control Modules (ECMs), often called black boxes, that record data including vehicle speed, braking patterns, engine activity, and whether seatbelts were engaged in the moments before a crash. This data is some of the most powerful evidence in a truck accident case. The problem is that it can be overwritten or deleted relatively quickly. Your attorney needs to send a litigation hold letter to the trucking company immediately to demand that this data be preserved. This is one of the most time-sensitive steps in any truck accident case.

How much is my Brooklyn truck accident case worth?

There is no standard answer, and any lawyer who quotes a number before reviewing your medical records and the accident facts is not being straight with you. What your case is worth depends on the severity of your injuries, your expected recovery, the impact on your ability to work, the evidence of negligence, and the insurance coverage available. What we can tell you is that unrepresented truck accident victims routinely accept settlements that are a fraction of what they would have recovered with counsel. Cases handled by this firm have resulted in seven-figure outcomes for seriously injured clients.

Does it cost anything to hire a truck accident lawyer?

No. Michael Gunzburg, P.C. handles truck accident cases on a full contingency fee basis. You pay no attorney's fees upfront, and the firm covers case expenses during litigation. The fee comes from your settlement or verdict. If we don't win, you owe nothing. There is no financial risk to getting legal representation.

What if the trucking company's insurer calls me after the accident?

Do not give a recorded statement to the trucking company's insurance adjuster without speaking to an attorney first. Adjusters are trained to ask questions in ways that can be used to reduce or deny your claim. You are not legally required to speak with them. The safest step is to refer them to your attorney and let your lawyer handle all communications from that point forward.

What evidence is most important in a Brooklyn truck accident case?

The most important evidence includes the truck's black box and ELD data, driver logs showing hours of service, the truck's maintenance and inspection records, the driver's qualification file, any available dash cam or surveillance footage, witness statements, photographs of the scene and vehicles, police reports, and your medical records documenting the full extent of your injuries. The earlier this evidence is collected and preserved, the stronger your case.

Areas We Serve

Michael Gunzburg, P.C. represents truck accident victims throughout Brooklyn and all five boroughs of New York City. In Brooklyn, we serve clients injured in Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Bushwick, Park Slope, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, Crown Heights, Flatbush, Sunset Park, Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst, and beyond. Truck accidents in Brooklyn frequently occur along the BQE, Atlantic Avenue, Flatbush Avenue, the Belt Parkway, and near the industrial areas of Sunset Park and Red Hook. We also serve clients in Queens, the Bronx, Manhattan, Staten Island, and Nassau and Suffolk Counties. If a commercial truck injured you or someone in your family anywhere in the New York City area, we can help.

Other Motor Vehicle Accident Services We Offer

• Car Accident Lawyer in Brooklyn
• Motor Vehicle Accident Attorney in NYC
• Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
• Bicycle Accident Lawyer
• Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
• Uber & Rideshare Accident Lawyer