Proving Fault in a New York Truck Accident Case

Friedman, Levy, Goldfarb & Green, P.C. Automobile Accident

Across the United States, three were 4,237 fatal truck crashes in 2017, the last year for which statistics were available, and 344,000 truck crashes in which someone was injured, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Fatal crashes constituted 1% of all truck accidents and collisions in which someone was injured constituted 23% of all truck crashes.

In the five boroughs of New York City, there were 1,486 large commercial truck crashes in July 2019 alone, according to police reports. The only type of vehicle in crashes more often were passenger cars – and passenger cars are much more common than commercial trucks.

Injured in a truck accident? Tap to call for a FREE consultation!

Truck Accidents Can Be Catastrophic

If you’re in an accident involving a large commercial truck, you may be seriously – even catastrophically – injured. Harm from an accident can include spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries that can leave you bedridden and unable to care for yourself for the rest of your life.

Broken bones, burns, organ damage, scarring, and loss of limbs are just some of the other injuries that can result from a truck accident. Trucks are exponentially larger and heavier than other vehicles on the road and can do much more damage as a result.

If you have been injured in an accident caused by a truck, you are entitled to have the other party’s insurance company pay for your injuries. In certain cases, you may step outside of New York’s no-fault insurance system and bring a personal injury claim for injuries, wages lost from work, and more. You are entitled to do this if you or a loved one has suffered:

  • Broken bone(s)
  • Significant disfigurement
  • Permanent limitation of use of a body organ or member
  • Significant limitation of use of a body function or system
  • Substantially full disability for 90 days

But both insurance and personal injury claims are dependent on finding out who was at fault for the accident.

How Do I Prove Fault in a Truck Accident?

While finding the parties at fault for an accident may sound simple, it rarely is in truck accidents. If a truck rolled over, for example, it might seem like a very clear cut case of the driver being at fault. A rollover is a serious accident that can be caused by the driver braking too fast, especially on curves or inclines.

But rollovers can be caused by multiple factors other than the driving. Improper and unbalanced loading, worn brakes or tires, or loads too heavy for the truck can all cause rollovers or be contributing factors.

If any of these are the cause, the at-fault parties could be the truck company, the truck owners, the maintenance and repair companies, the loaders or shippers, and even equipment manufacturers.

As a result, it is often necessary to investigate the causes of truck accidents to know who was at fault. Experienced truck accident lawyers can investigate the following:

  • Logbooks and delivery records to see how long the driver had been on the road
  • Cameras and data recorders (black boxes) that can indicate speeds and braking at the time of the accident
  • Witness testimony
  • Expert testimony
  • Expert reconstruction of the accident, which indicates how it occurred
  • Forensic analysis
  • Records of drug and alcohol screening

Talk with an experienced truck accident attorney for free!

When You Need a Truck Accident Lawyer in New York City

If you or a loved one has been in a truck accident in New York, you need an experienced law firm with investigative capacity. We can negotiate with insurance companies and fight in court if necessary to see that justice is done.

Please call an experienced NYC truck accident lawyer at Friedman, Levy, Goldfarb & Green today for a free consultation about your case.

Additional Resources:

5 Leading Causes of Car Accidents

Friedman, Levy, Goldfarb & Green, P.C. Automobile Accident

Even the best of drivers can make mistakes now and then. Whether you’re going a little too fast for weather conditions or texting a friend while trying to steer, there are actions that can seriously increase your risk of having a life-altering or even fatal collision.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 36,750 people died in motor vehicle crashes last year. And while New York saw a slight decrease in road fatalities, accidents causing serious injuries, lost income and economic hardships abound.

What can you do to avoid becoming a tragic statistic in your hometown? Educate yourself on the leading causes of motor vehicle accidents, drive cautiously, obey traffic laws, and be prepared.

Distracted driving

Distracted driving remains the leading cause of all traffic accidents in the United States. According to some reports, distracted drivers account for up to half of all car crashes today. Any activity that takes your attention and focus away from the wheel is inherently dangerous. Talking on the phone, texting, surfing the web, adjusting music, eating, brushing your hair, or interacting with passengers can compromise your safety and that of others on the road.

Driving while drunk or impaired

DUI accidents are on a downward trend in New York, and across the nation, but the threat of being hit by a drunk driver is still very real. Even two drinks can impair your concentration and reaction times significantly. If you plan on enjoying a cocktail or two, it’s always best to designate a sober driver or arrange a taxi for your trip home.

Speeding

Cruising 10 or 20 miles above the posted speed limit is a recipe for disaster, particularly if road and weather conditions are already treacherous.  Speeding is a major cause of thousands of accidents every year, and not surprisingly, the damage and injuries are considerably worse when excess speed is involved. Going over the speed limit not only slows your reaction time, it magnifies the severity and consequences of the impact.

Inclement weather

You can’t control if it rains, sleets or snows, but you can take steps to be safer on the road, or avoid driving altogether when weather conditions are too risky. Heavy downpours restrict visibility and increase the likelihood of hydroplaning after braking. If the weather is bad, give yourself extra time and take it slowly to avoid getting into an accident.

Aggressive driving

Aggressive driving has the potential to kill. Previous studies by the AAA found that 50 percent of deadly car accidents involved at least one driver who performed a hostile action – be it tailgating, weaving in and out of traffic, or cutting in front of other drivers and then slowing down. Motorists who are rushed, angry, frustrated, or upset may be more prone to committing such inconsiderate and illegal behavior when behind the wheel. If you’re on the road and feel threatened by the hostile actions of another driver, call 9-1-1.

Explore your legal options after a car accident

In the event that you are involved in an accident that wasn’t your fault, it’s a good idea to seek legal representation from a qualified New York car accident lawyer at Friedman Levy Goldfarb & Green.

We represent clients throughout the greater NY metropolitan area and know how to maximize your compensation.  Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation and explore your legal options with a law firm that is dedicated to your success.

Additional Resources:

  1. NHTSA, Early Estimate of Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities in 2018 file:///C:/Users/alilo/Desktop/Early%20Estimate%20of%20Motor%20Vehicle%20Traffic%20Fatalities%20in%202018.pdf
  2. Huffington Post, Top 15 Causes Of Car Accidents https://www.huffpost.com/entry/top-15-causes-of-car-accidents_b_11722196

What Are Your Rights When Pulled Over in New York?

Friedman, Levy, Goldfarb & Green, P.C. Civil Rights

Police officers are charged with protecting the safety and upholding the rights of individuals. Many officers are ethical professionals who carry out their mission to the best of their abilities. Yet, all too often, people suffer the violation of their civil rights at the hands of law enforcement personnel. It’s important for everyone to be aware of their civil rights in New York so they can swiftly identify when a violation may have occurred and take action by contacting a civil rights lawyer.

Your rights as a driver of a pulled-over vehicle

Every driver has rights and obligations. If a police officer indicates that they would like to pull you over, for example, you’re obligated to safely stop. However, you are not obligated to answer questions. Your personal rights during a traffic stop include the right to remain silent. To exercise this right, you can tell the police officer that you would like to remain silent. However, you must still show the officer your license, registration, and proof of insurance upon request.

In New York City, police officers must inform you that they are requesting your consent to search your car, and they must also tell you that you have the right to refuse. The exceptions are if an officer has a search warrant and if the officer has probable cause that a crime has been committed.

After a traffic stop has been executed, you have the right to challenge its legality in a court of law. You can do this with the assistance of a civil rights attorney.

Your rights as a passenger of a pulled-over vehicle

In New York, passengers of vehicles that have been pulled over have the same rights and responsibilities as drivers do. Police officers could potentially order passengers to step out of the vehicle and submit to a search of their person. However, passengers are also protected from unreasonable searches and seizures, just like drivers. This means they have the right to pursue legal recourse if they have been the victim of an illegal search and seizure.

In short, like drivers, passengers have the following rights:

  • Protection from unlawful or unreasonable searches and seizures
  • Right to remain silent
  • Right to challenge, in a court of law, the legality of the traffic stop
  • Right to challenge, in a court of law, the legality of any search and seizure

Protect your civil rights with aggressive legal representation

If you believe your rights have been violated by a police officer, you need legal guidance right away. Contact the law office of Friedman, Levy, Goldfarb & Green, P.C. to schedule a consultation with a veteran New York civil rights lawyer. We are committed to vigorously safeguarding the civil rights of individuals and groups and will explore all possible avenues of securing legal recourse on your behalf.

Whether you have been falsely arrested, subjected to an illegal search and seizure in your vehicle or home, wrongfully convicted, or been the victim of police brutality, our legal team will fight to defend your civil rights and freedoms. Individuals throughout New York City and Long Island are invited to contact our law firm to request a free consultationM

I Have Been in a Car Accident. What Do I Do Now?

Friedman, Levy, Goldfarb & Green, P.C. Automobile Accident

Shards of car glass on the street after car accident

Police respond to more than 6 million car accidents a year. In a no-fault state like New York, your insurance company is supposed to pay for your damages, regardless of who was at fault for the accident. However, even with the best insurance, it could be an uphill battle to prove the full value of your claim. Often, car accident victims – injured through little to no fault of their own – wind up paying 26 percent of the expense. If your medical bills are $200,000, that’s $52,000 out of your own pocket!

Not many people can afford the immediate cost of a car accident, let alone the lost wages and ongoing care for long-term disability or PTSD. Follow these tips from the car wreck lawyers at Friedman, Levy, Goldfarb & Green to pursue maximum compensation through a personal injury lawsuit.

Get out of harm’s way.

If you are very seriously injured, you may not be able to move at all. Dialing 9-1-1 may be all you can do. If possible, move to the shoulder of the road, flipping your hazards on to warn other drivers of the disabled vehicle. Remember, you are required by the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law to immediately notify the police if a person is injured or killed in a motor vehicle accident. Failure to do so could result in license suspension by the Department of Motor Vehicles.  

Document what happened.

Ask the police to file a formal report, and request a copy for your records. While you wait for the police to arrive, you can gather the names of the other driver and passengers, the license plate number, insurance company name and policy number, color/make/model of the other vehicle, and contact information for any eyewitnesses.

Note the location of the accident, the direction the vehicles were traveling/facing, and the name and badge number of any responding officers. Use your smartphone camera to snap photos of the accident scene. Some insurers let you upload photos when you file your claim. Be careful what you say to the other driver. Be careful not to admit any liability for what happened.

Take care of yourself.

Even a minor symptom like dizziness, confusion, or a sore neck should be investigated by a health care professional. At least see your family physician if your injuries do not require emergency care at the hospital. Chiropractors are good medical professionals to see after an accident, as they take the time to carefully assess your “hard” injuries and refer you to the appropriate specialists. Diagnostic imaging like MRIs, x-rays, and CT scans may be necessary. You might need a psychologist, psychiatrist, or neurosurgeon to evaluate you for mild traumatic brain injury or PTSD symptoms.  

Call a car wreck attorney.

Consulting with a respected personal injury law firm costs you nothing. Successful attorneys work based on contingency, meaning you pay nothing out-of-pocket, and only pay if you end up filing a lawsuit that results in a settlement or jury award.

Friedman, Levy, Goldfarb & Green is a New York personal injury firm with a 50-year track record of success. Working with an experienced car wreck lawyerfrom the beginning increases your chances of obtaining the maximum compensation, as we investigate, preserve evidence, and make sure you receive top medical care. 

File your insurance claim.

Call your own auto insurance provider, let them know, “I was in a car accident,” and find out what to do after a car wreck to pursue compensation for damages. You can file by phone, online, or through an app – either from the scene of the accident or later.

When speaking with the insurance agent, you’ll want to make sure you understand key aspects of your coverage:

  • How much collision coverage do you have (to cover your property damage)?
  • How much medical coverage will you receive from your bodily injury policy?
  • How much is your deductible (the amount you have to pay out-of-pocket toward repairs and medical coverage before insurance kicks in)?
  • Do you have rental reimbursement coverage? If so, what is your daily limit?
  • How long do you have to make a claim and submit your bills?

Get your vehicle repaired.

The insurance adjuster investigating your accident will let you know how much you’ll be offered to pay for damages. Insurers typically require you to go to a designated repair center to get an estimate for repair costs. You can cross-reference the adjuster’s report with Kelley Blue Book or get a few other estimates.

If you disagree with the adjuster’s value, you can ask for a full report detailing how the repair costs were assessed and ask the adjuster for an explanation of the insurance payout.

When you call an NYC car accident lawyer at our firm, the burden of investigating the value of your vehicle and dealing with the insurance company is lifted. We’ll make sure the damaged parts of your vehicle are preserved as evidence, should it become necessary in court. Contact us for your free consultation as soon as possible.

Additional resources:

  1. http://www.rmiia.org/auto/traffic_safety/Cost_of_crashes.asp
  2. https://dmv.ny.gov/dmv-records/how-file-motorist-accident-report

5 Key Legal Issues Unique to Truck Accidents

Friedman, Levy, Goldfarb & Green, P.C. Truck Accident

If you or a loved one have been hurt in a motor vehicle collision with a large commercial tractor-trailer or 18-wheeler, you need an attorney who has experience handling truck accident claims. There are unique issues that must be addressed in order to prevail in a lawsuit and maximize your compensation. In New York City, the law office of Friedman, Levy, Goldfarb and Green is here to answer any questions you may have.  

Injured in a truck accident? Tap to call for a FREE consultation!

Worse Injuries and Property Damage

The sheer size and weight of a commercial truck mean greater propensity for harm, whether it’s a spinal cord injury, head trauma, internal injuries from a roll-over, burns from a truck transporting flammable cargo, or broken bones. About 29% of all truck accidents result in serious injury, and nearly 1.5 percent result in a fatality. People in passenger cars are the ones who suffer in 73 percent of all truck accidents, according to the National Institute of Traffic and Highway Safety.

Larger Insurance Minimums

Compared to a passenger vehicle accident, the insurance policy limits are higher for commercial vehicles. Yet, for some, the increased availability of cash is still not enough. While commercial trucks have larger insurance minimums than passenger vehicles, the amount required by law was set in the 1980s and has remained unchanged for nearly 40 years, despite inflation. The minimums range from $750,000 to $1 million, depending on the gross vehicle weight and type of cargo carried.

Government representatives have recommended increasing minimum liability insurance to $4.9 million.

Federal Regulations and Trucking Company Policies

Companies operating commercial trucks must comply with state and federal safety regulations. For example:

  • Truckers must submit to routine, mandatory drug and alcohol testing.
  • Trucking companies must perform routine maintenance on their vehicles and maintain a log of upkeep.
  • There are limits on the allowable length and weight of the truck.
  • Trucking companies are responsible for pre-hiring screening.
  • All drivers must have valid commercial drivers’ licenses.
  • There is a maximum number of consecutive hours on the road and mandatory breaks.

A number of additional rules may apply to a trucker’s conduct, based on internal company policies. Policies typically cover substance use, medical disabilities, pre-trip inspections, breaks, maintenance, and virtually every aspect of the job. When there is a deviation in company protocol, the case for liability becomes easier to establish.

Talk with an experienced truck accident attorney for free!

Multiple Party Liability

In addition to the driver of the truck, liable parties may include:

  • The truck driver’s employer
  • The truck licensing company
  • The truck manufacturer
  • The truck repair shop
  • The cargo loading subcontractor
  • Another motor vehicle driver involved in the crash

Compromised Evidence

It is surprisingly commonplace for truckers or trucking firms to falsify their logbooks or reset black box recorders to hide wrongdoing. Experienced truck accident attorneys can recognize inconsistencies and subpoena records from GPS or data recorders that may conflict with the defendants’ accounts.  

We prefer to work with plaintiffs right away, so we can preserve accident scene evidence. Crash scene reconstructionists take detailed notes on the speed and direction traveled, as well as the positioning of each vehicle after the collision. Our team of investigators can interview eyewitnesses, track down surveillance footage, and make sure your vehicle damage is properly documented before it is repaired.

Contact A NYC Truck Accident Lawyer

Friedman, Levy, Goldfarb and Green have served New York for over 50 years. We have extensive experience not just in automobile accidents generally, but in truck accidents specifically. Our team understands the unique challenges your lawsuit is likely to face and has a vast arsenal of resources to combat any potential issue that may arise. Contact an NYC truck accident lawyer from our firm for a free consultation and contingency-based representation that costs you nothing upfront.

Who Can Be Held Liable for Construction Accidents?

Friedman, Levy, Goldfarb & Green, P.C. Construction Accidents


Construction sites are filled with hazards—sharp tools, heavy materials, temporary structures, and the constant buzz of people and machinery moving around on ground and overhead. To prevent severe and deadly accidents, employees are required to wear specific safety gear and follow certain procedures and protocols, while employers are responsible for providing safe equipment, properly educating and training their staff, and promptly addressing any known hazards that could lead to accidents.

When these processes aren’t followed, the consequence is often a very serious and sometimes fatal accident.

If you are a construction worker or an innocent bystander who’s been injured, or the loved one of someone who lost his or her life in a construction accident, you may be eligible for more than workers compensation or other insurance offers.

At Friedman, Levy, Goldfarb and Green, our NY construction accident attorneys have more than 50 years of experience helping injured workers and their families find and prove who is liable for the accident and hold those parties accountable financially. In many of our cases, there can even be a mixture of responsible parties, causing you to file suit against more than one entity.

Multiple parties may be held liable in a construction accident lawsuit in New York

Some common parties that can be totally or partially responsible for your injury include:

General and Sub-contractors

Employers are responsible for properly training its staff, enforcing safety protocols, providing necessary safety equipment, and taking reasonable action to address and remove hazards. When the employer or on-site management team fails to do these things, they can be held responsible.

Architects and Engineers

Safety and security of a building is a major part of its design. Architects and engineers must consider hazards when designing a building and planning its construction. Creating faulty designs with obvious hazards could make them responsible.

Manufactures of Construction Machinery or Equipment

Defective equipment, especially when it comes to power tools and large machinery, can be deadly. The company that makes the devices could hold responsibility for your injury. If the equipment requires regular inspections and has reached past its expiration, your employer may also be liable.

OSHA compliance officer

An OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Act) compliance officer is responsible for evaluating procedures, environments, and other factors in order to identify and address violations to OSHA standards. If the compliance officer becomes aware of a hazardous situation, it is his or her responsibility to ensure that proper reprimands are taken so that the issue gets resolved. If a compliance officer neglects to do so by “looking the other way,” he or she could hold partial responsibility for the incident.

Insurance companies

Employers, contractors, and other responsible parties likely have insurance policies to cover themselves and their personal assets in situations such as this. In these incidents, due to the nature of insurance, the representative insurance company can be held liable for the current and future costs of your medical treatment and other expenses relating to the injury.

If you’ve been injured at a construction site, whether on-the-job or as a bystander, don’t wait to determine your legal rights. The sooner you contact a NY Construction Accident Lawyer from our firm, the more likely you will be to have a successful case resulting in a larger settlement. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

Scaffolding Accidents – New York Construction Zone Dangers

Friedman, Levy, Goldfarb & Green, P.C. Personal Injury Lawsuits

construction worker on construction site at sunset

Scaffolds are a regular feature of life in New York. They are a necessary element of building construction and maintenance, but unfortunately, they are also the catalyst for thousands of accidents every year.

The scaffolding accident lawyers at Manhattan’s Friedman, Levy, Goldfarb & Green represent construction workers and commuters who have suffered injuries in scaffolding mishaps.

We understand and have extensive experience with New York’s scaffold law that enables injured construction workers to recover the full amount of their damages from accidents around scaffolds. We also aggressively challenge the construction companies and their insurers that deny reasonable payments to commuters who suffer injuries from falling debris and other scaffolding problems.

Common Causes of Scaffolding Accidents

The causes of injuries from scaffolding accidents around New York construction zones generally fall into one of four categories:

  • Scaffolds that were not erected properly or that were used at capacities beyond their ratings;
  • Improperly secured tools and other objects that fall from scaffolds and injure parties standing below them;
  • Electrocutions from metal scaffolding that comes into contact with power lines; and
  • Inadequate employee training on how to safely work on or near a scaffold.

An injured party’s ability to recover damages will depend on his or her attorney’s skill and ability to show that those injuries were the direct and proximate result of another party’s negligence.

Special Protection for Construction Workers: The New York Scaffold Law

A construction worker’s employer might try to argue that the worker was responsible for their own scaffolding injuries as a result of not following job site rules and regulations. Under Section 240 of the New York Labor Law (the ”Scaffold Law”) a construction company cannot use a construction employee’s own negligence as a defense to paying damages. The Scaffold Law also requires employers to provide all necessary safety equipment to construction workers who perform tasks on scaffolds. If an employer fails to provide that equipment, the employer will be completely responsible for an injured worker’s damages.

How a Scaffolding Accident Lawyer Can Help You to Recover Damages

Multiple contractors and sub-contractors perform tasks at any given construction site on any day. A scaffolding accident lawyer at our firm can determine which of those entities bears the primary responsibility for the injuries you have sustained.

When a construction worker is injured on a scaffold, we will work to recover damages from all available sources. This includes maximizing workers’ compensation payments and recovering damages for negligence that are outside of the scope of workers’ compensation.

Our attorneys will also verify that a claim is filed before the expiration of any applicable statutes of limitations. An injured party in New York has three years from the date of the injury to file a negligence lawsuit. If, however, New York City or New York State was responsible for the injuries, then the injured party must file notice of an intent to pursue a claim within 90 days of the accident, and that party must then file a lawsuit within one year and 90 days of that date.

Friedman, Levy, Goldfarb & Green, P.C.: Scaffolding Accident Lawyers

Construction companies and other entities that use scaffolds are responsible for ensuring the safety of their workers and of any other persons who are in the vicinity of the scaffolds. Friedman, Levy Goldfarb & Green represent injured parties in Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, a Long Island, and throughout the New York City metro area to recover damages for their injuries when those companies fail to live up to their responsibilities.

Please call us to speak with one of our scaffolding injury lawyers today. All consultations are free, and you owe us no money unless we win money for you.

Additional Resources:

What Are Your Legal Options If a Police Officer Harassed You?

Friedman, Levy, Goldfarb & Green, P.C. Civil Rights

Handcuffs on top of a fingerprint chart

Community policing and other initiatives have reduced but have not eliminated the reported incidents of police harassment in New York City. If you believe that a police officer has harassed you, the New York civil rights attorneys at Manhattan’s Friedman, Levy, Goldfarb & Green, P.C. will review your case at no cost to you and help you decide if taking legal action is in your best interest.

The Distinction Between Harassment and Aggressive Policing

 One person might perceive police actions as harassment, whereas the officer charged with harassment might characterize his or her actions as a reasonable response that was proportionate to the threat. Harassment is objectively defined as conduct that has no legitimate law enforcement purpose, and that causes a victim to suffer fear,  physical injuries, or emotional distress. That conduct might include:

  • Coercing false confessions;
  • Threatening witnesses to procure their testimony;
  • Regular surveillance with no probable cause;
  • Discrimination and profiling, including making comments that have racial, ethnic, or homophobic overtones;
  • Excessive use of force;  
  • Illegal search and seizures; and
  • Illegal or extended detentions.

Proving Police Harassment

In many cases, a police officer will have a very different description of circumstances than the person who is claiming police officer harassment. Determining the best legal actions in response to harassment will depend on the consistency and thoroughness of that person’s explanation of those circumstances. The person who is claiming harassment can accomplish this by:

  • Writing down everything that he or she remembers about the circumstances as soon as is possible after they occurred;
  • Taking multiple photographs of injuries that are the result of the police harassment;
  • Seeking immediate medical care for injuries, and retaining copies of medical reports that describe the nature and cause of those injuries;
  • Lodging a complaint directly with the police department, and following up on that complaint if no action is taken;
  • Safeguarding any physical evidence of the harassment and staying in contact with any witnesses to verify their observations.

Causes of Action for Police Harassment

Depending on the specific facts of a matter, a person who is the target of police harassment might have a cause of action under U.S. Federal Law if police harassment rose to the level of depriving that person of his or her Constitutional rights, privileges, and immunities.

That person might also have a valid complaint under both New York State and NYC Municipal Laws against individual police officers and the department that employs them.

A person who has been targeted by police should not hesitate to contact an experienced civil rights attorney. Causes of action under State and Municipal Laws have very short statutes of limitations. Any delay in filing a police harassment lawsuit may result in an early dismissal of the case.   

An Experienced Lawyer Can Help

An experienced civil rights lawyer will determine the best venue for filing a harassment lawsuit and will research the circumstances to fill in gaps and inconsistencies that can adversely affect the case. That lawyer can also check to see if the officer who is responsible for the harassment has any other complaints against him or her.

In extreme cases, police harassment may not be just the product of a rogue officer but may be a systemic problem that runs through an entire department or precinct. A civil rights lawyer can expose those problems and can use a lawsuit to put an end to particular types of police misconduct.

Call Friedman, Levy, Goldfarb & Green, P.C.

At Friedman, Levy, Goldfarb, and Green, we believe that the integrity of New York’s police force cannot be maintained unless we expose those elements that utilize unlawful police harassment as a law enforcement tool.

Please call us if you have been subjected to police harassment in Manhattan, the Bronx, Long Island, or Brooklyn to schedule an appointment with a New York City police brutality lawyer today.

Additional Resources:

  1. www.justice.gov: Addressing Police Misconduct Laws Enforce by the Department of Justice. https://www.justice.gov/crt/addressing-police-misconduct-laws-enforced-department-justice
  2. US Commission on Civil Rights, https://www.usccr.gov/pubs/nypolice/ch5.htm

When to Contact a Car Accident Lawyer in New York

Friedman, Levy, Goldfarb & Green, P.C. Automobile Accident

Bystanders describing the scene of an accident to the police officer

Car accidents are an everyday reality in busy New York City and the surrounding areas. If you experience injury or property damage and another driver was at fault, you need to take action in order to receive the compensation to which you are entitled. The best way to do that is to speak with an experienced New York car accident lawyer.

Who needs a lawyer after a crash?

Not every car crash requires an attorney, but in many cases, it is advisable to at least consult with one to learn about your legal options and see how much your case might be worth.

Speak with an attorney if you have suffered any injuries in the crash or if your property damage is more than minimal. Even if you do not have an obvious injury like a broken bone, it is smart to talk to a lawyer if you have pain afterward. An attorney can speak from professional experience, providing informed analysis of your situation and offering advice on how to proceed.

It is common for certain types of injuries, especially soft tissue injuries or even brain injuries, to worsen and become more apparent over time. Your well-being and your personal injury claim will both be better off with an early evaluation because it not only documents your physical pain but can also improve your prognosis by allowing medical professionals to find and treat issues that could become worse without treatment.

Your New York car accident injury attorney can help guide you through this and other steps to protect your rights.

How an NYC car accident lawyer can increase the compensation you recover

Injured claimants in New York City who have a skilled attorney representing them typically receive higher compensation than those who represent themselves because your lawyer:

  • Knows how to fully value a claim, taking into account long-term losses and flaws in insurance company claim estimation programs
  • Explores theories of liability (and, therefore, avenues of compensation) that non-attorneys often overlook
  • Provides confident advocacy when dealing with other parties’ representatives
  • Handles communications with insurance company representatives and others who may try to distort your statements or unfairly low-ball the value of your claim
  • Carries a professional reputation – insurance companies know which attorneys are willing to bring a case to trial and will play fewer games trying to nickel and dime their clients’ claims

Protect your rights after a crash

If your car crash was just a minor fender bender with no substantial damage and no physical pain, you might not need an attorney to represent you. But if there was anything more than this, you should call the police to report the crash and then seek medical attention. Next, speak with an NYC car accident lawyer as soon as possible.

The attorneys at Friedman, Levy, Goldfarb & Green proudly serve those in Manhattan and the greater NYC area who have sustained injuries in auto accidents caused by someone else’s negligence. Call Friedman, Levy, Goldfarb & Green today to arrange a case evaluation. Consultations are always free and confidential.

Be Aware of Large Trucks on NY Highways

Friedman, Levy, Goldfarb & Green, P.C. Truck Accident

red modern big rig semi truck with semi trailer move with cargo on the highway

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration routinely releases data on commercial motor vehicle accidents across the country. That data includes the sobering fact that New York State is consistently among the top ten states that see the largest number of truck crash and commercial vehicle accidents with fatalities.

The New York City truck accident lawyers at Friedman Levy Goldfarb & Green urge motorists to exercise extra care when they are driving near or around commercial vehicles on NY’s highways and county roads.  A few commonsense precautions may be able to prevent or reduce the severity of truck-car collisions:

Injured in a truck accident? Tap to call for a FREE consultation!

Stay out of a truck’s blind spots and danger zones.

A semi-truck driver will not be able to see you in his or her mirrors if you are following less than 30 feet behind the truck’s trailer. Likewise, the driver has limited visibility of the zones immediately to the left and right and slightly behind the cab. A distracted truck driver will be even less likely to notice a car that is in the truck’s blind spots.

Exercise extreme caution when passing.

Give yourself ample time and space to pass a truck that is moving at highway speeds. Once past the truck, do not pull back in front of it until you have at least 20 feet of clearance, and maintain highway speeds when you do pull back in.

Respect the distance that the truck needs to come to a full stop.  

Heavy trucksrequire extra time and distance to come to a full stop. Beware of sudden stops when you are in front of a truck, and try to give the truck driver sufficient time and distance to respond and stop the truck.

Understand that trucks have a wider turning radius.

A truck with a long trailer cannot execute tight turns. If you are next to a truck that is turning left or right, you should expect the truck to swing out to make that turn.

Talk with an experienced truck accident attorney for free!

Appreciate the higher risks of serious injuries in truck accidents.

Often, just knowing the data about truck accident injuries and fatalities will cause a motorist to drive more carefully around trucks. Data collected between 2014 and 2016 reveals, for example:

  • Almost 40% of fatalities in truck accidents occurred when a vehicle’s occupant was not wearing a seat belt; 
  • Speeding by either or both the truck or another vehicle is a factor in almost 20% of large truck crashes;
  • More than half of all fatal truck crashes occur off of major highways and in rural areas;
  • Driver distraction from cell phone and other causes accounts for between 5% and 15% of all truck accidents;
  • Roughly a third of fatal work zone accidents involve large trucks.

New York Truck Accident Attorneys

Collisions between heavy trucks and cars often cause more serious injuries than car-on-car accidents because of the truck’s extra weight and momentum. In addition, multiple parties may have liability for losses and injuries, including the company that loaded cargo into the truck, the shipping company, the driver, and the manufacturers of faulty components that led to a crash. 

The truck accident attorneys at New York’s Friedman, Levy, Goldfarb & Green have the knowledge and experience to sort through these complex issues and to recover the largest available damages awards for motorists that have suffered serious injuries in accidents with large trucks in Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Long Island and elsewhere in the greater New York City metropolitan area. Please see our website or call us for an analysis of your heavy truck accident case.