Pickup Trucks and Auto Accident Lawsuits
Motor vehicle collisions of any type can result in serious injuries, whether you are in a single-vehicle crash or an accident involving multiple cars and trucks. While the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) underscore how collisions involving large trucks like semis and 18-wheelers are frequently deadly when they include smaller passenger vehicles, there is not as much focus on collisions involving smaller passenger vehicles and pickup trucks. Although it is clear that semi-trucks or big rigs can weigh up to 20 or 30 times as much as a smaller passenger vehicle (thus leading to more severe collisions), it is not always clear how the size differential between passenger cars and pickup trucks can affect motor vehicle collisions. Ultimately, the sheer size and weight of a pickup truck could affect your ability to show that you have suffered an injury that is serious enough to meet the required threshold to file a lawsuit.
If you were involved in a collision with a pickup truck, it will be critical to seek advice from a New York motor vehicle accident lawyer as soon as possible to find out more about filing a lawsuit.
Pickup Trucks are Becoming More Dangerous on the Roads
Have you been seriously injured in a motor vehicle collision involving a pickup truck? If you drive a smaller passenger vehicle and have gotten hurt in a crash caused by a pickup truck, you are not alone. Although pickup trucks are not often the focus of truck accident studies given the dangers posed by semi-trucks, a new article in Consumer Reports indicates that “pickup trucks are getting larger and becoming a hazard to pedestrians and drivers of smaller vehicles.”
Indeed, the article underscores, pickup truck accidents are resulting in life-threatening and fatal injuries at higher rates than most people might think, and some safety advocates have even asked the New York legislature to make speed limit changes to account for the greater danger posed by larger pickup trucks.
Lawsuits Involving Pickup Trucks Must Meet the Serious Injury Threshold
When it comes to the New York requirement of showing that you have sustained sufficient severe injuries to meet the “serious injury threshold” required by New York law, there is no demonstrable distinction among pickup trucks, SUVs, sedans, coupes, and other types of passenger vehicles. To be clear, if you were injured in a collision involving an at-fault driver of a pickup truck and you want to file a lawsuit, you will need to show that your injuries are classified as “serious” under New York law in order to be eligible to file a motor vehicle accident lawsuit.
Our New York auto accident lawyers can evaluate your case and discuss how we may be able to gather evidence to show that you have met the serious injury threshold and are eligible to file a lawsuit.
Contact a New York Car Accident Lawyer for Assistance
If you or someone you love sustained serious injuries in a collision involving a pickup truck or any other type of motor vehicle crash, one of our experienced New York auto accident attorneys can evaluate your case today and discuss your options with you for filing a lawsuit against the responsible motorist. Contact Leitner Varughese Warywoda PLLC to learn more about how our firm can assist you.
