If you or someone you love was hurt in an 18-wheeler accident in New York, you need an experienced attorney on your side from day one. A fully loaded 18-wheeler can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, roughly 20 times more than a standard passenger car, which is why crashes involving these trucks so often result in life-altering injuries or death. Settlements in these cases typically range from $150,000 to over $5 million, depending on how severe the injuries are. Unlike a regular car accident, 18-wheeler cases involve federal trucking rules, multiple parties who could share fault, and important electronic evidence that can be erased within weeks if not preserved immediately. Porter Law Group has represented 18-wheeler accident victims across New York State since 2009 and has recovered more than $500 million for injured clients.
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18-wheeler cases are not like regular car accident claims. These crashes involve federal trucking regulations, multiple companies that could be held responsible, and electronic evidence that can disappear quickly if not preserved right away. Trucking corporations have legal teams that show up at crash scenes within hours of an accident. You need a law firm that moves just as fast.
Porter Law Group has recovered more than $500 million for injured clients since 2009, with case outcomes showing jury verdicts 20 to 34 times higher than what insurance companies initially offered before trial. Led by Harvard-educated attorney Michael S. Porter, a former U.S. Army JAG Corps Captain with over 20 years of trial experience, the firm works with accident reconstruction engineers, trucking compliance specialists, and data analysts who can recover critical records from the truck's onboard systems. Seven of the firm's eight attorneys have been recognized by Super Lawyers, a distinction earned by fewer than 5% of attorneys in New York State.
"18-wheeler cases are the most complex personal injury claims we handle. You're not just suing a driver, you're going against a trucking corporation with a legal team that mobilizes within hours of the crash to protect evidence favorable to their defense and destroy what isn't. Our job is to get there first."
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18-wheelers, also known as semi-trucks or tractor-trailers, are the largest trucks allowed on public roads. At highway speeds, one of these trucks needs nearly 525 feet to come to a complete stop, almost twice the distance a regular car needs. That size difference is exactly why even a small mistake by the truck driver can lead to a catastrophic crash for everyone else on the road.
Driver fatigue is one of the leading causes of 18-wheeler crashes in New York. Truck drivers are only legally allowed to drive up to 11 hours within a 14-hour window, but pressure from employers and tight delivery schedules can push drivers to keep going past those limits. Fatigue slows a driver's reaction time just as significantly as alcohol, and federal safety data shows it plays a role in roughly 1 in 8 large truck crashes.
Blind spot collisions are especially dangerous with 18-wheelers. These trucks have four major blind spots, including an area extending 20 feet in front of the cab and 30 feet behind the trailer. If you cannot see the driver in their side mirror, the driver almost certainly cannot see you. About one-third of all crashes between cars and large trucks involve one of these blind spots.
Jackknife and rollover accidents happen when the trailer swings out from the cab or the top-heavy vehicle tips during a sharp turn. A jackknifed truck can sweep across multiple highway lanes in seconds, leaving other drivers no time to react. Rollovers account for approximately 1 in 10 fatal large truck crashes and are often caused by excessive speed on curves, sudden steering changes, or improperly loaded cargo.
Equipment failure is also a major contributing factor. Brake failure is the most commonly cited mechanical issue in large truck crashes. When trucking companies skip required inspections, ignore worn-down tires, or delay repairs on brakes and steering, they put everyone on the road in danger.
One of the biggest differences between an 18-wheeler accident and a regular car crash is how many parties can potentially be held responsible. In New York, if multiple parties contributed to the crash, each one can be held accountable for their share of your damages. Here is who may be liable in your case:
| Liable Party | Why They May Be Responsible |
| Truck driver | Reckless driving, speeding, driving while fatigued, or distracted behind the wheel |
| Trucking company | Poorly trained drivers, failure to maintain the vehicle, or pressuring drivers to violate safety rules |
| Cargo loader or shipper | Improperly loaded or unsecured cargo that caused the truck to tip or lose control |
| Parts manufacturer | Defective brakes, tires, or other equipment that failed and caused the crash |
| Government entity | Dangerous road conditions, faulty traffic signals, or poor road design |
Identifying every responsible party matters, because each one typically carries separate insurance coverage. Commercial truck insurance policies are also much larger than those on regular passenger cars, which means the potential compensation available to you is significantly greater.
Learn more about trucking company liability in New York. | Learn more about third-party liability.
Because of the forces involved in 18-wheeler crashes, the injuries are often severe and the costs of recovery can be enormous. The compensation available to you generally falls into these categories:
Medical costs cover everything from emergency treatment, surgery, and hospital stays to long-term rehabilitation and future care. Serious spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries can require years of ongoing medical attention, with lifetime care costs that can reach into the millions.
Lost income covers wages you missed while you were recovering and, for more serious injuries, the earning capacity you may have permanently lost.
Pain and suffering covers the physical pain and emotional toll the accident has placed on your life, including anxiety, depression, difficulty sleeping, and the inability to enjoy activities you once did. New York does not cap how much you can recover for pain and suffering.
Wrongful death compensation, when a family member was killed in the crash, can include the income they would have earned over their lifetime, the loss of their guidance and support, and funeral and burial expenses.
Punitive damages may also apply when a trucking company knowingly broke safety rules or allowed a driver they knew was unfit to get behind the wheel.
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Porter Law Group's published results include 53 cases at or above $1 million, including a $17.8 million settlement and a $13.5 million jury verdict.
$5,700,000 Settlement: A 52-year-old man suffered a leg amputation in a commercial trucking accident. Porter Law Group established liability through driver logbook violations and secured a settlement covering lifetime prosthetic costs and lost earning capacity.
$3,400,000 Jury Verdict: A 40-year-old man sustained a traumatic brain injury in a vehicle collision. The insurance company offered $100,000 before trial. Porter Law Group secured $3.4 million at trial, which was 34 times the pre-trial offer.
Every case is different. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
In most cases, you have three years from the date of the accident to file a claim. However, waiting is a serious risk.
Critical evidence stored on the truck, including digital driving logs and onboard recorder data, can be erased or overwritten within 30 days of the crash. Trucking companies may also repair or scrap the vehicle before you have a chance to have it inspected. If a government entity is involved, such as a municipality responsible for a dangerous road, you may have as little as 90 days to file a formal notice. Wrongful death cases carry a two-year deadline.
The sooner you contact a lawyer, the sooner that evidence can be preserved and your case can move forward.
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1. Call 911 and document the truck. Ask the responding officer to record the truck driver's license information, the trucking company name, and the ID numbers displayed on the cab and trailer. These details are essential for your case.
2. Take photos at the crash scene. Photograph the truck, the damage to all vehicles, road conditions, skid marks, traffic signals, and any debris or spilled cargo on the road. Capturing the company name and ID numbers on the truck will help your attorney identify the carrier right away.
3. Get medical attention within 24 hours. Some injuries from 18-wheeler crashes, including internal bleeding, brain injuries, and spinal damage, do not show symptoms right away. Getting evaluated quickly also creates a medical record that directly connects your injuries to the crash.
4. Do not speak to the trucking company. Trucking companies often send representatives to the crash scene or even to the hospital quickly after an accident. Do not give a recorded statement, sign any documents, or accept any payment before speaking to an attorney first.
5. Contact an 18-wheeler accident lawyer immediately. An attorney can send formal legal notices right away demanding that the truck's electronic records, driver history, and maintenance files are preserved before they can be deleted. Porter Law Group offers free consultations and takes cases on a no-win, no-fee basis, so there is no cost to you unless we win your case.
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Porter Law Group represents 18-wheeler accident victims throughout New York State, from the major freight corridors on I-81, I-90, and I-87 to the congested commercial routes across the five boroughs. Headquartered in Syracuse with a statewide practice, the firm handles 18-wheeler accident claims in every county and jurisdiction in New York.
18-Wheeler Accident Lawyer in Syracuse, New York City, Buffalo, Rochester, Albany, Yonkers, White Plains, Utica, Binghamton, Long Island.
Call (833) PORTER-9 to speak with an experienced 18-wheeler accident attorney who understands the trucking routes, local courts, and regulations that apply to your case.
Settlements typically range from $150,000 for moderate injuries to over $5 million for catastrophic injuries, and wrongful death cases regularly exceed $2 million. The value of your case depends on how seriously you were injured, your total medical costs, the income you lost, and how much insurance the trucking company carries. Because commercial trucks are required to carry much larger insurance policies than regular passenger cars, the available compensation in these cases is often significantly greater.
Yes. Trucking companies can be held responsible for their driver's actions while on the job. They can also be held directly responsible for hiring drivers with unsafe records, failing to properly train their staff, neglecting vehicle maintenance, or pressuring drivers to work beyond legal limits. Our attorneys look at every level of the company to find all parties who contributed to the crash.
The most important evidence includes the truck's digital driving logs, its onboard event recorder (commonly called a black box), the driver's employment and safety history, and the vehicle's maintenance records. Together, these documents reveal whether the driver was fatigued, whether the truck was properly cared for, and whether the company had a prior history of violations. This evidence can be erased or destroyed within 30 days without a formal legal preservation demand sent by your attorney.
Do not give a recorded statement, sign any documents, or accept any payment before speaking with an attorney. Trucking companies routinely send representatives to the scene or hospital shortly after a crash to gather information that benefits the company's defense. Anything you say can be used to reduce your claim. Direct all communication to your attorney.
The standard deadline is three years from the date of the accident. If a government entity is involved, you may have as few as 90 days to file a formal notice. Wrongful death cases have a two-year deadline. Because critical truck evidence can be destroyed within the first 30 days, it is important to speak with an attorney as soon as possible.
Founder and managing partner of Porter Law Group. Harvard University (B.A., 1994), Syracuse University College of Law (J.D., 1997). Former U.S. Army JAG Corps Captain, Airborne Training School graduate. Super Lawyers 14 consecutive years, 10.0 Superb on Avvo, Distinguished rating from Martindale-Hubbell. Over 20 years of trial experience and more than $500 million recovered for injured clients across New York State.
Reviewed by Michael S. Porter, J.D. | Last updated: [April, 2026]
18-wheeler accidents cause some of the most serious injuries on New York roads, and critical evidence like digital driving logs and dashcam footage can be erased within days of the crash. Contact Porter Law Group for a free, no-obligation consultation. We work on a contingency-fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless you win.
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