On Saturday, September 12, a rear-end collision tragically took a driver’s life in Queens. The unidentified driver of a Ford Fusion was driving on South Conduit Avenue in Laurelton when he passed a cement truck. According to an NYPD spokesperson, the cement truck then rear-ended the vehicle, causing the car to lose control and slam into a pole near the intersection of South Conduit Avenue and 232nd Street.
The 30-year-old driver of the Ford was found to be unconscious, unresponsive, and suffering head trauma at the scene of the accident. He also had a passenger in his car, a 27-year-old woman who suffered back and chest injuries. She was transported to Jamaica Hospital and is reportedly in stable condition. Unfortunately, the driver of the vehicle was pronounced dead after being transported to Franklin General Hospital.
The 32-year-old cement truck driver was not injured and remained at the scene, according to police. No charges have yet been filed.
Rear-end collisions are extremely dangerous, especially when a large truck is involved. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), between the years 2016 and 2018, the percentage of fatalities in crashes involving large trucks hovered around 70% for occupants of other vehicles. In comparison, the fatality rate of truck occupants involved in crashes remained around 18% for the same range of years. It is clear that when large trucks are involved in accidents, it is often the passengers in the other, smaller vehicles that suffer the most.
Getting into a crash with a large truck is an incredibly frightening prospect. It is important to know what both passenger vehicle drivers and truck drivers can do to keep themselves safe and avoid accidents. One important thing for passenger vehicle drivers to note is that it can take a large truck up to the length of two football fields to stop completely; it is much more difficult for large truck drivers to stop short and avoid a rear-end collision. This means that truck drivers must ensure they are never driving while distracted and are always alert. They should be scanning the road about 15 seconds ahead at all times so they can be sure there will be enough time to stop if there is a hazard.
If you or a loved one have been injured or experienced suffering after being involved in a collision with a large truck, the truck accident lawyers at Block O’Toole & Murphy understand your pain and are here to help. We have fought for numerous clients who were negatively affected by truck accidents and have obtained the compensation they deserved. Some notable examples include a $14 million settlement for a motorcyclist who needed 10 surgeries, including a below-the-knee amputation, after he was struck by a left-turning truck, and a $5.5 million settlement for a motorist who required spinal surgery after he was side-swiped on the highway by a semi-truck.
Call us at 212-736-5300 or fill out our contact form to speak with one of our qualified attorneys today.