Investigation Underway After One Person Killed In Hudson Valley Wrong Way Semi-Truck Accident on Interstate 84
HUDSON VALLEY, NEW YORK (September 29, 2024) – One person was killed and several were injured in a Hudson Valley semi-truck accident on Interstate 84.
Orange County officials are saying that the collision took place around 5:30 a.m. on Wednesday. A passenger vehicle was involved in a head-on collision with a semi-truck.
The collisions caused a massive inferno that engulfed the smaller vehicle. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the victims.
Sadly, one person died due to their injuries. A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Hudson Valley Truck Accidents
Semi-trucks make up a relatively small number of the total vehicles on the road. But they are involved in a disproportionate number of fatal collisions. According to the National Safety Council, “In 2022, 5,837 large trucks were involved in a fatal crash, an 1.8% increase from 2021 and a 49% increase in the last 10 years. The involvement rate per 100 million large-truck miles traveled is up 3% from 2021, and up 24% in the last 10 years.” Truck drivers should take a number of measures in order to avoid collisions.
- Truck drivers should be well rested before heading out onto the road.
- Truck drivers should continuously scan the road ahead of them for hazards.
- Truck drivers should abstain from alcohol and other intoxicating substances.
Truck drivers must obtain a commercial license and are held to a high standard in terms of safety. Many truck accidents occur when drivers are speeding or making unsafe movements in the roadway. There is a rebuttable presumption of negligence on the part of any driver that leaves their lane of traffic and collides with another vehicle traveling from the opposite direction. It is important that certain steps are taken after any truck accident.
- Photos of the accident site should be taken.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- A thorough investigation should be conducted.
If a truck driver was negligent in a collision, their employer could be held at fault. Generally speaking, companies are liable for the negligent actions of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties. The family of any person who died in a truck accident may have legal recourse through a wrongful death claim. A wrongful death attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating New York Truck Accidents
We at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. extend our best wishes to the family of the driver who died in this collision. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to the police. It is our sincere hope that measures are taken to prevent other tragedies like this.
Do you need more information about a Hudson Valley truck accident? Our team of personal injury attorneys is here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (516) 908-9792.
