Hi Folks - I just came from the hospital to visit a client whose motor vehicle was stopped at a light , only to be rear ended by a large truck . He suffered  catastrophic injuries and  is facing an uncertain future, all due to this preventable accident. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA), rear end and large truck crashes  are the second most common claim for truck fleet operators , making up 18 % of all claims , some 70,000 out of 379,00 yearly crashes. 

New York Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 1129 (a) provides that " the driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of such vehicles and the traffic upon and condition of the  highway."  As a rule of thumb, the New York Driver's Manual recommends that drivers of cars leave at least a space of two seconds between them and a vehicle in front of them. 

However when it comes to a semi- truck ,  at 55mph, it takes about 525 feet before it comes to a complete stop after recognizing the need to stop.  Assuming perfect brakes and road conditions, studies have shown that  the minimum stopping distance for a truck to be brought to a complete stop is about 419 feet. 

What Factors May Cause Rear End Collisions Involving Trucks 

The speed of the truck is one factor  as it may cause the braking distance to become longer. Total Stopping Distance for a truck has been defined by the Illinois Commercial Drivers Manual as follows : Perception Distance = reaction distance + Braking Distance = Total Stopping Distance . It has been reported that the following factors may increase stopping distance : 1) the speed of the truck ; 2) the weight and size of the vehicle ; 3) the weather ; 4) Lack of Training of the truck drivers  on how to safely operate their trucks; 5) Misjudgment by the driver in failing to judge the space necessary to bring the truck to a complete stop  or begins braking too late, leading to a rear end collision; 6) Driver Inattention ; 7) Mechanical Failure . 

If you or a loved one was in a vehicle rear ended by a truck or large vehicle call us at Lemmo Law today. Our experience in prosecuting truck rear end cases , may assist us in reviewing the facts of your case to  see if their is merit , and if so getting you fair compensation for your injuries.