Cement trucks present unique hazards on construction sites and roadways. Due to their weight and heavy loads, they can have difficulty accelerating, turning, stopping, and maneuvering. Additionally, because cement can dry quickly, a driver may be inclined to speed to reach the destination faster. However, even when these vehicles are operated at low speeds, the risk of rollover accidents is high. If you were injured in a cement truck accident, you may be entitled to hold the negligent party accountable for your economic and non-economic damages.
Causes of Cement Truck Accidents
A cement truck is a heavy and dangerous piece of machinery regularly used in the construction industry. These vehicles carry ready-mixed concrete to construction sites and can easily be identified by the rotating mixing drum that prevents the cement from settling while it is being transported. Unfortunately, when a cement truck driver or trucking company is negligent, careless, or reckless, accidents can arise that result in catastrophic injuries.
Common causes of cement truck accidents on the road can include the following:
- Lack of training
- Fatigue
- Driving under the influence
- Improper loading
- Speeding
- Poor maintenance
- Failure to check blind spots
- Equipment malfunction
The injuries that may be sustained in a cement truck accident often require extensive medical treatment. A victim may suffer broken bones, nerve damage, paralysis, traumatic brain injury, and even fatality. By filing a personal injury lawsuit, a victim of a cement truck accident may be entitled to recover their economic losses, including their unreimbursed medical bills, lost wages, and out-of-pocket cost. They may also be eligible for compensation for their non-economic damages, also called “pain and suffering.”
Cement Truck Accidents on Construction Sites
Workers’ Compensation may provide an injured worker with medical benefits and a portion of their lost wages following a cement truck accident. However, the injuries sustained in a cement truck accident are usually severe — and these benefits may not provide adequate compensation. Workers’ Compensation also does not compensate an injured worker for the pain and suffering they experienced due to their injuries.
Although a worker who was hurt on the job cannot file a lawsuit against their employer, there is often a third party who can be held liable for a cement truck accident on a construction site. Depending on the facts and circumstances, a trucking company or parts manufacturer may be to blame. In some instances, a general contractor or subcontractor on the site might be held liable. If a construction worker can establish a third party’s negligence, they may be eligible to recover their economic and non-economic damages by filing a personal injury lawsuit, even if they received Workers’ Compensation benefits.
Contact an Experienced New York Personal Injury Attorney
If you were injured in a cement truck accident, you may be eligible to receive compensation for the economic and non-economic losses you suffered due to another party’s negligence. A skillful personal injury attorney can fight for your rights and work to obtain the monetary recovery you deserve. The Dearie Law Firm, P.C. has represented victims of negligence for over three decades and works diligently to secure the best possible results in each client’s unique case. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.