Law Office of Michael H. Joseph, PLLC

Another Tractor Trailer Hit An Overpass Today In Westchester

Oct 25, 2012 @ 01:56 AM — by Michael Joseph
Tagged with: New York Truck Accidents

Our New York City and Westchester Truck accident lawyers have handled numerous cases involving commercial vehicles such as trucks, tractor trailers and even bus accidents and crashes. Today another tractor trailer hit an overpass in Pleasantville. The crash occurred on a parkway which the tractor trailer never should have been on.

Commercial vehicles such as buses and tractor trailers wandering onto parkways has become an increasing problem in Westchester. Whether it is the Saw Mill River Parkway, which runs through Yonkers, Ardsley, Dobbs Ferry and White Plains or I-287, the Taconic which runs through White Plains, Greenburgh, Mt. Pleasant and Valhalla or the Hutchinson which crosses through Scarsdale, Hartsdale and Harrison, these tractor trailers are posing an increasing risk to other motorists. The increased traffic when one of these trucks hits an overpass, while annoying, is nothing compared to the damage when these trucks hit a car, SUV or pick up truck. Unfortunately, all too often serious personal injuries and even death is the result.

The New York Code of Rules and Regulations prohibit commercial trucks from being on New York’s parkways. The reasoning for this regulation is clearly to reduce the dangers to motorists. Parkways are simply not designed for larger vehicles such as tractor trailers or box trucks. Parkways often have narrower lanes, more and sharper curves and lower overpasses, which commercial trucks are not designed to handle. Interstates by contrast have wider lanes and smoother and longer curves. Trucks often have trouble staying in the smaller lanes of parkways and have a natural sway when turning, which makes them a hazard on parkways.

Truck drivers are on the road for long periods of time and simply truck driver fatigue and inattention seems to be a contributing factor to trucks ending up on the parkways in Westchester. Westchester law makers are considering putting lower covered structures on the entrance ramps to prevent the trucks from entering parkways in the first place. Our White Plains personal injury lawyers will continue to represent truck accident victims.