Crushed by a Semi on a New York Road? Here’s How Bikers Fight Back

You don’t forget what it feels like. The sound. The size. The split second when you realize that massive truck doesn’t see you, or worse, isn’t stopping. When a motorcycle and an 18-wheeler collide, the rider almost always loses.

But that doesn’t mean the legal fight is lost too.

At Horn Wright, LLP, our motorcycle accident attorneys help New York riders take on the most intimidating crashes on the road—those involving commercial trucks, semis, and delivery rigs. These cases aren’t like regular motorcycle wrecks. They come with bigger injuries, tougher opponents, and higher stakes. And we’re here to help you fight back.

Why Truck Collisions Leave Riders Broken and Barely Breathing

There’s no such thing as a “minor” motorcycle-truck crash. When something that size hits you at speed, the outcome is almost always catastrophic.

The brutal physics of a bike vs. an 18-wheeler

An 18-wheeler can weigh up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded. Your average motorcycle? Barely 500 pounds. That kind of weight difference means:

• Longer stopping distances for the truck
• Extreme force of impact on the rider
• High chance of ejection, crushing injuries, or fatalities

Even low-speed truck impacts in urban areas like Brooklyn, Harlem, or Syracuse have left riders with shattered legs, spinal cord injuries, or worse.

In 2023 alone, over 1,300 crashes in New York State involved large trucks and motorcycles, according to DMV records.

What makes New York streets even more dangerous for bikers

New York adds its own set of risks:

• Tight lanes in areas like Queens and the Bronx, where trucks make wide turns
• Construction congestion on highways like the LIE (I-495) or I-278
• Blind spots, especially when trucks weave between lanes or merge too fast

One Manhattan rider lost his leg after being sideswiped by a semi that changed lanes without seeing him. The driver claimed “he wasn’t there.” Dashcam footage told a different story.

The Evidence That Can Blow Your Truck Accident Case Wide Open

Truck crashes aren’t just about what you remember. They’re about what’s recorded, tracked, and logged by the trucking company—and how fast you move to get that data.

GPS logs, black boxes, and surveillance from I-87 or the LIE

Most commercial trucks are equipped with:

• Event Data Recorders (EDRs)—aka black boxes—that log speed, braking, and steering input before and during a crash
• GPS logs that track the vehicle’s route, stops, and speed patterns
• Onboard dashcams, some of which upload footage in real time to fleet databases

If your crash happened on major NY highways like I-87, the BQE, or the LIE, there’s a high chance nearby traffic cams or toll systems also caught something. But that footage doesn’t stick around forever.

In New York, many agencies purge video within 24 to 72 hours unless it’s specifically requested. That’s why acting fast matters.

Who has the footage and and how fast you need to act

Here’s who might be holding the keys to your case:

• The trucking company, which may “lose” black box data unless legally ordered to preserve it
• Traffic camera operators, like NYSDOT or MTA Bridges & Tunnels
• Private businesses, like gas stations or warehouses with exterior surveillance
• Eyewitnesses with dashcams, especially delivery drivers or rideshare users

Your attorney can issue a spoliation letter to force companies to preserve evidence. In past New York cases, we've seen trucking companies erase data “by accident”—until legal pressure forced compliance.

How Injured Riders Take on the Trucking Industry and Win

It’s not just the driver you’re up against. It’s their company. Their insurer. And often a team of corporate attorneys trained to bury cases like yours in red tape.

What it really takes to beat a corporate defense team

The trucking company’s lawyers will look for any reason to blame you. They may claim:

• You were in the truck’s blind spot
• You were lane-splitting or speeding
• You didn’t wear enough protective gear
• You made a sudden move without signaling

In New York, thanks to the pure comparative fault rule under CPLR § 1411, even if you’re partially at fault, you can still recover damages. Your compensation just gets reduced by your percentage of fault.

That means proving every truck-related safety failure becomes critical—like logbook violations, skipped inspections, or fatigued driving in violation of FMCSA rules.

Legal moves that flip the script on trucking companies

To level the field, we dig deep with:

• Subpoenas for truck maintenance records
• Requests for driver training history
• Interviews with witnesses and first responders
• Reconstruction experts who specialize in commercial vehicle impacts

In a recent Buffalo case, a rider who was hit by a semi turning left at an intersection was initially blamed. Our legal team uncovered camera footage showing the truck driver rolled through a red arrow. That footage flipped the case—and led to a $950,000 settlement.

Don’t Let a Trucking Company Bulldoze Your Life

If a semi, box truck, or big rig just about destroyed you on a New York road, you’ve got enough to deal with. But make no mistake—the trucking company is already protecting itself. You should be too.

At Horn Wright, LLP, our motorcycle accident attorneys fight for New York riders who’ve been hit hard by commercial vehicles. We’ll track down the evidence, hold trucking companies accountable, and demand compensation that actually reflects what you’ve been through. When you're ready to fight back with one of the best law firms in America, we’ll be ready to lead the charge.