The Most Dangerous Intersections in New York
You were heading up I-87 toward Hunter Mountain for the weekend, or maybe you were driving home from work on a snow-covered local road, when a large truck crossed into your lane and changed everything. You found yourself standing in the snow, unsure of what happened and why the snowplow or government truck that is supposed to make winter roads safer ended up in your lane or hit you from behind.
Greenspan & Greenspan Injury Lawyers understands the confusion you feel when one of these trucks causes your accident. Our New York truck accident lawyers are here to step in immediately and fight to make sure that the people responsible for your injuries are held accountable.
What Is a Snowplow Accident Claim in New York?
A snowplow accident claim is a personal injury claim filed after a collision involving a snowplow or other large municipal vehicle. Who owns and operates the vehicle, a government agency or a private company, determines which rules apply, what deadlines govern your case, and how difficult the path to recovery will be.
Was the Snowplow Government-Owned or Privately Operated?
This is the first question that determines what steps you take, and the answer is not always obvious.
- Government operators. New York State, the City of New York, county highway departments, and municipal agencies all operate snowplows to clear public roads. When one of those vehicles causes your accident, you are filing a claim against a government entity.
- Private operators. These drivers plow parking lots, shopping centers, apartment complexes, and private roads across New York every winter under contract. When a private plow hits you, the company’s commercial insurance is responsible under ordinary negligence standards, the same standard used for any other negligent driver.
Identifying the correct party early is not a formality. It determines your deadlines, your legal standard, and your entire strategy.
What Rules Apply to Government Truck Accident Claims?
When a government-operated snowplow or municipal truck causes your injuries, two rules shape everything that follows.
The Notice of Claim Deadline & Warning
Before you can sue any government entity in New York, you must file a formal Notice of Claim within 90 days of your accident. This document identifies the time, place, and nature of your injury and notifies the government of your intent to pursue a claim. Miss this deadline by even one day, and New York courts will almost certainly bar your claim entirely, regardless of how serious your injuries are or how clear the negligence was. After filing, you then have one year and 90 days from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit.
We warn you against filing this notice on your own, as where you file depends entirely on which government entity owned the vehicle. For example:
- State-operated plow—notice to the New York State Office of the Attorney General;
- County highway truck—county clerk, county attorney, or the comptroller’s office;
- City or town vehicle—the municipality’s clerk.
Filing with the wrong entity carries the same consequences as missing the deadline: your claim is gone. Identifying the correct party, filing the right paperwork with the right office, and doing it within 90 days is exactly where Greenspan & Greenspan Injury Lawyers can step in to file your claim correctly.
Special Government Protection
The government doesn’t always get special protection, and less than most people assume. New York law provides certain government vehicle operators with protection while actively performing their duties. A snowplow clearing a road during a storm, for example, is not held to the same standard as a private driver.
However, that protection has real limits, and it does not apply in every situation. Whether it applies to your case depends on the specific facts of your accident. That is exactly the kind of question we examine from the moment you call.
What Steps Should You Take Right Away?
Every day after a snowplow accident matters. The steps you take in the first hours protect your ability to recover, and include.
- Seeking medical treatment immediately. Medical records that begin on the day of the accident carry far more weight than records that start days later.
- Documenting the vehicle. Photograph the truck, its markings, and its agency or company name, as that information determines which legal rules apply to your case.
- Notating road and weather conditions. Photos of the scene, road conditions, and any missing warning signals are critical early evidence.
- Avoiding calls with insurance adjusters alone. Government insurers and private carriers both move quickly after an accident. You should not.
- Contacting an attorney immediately. If a government vehicle was involved, the 90-day clock is already running.
If you are unable to take pictures because you are on your way to get medical help, we can figure out the rest.
Why Can You Trust How Greenspan & Greenspan Handles Snowplow Accident Claims Across New York?
Since 1959, Greenspan & Greenspan Injury Lawyers has stood beside seriously injured New Yorkers, on the Thruway near Albany, on mountain roads heading to Whiteface, and on every suburban street in between. Our bilingual team serves English- and Spanish-speaking clients across New York State, so no one loses access to the representation they deserve due to a language barrier.
We have recovered tens of millions of dollars for our clients, including a $1.4 million truck crash settlement and a $900,000 truck crash recovery. Those results come from the same relentless preparation we bring to every case. Your fight is our fight, and we pursue every available avenue until we achieve the right outcome.
90 Days Go by Fast. Schedule Your Free Consultation Today.
Government entities depend on injured people missing deadlines. Private companies depend on injured people not knowing their rights. Call Greenspan & Greenspan Injury Lawyers today to schedule your free consultation and let us make sure neither of those things happens to you.
Legal References Used to Inform This Page:
To ensure the accuracy and clarity of this page, we referenced official legal and other resources during the content development process:
