Truck Accident Attorneys in Westchester County: Our Editorial Picks
Truck accidents are not like ordinary car crashes. When a fully loaded tractor-trailer weighing up to 80,000 pounds collides with a passenger vehicle, the results are often catastrophic. Victims face severe injuries, mounting medical bills, and a legal battle against well-funded trucking companies and their insurers.
Our team researched Westchester County personal injury firms to identify attorneys with the specific skills needed for truck accident litigation. These cases require understanding of federal motor carrier regulations, the ability to investigate multiple potentially liable parties, and experience taking on corporate defendants with deep pockets.
The three firms below each bring valuable strengths to truck accident cases. We present them as equally worthy options because each excels in different ways.
Why Truck Accident Cases Require Specialized Representation
Westchester County sees substantial commercial truck traffic. I-287 serves as a major commercial truck bypass connecting I-87 and I-95. The Elmsford Distribution Center handles logistics for major carriers including UPS and XPO. Delivery trucks from Amazon facilities in the Hudson Valley traverse local highways daily. This volume means truck accidents happen regularly on roads throughout the county.
What makes these cases complex is the web of potential defendants. The truck driver may be liable for negligent operation. The trucking company may be liable under respondeat superior or for negligent hiring, training, or supervision. Cargo loading companies may be liable if improper loading caused the crash. Vehicle manufacturers may be liable for defective components. Maintenance providers may be liable for mechanical failures.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations govern how long drivers can operate (11 hours of driving within a 14-hour duty window), mandatory rest breaks, electronic logging device requirements, vehicle inspection protocols, and insurance minimums ($750,000 to $5 million depending on cargo). Violations of these regulations can establish negligence per se.
Critical evidence in truck accident cases includes driver logs, ELD data, GPS records, inspection reports, and onboard camera footage. Much of this evidence is controlled by the trucking company and can be destroyed or overwritten quickly. An experienced truck accident attorney knows to send preservation letters immediately and may seek emergency court orders to protect evidence.
Jeffrey Weiskopf, P.C. — Ossining
Best for: Clients who need meticulous case preparation and an attorney licensed in multiple federal courts.
Jeffrey Weiskopf brings nearly 20 years of litigation experience to truck accident cases, with credentials that matter for this practice area. He is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Courts for the Southern, Eastern, and Northern Districts of New York. This federal court admission is significant because truck accident cases often involve interstate commerce and may be heard in federal court.
His background as a former Senior Court Attorney to a New York County judge gave him insight into how courts evaluate complex litigation. His current role as an Adjunct Professor at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, teaching Remedies among other courses, reflects deep knowledge of how damages are calculated in serious injury cases.
Jeffrey's approach is to prepare every case as if it will go to trial. In truck accident litigation, this trial-ready strategy is essential. Trucking companies and their insurers will not offer fair settlements unless they believe the plaintiff's attorney is prepared to take the case before a jury. His firm has recovered over $20 million for injured clients, demonstrating he can deliver results.
What clients consistently praise is his personal involvement. He meets with every client directly. He returns calls and keeps clients informed at every stage. For truck accident victims facing a difficult recovery, having an attorney who is accessible and communicative makes a meaningful difference. His 5.0 Google rating from over 45 reviews reflects this client-centered philosophy.
Jeffrey handles product liability cases as well, including a $1.25 million recovery for a fall from a defective electric skateboard. This experience with product defect claims translates to truck accident cases where mechanical failures or defective components contributed to the crash.
Contact Information
Jeffrey Weiskopf, P.C.
914-315-0111
30 State St Suite 2B, Ossining, NY 10562
Fiedler Deutsch, LLP — White Plains
Best for: Catastrophic injury cases requiring massive litigation resources and a firm with record-breaking verdicts.
When a truck accident causes life-altering injuries — traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, multiple amputations, severe burns — Fiedler Deutsch brings the resources necessary to pursue maximum compensation. The firm has recovered over $275 million for clients and secured some of the largest verdicts in New York State.
Partners Duane Fiedler and Adam Deutsch have over 50 combined years of experience and handle every case personally. Adam Deutsch was part of the trial team that secured a $62 million verdict, the 31st largest jury verdict in the nation and 3rd largest in New York State that year. He has obtained two of the largest medical malpractice verdicts in Westchester County in recent years, including $9.2 million and $4 million.
While known for medical malpractice work, these skills translate directly to truck accident cases involving catastrophic injuries. Proving future medical costs, lost earning capacity, and diminished quality of life requires the same type of expert testimony and life care planning. Fiedler Deutsch has cultivated relationships with nationally recognized medical and vocational experts who can testify persuasively about long-term damages.
Both partners have been consistently named to the Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America lists. The firm holds an AV Preeminent rating and has been named a Best Law Firm in America by U.S. News and World Report. Insurance companies and trucking defendants know this firm takes cases through full jury trials when necessary.
Their White Plains office is centrally located in Westchester County, with practice extending throughout the Hudson Valley and New York City region.
Peter DeFilippis and Associates — Ardsley
Best for: Clients who want a proven winner with extensive courtroom experience across multiple jurisdictions.
Peter DeFilippis has spent over 35 years fighting for personal injury victims, and his track record is exceptional. The firm reports a 99% success rate in recovering compensation for clients. That level of consistency across decades of practice reflects both legal skill and an ability to evaluate which cases have merit.
The firm has been honored repeatedly by the legal community. Peter DeFilippis has been named to the New York Super Lawyers list every year since 2010. He holds the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 designation and the Top 25 Medical Malpractice Trial Lawyers recognition. The New York Law Journal has featured the firm in its Verdicts and Settlements Hall of Fame. He maintains an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell and a perfect 10 out of 10 Avvo rating.
What matters for truck accident victims is the firm's extensive courtroom experience across multiple counties. They have tried cases in Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau, Putnam, and Westchester Counties. This geographic reach is valuable because truck accident litigation may be filed in various venues depending on where the crash occurred and where defendants are located.
The firm emphasizes its experience countering insurance company tactics. Trucking companies carry substantial insurance policies — $750,000 minimum for non-hazardous cargo, up to $5 million for hazardous materials — and their insurers deploy sophisticated defense strategies. Peter DeFilippis and his team understand these tactics and know how to overcome them.
With offices in Ardsley (Westchester) and Manhattan, the firm offers convenient access for clients throughout the region.
Key Considerations When Choosing a Truck Accident Attorney
Truck accident cases require specific capabilities that not every personal injury attorney possesses. When evaluating potential representation, consider:
- Federal court experience: Many truck accident cases end up in federal court due to diversity jurisdiction. Ensure your attorney is admitted to practice in the relevant federal districts.
- Resources for investigation: Truck accident cases require accident reconstruction experts, trucking industry specialists, medical experts, and vocational rehabilitation professionals. Ask how the firm handles these expenses.
- Track record with serious injuries: Truck accidents often cause catastrophic harm. Look for attorneys who have handled traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and other life-altering conditions.
- Willingness to go to trial: Trucking companies settle cases they expect to lose. If your attorney has a reputation for trying cases, defendants take settlement negotiations more seriously.
All three firms profiled above meet these criteria. The best choice depends on your priorities:
- Jeffrey Weiskopf offers a boutique practice where you work directly with an experienced trial attorney who knows your case inside and out.
- Fiedler Deutsch brings the firepower of record-breaking verdicts and deep resources for the most complex catastrophic injury cases.
- Peter DeFilippis offers decades of proven success and courtroom experience across nearly every county in the New York metro area.
Each firm offers free consultations. Given the stakes involved in truck accident cases, we recommend speaking with multiple attorneys before deciding. The three-year statute of limitations in New York provides time, but critical evidence can disappear within days of a crash. Do not delay in seeking legal counsel.