Syracuse, NY Truck Accident Lawyers

Syracuse, New York is the major metropolitan center in central New York. In the northeast corner of the famed Finger Lakes Region, Syracuse lies on the southern shore of Lake Ontario. The Finger Lakes Region and Lake Ontario provide Syracuse residents and visitors with year-round recreational opportunities. Syracuse is the fourth most populous city in NY, with 137,701 residents in 2008 (U.S. Census).

Syracuse is in Onondaga County and serves as the county seat. Syracuse is home to the Onondaga County Supreme and County Court, the trial court of general jurisdiction for Syracuse, and to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York, which also holds court in downtown Syracuse at the James Hanley Federal Building.

The proud home of the New York State Fair, Syracuse boasts two convention centers. The Oncenter is the convention and entertainment complex located in downtown Syracuse, New York. The Oncenter is composed of a convention center, sporting arena, war memorial and theaters. The Empire Expo Center is just west of the city. The Expo Center's major annual event is the Great New York State Fair, drawing approximately one million visitors each year to Syracuse.

First settled in 1784, Syracuse, NY has been a regional hub in central New York since then. Syracuse developed a thriving salt industry in the 18th and 19th centuries, aided by the development of the Erie Canal and area railroads. Syracuse was at the crossroads of the Erie Canal and its branches, and also at the crossroads of two railroad lines.

Today, Syracuse is still a transportation hub, home to the largest airport in the region, the Syracuse Hancock International Airport.  Syracuse is located at the intersection of Interstate 81 and Interstate 90. In Syracuse, Interstate 81 runs north and south through the city, providing a direct route to Pennsylvania and Canada. Interstate 90, also known as the New York State Thruway, runs east and west. Interstate 90, located just north of the city, provides easy access to Rochester, Buffalo and Albany. Interstate 481 and Interstate 690 also serve Syracuse, NY. 

Syracuse, NY is known as the "Crossroads of New York State." NY's two major interstate routes intersect in Syracuse, making the city a natural distribution center. More than 150 motor carriers and small package carriers service the Syracuse area, including Swift Transportation Co. Inc., Paramount Transportation Inc., K.S. Express Inc., and Bolus Freight Systems.

This heavy truck traffic has taken a toll on Syracuse's roadways. According to The I-81 Challenge, a joint venture by the New York State Department of Transportation and the Syracuse Metropolitan Transportation Council, portions of I-81 are nearing the end of their lifespan, particularly the elevated sections of the highway in downtown Syracuse. Motorists on I-81 face pockets of congestion that are predicted to worsen, along with the rate of crashes and accidents, in coming years, as population and economic growth increase along the Interstate 81 corridor.

The New York State 2009 Highway Safety Annual Report states that for the past two decades, New York has made significant strides in highway safety, reducing motor vehicle fatalities by 46% between 1989 and 2008. The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles reports 12,546 accidents in New York in 2008 involving large trucks, and 105 of those accidents involved fatalities. These statistics include large trucks involved in accidents with other vehicles, large truck and pedestrian accidents, tractor trailer and bicycle accidents, and semi truck and motorcycle accidents.

Syracuse's primary employment sectors are education and health care, with SUNY Upstate Medical University being the largest employer in Onondaga County. Other major employers include Syracuse University, Crouse Hospital, Saint Joseph's Hospital, and the Veterans Administration Hospital.

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