Buffalo, NY Truck Accident Lawyers

Buffalo, New York is NY's second-largest city after New York City, with a population of 259,143 (2008 U.S. Census). Buffalo is in western New York on the shores of Lake Erie, in New York's Erie County. Buffalo is located approximately 66 miles from Rochester and 80 miles from Erie, Pennsylvania. More than half the population in both the United States and Canada are within 500 miles of Erie County. Three-quarters of Canada's manufacturing activity, and 55 percent of the United States' manufacturing activity, fall within 500 miles of Erie County, New York.

Centrally located, Buffalo is traditionally a major transportation center. Founded in the late 1700s as a small trading community near Buffalo Creek, Buffalo grew quickly after the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825. In the early 1900s, Buffalo was a major railroad hub and the largest grain-milling center in the country. Today, Buffalo is along the Interstate 90 corridor, which not only connects the upstate New York communities to one another, but is a key component linking the entire Northeast region of the nation to the Midwest and Canada.

Buffalo is served by the Buffalo Niagara International Airport, Amtrak, the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, along with Interstate 90, Interstate 190, and Interstate 290. The I-90 Corridor, called the New York State Thruway upon entering New York, is a vital link in upstate New York, providing the major east-west thoroughfare in the state. Interstate 290, also known as the Youngmann Memorial Highway, connects Buffalo to the northern suburbs of Amherst and Tonawanda.

In 2009, New York was one of four states to receive a federal grant to reduce traffic congestion by innovative methods. New York plans to advance a truck pricing system to cut traffic at the I-90/I-290 interchange east of Buffalo where commercial trucks make up one of every four vehicles.

An I-90 Corridor Study by the New York State Department of Transportation shows that much of the commercial traffic in the I-90 corridor is tied to economic centers at the ends of the corridor: Toronto, Boston and to a lesser extent New York City. The I-90 Corridor has seen significant increases in the volume of freight traveling on its roads; all regions along the I-90 Corridor report increased truck traffic. The "Golden Horseshoe" of freight traffic, connecting Rochester, Buffalo and Toronto, is a heavily traveled route for truck freight in the region, especially for the automobile manufacturing industry. The congestion caused by truck traffic along the highways has made capacity limitations and conflicts between commuter traffic and truck traffic a growing concern in many I-90 corridor metropolitan areas, including Buffalo, NY.

The Peace Bridge between Buffalo, N.Y., and Fort Erie, Ont., recorded 86,318 truck crossings in February 2009 versus 104,182 in February 2008, a decline of 17% (Journal of Commerce Online).

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, with 105 of these accidents involving 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.

The U.S. Department of Transportation's No Zone Campaign shows most crashes involving cars and trucks occur in broad daylight, on straight and dry pavement, during normal weather, and with no indications of alcohol use. In nine out of 10 fatal collisions, the deceased was an occupant of the passenger vehicle and, due to the stopping distance needed, a truck involved in a collision often entangled multiple cars.

Buffalo's largest economic sectors are health care and education, thanks in part to major expansions of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus in downtown Buffalo, NY and the University at Buffalo. Buffalo's economic prosperity has increased significantly with the opening of several new hotels catering to tourists visiting nearby Niagara Falls.

Buffalo, New York is approximately 20 minutes from Niagara Falls, a well-known honeymoon and tourist destination. Buffalo, a tourist destination for premier shopping, is especially popular with visitors from nearby Ontario. Popular Buffalo shopping destinations include the Walden Galleria and Elmwood Village's diverse array of antique stores and gift shops. Buffalo is known as the hub of culture, arts, and education in the region.

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