New Jersey Truck Accident Attorneys
Fighting for clients injured in tractor-trailer crashes throughout NJ
Despite tough state and federal trucking regulations, in a typical year in New Jersey state police report more than 65 tractor-trailer accidents resulting in fatalities, more than 2,000 truck and commercial accidents causing more than 3,200 injuries. Reckless and negligent truck companies and their drivers are responsible for many of the most catastrophic injuries and heartbreak to families throughout the state.
The New Jersey personal injury law firm of Eichen Crutchlow Zaslow, LLP, represents victims of truck accidents throughout New Jersey. Our lawyers also represent family members of fatal accident victims. We are proud of our record of holding trucking companies and their drivers accountable when they hurt innocent people. We offer a free initial consultation to discuss your case.
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Common causes of truck accidents in NJ
Investigating a truck accident is a search for the truth. Facing the possibility of a significant damage claim, trucking companies and their insurers often look for ways to blame accidents on the person in the other vehicle rather than admitting liability. Our lawyers collect and preserve evidence of truck driver and trucking company negligence which cause truck crashes such as:
- Speeding
- Reckless driving
- Distracted driver
- Drowsy, drunk, or drugged drivers (prescription or illicit drugs)
- Overloaded or unsecured load
- Negligent maintenance
- Negligent hiring
- Truck driver fatigue caused by driving too long without a legally required rest break
- Tailgating/following too closely
Many trucks contain GPS systems that record all actions taken by the truck driver before the accident. Electronic logging devices, (ELDs) have largely replaced the paper log books that truck drivers were required to keep. ELDs are connected to the truck’s engine, so they give a more accurate record of how long the driver has been driving, how long of a break they took, and other critical details about the driver’s work habits. ELDs help to ensure that commercial truck drivers do not drive too long without taking a legally required rest break. However, trucking companies will not turn over this evidence willingly. It usually takes a lawyer’s help to ensure that this evidence is not destroyed.
Injuries from commercial truck accidents
The FMCSA classifies commercial truck based on weight or gross vehicle weight ratings (GVWR) which runs from one to eight, smallest to largest. GVWR is the maximum weight a truck can weigh while driving including the truck and the load. A tractor-trailer is considered a class 8, which is among the heaviest vehicles on the road, starts at 33,0001 lbs. The average passenger sedan weighs roughly 3-4,000 lbs. making a commercial truck more than 10x the weight of the average passenger vehicle. Even a big SUV or mini-van still weighs less than 10,000 lbs.
With such a massive difference in size, a commercial truck can cause unspeakable damage to a passenger vehicle and its occupants. Some of the common injuries from trucking accidents include:
- Head injury
- Back and neck injury
- Traumatic brain injury
- Limb loss/traumatic amputation
- Internal organ damage
- Lacerations
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord injuries
- Burn injuries
What makes a truck accident different from a collision between two passenger vehicles?
Aside from the difference in the size of the vehicles and the truck’s ability to cause major damage to smaller passenger vehicles, a commercial truck driver is a professional who works for a company which has large insurance policies. When the accident was caused by the truck driver, or because of defective equipment on the truck, there may be several defendants who can be held responsible for your injuries.
A trucking accident claim is also more complicated than a passenger vehicle wreck. There is much more evidence to be found, and with such a massive machine, there are a lot of moving parts and a lot more that can go wrong with them. Your NJ truck accident lawyer will require the help of specialized truck accident re-construction experts, and the crash investigation is far more complex.
The more serious injuries, the wider and more complicated causes, and the more thorough investigation required makes a trucking accident different from a regular motor vehicle crash.
Why should I hire a New Jersey truck accident attorney?
If you have sustained serious injuries that will have a lasting impact on your quality of life and your ability to work, then you will need the maximum amount of compensation. The trucking company’s legal team is determined to make sure that you recover as little as possible, so you need an aggressive legal team on your side who will fight for what’s right on your behalf. Our experienced New Jersey truck accident attorneys have helped countless clients to recover the compensation they deserve after suffering life-altering injuries because of someone else’s negligence.
Many large over-the-road freight companies are self-insured and have their own investigators on the scene within minutes of a reported truck crash. Successful case preparation involves legal maneuvers to subpoena evidence and force the truck companies to obey federal regulations. In many cases, there are also multiple layers of liability, as the truck company points to the negligent independent driver, the maintenance subcontractor, and even the dock workers responsible for loading the trailer.
Before you talk to a truck company or its insurance representative about a settlement, talk to our NJ truck accident lawyers. We will provide an honest evaluation of the merits of your case and explain your options for a full and fair recovery. If the case has merit and you retain us to represent you, we will work aggressively to help you recover the maximum compensation you are entitled to under the law.
Hurt in a collision with a truck or tractor-trailer in NJ? Call us now
From offices in Edison, Red Bank, and Toms River, our New Jersey personal injury lawyers advise and represent clients in tractor-trailer accident cases throughout New Jersey. Call our office at 732-777-0100, or contact us online to arrange a free consultation. We also offer free home and hospital visits.
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