Truck Accidents

Statistics show that between the years of 1996 and 2000 there were nearly 400 truck accident related deaths in New Jersey – a relatively high figure compared to states such as Hawaii with only 23 deaths in the same period. The size and weight of a truck make it far more likely to cause serious or fatal injuries in the event of an accident. Our law firm is familiar with cases involving truck accidents and was even able to help a client receive $850,000 after sustaining injuries to the neck and shoulder as a result of being struck by a commercial vehicle.

One of the most common reasons why there is a collision between a passenger vehicle and a large truck is because of the passenger vehicles driver being ignorant of the truck’s performance capabilities, including what type of visibility the truck driver has, and the limits that are associated with braking. This can also include changing lanes quickly in front of a truck, driving in the No-Zones, driving right behind and beside the truck where the driver cannot see you, and not slowing down or speeding up when a truck starts to change a lane or merge. Truck drivers who are driving fatigued or who are driving a fault truck or a truck that is overloaded are also reasons for many accidents.

In 2008 there was a total of 123,918 large trucks and 13,263 buses that were involved in non-fatal crashes in the United States. 49,084 large trucks and 7,123 buses were involved in injury crashes. 73,047 injuries resulted in large truck crashes, and 16,760 injuries due to bus crashes. There were also 74,834 large trucks and 6,140 buses that were involved in tow-away crashes, and 2,609 large trucks and 11 buses that were involved in Hazmat Placard (carrying potentially dangerous substances) crashes. Most of the fatal truck accidents occurred 68% of the time in rural areas, 66% during the daytime, and 78% of the time on weekdays. Passenger vehicles are less likely than large trucks to be involved in a fatal multi-vehicle accident.

If you have been the victim of a New Jersey truck accident that was not your fault, you could be entitled to compensation. You may also be entitled to compensation if you are a family member of someone that was killed as the result of a truck-related accident in New Jersey. Either way, the best way to determine whether you are eligible to claim for compensation and to get the ball rolling is to contact a New Jersey truck accident lawyer. One way to locate someone who specializes in personal injury cases is to visit the American Bar Association (ABA) website, where you can use their free attorney locator feature.

In recent New Jersey news, a tractor-trailer jackknifed on icy road conditions, causing another car to collide with it, fracturing the skull of a 10-year-old girl. This accident caused a chain reaction of 24 separate crashes involving forty-eight vehicles, including three tractor-trailers. A fire engine that was being driven there to help also was hit by a tow truck on the road, causing extensive damage.