After a truck accident, you’re not just dealing with another fender bender. You’re facing massive medical bills, lost wages, and insurance companies with teams of lawyers. We get it. We’ve been there with hundreds of families, and we won’t let you face this alone.
Why Sadaka Law Represents Truck Accident Cases
We didn’t choose truck accident law by accident. When Mark Sadaka lost his mother to corporate negligence, it changed everything. That same drive to hold powerful corporations accountable fuels every truck accident case we take.
Litigation with Purpose
Means we combine scientific investigation with courtroom tenacity. We’re not afraid to take on trucking companies with unlimited resources because we know what’s at stake for your family.
Our track record speaks
We’ve successfully represented clients in catastrophic injury cases that seemed impossible to win. From proving corporate cover-ups to taking on billion-dollar companies, we don’t back down when justice is on the line.
No fees unless we win
You shouldn’t have to choose between getting quality legal help and paying your bills.
What Makes Truck Accidents Different
Here’s what people don’t realize about truck accidents: they’re not just “bigger car accidents.” An 18-wheeler weighs up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded. When that hits a 3,000-pound car, physics isn’t kind.
The real difference isn’t the size, but the complexity. Truck accidents involve federal regulations, multiple insurance policies, electronic logging devices, corporate entities, and evidence that disappears fast. Miss one piece, and your case could fall apart.
That’s why you can’t treat a truck accident like a regular car wreck. You need lawyers who understand the trucking industry, federal safety regulations, and how to preserve critical evidence before it’s gone forever.
The First 48 Hours: What You Need to Do Right Now
If you’ve been in a truck accident, here’s your action plan:
- Get Medical Attention Immediately. Even if you feel “fine,” see a doctor. Adrenaline masks serious injuries, and some symptoms don’t show up for days.
- Don’t Sign Anything. The trucking company’s insurance will contact you fast. They’ll sound sympathetic and offer quick cash. Don’t sign anything or give recorded statements.
- Preserve Evidence
- Take photos of the scene, all vehicle damage, skid marks, and road conditions
- Document your visible injuries
- Get witness contact information
- Note the weather and lighting conditions
- Document Everything. Keep records of medical treatment, missed work, pain levels, and how the accident affects your daily life.
- Call an Attorney Before You Do Anything Else. Every hour matters. Critical evidence lives on the truck’s electronic systems, but it gets overwritten.
Why Time Isn’t on Your Side
New Jersey gives you two years to file a truck accident lawsuit, but waiting that long is a mistake. Here’s why:
Evidence disappears. Trucking companies are required to keep electronic logs for only six months. Surveillance footage gets deleted. Witnesses forget details or move away.
Your medical records matter more early on. The gap between your accident and treatment gives insurance companies ammunition to claim your injuries aren’t related to the crash.
The trucking company is building its defense now. They’ve got investigators and lawyers working your case from day one. Every day you wait is another day they’re ahead of you.
We’ve seen too many good cases fall apart because families waited to get help. Don’t let that be your story.
The Real Causes of Truck Accidents (And Why They Matter)
You might think truck accidents are just about tired drivers, but it’s more complicated. Understanding the real causes helps us build stronger cases:
Federal Violations
Truckers and companies must follow strict federal safety regulations. Hours of service violations, improper maintenance, overweight loads, and inadequate driver training all create liability. We know these regulations inside and out.
Driver Negligence
Distracted driving, speeding, aggressive driving, and driving under the influence. Driver error causes many accidents, but it’s rarely just the driver’s fault. Often, the company pushed them to meet impossible deadlines.
Mechanical Failures
Brake failures, tire blowouts, steering problems, and trailer defects. When trucks aren’t properly maintained, people die. Companies cut corners on maintenance to save money, and we make them pay for it.
Improper Loading
Overweight loads, unbalanced cargo, and unsecured freight can cause trucks to jackknife, roll over, or lose control. Loading companies and shippers can be liable, too.
Corporate Pressure
Companies that push drivers to violate safety rules to meet delivery deadlines. This is where our experience taking on corporations becomes crucial. We know how to prove they put profits over safety.
What Your Case Is Really Worth
Insurance companies will try to settle fast and cheap. They’ll tell you your case is worth less than it is. Don’t believe them.
| Damage Type | What You Can Recover |
| Medical Costs | All current and future medical expenses, rehabilitation, therapy |
| Lost Income | Wages, benefits, reduced earning capacity, and retirement contributions |
| Property Damage | Vehicle repair/replacement, personal items destroyed |
| Pain & Suffering | Physical pain, emotional distress, mental anguish |
| Life Changes | Loss of enjoyment, disability accommodations, scarring |
| Family Impact | Loss of companionship, consortium, and family relationships |
In severe cases involving gross negligence, you may also recover punitive damages designed to punish the trucking company and prevent future accidents.
The insurance company’s first offer isn’t its best offer. It’s their opening bid in a negotiation they hope you don’t understand. We do.
How We Build Winning Truck Accident Cases
Free Consultation and Case Review
We’ll evaluate your case at no cost and explain your options in plain English. No legal jargon, no pressure. Just honest answers about what we can do for you.
Immediate Investigation
We get to work fast. Our team preserves electronic evidence, interviews witnesses, reviews police reports, and starts building your case while the trail is still hot.
Medical and Scientific Analysis
We work with accident reconstruction companies, medical experts, trucking industry specialists, and engineers to understand exactly what happened and why. This isn’t just about blame. It’s about proving the full extent of your damages.
Demand and Negotiation
Most cases settle before trial, but only after we’ve built a case strong enough to win in court. Insurance companies take you seriously when they know you have lawyers who aren’t afraid to fight for what’s right.
Trial if Necessary
Some cases need to go to trial to get full justice. We’re not settlement mills. We’re trial lawyers who know how to win in front of juries. Insurance companies know this about us, and it affects every negotiation.
Federal Rules That Protect You
The trucking industry is heavily regulated for good reason. When companies break these rules and people get hurt, we hold them accountable:
Key Federal Safety Rules
- Hours of Service Regulations (49 CFR Part 395) – Drivers can’t drive more than 11 hours in a 14-hour period and must take mandatory rest breaks. These rules prevent fatigued driving accidents that kill thousands every year. When companies pressure drivers to violate these limits, they’re choosing profits over lives.
- Vehicle Inspection Requirements (49 CFR Part 396) Trucks must undergo daily pre-trip inspections and regular maintenance schedules. These rules catch mechanical problems before they become deadly. When companies skip maintenance to save money, brake failures and tire blowouts become inevitable.
- Weight Limit Standards (23 CFR Part 658) Commercial vehicles can’t exceed 80,000 pounds gross weight without special permits. Overweight trucks can’t stop or turn safely, making them deadly weapons on the highway. Weight violations often indicate a company that cuts corners on safety.
- Drug and Alcohol Testing Programs (49 CFR Part 382) Commercial drivers face strict random testing, pre-employment screening, and post-accident testing. Impaired drivers cause deadly accidents, and companies that don’t properly screen drivers share responsibility for the carnage.
- Driver Qualification Standards (49 CFR Part 391) Drivers must have commercial licenses, medical clearances, and proper training. These rules ensure only qualified people operate 80,000-pound vehicles. When companies hire unqualified drivers to fill seats, innocent people die.
These aren’t just technicalities. They’re life-saving rules that trucking companies sometimes ignore to boost profits. When they do, we make sure they’re held accountable.
What Insurance Companies Don’t Want You To Know
Trucking companies carry substantial insurance because they know their vehicles can cause catastrophic damage. But insurance companies will fight to avoid paying what they owe you. Here’s how they do it:
- Quick settlement offers before you know how bad your injuries are
- Recorded statements to get you to say something damaging
- Surveillance is hoping to catch you contradicting your injury claims
- Delays, hoping you’ll get desperate and accept less money
We know these games because we’ve been winning them for years.
Truck Accidents Involving Multiple Parties
Truck accidents often involve multiple parties because the trucking industry is complex. Understanding who’s responsible isn’t about finding more people to sue. It’s about finding everyone who contributed to your accident so they can be held accountable.
Potentially Responsible Parties:
- The Truck Driver (for negligent operation)
- The Trucking Company (for driver supervision and safety policies)
- The Truck Owner (if different from trucking company)
- Cargo/Loading Companies (for improper loading)
- Maintenance Companies (for inadequate repairs)
- Parts Manufacturers (for defective components)
- Other Drivers (in multi-vehicle accidents)
This complexity is why you need lawyers who understand truck accident cases.
What If Someone Dies?
We know that no amount of money brings someone back. But it can provide financial security for the family left behind and hold the responsible parties accountable. That’s why we handle wrongful death cases, too.
New Jersey Wrongful Death Recovery
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Lost financial support and benefits
- Lost inheritance the deceased would have left
- Pain and suffering before death
- Medical expenses related to the final injury
The decision to file a wrongful death claim is deeply personal. We’ll guide you through the process with compassion while fighting aggressively for maximum compensation.
Choosing the Right Truck Accident Lawyer
Not all personal injury lawyers handle truck accidents well. Here’s what to look for:
Truck Accident Experience: Ask how many truck accident cases they’ve handled and what results they’ve achieved.
Resources to Fight: Truck accident cases are expensive to litigate. Make sure your lawyer has the resources to hire experts and take the case all the way to trial.
Federal Regulation Knowledge: Your lawyer should understand DOT regulations, FMCSA rules, and how they apply to your case.
Willingness to Go to Trial: Insurance companies pay more to lawyers they know will try cases. Settlement mills don’t scare them.
Track Record Against Big Companies: Trucking companies have unlimited resources. You need lawyers who’ve beaten them before.
Ask potential lawyers: “Who’s on my legal team?” and “How do you plan to prove the trucking company was negligent?” Their answers will tell you everything you need to know.
The Science Behind the Crash
We don’t just rely on police reports or witness statements. We use science to prove what happened:
Our Technical Investigation Process
- We reconstruct the accident by studying skid marks, vehicle damage, and the physics of impact.
- We retrieve electronic data from the truck’s onboard computers and GPS systems to understand exactly what happened.
- We analyze medical causation to link your injuries to the accident itself.
- We examine human factors, like whether the driver was distracted, fatigued, or under the influence.
- We inspect the vehicle for mechanical defects or signs of poor maintenance that could have caused or worsened the crash.
- We audit the trucking company’s compliance with federal rules on driver files, inspections, hours of service, drug testing, and safety training.
This scientific approach separates us from lawyers who just file papers and hope for the best. We prove our cases with facts.
Common Questions Families Ask
Every case is different, but truck accident cases typically take 1-3 years. We can often get interim settlements for medical bills and lost wages while the case progresses.
Commercial trucks are required to carry substantial insurance, and there are often multiple policies that apply. We find all available coverage.
Yes. New Jersey follows comparative negligence rules, which means you can recover damages even if you were partially at fault. The police report isn’t the final word.
Passengers have strong cases because they rarely contribute to accidents. You may have claims against multiple drivers and their insurance companies.
Nothing upfront. We work on contingency, which means we only get paid if you win. You’ll never pay attorney fees out of pocket.
Why We Do This Work
Every truck accident case we take is personal because we know what it’s like to lose someone to corporate negligence. Mark Sadaka’s mother died because tobacco companies chose profits over people. That same mentality exists in trucking companies that push drivers to violate safety rules or skip maintenance to save money.
