The size discrepancy between these trucks and passenger vehicles is significant, which is why an accident involving a big wheeler often ends badly for drivers and passengers in smaller vehicles.
Did you know that large trucks, also known as 18-wheelers or big wheelers, are more likely to be involved in a fatal multi-vehicle crash than passenger vehicles?
Because these large vehicles weigh as much as 80,000 pounds, they can leave behind major devastation, severe injuries, and fatalities. Survivors will most likely have high medical bills and expensive post-accident rehabilitation to contend with, including but not limited to:
- Brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Head injuries
- Knee damage
- Back, neck, and shoulder injuries
- Spinal cord injuries, including paraplegia or quadriplegia
- Scarring
These big wheelers also may be transporting dangerous cargo, which, if not properly secured, could cause secondary injuries such as burns and toxic exposure.
The Law Firm of Sadaka Associates could help you file a successful claim if you were in a truck accident. Let our experience work for your benefit.
Please call us at 1-800-810-3457 to discuss your claim, or fill in your contact information in the form below. One of our representatives will get back to you promptly to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.
Common Causes of New Jersey Truck Accidents
Like all other drivers in the Garden State and across the United States, truck drivers are subject to strict state and federal licensing and registration requirements.
They must be physically and mentally fit to drive a truck, use only designated roads and highways, adhere to stipulated size and weight limitations, and drive for only a specified amount of time before they must legally take a break. Truckers must also display specific information such as gross vehicle weight on their trucks as they ply the roads.
Unfortunately, not all truck drivers adhere to these regulations, and failure to follow regulations could result in a crash. Common causes of New Jersey truck accidents include:
- Aggressive or poor driving
- Drunk or drugged drivers
- Negligent hiring
- Overloaded or unsecured loads
- Speeding
- Distracted drivers
- Hazardous cargo
- Negligent vehicle maintenance
- Poor road and weather conditions
- Truck driver fatigue
Trucking companies now have GPS and Electronic Logging Devices installed in most of their fleets. These devices record all the actions a truck driver took before the accident and give an accurate record of useful information such as how long the driver has been on the road and the length of break they took.
Unfortunately, trucking companies do not turn over this evidence willingly. You will most likely require a truck accident lawyer’s services to get this evidence and ensure that it is not tampered with or destroyed.
Sadaka Associates has the experience to take on aggressive truck insurance companies to seek fair compensation for all our clients. If you currently have truck accident injuries, please contact the Law Offices of Sadaka Associates to discuss your compensation options.
We handle all legal issues for you, which will enable you to focus on your recovery. Call us today at 1-800-810-3457 to schedule a free, no-risk consultation. The sooner we can begin our investigation, the better the chances of launching a successful claim.
What to Do After a Truck Accident
It may be challenging to know what to do after a truck accident because you will quite likely be disorientated and in pain.
However, as much as possible, give full medical attention to your truck accident injuries, checking, if possible, the injuries you’ve sustained before you take any other action. Be sure to immediately call 9-1-1 for help, and do not leave the crash scene under any circumstance. In many situations, emergency services will simultaneously dispatch rescue personnel and the police to create a crash report and gather eyewitness accounts.
Try to take or have someone close to you take photos, videos, and audio of the accident scene for future evidence, and exchange information with other drivers who witnessed the scene or were involved. Useful driver information includes names, driving license numbers, license plate numbers, contact information, insurance carrier contact information, and insurance policy numbers.
Under no circumstances should you make any statements about the truck accident. Even in the unlikely event that you feel you may have been responsible for the crash, make sure that you remain calm and quiet at the accident scene. Otherwise, you may inadvertently hurt your case.
Your next steps should involve getting a lawyer to review your injury claim. DO NOT attempt to handle this step alone, because personal injury law is complex and time-consuming. You may also miss important deadlines, such as the Statute of Limitations, resulting in you not having a case to file.
And remember to follow the law and to keep to the requirements of accident reporting in New Jersey. State law requires you to report accidents if they result in injuries or fatalities or cause more than $500 in property damage.
Above all, take care of your health. Follow doctors’ orders, attend any follow-up appointments, and keep records of all doctor visits and payments. These actions could help you prove your injuries and provide the valuable evidence needed to prove your case.
Hiring a New Jersey Truck Accident Lawyer
Unfortunately, most trucking companies’ insurance carriers don’t play fair when facing significant damage claims after a truck accident. These insurance companies often look for loopholes to blame the other party rather than admit liability.
Because commercial liability policies can run from $750,000 to several million dollars, trucking insurers aggressively protect these funds after a truck accident. Their accident investigators can even visit you in your hospital and try to get a below-market settlement agreement from you while you’re weak and confused and trying to recover.
We have experience collecting and preserving evidence of truck driver and trucking company negligence to get you fair compensation. Our truck accident lawyers understand how to investigate the causes of a truck accident to determine fault and launch a successful and just legal claim.
When you trust the Law Firm of Sadaka Associates to be your truck accident attorney, we follow a proven process to help you file a successful legal claim.
We will contact the insurance companies representing the trucker, which prevents direct contact between them and you and avoids the misrepresentation that can lead to a lower payout.
As these accidents can cause severe damage, with some even causing irreparable spinal injuries, visiting your family doctor for treatment is not advisable. So you receive the most accurate diagnosis, we ensure that you receive the best medical attention from a specialist who understands how to treat truck accident injuries.
As these accidents can cause severe damage, with some even causing irreparable spinal injuries, visiting your family doctor for treatment is not advisable. So you receive the most accurate diagnosis, we ensure that you receive the best medical attention from a specialist who understands how to treat truck accident injuries.
We then engage industry experts and get their advice to strengthen your case. Over the years, we’ve built an extensive network of industry professionals and experts who can offer expert opinions that help build your case to seek the best possible financial settlement.
We will then file your injury claim. We have the experience to navigate the complex landscape of personal injury law to ensure that the trucker’s insurance company doesn’t get the better of you.
We will contact the insurance companies representing the trucker, which prevents direct contact between them and you and avoids the misrepresentation that can lead to a lower payout.
And because of our no-win, no-fee policy, you can have total peace of mind that you won’t have to pay a cent to us until your claim is successful.
If you need a New Jersey truck accident attorney, the Law Firm of Sadaka Associates is here to help. Contact us by filling in your details in the online form below or by calling 1-800-810-3457 to schedule a free, no-risk consultation today.
Start the process of pursuing legal action against the trucking and insurance companies properly to secure your chances of filing a successful personal injury claim.
Truck Accidents in New Jersey –
What You Should Know
Truck accidents are fairly common in the Garden State.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the Highway Loss Data Institute (IIHS-HLDI), the following are facts and figures concerning truck accidents in New Jersey in 2018:
- 4,136 people died in large truck accidents.
- 11% of all motor vehicle crash fatalities occurred in large truck accidents.
- 12% of passenger vehicle occupant fatalities and 22% of passenger vehicle occupant fatalities in multi-vehicle accidents occurred in accidents with large trucks.
- 16% of truck accident fatalities were truck occupants, 67% were occupants of other passenger vehicles, and15% were pedestrians, bicyclists, or motorcyclists.
- 62% of large truck occupants died in accidents involving another large truck.
- 74% of fatalities in large truck accidents were in crashes involving tractor-trailers, while 27% were in crashes involving single-unit trucks.
- 96% of passenger vehicle occupants died in accidents involving a large truck and a passenger vehicle.
- From 2009 to 2018, 31% more people died in large truck accidents.
- From 2009 to 2018, 51% more truck occupants died in accidents involving large trucks.
New Jersey Truck Accident FAQ's
Cost should not be the only factor you should consider when looking for a truck accident attorney because most operate on a no-win, no-fee basis.
Instead, look for a truck accident attorney who has the experience needed to fight the trucking companies and their insurers to help you get just compensation.
Ask about an attorney’s previous experience with similar cases and the results they have achieved. However, keep in mind that past results don’t guarantee future outcomes, so go with an attorney who answers all your questions and makes you feel confident in the case.
Determining fault is crucial in any truck accident claim.
Examples of potential defendants include:
- Maintenance and repair services
- Other drivers
- Truck owner
- Truck driver
- Parts manufacturer
- Shipping company
- Trucking company
Each crash is different, and in some, multiple defendants may be held liable. As a qualified truck accident attorney, the Law Firm of Sadaka Associates can get to the bottom of what happened in your case quickly to ensure that every at-fault party is held accountable.
You should never accept insurance companies’ initial offers immediately after a truck accident. These cases need ample compensation as you may have to deal with lifetime medical expenses, which can build up greatly over time.
Most truckers’ insurance companies offer paltry initial settlements, which may not be adequate in the future. Let a skilled and experienced truck accident lawyer such as Sadaka Associates handle the case and get a more suitable settlement for you.
Follow the advice we’ve given above. Get a police report, document the scene, seek medical attention, and, if necessary, hire a lawyer.
Truck accident victims can receive compensatory damages, which include economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages relate to actual costs like loss of income, lifetime medical bills, and property damage. Non-economic damages are subjective and cover injuries such as pain and suffering and disfigurement.
Truck accident victims may also receive punitive damages. However, these damages are rare and mostly apply to parties who caused the crash due to egregious acts of negligence, such as drunk driving.
If you have suffered injuries in a New Jersey truck accident, do not hesitate to contact the Law Offices of Sadaka Associates. We are in the best position to help you file a successful legal claim to seek just compensation. Contact us online, or call 1-800-810-3457 today to schedule your free, no-risk consultation.
