Truck accidents can turn a person’s entire world upside down in a split second. One moment you are driving peacefully down the road, and the next moment you are in a potentially life-threatening situation. One wrong move in a large truck, either by you or someone else, can lead to horrific injuries or death.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident involving a tractor-trailer and the other driver was at fault, you should seek help from a skilled lawyer such as the ones at Stark & Stark. We are here to help you pursue compensation for your injuries and related losses. Schedule a free legal consultation with our New Jersey attorneys today.
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What Causes New Jersey Truck Accidents?
Due to the size of large trucks and the long distances they travel, there are many factors that can cause an accident. Driving long distances over long periods of time while towing a large and heavy trailer is not an easy task.
Driver Fatigue
One of the most common causes of truck accidents is fatigue. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) imposes limits on the amount of time a driver can spend on the road in order to reduce the chances of an accident occurring.
For “property-carrying drivers,” or your standard 18-wheel truck carrying cargo on the back, the limit is 11 hours of driving after 10 hours off-duty. If a driver disregards these limits and keeps driving, exhaustion may lead to an accident.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is also a major cause of truck accidents. Drivers are in their trucks for long periods of time, so they may lose their focus on the road. In fact, according to a recent survey of commercial drivers, 71% of respondents admitted to accessing social media and the internet while driving, and 68% admitted to video chatting while behind the wheel. Unfortunately, it only takes a split second of distraction to change a life forever.
Distracted driving can cause someone to drift out of their lane or fail to notice brake lights ahead and rear-end someone. If a passenger car is rear-ended by a large tractor-trailer, the consequences could be deadly. If you or a loved one has been injured by a truck in a distracted driving accident, you may be eligible to pursue a personal injury lawsuit with help from the experienced New Jersey personal injury lawyers at Stark & Stark.
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What Types of Injuries Can Result From a New Jersey Truck Accident?
Truck accidents are generally more dangerous for the smaller vehicles they a truck may hit, and they can lead to far more severe injuries than a normal car accident would. Due to the weight of the cargo a truck may carry and the high speeds they frequently travel at, the impact of a truck accident can be tremendous.
Traumatic brain injuries are common after a truck accident because the impact of the accident can bounce the brain inside the skull, causing bruising and swelling. Along with traumatic brain injuries, truck accidents in New Jersey can result in broken bones, spinal cord injuries, and similar life-altering injuries.
After an accident, victims and their loved ones may be left with serious injuries and large medical bills. They may not be able to work full-time or at all, causing them to worry about their future and their families. Following a truck accident, it is important to find an experienced New Jersey truck accident attorney. They will be able to guide you through the legal process and pursue fair compensation for your past and future losses.
Who May Be Responsible For a Truck Accident in New Jersey?
When a truck accident occurs, who is responsible? Determining liability may be confusing since truck drivers usually work under a larger company. Are the individual drivers responsible when accidents happen?
Truck Company
In some cases, the trucking company may be liable for an accident. These companies undertake a serious responsibility when they hire drivers to travel the country. They are responsible for properly training those drivers and providing them with the resources they need to do their jobs safely. They must provide drivers with reasonable routes and adequate breaks, as well as perform regular maintenance on the trucks being driven. If they fail to do these things, an accident may be more likely to occur.
Company Leasing the Truck
The company leasing the truck may also be held responsible—that is, whoever’s cargo is being carried on the truck—or the loading company. In some cases, the cargo itself can cause a truck accident. It may have been too heavy, or perhaps it was loaded improperly or not securely. If this is found to be the case, the loading company or company leasing the truck may be held financially accountable for an accident.
Truck Driver
If those circumstances do not apply, the liability for the truck accident will likely fall to the driver and by extension the company that employs them. Issues such as distracted driving, exhaustion from disregarding driving limits, or failure to follow posted signs can easily lead to an accident.
How Can a New Jersey Truck Accident Lawyer Help Me?
The period immediately following a truck accident can be overwhelming and scary. You may be in the hospital or recovering from your injuries at home, as well as dealing with the anxiety of incoming medical bills. It is sometimes difficult to determine what the next best step is, or what the right thing to do is when it comes to legal matters.
The right lawyer will be compassionate and focused on helping your family get through this tough and confusing time with minimal stress. They will work with you to determine who may be responsible for your accident and assist you in pursuing justice.
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Why Hire Stark & Stark?
Stark & Stark is here for you and your family after a truck accident. Once you decide what course of action you want to take, our skilled truck accident attorneys will walk you through the legal process so that you know what to expect. We work hard to pursue a fair settlement, and we do not charge any upfront costs. Our legal services are free if we do not win your case.
Truck accidents can be very traumatic experiences. After you have been injured in an accident, you do not deserve more stress. Our New Jersey truck accident lawyers have the experience to guide you smoothly through the legal process and assist you in pursuing fair compensation. Contact Stark & Stark today for your free legal consultation.
