Truck Accidents

Some of the most devastating accidents that occur on New Jersey’s roads are those involving trucks. When a car gets into an accident with a truck, significant property damage and personal injury can occur. When an individual is injured in a New Jersey truck accident, they may want to consider their legal options. Unfortunately, negligence plays a major role in many motor vehicle accidents. If you or a loved one has been injured in a New Jersey truck accident and believe that there was negligence involved, it is important to discuss your situation with a team of experienced personal injury attorneys. Stathis & Leonardis has the experience you need to assess your case and fight for compensation on your behalf. Contact the New Jersey truck accident attorneys at Stathis & Leonardis today to discuss your case.

Factors that Lead to Truck Accidents

There are a number of different factors that can contribute to a New Jersey truck accident. Some of the most common factors that may result in serious truck accidents can include the following:

• The weight of the truck: Trucks are incredibly heavy vehicles, some of which can weigh up to 80,000 lbs. When a truck driver fails to step on the brakes in time, he or she may not be able to come to a full stop before it is too late. For example, if a truck is traveling at 60 miles per hour, it requires nearly the length of two football fields to come to a complete stop. If the truck driver doesn’t leave enough room in between themselves and other vehicles, tragedy can ensue.
• Mechanical issues: Trucks, like all other vehicles, need to undergo regular maintenance. With that said, trucks are also prone to mechanical issues. Sometimes, issues with trucks are completely unavoidable (such as tire blowouts) but others can be caused because of a failure to perform needed maintenance.
• The nature of the job: Truck drivers have notoriously difficult jobs that require very long hours of driving. There are strict regulations that exist to protect drivers and only allow them to drive for 11 hours per 14-hour workday. The maximum number of hours that a driver can work per week is 70 hours, which was reduced from a previous 82.
• Poor visibility: Trucks are so large that they may have reduced visibility of the other cars on the road. If a truck driver doesn’t take proper precautions when changing lanes or making turns, they can run cars off of the road or cause an accident.
• High-speed winds: Trucks are designed in such a way that when winds pick up over 25 miles per hour, resistance can build up on one side of the truck, causing the truck driver to lose control of the vehicle. In most cases, tip-over or roll-over accidents will occur as a result.

Types of Truck Accidents

There are various types of truck accidents, and unfortunately, they are all extremely devastating, especially when individuals who are driving smaller vehicles are involved. Some of the most common types of truck accidents that our truck accident attorneys see include the following:

• Head-on collisions: This is when a truck driver operates his or her vehicle on the wrong side of the road. There is no excuse for this sort of sheer negligence, and if you have been injured in a head-on collision with a truck driver, there is a very good chance that you are now entitled to financial compensation.
• Jackknife collisions: This is when the trailer swings independently of the cab, as both sections of the tractor-trailer move in opposite directions.
• Wide turn accidents: Wide-turn accidents happen when a truck driver swings left to make a right turn, though he or she goes too, thereby colliding with cars to the right of the truck.
• Jackknife collisions: This is when the trailer swings independently of the cab, as both sections of the tractor-trailer move in opposite directions.
• Rear-end crashes: Truck drivers must allow a significant amount of space in between them and the motorist in front. This is because trucks require a far greater amount of time to come to a complete stop than all other motor vehicles. When they fail to account for this, they may rear-end the motorist in front of them. Rather obviously, this can lead to very serious accidents and injuries.
• Rollover accidents: When a truck makes a turn too quickly, it rapidly changes its center of gravity, and may cause the truck to roll over.

Most Common Injuries Sustained in Truck Accidents

Truck accidents are often very severe, leading to some of the most gruesome injuries imaginable. Some of the most common types of injuries sustained in truck accidents are as follows:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Back injuries
• Neck injuries
• Burns
• Lacerations
• Bone fractures
• Wrongful death

Proving Negligence in a Truck Accident

Personal injury claims require the injured party to prove that the other party was negligent and that this negligence ultimately caused the accident. If you have been injured in a truck accident, you must speak with our New Jersey truck accident attorneys. We will conduct a thorough investigation into the accident with the help of experts. The driver may not be the only one at fault. Some liability can fall on the manufacturer or the trucking company as well.

Statute of Limitations

Every state has a statute of limitations in place when it comes to personal injury claims, and the state of New Jersey is no exception. The statute of limitations for personal injury claims in New Jersey is, generally, two years, which means that in most cases, you will have two years from the date of your accident to sue the truck driver responsible for your injury. If you wait any longer than two years, you will most likely relinquish your right to sue. The truck accident attorneys at Stathis & Leonardis, LLC are ready to help you today.

Contact Our Truck Accident Attorneys in Edison, NJ Today

When an individual is injured in a New Jersey truck accident, it is important that they retain strong legal representation. The aftermath of a truck accident can be devastating. Knowing where to turn can be stressful. We are ready to serve. The truck accident attorneys at Stathis & Leonardis have the skill and experience needed to determine liability and help clients receive the compensation they deserve. If you have been injured because of the negligence of another party, contact Stathis & Leonardis to schedule a consultation.