Semi-Trucks are Completely Out of Control in New Jersey

A single semi-truck is capable of devastating entire families in New Jersey. Within the past few weeks, numerous incidents have shown just how dangerous these commercial vehicles can be – and average residents are paying the prices. Semi-trucks have barreled into people’s houses, injured innocent drivers, and spilled toxic materials all over our roads. If you have experienced a semi-truck accident in New Jersey, you are already well aware of these hazards. In this situation, reading online articles only gets you so far. Contact an experienced personal injury attorney to hold trucking companies accountable for the damage they have caused.

Semi-Truck Barrels Straight Into New Jersey Home

In June of 2024, a home in Carteret suffered heavy damage from an out-of-control semi-truck. First responders arrived to see a scene of complete wreckage. Several structures were completely destroyed, and the images from the scene are truly shocking. Reports did not indicate whether anyone had suffered serious injuries, but these were clearly private residences – the type normally occupied by families.

Authorities say that the semi-truck driver suffered some kind of “medical emergency” before losing control of the vehicle. These incidents are becoming increasingly common among truck drivers. Even if every alleged “medical emergency” is legitimate, this highlights serious health issues among truck drivers today. One might argue that trucking companies should be hiring drivers who are not so prone to seizures, heart attacks, and other emergencies behind the wheel. Of course, many of these stories are completely false – and truckers often claim to have suffered medical emergencies to conceal the fact that they fell asleep at the wheel.

Two Fatalities Confirmed After Fiery Truck Accident in Turbotville

Also in June of 2024, authorities in Turbotville confirmed that a fiery truck accident had claimed two lives. This was a four-vehicle crash reportedly sparked by a dump truck on Route 54. Police say the driver of the dump truck (which was loaded with rocks and stones) approached an intersection at an “unsafe speed.”

This truck then impacted a semi-truck carrying cement pipes. The impact was so forceful that the two vehicles careened into a third dump truck waiting at a stop sign. The fourth vehicle involved was a Subaru sedan, which the first dump truck barely managed to avoid after speeding into the intersection.

Despite avoiding the initial collision, the Subaru was engulfed in flames – along with all three of the trucks. This claimed the lives of the Subaru driver and the trucker driving the dump truck with rocks and stones. Another trucker was transported to a nearby hospital with critical injuries, leaving behind a scene that sent a thick plume of dark smoke into the air.

In July of 2024, another semi-truck burst into flames on the New Jersey Turnpike. Very little information was released about the accident, but one report stated that the vehicle was “fully engulfed in flames.” No injuries were reported, but this incident highlights the shocking tendency of semi-trucks to catch fire after crashing. Often, trucks burst into flames without even crashing first.

Fires can be especially serious if semi-trucks spill fuel after crashing. One spark can ignite an entire section of the highway, subjecting dozens or even hundreds of people to fire hazards. In June of 2024, a semi-truck spilled 100 gallons of diesel fuel across I-295 in South Jersey. The vehicle had veered off the road before impacting a guardrail. It then rolled over and spilled the fuel onto the roadway.

Hazardous materials teams arrived to clean up the mess, and the situation was stabilized before the fuel could ignite. Hazmat teams also noted that some of the diesel fuel reached a storm drain – potentially causing an environmental concern.

The truth is that trucks carry dangerous materials all the time. Aside from the fuel in their gas tanks, these commercial vehicles might carry flammable materials as cargo. These materials might also be radioactive or corrosive in nature. Even if no one was injured in the initial crash, drivers could become exposed to this dangerous material and experience serious health concerns.

Find an Experienced Truck Accident Lawyer in New Jersey

If you’ve been searching for an experienced New Jersey truck accident lawyer, look no further than Lependorf & Silverstein, P.C. The unspeakable damage caused by semi-trucks within the past few weeks is unacceptable. People have lost their homes, their lives, and their ability to earn income. If you have experienced these kinds of damages, you are fully justified in holding negligent parties liable. Reach out today to assess the most appropriate course of legal action.