New Jersey Truck Accident Attorneys

Proudly serving all of New Jersey

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Collisions Involving Big Rigs, Large Trucks, 18-Wheelers, Tractor Trailers & More

If you have been injured or lost a loved one in an accident involving a tractor-trailer, you may be able to pursue compensation for your family’s losses and damages. But winning a legal claim against a trucking company is no easy task, because you will be going up against their insurer’s army of lawyers.

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To secure the settlement you deserve, you will need your own experienced legal team to fight on your behalf. The New Jersey auto accident attorneys at Princeton’s Lependorf & Silverstein, P.C., have been successfully representing New Jersey injury victims for over 25 years. We have secured many substantial settlements, and will put our knowledge and experience behind your claim. Call (609) 240-0040 today for a free consultation. Don’t delay! New Jersey has strict statutes of limitations on personal injury lawsuits.

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Truck Accident Verdicts and Settlements

• $2.5 Million Settlement – Trash Truck Accident Case
• $1 Million Settlement – Man Suffers Internal Injuries After Being Crushed by Box Truck
• $900,000 Settlement – Tow Truck Operator Receives Injuries

Click here for more verdicts and settlements.

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New Jersey Truck Driver Negligence

Inattentive or sometimes blatantly impaired truck drivers are out there on the road with us, and they can cause wrecks. Otherwise good drivers are sometimes involved in dangerous accidents because trucking companies pressure them into making the fastest delivery possible, which leads to drivers taking shortcuts. Trucking companies pressure drivers to ignore maintenance issues that they should log before a trip, or falsify sleep logs to meet their demands.

Large trucks are intimidating to many drivers on the road and for good reason. In an accident, a sedan, station wagon, or SUV is no match against the sheer size and weight of a tractor-trailer, box truck, or cement mixer. If a large truck collides with a passenger car, or topples over onto one, the damage is bound to be extensive, and the chance of serious injuries or fatalities is very high.

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Dangerous Practices by Trucking Companies

In addition to the dangers posed by the size, weight, and design of tractor-trailers, some trucking companies encourage their drivers to violate Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations to deliver more goods faster, and thus increase profit margins. These dangerous practices can include:

• Speeding: Driving faster than the posted speed limit, or driving faster than is safe due to the weather conditions.
• Overloading trailers above the FMCSA maximum of 80,000 pounds: This is a business choice for many trucking companies. They are willing to risk potential injury to innocent bystanders to increase their load and their profit.
• Improperly loading trailers: In an effort to save “valuable” time, truckers are discouraged from taking the time to redistribute their remaining load after making a delivery. The result is often an unbalanced load, which increases the potential for a jackknife and will tip over more easily.
• Driving too many hours without a rest break: Even with federal restrictions and the requirement of an HOS log book, drivers are encouraged to falsify records or ignore safe driving practices regarding breaks and sleep.
• Not performing required routine maintenance: Maintaining and repairing a semi takes away time that could be spent transporting cargo and making money. Independent drivers as well as commercial trucking companies are prone to erring on the side of profit and not caution.
• Driving under the influence: The United States Department of Transportation released the data for commercial drivers who failed a drug test in a single year. Out of the 5.4 million tested, over 44,000 were found to be under the influence of a substance that impairs driving ability. Commercial driver’s license holders must have a blood alcohol content of below 0.04% to avoid a DUI charge.

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Compensation for an Accident with a Tractor-Trailer

After a collision with a truck, most drivers do not expect to become involved in a legal battle with an insurance provider, but this is usually what happens. In fact, several different insurers and policies may be involved:

• It is not uncommon for truck drivers to carry multiple insurance policies depending on whether they own or lease the vehicle, or work on behalf of an employer. In some cases, the driver may own the truck but lease the trailer used to carry shipments. Determining which insurance company will provide a settlement often requires the skill and guidance of an experienced legal team.
• The biggest obstacles to tackle after a collision with a commercial truck are the adjusters and accident investigators working on behalf of the truck company’s insurer. After a collision, the trucking company faces huge financial losses for covering the cost of the damaged truck, lost cargo, and potential payouts to those injured in the crash. Therefore, these companies often coerce victims into forfeiting rightful compensation or accepting a much lower settlement than they deserve.

Unfortunately, whether the truck driver, trucking company, or even truck manufacturer is responsible for a collision, the insurance company will often attempt to save money by offering an unfair settlement or denying a valid claim altogether.

But with the help of your own lawyer, you may be able to recover:

• Current and future medical bills, including costs of physical therapy and rehabilitation
• Compensation for permanent disability or loss of a limb, or scarring and disfigurement
• Costs of in-home care, as well as household and vehicle modifications if needed
• Compensation for pain and suffering, mental duress, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Lost wages from missed work, reduction of earning capacity, or loss of career or earning potential
• Hedonic damages for loss of joy of life

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Wrongful Death Damages for a New Jersey Truck Accident

In the tragic event that you’ve lost a loved one in a tractor-trailer accident, you and your family may be able to seek compensation for any of the following wrongful death damages:

• Funeral and burial expenses
• Medical bills
• Pain and suffering of the deceased before death
• Loss of future income
• Loss of future benefits (such as medical benefits or retirement)
• Loss of love, affection, companionship, guidance, etc.
• Loss of household duties the deceased performed (such as childcare, property maintenance, etc.)

While we at the Princeton law offices of Lependorf & Silverstein, P.C., truly hope you never need our services, rest assured that we will be there to assist you and your family if you do. Call our New Jersey personal injury attorneys for a free consultation at (609) 240-0040.

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Additional Information

• Frequently Asked Questions About NJ Truck Accidents
• What Makes Tractor-Trailers So Dangerous?
• Crashes, Large Trucks, and Liability, Oh My!
• New Jersey Trucking Company Negligence
• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
• Large Trucks – Insurance Institute for Highway Safety