Blind Spot Trucking Accident Lawyers in New Jersey
Proudly serving all of New Jersey
Blind Spot Truck Accident Compensation
Big rigs, semis, and 18-wheelers are a common sight on New Jersey highways. These trucks perform an important function in delivering goods, but pose a great risk when the vehicle is operated in a negligent manner. Commercial trucks are difficult to control, and to add to the problem, have limited visibility. Injured in a blind spot truck accident? You may have the right to seek compensation through filing an insurance claim or lawsuit. Your first step is to speak with a NJ truck accident lawyer familiar with truck accident cases and who you can trust to protect your right to fair compensation.
Request Your Free Police Report
Lependorf & Silverstein, P.C., is happy to assist you with getting your crash report at no cost. Visit our police report request page and fill out our form. We’ll take care of the rest.
The Truck No-Zone
The New Jersey Driver’s Handbook reveals the size of the area around big rigs called “no-zones,” where it is unsafe for other vehicles to drive. A truck driver, due to this large blind spot, simply cannot see vehicles in these “no-zones.” Driving on busy New Jersey highways includes sharing the road with commercial vehicles, and it is not always possible to avoid being in truck blind spots when in the flow of traffic. A truck driver may change lanes, swerve out of lanes, or perform another action, while completely unaware that a vehicle is in the adjoining lane – with tragic results.
Some factors that are known to add to the number of truck accidents in New Jersey, and nationally, are that many truck drivers are overscheduled, exhausted, and take risks in trying to meet a demanding deadline. Some drivers have been found to be driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. If you were injured in a blind spot truck accident, connect with our team at Lependorf & Silverstein, P.C. Let us evaluate the facts in your case, and advise you how to move forward with legal action in a claim or lawsuit.
Who Can Be Held Accountable for a Truck Accident in New Jersey?
If you or a loved one was injured in a blind spot truck accident, you may be entitled to seek compensation. Various parties may be liable, including the driver, the trucking firm, the truck manufacturer or parts manufacturer, or other party. One of the first steps in filing a claim or lawsuit is to determine who is liable, and our firm can help.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has specific regulations about how many hours a driver is allowed to consecutively drive. Generally, truck drivers must have 8 hours of sleep and 2 hours of rest before coming on duty, and are only allowed to operate the vehicle for 11 hours without a sleep break. Due to the pressure to deliver on time, drivers have been known to violate these regulations, falsify log books, and take risks – putting other motorists in extreme danger. Truck drivers may rely on drugs to stay awake, making matters worse.
How to Avoid a Truck’s Blind Spot
These driving tips could help you to avoid being involved in a dangerous or deadly collision with a large truck:
- Be informed about the location of a truck’s blind spot.
- Always avoid driving in truck blind spots.
- Leave plenty of room in front of your vehicle when following a big rig.
- If passing a commercial truck, leave space before re-entering the lane in which the truck is travelling.
- Allow room behind a truck at a signal, or when stopped on a hill. Trucks may roll backward slightly when the driver shifts from being stopped to accelerating.
- Be aware of trucks making wide turns, as both lanes can be covered during the turn.
- If you see a truck driver who is operating a vehicle unsafely, call the police. You could save a life.
Even the most careful defensive drivers can be involved in an accident with a large truck, as a collision may have been unavoidable. Rollovers, jackknife accidents, sideswipes and other truck crashes occur suddenly, and without warning. Due to the size and weight of these trucks, any accident involving passenger vehicles is likely to result in serious or fatal injuries. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that of the estimated 95,000 people that were injured in an accident with a large truck, 72% of them were occupants of the other vehicles involved, not the truck.
Get Help from our NJ Blind Spot Truck Accident Attorneys
When you’ve sustained injuries or lost a loved one in a blind spot truck accident, it can be difficult to think about the legal issues surrounding the collision. At our firm, we help injured people pursue full compensation. We care about our clients, and we are steadfast in demanding full compensation for all damages. At Lependorf & Silverstein, P.C., our track record of positive outcomes includes many million or multi-million dollar settlements. Contact our New Jersey injury attorneys at (609) 240-0040 for legal representation you can trust.
Additional Information
The firm’s principals, Gabriel R. Lependorf and David E. Silverstein, have each been representing injured victims in the State of New Jersey for over thirty years.
Call Our Office At (609) 240-0040 Today for Help
