Passaic County Truck Accident Lawyer

Few accidents are more devastating than those involving commercial trucks, primarily due to their large size and weight. Unfortunately, commercial truck accidents, such as those caused by 18-wheelers, are far more common than you may think. If you’ve sustained an injury in a truck accident due to another party’s negligence, please don’t hesitate to contact a skilled Passaic County personal injury lawyer from the Law Offices of August R. Soltis for a free initial consultation today.

Types of Truck Accidents

Commercial truck accidents can happen in various ways, each presenting unique dangers to other drivers on the road. Some of the most common types of truck accidents include:

• Jackknife Accidents: When a truck’s trailer swings out to a 90-degree angle, often due to sudden braking or slippery road conditions, blocking multiple lanes of traffic and potentially causing multi-vehicle collisions.
• Rollover Accidents: When a truck tips over onto its side, frequently due to excessive speed, sharp turns, or shifting cargo, endangering nearby motorists.
  Rear-End Collisions: When a truck crashes into the back of a smaller vehicle, often due to distracted driving, speeding, or failing to brake in time. Given the size disparity, these crashes can be catastrophic for passenger vehicles.
• Underride Accidents: One of the deadliest types of truck crashes, occurring when a smaller vehicle gets lodged under the back or side of a truck, often due to sudden stops or poorly maintained reflective markings.
• Blind Spot Accidents: Commercial trucks have large blind spots, making it dangerous for cars traveling in these areas. When a truck driver changes lanes or turns without checking blind spots, severe collisions can occur.
• T-Bone Accidents: Often occurring at intersections, this happens when a truck runs a red light or stop sign, striking another vehicle at a perpendicular angle. These crashes frequently result in serious injuries or fatalities.
• Head-On Collisions: When a truck collides head-on with another vehicle, typically due to driver fatigue, impaired driving, or reckless lane departures. These are among the most fatal truck accidents.
• Lost Load Accidents: When improperly secured cargo spills onto the roadway, creating hazardous conditions for other drivers. This can cause direct collisions or force drivers to swerve, leading to secondary crashes.

Truck Driver Negligence

Truck accidents are often the result of driver error or reckless behavior. Some common examples of truck driver negligence include:

• Distracted Driving: Using a phone, eating, adjusting the GPS, or engaging in other distractions while driving can lead to devastating accidents.
• Fatigue & Hours of Service Violations: Truck drivers are required to follow federal regulations limiting driving hours, but some violate these rules, leading to drowsy driving and slowed reaction times.
• Speeding & Reckless Driving: Excessive speed reduces a truck driver’s ability to stop in time, increasing the likelihood of severe collisions. Sudden lane changes and aggressive driving are also common risk factors.
• Driving Under the Influence: The use of alcohol, prescription drugs, or illegal substances impairs judgment, reaction time, and overall driving ability.
• Failure to Adjust to Weather & Road Conditions: Truckers must account for rain, snow, ice, and poor visibility, adjusting their driving to maintain safety. Failure to do so can lead to accidents.
• Improper Lane Changes & Merging: Trucks have large blind spots, and failing to check these areas before merging or changing lanes can result in collisions with other vehicles.
• Inadequate Training & Inexperience: Some trucking companies fail to properly train drivers, leaving them unprepared for handling large vehicles, leading to avoidable errors.
• Following Too Closely: Due to their weight, trucks require a longer stopping distance. Tailgating significantly increases the risk of a rear-end collision.

Truck Company & Maintenance Negligence

Beyond driver negligence, trucking companies and maintenance crews also have a legal responsibility to ensure their vehicles are safe for the road. When they fail to do so, accidents can occur due to:

• Failure to Maintain Vehicles: Regular maintenance is required to keep trucks in safe operating condition. Issues such as brake failures, tire blowouts, and engine malfunctions can result in catastrophic accidents.
• Overloading or Improperly Loading Cargo: Overloading a truck or failing to properly secure cargo can cause balance issues, increasing the risk of rollovers or lost-load accidents.
• Negligent Hiring Practices: Trucking companies must thoroughly vet drivers, checking for proper licensing, training, and driving history. Hiring unqualified or reckless drivers puts everyone on the road at risk.
• Pressuring Drivers to Violate Regulations: Some companies push drivers to exceed federally mandated hours of service limits to meet deadlines, leading to fatigued driving and increased accident risks.
• Failure to Implement Safety Inspections: Regular pre-trip and post-trip inspections are required by law. If companies neglect these, critical issues may go undetected, resulting in preventable crashes.
• Inadequate Driver Training: Companies must ensure their drivers are well-trained to handle various road conditions, emergency situations, and proper cargo loading procedures.
• Defective Truck Parts: If a company installs defective or substandard parts, such as faulty brakes or worn-out tires, they may be liable for accidents caused by these defects.

Steps to Take After a Truck Accident

If you’ve been involved in a truck accident, taking the right steps can help protect your health and strengthen your injury claim. Here’s what you should do:

1. Call 911 Immediately: Report the accident to law enforcement and request medical assistance. The police report will serve as key evidence in your case.
2. Seek Medical Attention: Even if you don’t feel injured, some injuries, such as whiplash or internal trauma, may not be immediately apparent. Get a medical evaluation as soon as possible.
3. Gather Evidence at the Scene: If you’re able, take photos and videos of the accident scene, vehicle damage, skid marks, road conditions, and any visible injuries.
4. Collect Contact Information: Obtain the names, phone numbers, and insurance details of all drivers involved, as well as contact information for any witnesses.
5. Avoid Admitting Fault: Do not apologize or make statements that could be interpreted as admitting responsibility. Stick to the facts when speaking with police and insurance companies.
6. Document Everything: Keep a record of all medical visits, treatments, expenses, lost wages, and any pain or suffering you experience following the accident.
7. Notify Your Insurance Company: Report the accident to your insurance provider but avoid giving recorded statements until you consult with an attorney.
8. Consult a Truck Accident Lawyer: A skilled Passaic County personal injury attorney can help investigate your case, gather evidence, and negotiate with insurance companies to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.

Recovering Compensation

As long as you and your truck accident lawyer can gather and present sufficient evidence to satisfy the burden of proof, you should receive compensation to help you deal with the economic and noneconomic damages you’ve incurred as a result of your accident.

Economic damages can include:

• The cost of medical bills and ongoing care
• The cost of lost past and future wages
• The cost of vehicle damage

Noneconomic damages, on the other hand, can include:

• Pain and suffering
• The loss of enjoyment of life
• Emotional trauma
• Loss of consortium

Our dedicated legal team stands ready to help you fight for the full and fair compensation to which you are entitled.

Contact a New Jersey Truck Accident Lawyer

Don’t face a serious injury caused by a truck accident on your own–contact a knowledgeable and dedicated Passaic County truck accident lawyer from the Law Offices of August R. Soltis for a free consultation today. We’ve fought for accident victims in New Jersey for over 40 years, and we stand ready to fight for you, too.