Newark Truck Accident Lawyer
If you or a family member have been involved in a motor vehicle collision with a truck, an experienced truck accident lawyer can help. The knowledgeable attorneys at Meirowitz & Wasserberg understand the difficulties people go through after a terrible accident. It’s a frightening time, and our law firm’s Newark personal injury attorneys are committed to helping our clients receive justice and fair compensation to cover their injuries and losses.
Expertise
Samuel Meirowitz is “Top 100 Trial Lawyer” and an accomplished personal injury lawyer, trial attorney and relentless advocate for his clients. Previously, he served the State of New York for four years as a prosecutor in the Bronx District Attorney’s office. Mr. Meirowitz is admitted to practice law in New York and Florida State Courts.
Content written by Samuel Meirowitz
- Expertise
Samuel Meirowitz is “Top 100 Trial Lawyer” and an accomplished personal injury lawyer, trial attorney and relentless advocate for his clients. Previously, he served the State of New York for four years as a prosecutor in the Bronx District Attorney’s office. Mr. Meirowitz is admitted to practice law in New York and Florida State Courts.
Experienced Personal Injury Attorney
Quick Links
- Types of Trucking Accidents in Newark
- Common Causes of Truck Accidents in New Jersey
- Who is liable for truck accidents in Newark?
- What compensation is available to New Jersey truck accident victims?
- Does New Jersey have a statute of limitations for truck accidents?
- Do truck accident victims need to hire a personal injury attorney?
- Contact a Newark Truck Accident Attorney Today
- Newark Office
Newark is New Jersey’s biggest city and is situated in an area where major interstates and other roadways intersect with it. Unfortunately, accidents with big rigs, semi-trucks, and tractor-trailers are common. These commercial truck accidents are more common than we would like to think and lead to serious injuries and fatalities for other motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
Even worse, however, is that many collisions involving large trucks could have been prevented if the drivers or companies weren’t careless in their actions or decisions. Victims involved in collisions with these large vehicles might be eligible for compensation if the truck driver, trucking company, or another party played a negligent role that led to the cause of the accident.
Types of Trucking Accidents in Newark
In 2019, almost 10% of fatal crashes in the state of New Jersey were caused by large trucks, with small trucks accounting for almost 40% of motor vehicle fatalities. Many more crash victims suffer from injuries ranging from mild to very severe.
Colliding with a large truck can happen for many reasons. Here are the most common events that often lead to truck accident claims.
- Driver blind spots
- Wide turns
- Head-on collisions
- Rear-end crashes
- Jackknifes
- Rollovers
- Tire blowouts
- Underride and override accidents
- T-bones
- Lost loads
These accidents often have disastrous consequences and result in serious traumas, including brain injuries.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in New Jersey
While all motor vehicle accidents have the potential to be heartbreaking due to serious injuries and loss of life, truck accidents often lead to some of the saddest incidents. Trucks are large, heavy vehicles by design and have a higher potential to cause catastrophic injuries—or worse—upon impact than accidents involving passenger vehicles. Numerous factors can result in a Newark truck accident, including but not limited to:
- Distracted driving
- Driver fatigue (too many hours on the road)
- Reckless driving
- Wintry or rainy weather
- Aggressive driving
- Hazardous road conditions
- Driving while intoxicated
- Driving under the influence of drugs
- Improper backing up
- Improper lane change
- Disobeying traffic laws
Some accidents are unavoidable, but the reality is many tractor-trailer accidents and other truck collisions in Newark, New Jersey, could be sidestepped if only the drivers and the owners of the vehicles acted responsibly or didn’t act in violation of trucking laws. Unfortunately, far too many fail to comply with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Regulations or NJ state regulations.
Who is Liable for Truck Accidents in Newark?
After experiencing the pain and suffering from truck accident injuries, victims often wonder who is responsible. In reality, one or more parties can be involved in being negligent or irresponsible. For instance:
- Drivers who are careless and bypass rules set by the federal government and trucking industry
- Employers that circumvent rules in the name of saving money or time (e.g., poorly maintained trucks)
- Cargo loading workers who don’t safely do their jobs
- Manufacturers of the truck or its parts for defects that cause accidents
- Truck maintenance teams, if they do not perform or skip appropriate repairs or maintenance
- Vendors providing services to carriers who didn’t perform due diligence
- Newark City, Essex County, or hired contractors that were negligent in highway design or maintenance
Bottom line, many of the above things that could go wrong could have been prevented with a little foresight and due diligence. A skilled truck accident attorney can investigate and evaluate the situation, gather evidence, and determine at-fault parties.
What compensation is available to New Jersey truck accident victims?
Trucks can be as much as 20 to 30 times larger than a car, and individuals not in the trucks tend to suffer far more injuries and fatal accidents than those who are. Victims often sustain injuries that result in high medical bills, ongoing medical treatments, rehabilitation, surgeries, lost wages, and loss of consortium. People who have lost their loved ones can often recover funeral costs and other expenses.
Because trucks are commercial vehicles, the laws relating to truck accidents are complex. They are linked to federal and state regulations. However, this doesn’t limit truck accident victims from receiving the compensation to which they are entitled. In many instances, depending on the circumstances of the personal injury case, truck accident victims can potentially receive both economic (actual tangible losses) and noneconomic damages (additional awards related to losses and suffering).
Insurance companies will often try to lowball settlement offers or circumvent having to pay anything at all. For this reason, anyone in a collision with a truck in the tristate area should consult with an experienced personal injury attorney who understands the laws associated with New Jersey.
Does New Jersey have a statute of limitations for truck accidents?
New Jersey State Law sets its statute of limitations at two years for injuries occurring at the time of the accident; there are some exceptions for minor children. For wrongful deaths, the two-year statute of limitations begins at the time the accident victim becomes deceased.
Do truck accident victims need to hire a personal injury attorney?
Victims and their loved ones don’t legally have to hire a personal injury attorney after suffering a truck accident, but doing so can ensure they’re protected. Truck drivers, companies, and other parties will have attorneys and insurance companies working hard on their behalf to incur the least amount of responsibility and financial liability. Many will claim no responsibility at all, hoping victims won’t want to fight them, or they’ll work hard to absolve the guilty parties and blame those who have been injured.
You need someone on your side to advocate for your family and hold the negligent parties responsible for their actions and decisions. Even victims’ insurance companies may try to offer lowball settlements that do not adequately cover injuries, damages, and financial losses. At Meirowitz & Wasserberg, our attorneys are skilled negotiators and will make certain insurance companies don’t take advantage of you. If a fair settlement can’t be negotiated and your case goes to trial, we will skillfully litigate for the best possible verdict.
Contact a Newark Truck Accident Attorney Today
If you or a family member has been injured in an accident involving a commercial vehicle, it’s in your best interests to obtain a free consultation from a skilled personal injury lawyer. The attorneys at Meirowitz & Wasserberg have years of experience championing the rights of injured people and their loved ones.
Our attorneys will gather evidence and perform a thorough investigation to determine fault. Once we obtain all the information we need, we’ll evaluate your personal injury claim and offer you sound legal advice. You may be eligible to receive financial compensation to cover medical bills, loss of income, property damage, and pain and suffering. If your family has suffered a tragic fatality, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim.
To request a free consultation, contact the Meirowitz & Wasserberg, LLP law office at 866-951-5402 or complete our online contact form.
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