New Jersey Truck Accident Attorneys

New Jersey Truck Accident Attorneys

Annually, the United States trucking industry transports nearly 9.2 billion tons of freight, which puts close to 3 million trucks and 3 million truck drivers on America’s roads each year. The New Jersey Turnpike acts as a major transportation artery connecting New York City and Washington, D.C., and New Jersey trucking regulations constrain all large trucks, semi-trucks, and eighteen-wheelers to its national highway network, putting more trucks on New Jersey’s high-speed roads each year.

New Jersey Trucking Constraints and Regulations

Due to the high volume of commercial traffic crossing through New Jersey, the New Jersey Department of Transportation exclusively directs large truck travel throughout the state. Double-trailer truck combinations and similar large trucks are restricted to the following network hierarchy:

• The National Network (e.g., I-95);
• The New Jersey Access Network, and then
• Other unrestricted roadways, but only to provide access to trucking terminals.

In fact, New Jersey regulations require large trucks to avoid all residential areas en route to a terminal. If a truck driver fails to adhere to the hierarchy set forth above, the driver, trucking company, and/or corporate contractor may be subject to liability.

Common New Jersey Truck Accidents and Causes

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the leading causes of large truck crashes are speed, distraction/inattention, and impairment due to fatigue, alcohol, or illness. However, as New Jersey restricts all large trucks to high-speed national motorways, there is an increased chance of “lost-load” accidents, which occur when a truck’s freight is not properly stored and can jettison onto the roadway. At high speeds, not only can lost freight cause severe injury to drivers hit by or attempting to avoid the debris, it can offset a truck’s balance, causing the driver to lose control.

Reacting to a New Jersey Truck Accident

Large truck accidents, especially those that take place on high-speed roadways, can cause immense shock among innocent drivers, who may be unsure of what to do after a crash. If you or a loved one is involved in a truck accident, it is important to take the following precautions:

• Assess the scene for safety, including whether there is a hazardous materials leak or chance of fire;
• Check for severe injury, and stay in your vehicle if the scene is not secure;
• Move your vehicle to the nearest safe location, but do not leave the scene of the accident, and
• Call 911 as soon as you are safe, even if there have been no serious injuries.

Why to Hire an Attorney with Experience Analyzing New Jersey Trucking Regulations

Traditional motor vehicle accident attorneys may not have the experience necessary to assess your truck accident claims in accordance with the proper regulations, as New Jersey has a unique hierarchy of roadways. If you have been involved in a truck accident, be sure to contact a qualified truck accident attorney who understands the intricacies of New Jersey liability law.