New Jersey Fatal Truck Accident Lawyers

Fatal truck accidents are on the rise in the United States. In 2016, the federal government reports accidents involving large trucks and tractor trailers claimed 3,986 lives. The number of deaths in 2016 is 27 percent higher than the low of 2,223 in 2009. The U.S. Department of Transportation began tracking large truck accidents in 1975.

Large trucks are particularly deadly when colliding with other vehicles. They weigh up to 30 times more than an average passenger car, and large trucks take up to 40 percent more distance to stop due to the greater weight carried. Speeding is often a cause of accidents involving large trucks, however, drivers cutting off or otherwise entering the truck’s path is the single greatest cause of fatal truck accidents.

The greater size, weight and stopping distance of large trucks make them especially dangerous for occupants of passenger cars. Nearly all people killed in accidents involving large trucks and tractor-trailers – 97 percent – were passengers in cars and not the large trucks.

The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) reported 273,473 total crashes statewide in 2016 and 270,231 crashes in 2017. The NJDOT further reports 570 fatal crashes in 2016, 59 fatal crashes in 2017 and 525 fatal crashes in 2018 statewide. According to the 2016 Fatal Motor Vehicle Crash Report, compiled by the New Jersey State Police, there were 65 fatal crashes involving trucks. According to the report, 2016 saw 28 fatal tractor-trailer crashes with 29 fatalities. So far, in 2019, there were 80 accidents and 89 fatalities in New Jersey, according to the State Police.

Nationwide, when it comes to the types of large trucks, tractor-trailers account for the majority of roadway deaths with 71 percent. Single-unit trucks account for another 21 percent of roadway deaths, and 8 percent did not report which type of large truck was involved in the deadly accident. About a third of the deadly accidents happened on U.S. freeways and interstates, while 60 percent occurred on other major roads. Those include city streets and other heavily traveled routes.

According to the New Jersey 2016 Fatal Motor Vehicle Crash Report, 36.5 percent of the crashes that year occurred on state roads. County roads saw 31.1 percent of crashes and municipal roads saw 15.8 percent of crashes. Toll roads and interstates saw 9.5 percent and 7 percent of crashes respectively.

If a loved one has been involved in a fatal truck accident, contact the experienced New Jersey truck accident attorneys for legal guidance. The New Jersey truck accident lawyers at the Todd J. Leonard Law Firm have over 35 years of experience in handling truck accident cases. Contact us today for a free consultation.