Denville Truck Accident Attorneys

Every day, thousands of tractor trailers and other large commercial vehicles share New Jersey’s roadways with passenger vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles and pedestrians. These big trucks haul a huge range of essential goods for companies all over the world, keeping the world running smoothly. However, the size of tractor trailers makes them extremely dangerous in an accident, especially one that also involves a smaller vehicle.

A fully loaded large truck can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds and has limited maneuverability. While the majority of truck operators are highly trained and drive with safety in mind, one mistake can cause a serious accident.

If you or a loved one were hurt or killed in an accident involving a large truck in New Jersey, you could be entitled to compensation for your injuries. You may benefit from contacting an experienced New Jersey truck accident attorney as soon as possible after the accident.

The team at the Todd J. Leonard Law Firm have over 35 years of experience handling truck accident cases and helping those seriously injured pursue the compensation they deserve. We will investigate your accident, establish liability, advocate for you with insurance companies and fight for your rights to obtain maximum compensation from those responsible for your accident.

New Jersey Truck Accident Statistics

Every year in the U.S., there are roughly 500,000 large truck accidents. In fact, nationwide, 4,965 people died in large-truck crashes in 2020, a number that reflects a 10-year trend of increasing heavy truck accident fatalities. Truck accident fatalities rose 36 percent between 2010 and 2019. During the same period in New Jersey, fatalities increased by 50 percent, from 52 in 2010 to 78 in 2019.

Roughly seventy-one percent of those killed in truck accidents are of occupants of smaller vehicles and another 12 percent are pedestrians, cyclists or bystanders. Truck drivers are not typically injured or killed in accidents, which further demonstrates how vulnerable others are in an accident with such a huge truck.

Common Injuries Sustained in Truck Accidents

Some of the most common injuries individuals face after devastating truck accidents include:

• Traumatic Brain Injuries
• Head Trauma
• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Paraplegia
• Quadriplegia
• Amputations
• Broken Bones
• Internal Injuries
• Burns
• Death

Due to the huge size and weight of commercial trucks and their limitations in maneuverability, truck accidents are particularly dangerous for those in passenger vehicles, often resulting in more severe injuries and fatalities.

If you or a loved one were involved in a truck accident, you should contact the Todd J. Leonard Law Firm to protect your rights. Our team of New Jersey truck accident lawyers are ready to fight for the justice you deserve.

What Causes Truck Accidents?

Trucking companies are under intense pressure to deliver cargo as quickly and cheaply as possible. To meet customer demand, companies may put tired truck drivers, improperly loaded cargo and poorly trained employees on the road, all of which can cause serious accidents.

At the same time, truckers are not always completely to blame. Motorists in passenger vehicles sometimes drive recklessly around big trucks, or inadvertently create a dangerous situation by not being fully aware of the limitations of big trucks on the road. For example, some drivers will stay in the “no-zone” – dangerous blind spots where your car disappears from the view of the truck driver. In sum, if another driver’s negligence caused the accident and your injuries, you deserve to be compensated.

Some of the most common causes of truck accidents include:

• Driver fatigue
• A poorly maintained truck
• Inadequate training
• Poor road conditions
• Weather
• Mechanical failure
• Improperly loaded cargo
• Speeding
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Distracted driving
• Aggressive driving
• Reckless driving

Determining Fault

All commercial truck drivers and the companies who employ them are bound to adhere to the law, including Federal and State regulations. These laws dictate things like the number of hours drivers are allowed to drive, how much they should rest, maintenance, record keeping, licensing, weight limits, required equipment and more. Not following these laws leads to dangerous, often avoidable, accidents.

Multiple people could potentially have contributed to an accident — and therefore be found liable for any resulting injuries — when it comes to commercial trucking. The driver of the truck, another driver on the road, the owner of truck or trailer, a shipping or loading company, maintenance company, manufacturer, receiver, or other entity could potentially share liability depending on what caused the accident.

Our New Jersey personal injury attorneys are committed to doing our best to properly evaluate every facet of your case to show what happened and determine fault. We will conduct a full investigation of the accident. When appropriate, we will hire accident reconstructs, trucking experts and interview witnesses to establish liability.

Why Hire a Truck Accident Attorney?

The severe injuries associated with high impact crashes generate enormous medical and rehabilitation expenses and can lead to loss of income and future earning potential. You may experience long term disability, pain and emotional trauma. The potential devastation has no bounds.

Recovering compensation from an accident is difficult enough, and therefore, you should not handle the overwhelming tasks of handling insurance companies and legal issues alone. Large trucking companies have the means to fight accident lawsuits. Personal injury attorneys are very familiar with the intricacies of state and federal truck laws and how trucking companies and their insurance companies operate.

Hiring an experienced and understanding truck accident attorney allows you to focus on healing. Our team of experienced attorneys have extensive knowledge of the law and the truck accident claim process, which will help you get the maximum amount of compensation for your injuries.

Talk to an Experienced New Jersey Truck Accident Attorney

At the Todd J. Leonard Firm, our New Jersey truck accident lawyers can help you determine who was responsible for your accident and will work hard to fight for compensation on your behalf. We have more than 35 years of experience helping people recover from situations similar to yours and are prepared to put our extensive knowledge to work for you.

Call us at the Todd J. Leonard Law Firm today to schedule your free consultation. We work on a contingency fee basis – there is never a fee unless you win.