Forward Air Truck Accident Attorneys

Forward Air is a North American transportation company based in Greeneville, Tennessee, with 12 nationwide hubs, including major operations based in Columbus, Ohio. Founded in 1990, Forward Air provides surface transportation and logistics services to the air freight market. The company also provides ground transportation, generating a total of more than $1.4 billion in annual revenue. While Forward Air is smaller than many other national trucking companies, Forward Air trucks can frequently be found on New Jersey highways.

Contact information for the corporate office of Forward Air is:
Forward Air
PO Box 1058
Greeneville, TN 37744-1058

New Jersey Truck Accidents

Anyone who has driven on a New Jersey highway knows that semi-trucks and other large commercial vehicles are a constant. Large trucks spend most of their time on the highway, transporting goods to and from cities across the country.

New Jersey’s central location along the Eastern Seaboard, and between several major cities such as New York City, Philadelphia, and Wilmington, means that truck drivers frequently use the state’s highways to transport loads. The following are among the most common New Jersey highways for semi-truck drivers:

• Interstate 76
• Interstate 78
• Interstate 80
• Interstate 95
• Interstate 195
• Interstate 278
• Interstate 280
• Interstate 287
• Interstate 295
• Interstate 495
• Interstate 676
• Interstate 695
• Interstate 895
• Route 10
• Route 46
• New Jersey Turnpike
• The Garden State Parkway
• The Atlantic City Expressway 
• The Palisades Interstate Parkway 
• The Pearl Harbor Memorial Turnpike Extension

A New Jersey truck accident can occur anywhere. Whether you were injured in an accident on a highway, a city street, or a rural road, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. At the Todd J. Leonard Law Firm, we can help you understand the recovery process and, if you decide to bring a claim, work with you to recover the compensation you deserve.

New Jersey Truck Accidents Involving Forward Air Drivers

Each year, there are more than 400,000 accidents involving large commercial trucks across the United States. In total, these accidents claim more than 3,800 lives. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) tracks all truck-accident data.

Forward Air operates under several business segments. The two related to its trucking business are Total Quality, Inc., and Forward Air Solutions. According to the FMCSA data, together, Total Quality and Forward Air Solutions truck drivers were involved in 75 crashes in the most recent 24-month period. Of these accidents:

• 51 accidents resulted in property damage only,
• 23 accidents resulted in at least one person suffering physical injury, and
• One accident resulted in a fatality.

The FMCSA also maintains detailed safety records related to every trucking company on a rolling 24-month basis. Over the past 24 months, Total Quality, Inc. and Forward Air Solutions were cited 157 times for unsafe driving violations. The most common violations among Forward Air drivers were:

• Failure to maintain a single lane of travel
• Failure to obey traffic control devices
• Failure to yield the right of way
• Following too closely
• Improper lane change
• Inattentive driving
• Lane restriction violations
• Speeding
• Using a cell phone while driving

State and federal law requires truck drivers only travel a certain number of hours per day, and take rest breaks in between long trips. In addition, truck drivers must keep track of their driving and rest time in a driving log. Forward Air drivers were also cited 75 times for “hour of service violations,” ranging from falsifying rest logs to failing to keep accurate records.

Forward Air was also cited numerous times for equipment violations. Over the last 24 months, the company was cited nearly 359 times for various equipment violations, including:

• Brake system problems, including 63 citations for inoperative brakes;
• Flat or overly worn tires;
• Headlight, taillight, brake light, and other lamp-related issues;
• Inoperative turn signals;
• Inoperative windshield wipers; and
• Oil leaks

Unsafe driving violations, rest log violations and equipment malfunctions can all contribute to a New Jersey truck accident. If any of these are the cause of an accident, injury victims may be able to rely on this data to help prove their case.

What to Do After a New Jersey Truck Accident with a Forward Air Truck

If you have been injured in a truck accident with a Forward Air truck driver, you probably have a lot of questions. Nobody anticipates or plans for a New Jersey truck accident, and, when dealing with your injuries, the prospect of filing a claim against the driver may seem overwhelming. Below is a list of things to keep in mind after the accident:

• Call 911 to report the accident
This may seem obvious, but the importance of calling to report the accident cannot be overstated. When you call to report the accident, police and an emergency responder will come to the scene. They will not only ensure that you receive any emergency medical treatment that you need, but will also create a report of the accident.
• Conduct your own mini-investigation
In some truck accidents, your injuries may be so severe that you cannot do anything but wait for help. However, if you can, gather as much evidence as you can. For example, speak with any witnesses who saw the accident, exchange information with the truck driver and take pictures of the scene. When taking photos, be sure to get some of all vehicles involved in the accident, as well as any street signs, traffic lights and lane markings. All of this may be relevant to a personal injury claim, should you decide to file one.
• Get medical attention
If you were not immediately taken to the emergency room after the accident, be sure to go to the doctor to get checked out as soon as possible. Having detailed medical records can be key to a subsequent personal injury claim.
• Create an accident file
When you get home, create a file and put any accident-related documentation inside. This includes police reports, medical records, discharge summaries, insurance paperwork, and anything else related to the accident. However, if you have already thrown some of these things out, do not worry; your attorney will be able to obtain additional copies.
• Be careful who you speak with
After an accident, it is common to talk about the accident with anyone who will listen. However, be cautious when discussing the accident with the truck driver, any other motorists involved in the collision, and especially anyone from an insurance company. You should also refrain from posting anything on social media.
• Contact an attorney
When you are ready, reach out to a dedicated New Jersey truck accident lawyer to discuss your options. Even if you think you were partially at fault or unsure whether you have a case, the only way to find out is to call a personal injury lawyer.

Reach Out to the New Jersey Truck Accident Lawyers at the Todd J. Leonard Law Firm

A New Jersey truck accident can change your life in a split second. Between the physical recovery, missed work, and the medical bills coming in, it is an overwhelming experience. At the Todd J. Leonard Law Firm, we are here to help. If you have been injured in a New Jersey truck accident with a Forward Air truck driver, contact one of our knowledgeable personal injury attorneys to discuss your options.

The Todd J. Leonard Law Firm attorneys have decades of hands-on experience bringing cases against negligent truck drivers, trucking companies and manufacturers. We provide aggressive representation to New Jersey truck accident victims and their families at every step of the process, doing everything we can to reduce your stress along the way.

Over the years, we have successfully served thousands of clients, recovering over $100 million on their behalf. Our New Jersey personal injury firm handled all types of serious accidents, including car accidents, truck accidents, slip and fall accidents, motorcycle accidents, wrongful death claims, as well as on the job injuries. Contact us for a free, confidential consultation today at (973) 920-7900. There is no risk in calling, because we never charge a fee unless we can help you recover compensation for your injuries. We have offices conveniently located in Denville and Morristown.