Truck Accident Attorneys in Roseland

If you were injured in a collision involving a commercial truck in New Jersey, you need the assistance of an experienced Roseland truck accident attorney. Large truck accidents are often more complex than car accidents, involving more serious injuries, multiple liable parties, and expensive insurance claims.

Contact Brach Eichler Injury Lawyers at (973) 364-8300 for a free consultation with one of our commercial vehicle accident lawyers about your case. We’ll review the details of the accident, go over how we can help you seek compensation through auto insurance claims and personal injury lawsuits, and answer any remaining questions you have.

Common Types of Truck Accidents in Roseland

There isn’t just one type of truck accident. They can occur in various ways, and understanding how the accident that injured you happened is the first step in identifying the party or parties at fault. Common types of truck accidents in Roseland, NJ, include:

• Head-On Collisions: These accidents occur when the truck crosses the center line dividing two lanes of traffic. Some of the most common reasons for head-on collisions are driver fatigue, distraction, and intoxication.
• Rear-End Collisions: These accidents occur when a truck slams into another vehicle from behind, usually when that vehicle is stopped in traffic or at an intersection. Large vehicles like trucks require more distance to stop, and if a truck driver misjudges this distance, it can have life-changing consequences.
• Underride Accidents: These accidents are when a smaller vehicle goes underneath a truck’s trailer, often resulting in fatal head injuries. Underride accidents can occur if the truck fails to yield the right-of-way to oncoming traffic when turning left at an intersection.
• Rollover Accidents: These accidents involve the truck rolling onto its side and can have multiple causes, including cargo weight imbalances and taking turns too fast.
• Jackknife Accidents: These accidents result in the trailer swinging out alongside the truck’s cab, potentially striking other vehicles. They happen when the truck’s cab slows down faster than the trailer, such as if the driver brakes heavily in slippery conditions.
• Falling Cargo Accidents: Cargo that’s not properly secured can fall from the back of flatbed trucks, striking following vehicles or becoming a hazard in the roadway.

Who Could Be Liable in Your Roseland Truck Accident Case?

Depending on how the truck accident that injured you occurred, various parties could be liable. And in many truck accident cases, multiple parties share liability, making it crucial to work with a Roseland truck accident law firm that can identify each liable party and collect evidence against them. Some of the most common liable parties in truck accidents are:

• Truck drivers may be liable if their actions contributed to the accident, such as driving while distracted or fatigued.
• Trucking companies may be liable if they negligently hired an unqualified truck driver or encouraged drivers to speed or cut corners to save money.
• Cargo loaders may be liable if they didn’t follow the proper cargo securement regulations and caused the accident.
• Vehicle manufacturers may be liable if a defective part, such as a faulty brake or trailer connection point, contributed to the accident.
• Vehicle maintenance providers may be liable if poor maintenance caused a part failure that led to the accident. Our lawyers can check truck maintenance records to determine whether poor maintenance played a role.
• Government entities may be liable if the accident was due to poor road conditions. The government is responsible for maintaining public roads.
• Other motorists may be liable if their actions contributed to the accident, such as if another driver cut off the truck by failing to yield the right-of-way.

Trucking Regulations That May Impact Your Case

Several state and federal trucking regulations may play a role in your case, depending on the circumstances of the crash. It’s vital that you work with a truck crash lawyer with extensive knowledge of these regulations to maximize your compensation.

Truck Weight and Dimension Limits in New Jersey

NJ Revised Statutes Section 39:3-84 outlines the weight, width, height, and length limits for commercial vehicles operating on the state’s roads. If the truck that caused your injuries exceeded any of these limits, we may be able to use it as evidence of negligence. These limits are:

• Weight: Trucks may not exceed 80,000 lbs. Lower weight limits apply for vehicles with shorter wheelbases. The heavier a truck is, the slower it is to come to a complete stop, making it harder for the driver to avoid crashes.
• Width: Trucks may not exceed 8.5 feet in width without special permits allowing for an oversized load and following additional regulations. This width limit is necessary for safe operation on New Jersey’s roads.
• Height: Trucks may not exceed 13.5 feet high. Trucks taller than this may not be able to fit under certain overpasses or in tunnels, and the added height can make rollover accidents more likely.
• Length: Trucks may not exceed 40 feet in length unless they are part of a combined vehicle. Combined vehicles can reach 62 feet in length. These length limits are in place to make sure trucks can safely make turns on New Jersey’s roads.

Federal Trucking Regulations

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has several trucking regulations that all interstate commercial vehicles must adhere to, such as:

• Hours of Service: These regulations limit how long a truck driver can be on the road without taking a break and are meant to combat fatigued driving. For example, truckers can only drive for 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty.
• Cargo Securement: Depending on the type of cargo the truck is carrying, it requires different levels of securement, including various types and numbers of tie-downs to keep the cargo from shifting in transit.
• Electronic Logging Devices: ELDs are devices that automatically log a trucker’s driving and break times, making it easier to track and manage their hours of service. Most trucks required to maintain these records must have an ELD on board.
• Liability Insurance: Commercial trucks must have at least $300,000 in combined bodily injury and property damage coverage per accident. Heavier trucks and those carrying hazardous materials may need up to $5 million in combined liability coverage.

Statute of Limitations for Filing Truck Accident Lawsuits

NJ Revised Statutes Section 2A:14-2 gives personal injury victims, including those injured in truck accidents, two years to file lawsuits against the at-fault parties. If you miss this deadline, the courts will likely prevent you from seeking compensation for your injuries. For that reason, it’s essential to work with a skilled attorney who can file your lawsuit on time.

If your loved one passed away due to injuries sustained in a truck accident, NJ Revised Statutes Section 2A:31-3 also gives you two years to file a wrongful death lawsuit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below, we’ve included answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about truck accidents in Roseland, New Jersey.

What makes truck accident cases in Roseland different from regular car accidents?

Truck accident cases in Roseland differ from regular car accidents because they’re often more complex and involve multiple parties. Imagine a truck collision at an intersection like the one between Harrison Ave and Roseland Ave. There may be several at-fault parties, such as the truck driver and the trucking company, and there may be several victims if the truck struck multiple other vehicles.

Each liable party will act to minimize their liability, and the victims must split the insurance payout, which may not cover all of their expenses. For these reasons, it’s important to work with an attorney who can hold the at-fault parties liable and work to maximize your compensation.

How can a Roseland truck accident attorney help me with my case?

A Roseland truck accident attorney can help you with your case by handling every aspect of it. They’ll investigate the crash, gather supporting evidence, calculate your losses, negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf, and represent you in court if need be. All you have to do is focus on your recovery and let your attorney handle the rest.

What compensation can I pursue in a truck accident case in Roseland?

Through your truck accident case, you can pursue compensation for your past and future medical expenses, lost wages, permanent disability, physical pain and emotional suffering, and the impact your injuries have on your life. If a loved one passed away due to injuries caused by a truck accident, you can also seek compensation for their funeral and burial expenses and the emotional distress you and your family experienced.

Contact Our Truck Accident Attorneys Serving Roseland

If you were injured in a commercial truck collision in Roseland, contact Brach Eichler Injury Lawyers at (973) 364-8300 for a free consultation with one of our experienced New Jersey truck accident attorneys. Our firm is committed to helping victims and their families seek the compensation they need after truck accidents, and we’ll put our years of experience to work for you.