Helping Truck Accident Victims Recover Full Compensation
Accidents involving tractor-trailers often have devastating consequences for those in the other vehicle. To reduce the risk of serious collisions, commercial truck operators are governed by both federal and state regulations, and their insurance policies have much higher limits than those of standard vehicle drivers. When seeking compensation for your injuries, parties, in addition to the commercial vehicle driver, may share financial responsibility and may be part of your personal injury claim.
At Lomurro Law, our goal is to help you understand your rights and recover the compensation you deserve for your injuries. With more than 130 years of combined experience helping the injured and their families overcome the most difficult challenges, we’re ready to guide you through the legal system to obtain a positive resolution.
Tractor-Trailer Accidents Cause Serious Injuries
In addition to causing many deaths, tractor-trailer accidents also inflict devastating injuries, including:
- Neck and spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Paralysis
- Post-traumatic stress
These types of injuries often impact both your personal and professional life for several months, if not years. We work hard to develop a strong case and try to recover maximum monetary damages for lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering.
What To Do After A Tractor-Trailer Accident
After an accident, both your insurance company and companies representing the other parties involved will attempt to settle the matter as fast as possible without taking the time to fully investigate the accident. It is important to seek legal advice as soon as possible without signing any agreements. Our team of highly skilled attorneys assumes the burden of handling any legal issues that may arise. Count on us to work hard for you, using proven negotiation and litigation strategies to get you the results and the compensation you deserve.
How Are Trucking Accidents Different From Car Accidents?
Commercial trucks are far heavier and larger than cars, pickup trucks and SUVs. Collisions involving an 18-wheeler tend to cause more deaths and severe injuries. Because of this, the Department of Transportation regulates semis more tightly than other vehicles, and the insurance premiums for commercial trucks tend to be expensive.
Because the potential liability cost is so high, the insurance company usually investigates trucking accidents much more thoroughly than other traffic collisions. Investigators might spend hours at the scene looking for evidence that the truck driver was not at fault.
For victims, hiring an attorney as soon as possible is key. Your lawyer can also go to the crash site to find and preserve evidence that the truck driver caused your injuries.
What Are The Main Causes Of Truck Accidents?
Among the major forms of negligence that lead to serious truck crashes are drowsy driving and distracted driving. Despite federal regulations requiring regular breaks and rest periods, many trucking companies put their drivers on unrealistic schedules that force them to stay on the road for long hours with little to no sleep. Sleep deprivation can affect a trucker’s awareness, reflexes, memory and judgment. The risk of an exhausted truck driver causing a terrible wreck is high.
Distracted driving involves splitting your attention between driving and anything else, including a smartphone or other device. Even a distraction that lasts only a few seconds raises the chances of a mistake that leads to a crash. For example, a truck driver looking at their phone instead of the road can miss the fact that the car in front of them has stopped due to a traffic jam. They can crash into the car at full speed and cause severe injuries to the driver.
Other common ways that truck drivers cause accidents include speeding, failing to adjust for road conditions and mechanical failures.
Who Can Be Held Responsible In A Trucking Accident?
When it comes to liability in a trucking accident, several parties may be held responsible for the victim’s injuries. These may include any of the following:
- Truck driver
- The truck or trailer owner
- The company or entity that leased the truck or trailer from the owner
- Cargo loader
- Truck manufacturer
- Tire manufacturer
- The manufacturer of other parts that may have contributed to the accident
Proving negligence is not always easy. In many cases, the party responsible for the accident will argue that the victim bears at least some responsibility for the accident.
How Can A Truck Accident Lawyer Help You?
Besides collecting and preserving evidence, your attorney can help you in several ways. We can help arrange for medical care and deal with the insurance company on your behalf. Our advice will help you decide if a settlement offer is fair or inadequate for your needs. Most of all, we can represent you in settlement negotiations and in court if the insurance company won’t agree to a reasonable settlement figure.
What Is The Statute Of Limitations For A Personal Injury Claim In New Jersey?
Every state has legal time frames for filing a claim in the civil court system. In New Jersey, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is two years from the date the accident occurred. Otherwise, the courts may refuse to hear your case and you will have given up the opportunity to receive any monetary compensation for the injuries that you sustained.
Injured In A Truck Accident? Get The Compensation You Deserve.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident involving an 18-wheeler tractor-trailer, the New Jersey accident attorneys at Lomurro Law help you understand your legal options and aggressively pursue rightful compensation. Our main office is conveniently located in Freehold, and we also offer consultations by videoconference. Contact a member of our team at 732-482-9285 or contact us online to schedule a confidential consultation to discuss your case.