Bergen County Truck Accident Lawyers

FIGHTING FOR BERGEN COUNTY TRUCK ACCIDENT VICTIMS

Trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. Passenger cars often weigh in at less than two tons.

This is the basic danger that trucks have always posed to other drivers on the road. But that still doesn’t explain the reason that highway truck safety is a growing crisis.

In 2009, 3,211 large trucks were involved in fatal crashes. In 2019, over 5,000 trucks were involved in highway fatalities. This isn’t just a case of more trucks on the road — the rate of fatal crashes per mile traveled has gone up nearly as much, coming in at a full 50 percent.

This isn’t just a problem for truck drivers. 84 percent of the deaths that resulted were other parties to the crash.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a truck accident, you deserve to know the facts. Contact the skilled personal injury lawyers at Richard Hollawell to learn how our lawyers can help you make your case.

Contact our Bergen County Lawyers today at 1-800-681-3550 or using the form below for a free consultation.

Bergen County Is Home to Some of New Jersey’s Most Driven Roads

Bergen is the most populated county in the most population-dense state in the US. When you add in the fact that it sits right next to New York City, the presence of so many high-traffic routes starts to make sense.

Bergen County hosts some of the most highly-trafficked stretches of the Garden State Parkway, the New Jersey Turnpike, interstates I-80 and I-287, and other major roads like Routes 4, 17, and 46. 

It’s home to the Meadowlands, where nearly 100,000 fans and stadium employees can head to on NFL game days. It’s the historic home of a good amount of New Jersey’s industry. 

Its roads are home to all of the trucks necessary to stock its stores, businesses, and entertainment hubs.

The Breakdown of Truck-Related Deaths in 2019

A total of 4,119 people died in large truck crashes in 2019. Most of those lost were not truck drivers themselves.

• 67 percent were occupants of cars and other passenger vehicles
• 15 percent were pedestrians, bicyclists or motorcyclists
• 16 percent were truck occupant

The Most Common Injuries Sustained in Truck Accidents

Truck crash injuries can come in many forms. Some of the most common injuries we see include the following:  

• Brain and Head Injuries. Head injuries are one of the most common results of truck accidents.
• Chest and Abdominal Injuries. Vital internal organs like the heart, liver, and kidneys may also be impacted in a truck crash.
• Knee and Leg Injuries. The sudden impacts of truck crashes often affect the lower body through joint damage and broken bones.
• Neck Injuries. The neck connects the brain and body — injuries here can be frightening and debilitating. They can trigger paralysis, chronic pain, incontinence, emotional disorders, and much more.
• Rollover Injuries. When a truck rolls over, it’s much more likely to cause harm. 
• Tire Blowout Injuries. Tire blowouts can result in unpredictable injuries. These accidents can have complicated liability.
• Whiplash. Whiplash is a neck injury caused by a sudden snapping motion during a crash. The soft tissue in the neck tears and swells in the accident, though it may go undetected.

Sorting Out Truck Accident Liability

Sorting out liability for a trucking accident quickly becomes complicated. There are several different parties that could be responsible for the crash — which equals many different people or entities to bring a lawsuit against. 

A commercial trucking accident lawsuit could involve:

• The truck driver 
• The driver’s employer
• The trucking company
• The manufacturer of the truck
• Manufacturer of the truck’s tires
• Sub-contractors

 The insurance companies for each of these different entities may get involved as well.

It’s important to act quickly if you suffered injuries from a truck accident. The liability laws involving truck accidents have a statute of limitations, meaning your case must be brought within a specific amount of time from the date of the accident. On top of this, the other parties involved may be using any extra time to work against your case.

When to Contact Our Experienced Car Accident Attorneys

If you or a loved one were involved in a truck accident, time is of the essence. Pursuing legal action and compensation is a complex task that you’ll likely need an expert accident lawyer to help navigate.

The statute of limitations in most New Jersey cases is two years.

Contact the lawyers at Richard Hollawell today at 1-800-681-3550, or fill out our contact form. We will start looking into your case immediately.