Get Compensation for Your Injuries with the Help of an Experienced New Jersey Truck Accident Attorney
With 36,000 miles of highway, including 420 miles of interstate, New Jersey sees 350 million tons of trucking freight move throughout the state each year over more than half a dozen major highway corridors, including the I-287, I-80 and the New Jersey Turnpike. While great for the economy, trucks pose serious risks of personal injury and wrongful death to motorists who share the road with fully-loaded single, double and triple tractor-trailers. When injuries occur because of negligent or reckless driving, or negligence or misconduct on the part of trucking companies, Lance Brown & Associates provides an experienced attorney who knows what it takes to obtain full and fair compensation for the damages caused.
Behemoths of the Road
Semi-trucks are by far the biggest and heaviest vehicles that people are likely to encounter regularly on the road. Their immense size and weight increases the danger to occupants of automobiles and other vehicles. The smaller, lighter vehicles and their occupants are at risk for serious damage in even a relatively low-speed collision, and at highway speeds the results are often devastating or even deadly. Because of their weight, trucks take longer to stop, which means they must maintain more distance from the vehicles around them and have a faster reaction time to events that require them to slow, swerve or stop. Also, the field of vision of a truck driver is severely limited by the truck itself. While all vehicles have blind spots, the blind spots for a big rig can extend for several car lengths behind the truck and in front of the truck as well, and can extend across several lanes of traffic on either side. A driver who doesn’t appreciate all of these factors puts the surrounding vehicles at serious risk of damage in an accident.
Accidents Caused by Truck Driver Error
The nature of the trucking business encourages drivers to deliver their cargo as fast as they can. While this does not mean that truckers speed or drive aggressively or recklessly (although some do), it does mean that truck drivers are under pressure to work long hours and stay behind the wheel longer than they should. Although federal regulations limit the hours of service for truckers, these regulations are friendly to the trucking industry and allow truck drivers to work 14-hour days with 11 hours behind the wheel, in “workweeks” which can last for seven or eight straight days. To make matters worse, many truckers are exempted from the regulations altogether and are not restricted in how much they drive. Those who fight fatigue with natural or artificial stimulants may learn the hard way that these chemicals can actually reduce concentration, alertness and reaction time.
Seek Experienced Legal Representation with Your New Jersey Trucking Accident
If you have been hurt in a truck accident, it is important to contact an experienced truck accident attorney right away. It is essential to gather and preserve evidence before it is lost, including driver logs and trucking company records which can show noncompliance with safety regulations and are sometimes “doctored” after the fact. An experienced personal injury lawyer can also advise you on the steps to take to make sure you get the care you need for your injuries, while also working to secure compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. In New Jersey, contact Lance Brown & Associates for assistance.
