Large 18-wheeler trucks are key components of the nation’s supply chain, transporting essential goods into and out of states like New Jersey. Unfortunately, commercial freight-hauling trucks are also immense, heavy, and difficult to stop, turn, and maneuver. They outweigh standard cars by as much as 76,000 pounds. Motorists in smaller vehicles are vulnerable to severe injuries and fatalities in 18-wheeler truck accidents in New Jersey and elsewhere.
There were 5,837 fatalities in large truck accidents in 2022, and many serious or catastrophic injuries, including in New Jersey.
What Causes 18-Wheeler Accidents?
Large commercial trucks like 18-wheelers are complex, requiring many responsible parties to practice due diligence in keeping a well-maintained truck and trailer on the road and operated safely. Unfortunately, a single incident of negligence or driver error can result in a devastating 18-wheeler accident, injuring others on the road. Common causes of 18-wheeler accidents in New Jersey include the following:
- Distracted driving
- Fatigued driving
- Unsafe lane changes due to blind spots
- Speeding
- Improper merging
- Tire blowouts
- Making overly wide turns
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Unbalanced loads
- Defective truck parts
After a truck accident in New Jersey, the insurance company investigates the accident—with protecting their profits as their top priority. Often, this involves finding reasons to deny claims or assign a portion of fault to injury victims. It often requires an injury victim’s attorney to conduct a thorough investigation of their own to determine the cause of the accident and document evidence of liability to protect the injury victim’s best interests.
What Common Injuries Can Occur?
Injuries in 18-wheeler accidents range from mild, with a single large emergency room bill and a missed paycheck, to catastrophic or fatal injuries causing significant financial hardship for entire families as well as substantial pain and suffering for the victim. Common injuries in New Jersey 18-wheeler accidents include the following:
- Fractures of the limbs, ribs, hip, and pelvis
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries ranging from mild concussions to severe injuries with permanent impairment
- Internal organ injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Lacerations and abrasions
- Soft-tissue injuries and contusions
- Burns
- Facial trauma
When an 18-wheeler truck accident in New Jersey causes a fatality, the close surviving family members may obtain compensation and a sense of justice through a wrongful death lawsuit.
What Types of Damages Are Recoverable in New Jersey Truck Accident Claims?
When an accident involving a huge, unwieldy 18-wheeler leaves a vulnerable motorist with grave injuries, the resulting damages have long-term consequences. Recovering financial compensation doesn’t erase injuries, but it relieves financial struggles and provides injury victims with a sense of justice. Common damages recovered in 18-wheeler accident claims include property damage to a car, medical expenses, lost income, diminished future earning capacity, and compensation for pain and suffering. If a truck accident causes fatal injuries, a close family member could recover further compensation in a wrongful death claim.
How Can a Truck Accident Attorney In New Jersey Help?
Serious truck accident injuries have ripple effects throughout the lives of injury victims, causing medical bills to pile up, often at the same time that serious injuries prevent a return to work. Some truck accident victims suffer permanent disability. An experienced truck accident lawyer can identify the liable party and present compelling evidence and a carefully calculated list of damages to the appropriate insurance company. Call Cuneo & Leonetti for the maximum Cherry Hill truck accident injury compensation available to you in your claim.