Monmouth County Truck Accident Lawyers
Over 400,000 tractor-trailer accidents occur each year on American roads and are, by far, the deadliest type of vehicle crash. Injuries sustained in truck accidents are catastrophic and can alter the rest of your life in an instant.
Litigating truck accidents is an exceedingly complex process, requiring extensively trained and experienced lawyers with the skills to successfully handle cases of this magnitude. The Monmouth County truck accident lawyers at Lombardi & Lombardi, P.A. have the knowledge, experience, and support you need in your corner to fight for your rights, justice for your injuries, and the compensation you deserve.
What Types of Truck Accidents Does Lombardi & Lombardi, P.A. Handle?
At Lombardi & Lombardi, P.A., our Monmouth County truck accident lawyers serve clients injured in numerous types of truck accidents, including:
- Blind Spot Collisions: Due to trailer size and length, trucks have significant blind spots, limiting the view of vehicles in close proximity. This can result in sideswiping, running over, or crushing smaller vehicles.
- Blown Tires: With 18 tires and heavy loads, tire tread wears quickly and can shred while moving, scattering rubber debris, or causing the driver to lose control.
- Head-On Collisions: Head-on collisions are severe and usually result in life-threatening or fatal injuries.
- Jackknife Accidents: Empty trailers can swing outward at a 90-degree angle, known as “jackknifing,” during sudden stops, high winds, slick roads, or speeding into curves, striking cars in multiple lanes or toppling the whole tractor-trailer.
- Rear-End Collisions: Rear-end collisions are most common and result in severe or fatal injuries, particularly if the smaller vehicle slides underneath the trailer.
- Rollover Accidents: Rollover accidents occur when the driver loses control of the truck by speeding into sharp turns and can crush nearby vehicles.
- T-bone Accidents: Side-impact, or “T-bone” collisions involve two vehicles colliding perpendicularly, typically in intersections.
- Underride Accidents: The most dangerous crash, underride accidents occur when a smaller vehicle slips under the trailer on impact, often killing all occupants. Federal regulations now require trucks to be outfitted with anti-underride safety guards.
What Are Common Causes of Truck Accidents?
Given the destruction such massive trucks cause, determining the cause of an accident is often challenging. Some of the most common causes of truck crashes include:
- Blown tires
- Distracted driving
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Drowsy driving
- Driving during unsafe weather or road conditions
- Equipment or safety system failure
- Failure to yield or stop at lights or intersections
- Improper driving
- Improperly loaded or unsecured cargo
- Inexperienced drivers
- Poor maintenance
- Poorly maintained roads
- Reckless driving
- Speeding
- Tailgating
- Unsafe company practices and policies
- Weather
What Types of Injuries Occur in Commercial Truck Accidents?
The majority of truck accident injuries are fatal, with a mere three percent survival rate. Those who do survive often face catastrophic and life-altering injuries requiring extensive medical and surgical intervention, rehabilitation, and lifelong care.
Common injuries include:
- Amputated or crushed limbs
- Broken and shattered bones
- Burns
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Nerve damage
- Organ damage
- PTSD
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
Who Is Responsible for Truck Accidents?
Accidents involving tractor-trailers are complex, and determining liability can be especially challenging, as there may be multiple responsible parties, such as:
- Driver: Drivers who engage in reckless or intentionally dangerous behavior, such as speeding or cutting off others, can be liable for accidents.
- Trucking Company: Employers who own the truck and employ the driver are responsible for most truck accidents.
- Truck Owner: If a third party owns the truck and it was poorly maintained, failed inspection, or did not meet federal safety regulations, the owner may be liable.
- Truck Manufacturer: If defective parts or safety systems caused the accident, the manufacturer may be liable, especially if they failed to notify truck owners or knowingly continue to make or use the defective parts.
How Can I Prove Liability for a Truck Accident?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) heavily governs the trucking industry, which enforces strict regulations regarding size, weight, cargo, speed, recordkeeping, maintenance, licensing, insurance, driver qualifications, and more. These extensive regulations and truck technology make gathering evidence after an accident considerably easier than standard car accidents. Considerable evidence can be obtained through any or all of the following:
- Black box data
- Braking data
- Cargo loading manifests
- Driver data, including cell phone use, breaks, and driving and violation records
- Dashcam images
- Dispatch instructions
- Driving maneuvers
- Maintenance reports
- Service records
- Speed records
What Compensation Can I Seek After a Truck Accident?
The severity of injuries and damage in truck accidents results in significantly higher compensation than accidents between two passenger vehicles. Compensation is based on a combination of economic damages, such as medical expenses, lost wages, or home modifications, and non-economic damages, such as emotional distress, loss of life enjoyment, pain and suffering, or wrongful death.
Depending on the circumstances, punitive damages may be awarded if the driver intentionally caused the accident, such as running others off the road or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
What Should I Do After a Truck Accident in Monmouth County?
Gathering evidence following a truck accident can provide powerful information supporting your accident claim. If you are able, you should take the following steps:
- Report the accident and injuries to police.
- Exchange contact and insurance information with the truck driver.
- Minimize conversation to avoid any statements being used against you.
- Photograph everything at the scene that contributed to the accident.
- Gather contact information and statements from witnesses.
- Seek medical attention immediately to rule out life-threatening internal injuries and obtain a medical report.
- Keep all records related to the accident.
- Hire a seasoned truck accident lawyer with extensive experience navigating the complexities of these complex cases, negotiating with insurance companies, and obtaining maximum compensation for clients.
How Can Lombardi & Lombardi, P.A. Help Me After a Truck Accident?
After surviving a truck crash, your focus should be on your recovery and let an experienced legal team proceed with your claim. Hiring a Monmouth County truck accident lawyer provides the much-needed support and peace of mind you need at this challenging time and the assurance that your case will be handled properly. When you hire Lombardi & Lombardi, P.A., our skilled team can work on your behalf to:
- Investigate the accident scene.
- Review police and company accident reports.
- Gather evidence and evidentiary data records.
- Interview witnesses.
- Establish liability.
- Calculate your damages.
- Hire industry experts.
- File necessary documents.
- Negotiate insurance companies for maximum settlement.
- Represent you in court if the case goes to trial.
The Monmouth County Truck Accident Lawyers at Lombardi & Lombardi, P.A. Will Help You After a Tractor-Trailer Crash
The aftermath of a truck accident has far-reaching effects on your life. If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a devastating truck accident, call the knowledgeable and experienced Monmouth County truck accident lawyers at Lombardi & Lombardi, P.A. today at 732-906-1500 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. Located in Brick, Freehold, Point Pleasant, and Edison, New Jersey, we serve clients throughout New Jersey.