0 Practice Areas A collision with a tractor-trailer, box truck, dump truck, garbage truck, delivery truck, or other commercial vehicle is not a routine car accident. Trucks may weigh many times more than a passenger vehicle, and a fully loaded tractor-trailer may legally weigh up to 80,000 pounds on interstate routes. When a truck driver, trucking company, maintenance contractor, cargo loader, or other party cuts corners, the result can be catastrophic. At Mintz & Geftic, we represent people injured in serious truck accidents throughout New Jersey. From our Elizabeth office, we help crash victims and families after collisions on major routes such as the New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, I-78, I-80, I-95, Route 1&9, Route 22, and local roads across Union County and surrounding communities. Truck accident cases move quickly. Evidence can disappear, vehicles can be repaired, electronic data can be overwritten, and insurance companies may start protecting the trucking company immediately. Our attorneys work to preserve critical evidence, identify every responsible party, and pursue full compensation for the harm our clients have suffered. Free consultation. No fee unless we win. Call or text Mintz & Geftic at 908-352-2323. Why Truck Accident Cases Are Different Truck accident claims are often more complex than ordinary car accident claims. A serious crash may involve a commercial driver, a trucking company, a trailer owner, a freight company, a maintenance provider, a cargo loader, a manufacturer, or another party whose negligence contributed to the collision. Important evidence may include: Driver logs and electronic logging device dataTruck inspection and maintenance recordsDriver qualification and training filesDispatch records and delivery schedulesGPS, telematics, dashcam, and onboard vehicle dataCell phone recordsCargo loading recordsPost-crash inspection reportsPolice reports and witness statementsAccident reconstruction evidenceMedical records documenting the full extent of injury The sooner an attorney is involved, the better the chance of preserving the evidence needed to prove what happened. The Risk of Truck Accidents in New Jersey New Jersey is one of the busiest transportation corridors in the country. Commercial trucks travel through the state every day carrying freight to and from ports, warehouses, construction sites, rail hubs, and distribution centers. According to official crash data, New Jersey State Police reported 574 fatal crashes and 606 traffic deaths statewide in 2023. The same NJSP report stated that 22 fatal crashes involved tractor-trailers, resulting in 23 deaths. National FMCSA data also shows the continuing danger of large truck crashes, including thousands of fatal large-truck crashes and more than one hundred thousand injury crashes involving large trucks in 2022. Behind every statistic is a person, a family, and a life changed by someone else’s negligence. Common Causes of Truck Accidents Truck accidents can happen for many reasons, including: Driver fatigueSpeeding or driving too fast for weather and traffic conditionsDistracted drivingUnsafe lane changesFollowing too closelyImproper turnsFailure to check blind spotsBrake, tire, steering, or lighting failuresPoor truck maintenanceOverloaded or improperly loaded cargoNegligent hiring, training, or supervisionPressure from unrealistic delivery schedulesDriving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or impairing medicationViolations of federal or state trucking safety rules A trucking company may try to blame the crash on the injured person or another driver. Our job is to investigate the full picture, not just the version presented by the trucking company or its insurer. Injuries Caused by Truck Accidents Because of the size and force involved, truck crashes can cause severe and permanent injuries, including: Traumatic brain injuriesSpinal cord injuriesHerniated discs and other serious back injuriesNeck injuriesBroken bonesInternal injuriesBurn injuriesCrush injuriesAmputationsSevere lacerations and scarringPost-traumatic stress and anxietyWrongful death These injuries can affect every part of a person’s life: work, family responsibilities, mobility, independence, and future medical needs. A settlement should account for both the immediate harm and the long-term consequences. Who May Be Responsible for a Truck Accident? Depending on the facts, a truck accident claim may involve one or more responsible parties, including: The truck driverThe trucking companyThe owner of the truck or trailerA maintenance or repair companyA cargo loading companyA broker, shipper, or freight companyA parts or vehicle manufacturerA road contractor or public entity in certain casesAnother negligent driver Identifying every responsible party matters because truck accident cases often involve serious injuries, multiple insurance policies, and aggressive defense strategies. What to Do After a Truck Accident in New Jersey After a truck accident, take these steps when possible: Call 911 and report the crash.Get medical care immediately, even if symptoms seem minor at first.Take photos or video of the vehicles, road conditions, skid marks, debris, injuries, and the surrounding area.Get names and contact information for witnesses.Avoid arguing about fault at the scene.Do not give a recorded statement to the trucking company’s insurer before speaking with an attorney.Do not sign releases or settlement paperwork without legal advice.Save medical records, discharge papers, repair estimates, insurance letters, and any crash-related expenses.Contact a truck accident lawyer as soon as possible so evidence can be preserved. Time Matters: Evidence and Legal Deadlines Truck accident evidence can disappear quickly. Driver logs, inspection records, vehicle data, dashcam footage, and dispatch records may become harder to obtain as time passes. An attorney can send evidence-preservation letters and begin investigating before critical information is lost. New Jersey injury claims are also controlled by legal deadlines. In many personal injury cases, the general deadline to file a lawsuit is two years, but some claims can have much shorter notice requirements, especially when a public entity or public employee may be involved. Because deadlines depend on the facts, it is important to speak with an attorney as soon as possible. Our Results in Serious Motor Vehicle Accident Cases Mintz & Geftic has obtained substantial recoveries for clients seriously injured in motor vehicle accident cases, including a $1,986,475 recovery for serious injuries arising out of an accident, a $1,475,000 recovery arising out of a motor vehicle accident, an $850,000 automobile accident settlement, and a $725,000 settlement involving a pedestrian struck by a truck. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case depends on its own facts, injuries, insurance coverage, liability evidence, and applicable law. Why Choose Mintz & Geftic? Truck accident cases require careful investigation, strong litigation strategy, and the resources to stand up to trucking companies and insurance carriers. Mintz & Geftic brings decades of experience handling serious injury claims in New Jersey and New York. Our attorneys investigate liability, work with qualified experts when needed, review driver logs and maintenance records, evaluate medical damages, and pursue compensation for: Emergency medical treatmentHospital billsSurgery and rehabilitationFuture medical careLost wagesLoss of earning capacityPain and sufferingPermanent injuryDisabilityLoss of enjoyment of lifeWrongful death damages when a family loses a loved one Frequently Asked Questions About New Jersey Truck Accident Claims How is a truck accident different from a car accident? Truck accident cases often involve commercial safety rules, trucking company records, driver logs, maintenance files, cargo records, and multiple insurance companies. The injuries are also often more severe because commercial trucks are much larger and heavier than passenger vehicles. Who can be sued after a truck accident? Depending on the facts, a claim may involve the truck driver, trucking company, truck owner, trailer owner, maintenance contractor, cargo loader, manufacturer, or another negligent party. A full investigation is needed before deciding who should be held responsible. What evidence is important in a truck accident case? Important evidence may include driver logs, electronic logging data, inspection records, repair records, dashcam footage, GPS data, dispatch records, cell phone records, police reports, witness statements, photos, and medical records. How long do I have to file a truck accident lawsuit in New Jersey? In many New Jersey personal injury cases, the general deadline is two years, but some claims have shorter notice requirements. Claims involving public entities or public employees can require action much sooner. Speak with an attorney quickly so the correct deadline is identified. Can I still recover compensation if I may have been partly at fault? Possibly. New Jersey follows comparative negligence rules. Your compensation may be reduced by your percentage of fault, and fault disputes can have a major effect on the case. Do not assume you do not have a claim just because an insurance company says you were partly responsible. What compensation is available after a truck accident? Compensation may include medical expenses, future medical care, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, permanent injury, disability, and other damages. In fatal truck accident cases, surviving family members may have a wrongful death claim. Talk to a New Jersey Truck Accident Lawyer After a serious truck accident, the trucking company and its insurer may already be building their defense. Mintz & Geftic can help protect your rights, preserve evidence, and pursue the compensation you deserve. Call or text 908-352-2323 for a free consultation. No fee unless we win. 0 auto accident lawyer Related Posts Pedestrian Accidents New Jersey and New York law firm representing personal injury victims of pedestrian accidents. Unfortunately drivers may not be paying attention while driving; they may be distracted or even texting while driving. Because of its high population density, New Jersey has one of the highest rates of pedestrian fatalities in the country. Intersections near highway on-ramps are ripe for these types of accidents. Visibility is reduced and speeds are high. Cars often hit pedestrians who are legally crossing in a crosswalk. 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