Causes of Trucking Accidents

While California, Texas and Florida score the highest number of truck accidents in the country, New Jersey is right up there — and the numbers are rising. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that from 2010 to 2019 in NJ, deaths from crashes involving large trucks increased by more than 36 percent. And most of those accidents were caused by truck driver inattention. Whatever the reason, when you’re in an accident with a truck in New Jersey, you need the best representation to get fair compensation. Call RAM Law for a lawyer who gets results for you.

What Are Common Causes of Trucking Accidents on New Jersey Highways?

Accident scene investigators see a wide range of causes for truck accidents in New Jersey. As you wait for the police and medical assistance, contact the best truck accident attorneys; in NJ at RAM Law. They deploy their own investigators to the scene to ensure evidence doesn’t get covered up or destroyed.

You can talk to witnesses and try to gather evidence, but your attorney has professional investigators who can determine what caused your trucking accident.

The more common trucking accident causes include:

• Driver fatigue.  Truck drivers often drive long hours without rest, making them drowsy, which leads to fatigue and inattentiveness behind the wheel.
• Speeding. Truck drivers may exceed the speed limit to meet tight deadlines. Drivers who speed and change lanes quickly may also be charged with reckless driving if it caused the accident.
• Distracted driving. Truck drivers get distracted by cell phones, GPS systems, or other devices. Some drivers have even been seen watching television and movies while driving.
• Improper maintenance. Trucks require regular maintenance to ensure they’re in good working order. If a truck is not properly maintained, it can cause accidents due to brake failure, tire blowouts, or other mechanical issues.
• Overloaded or improperly loaded cargo.  Trucks carrying too much weight or improperly loaded cargo can cause accidents due to instability or shifting of the load.
• Driver negligence. Truck drivers can make errors, such as failing to check blind spots, not signaling lane changes or failing to yield the right of way.
• Poor road conditions.  Road conditions like potholes, uneven pavement, or construction zones can lead to accidents involving trucks.
• Product defects. A truck may have defects, such as defective underride guards, that a driver may not even know about.
• Impaired driving. Impaired truck driving is a dangerous state of affairs for everyone in the path of that truck. It may involve trucking company negligence if the company knew about a driver’s problems with alcohol or substance abuse.
• Foreign truck drivers.  When non-English-speaking drivers don’t understand the rules of the road in New Jersey, it can lead to misunderstandings and misinterpretations, causing an accident.
• Hazardous materials. Hazardous materials in the cargo can lead to a number of situations that may cause an accident. Whether from fumes that cause a driver to black out or from explosions, fires or leaks that create dangerous situations, drivers who aren’t properly trained to handle hazardous materials may not be aware of the risks associated with transporting them.

How Do I Prove the Cause of My Accident?

Law firms like RAM Law have investigators to help you prove causation in settling your case in or out of court.

You can also gather evidence yourself at the scene of your accident to further prove the cause, such as:

• Photographs
• Witness accounts
• Traffic cameras
• Police reports

Truck drivers and trucking companies must take steps to prevent accidents to ensure the safety of everyone on the road. But when that doesn’t happen, you need attorneys who have the experience to take on the trucking companies and their insurance carriers.

Whether you need to find out who’s liable in the accident or you want to sue the trucking company, get the representation that gets the best truck accident settlements. Contact the experts at RAM Law in New Jersey, or visit our office in the areas where we provide our services.