Union Township, NJ (May 26th, 2022) – On the evening of Thursday, May 26th, a serious traffic accident involving a commercial semi-truck left one person dead and another critically wounded.
According to the New Jersey State Police, the catastrophic accident occurred in Union County. The vehicular accident was reported just after 8:00 p.m. on I-78 east in Hunterdon County.
One of the victims was rushed to a local hospital via helicopter. The identities and the medical status of the parties involved have not been released by authorities.
Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the accident.
Semi-trucks are a fundamental part of the state’s economy, unfortunately, these vehicles cause too many accidents. The trucking industry is regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) at a federal level. At a state level, semi-trucks are regulated by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.
The agencies set standards on the vehicles, which aim to reduce the number of accidents. Still, semi-truck accidents happen regularly.
FMCSA reports that within a five-year period, semi-trucks across the nation were involved in nearly 17,000 fatal accidents. In addition, more than 300,000 semi-truck accidents resulted in injuries and more than 1 million resulted in only property damage.
In both New York and New Jersey, the states reported a combined total of 791 deadly accidents during the same time, which is approximately 158 a year.
Semi-truck accidents can be caused by a number of factors, but a vast majority of them are caused by driver error. Based on reports published by the FMCSA, factors related to driver error were reported in about one-third of all deadly accidents that happen each year.
Based on reported fatal collisions involving semi-trucks, the FMCSA states that the leading contributing factors are speeding, distracted driving, driving while intoxicated, failure to yield, inability to remain in the right lane, and careless driving.
Although driver error is one of the main reasons behind most semi-truck accidents, it is also important to consider other causes of accidents. For example, many semi-truck accidents are also caused by defective vehicle designs or defective vehicle parts, negligent inspections, lack of maintenance, or even hazardous roadway conditions. Whenever a truck accident happens, however, injured victims and their loved ones should know that they may have an opportunity to recover financial compensation from the liable party.
Victims of semi-truck accidents often have legal grounds to file a personal injury claim for monetary compensation. A valid personal injury claim can be filed after a semi-truck, garbage truck, moving truck, or other commercial truck accident.
In order to satisfy the requirements needed to file a valid case, it is important to demonstrate that the party being accused breached a duty of care they owed the victim and that this breach led to the victim’s injuries. The duty of care is essentially a legal responsibility certain parties may owe others. A breach in this duty of care is usually demonstrated by the negligent actions taken by the at-fault party. Depending on the facts of the case, examples of negligence can include speeding, driving while sleep-deprived, or driving while drunk.
Another important requirement victims should be aware of is the state’s statute of limitations for personal injury cases. Semi-truck accident victims in the state have two years to file their accident claim or they will likely lose their right to pursue the claim. The deadline to file the case is set by New Jersey law and must be followed, but there may be specific exceptions to this law victims may qualify for. For instance, minors may have a longer time frame to bring their case forward.
When the requirements for a valid truck accident claim are met, those injured may be able to obtain monetary compensation for their injuries and other losses. Depending on the specifics of their case, victims may be eligible for compensation for their medical expenses, lost income and benefits, loss of future earning potential, and more.
Unfortunately, there are many accidents that result in the untimely death of a person. When the trucking accident leads to a person’s death, qualifying family members may pursue a wrongful death claim against the at-fault party for compensation.
Trucking accidents leading to personal injury or wrongful death claims are very difficult to pursue. These cases generally require extensive investigation and an in-depth analysis of the facts. In many truck accident cases, more than one party will be held responsible for the victim’s damages. Nevertheless, negligent trucking companies and their drivers should face responsibility following an injury-causing accident. In the aftermath of a negligent semi-truck, hiring an experienced New Jersey truck accident attorney can help ensure all potentially at-fault parties are held responsible for their negligent actions.
For many years, the dedicated attorneys at Smith & Williams Law Firm, LLC have successfully represented many injured semi-truck accident victims throughout the Garden State. Notably skilled in investigating complicated semi-truck accident cases, the attorneys at Smith & Williams Law Firm, LLC understand the challenges victims face when filing a claim.
The attorneys at Smith & Williams Law Firm, LLC understand the physical, financial, and emotional burdens victims deal with after an accident. As a result, the proficient attorneys at Smith & Williams Law Firm, LLC are committed to helping victims obtain the compensation they need to get their lives back on track after the accident.
If you or someone you love was recently injured in a semi-truck accident, consider hiring the attorneys at Smith & Williams Law Firm, LLC. Do not allow a negligent truck driver, maintenance crew, manufacturer, or another party to get away with causing you harm.
Accidents involving large commercial trucks are usually more serious than other types of traffic accidents. Semi-truck accidents require specialized legal representation since these vehicles obey different rules and regulations than the general public does. The attorneys at Smith & Williams Law Firm, LLC can help you navigate the difficulties of the case. They can also help you obtain the monetary compensation you need to cover past and present medical expenses, loss of future earnings, property damage, and more.
After a serious semi-truck accident, consider contacting the law firm to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. Complete the confidential contact form here to speak to a specialized attorney today.
