Truck Accident Lawyer in Edison and Woodbridge

truck accident on a highway

We all depend upon commercial vehicles such as tractor-trailers, box trucks, and vans to deliver essential goods and services. We trust that the companies delivering these goods and services will hire professional drivers who will do their best to drive safely and keep their trucks in solid working condition. However, sometimes trucking companies violate that trust, and serious harm results.

If you were injured in a truck accident because of someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to monetary damages as compensation from the at-fault party. Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, PC have been representing injured people just like you within the communities of Edison and Woodbridge for over 40 years.  Located in Central New Jersey, the truck accident attorneys of Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C., headed by Marc C. Saperstein, will fight to get you the most money for your pain, suffering, inconvenience, disfigurement, and financial losses. His team of truck accident lawyers has won dozens of million-dollar settlements on behalf of truck accident victims.  And he only gets paid if his team wins your case.

We offer free consultations via FaceTime, Zoom, or Skype. We speak Spanish and provide translation services for many other languages as well. Contact us today to get started.

Why Truck Accidents are So Catastrophic

If you’re in a collision with an 18-wheeler, the damage from the wreck and the personal injuries that you suffer are often far worse than that of the semi-truck driver. This is because trucks are solidly built and very heavy, usually around 80,000 pounds if fully loaded. Couple this with the fact that it’s harder for trucks to come to a stop. If a truck is speeding, which is common on I-95, the New Jersey Turnpike, and I-287, it will take more distance for the tractor-trailer to come to a stop compared to a passenger vehicle, as this graphic shows:

While a typical car driving 65mph can come to a stop in 316 feet, it takes the much larger and deadlier semi-truck 525 feet to come to a stop at the same speed. This is why truck drivers need to be extra cautious and on the lookout for hazards.

After a Commercial Truck Accident, the Deck is Stacked Against You

The time following a truck accident can be tumultuous for injured victims. The trucking company has many resources on its side, and it knows how to protect its interests after a collision.

For starters, the truck driver has an incentive to lie about the accident to the police officer creating the accident report. They could lose their job and have trouble finding a new one. Since truckers are less likely to sustain serious injuries in a crash, they are more likely to provide a statement to the police. This results in a one-sided police report.

As soon as the accident happens, representatives from the trucking company head to the scene to start building their defense. This response team often includes an attorney who will advise the truck driver on what to say (and what not to say) to the police. In turn, the police may decide not to issue a citation to avoid involvement in a lengthy trial. They are also in a rush to clear the scene to keep traffic moving again.

What does all this mean for you, a truck accident victim? It means the police report will likely be skewed in the trucking company’s favor, and you’ll need assistance to help level the playing field.

Looking for Help After a Woodbridge or Edison Truck Accident? You’ve Come to the Right Place.

The good news is that you can improve the odds in your favor when you have our experienced attorneys on your side. Even if the police report seems to exonerate the truck driver, police reports can be amended and corrected.

Our Woodbridge truck accident lawyers know how to gather crucial evidence after a semi-truck crash, including:

  • The truck’s “black box” that contains vital information about the truck
  • Dash cam footage from the truck
  • Witnesses to the collision 
  • Police camera footage (dash cams and body cams)

Using this evidence, we build a claim to help you recover your lost wages, medical bills, and more. Thankfully, large commercial trucks have millions of dollars in liability insurance, which can be supplemented with insurance from the shipping company and the trailer itself.

In our years of experience handling these claims, our Middlesex County lawyers have found that jurors hate reckless truck drivers, so the trucking company will likely want to settle out of court. This process, usually involving retired judges mediating the session, is much easier than a trial. Of course, if a trial is necessary to fight for the results you deserve, we’re ready to fight. 

Building your case starts when you contact our Edison and Woodbridge truck accident lawyers.

Why Contact Our Woodbridge/Edison Truck Accident Attorneys?

We understand that you have options when choosing a lawyer for your truck accident case, and we understand that trust isn’t given; it’s earned.

When you contact us, we begin the work to earn your trust immediately. We will take action to gather and preserve all evidence, thanks to our reliable crash scene investigators and reconstruction experts.

We will examine all possible avenues of compensation for you, including mechanics, manufacturers, and shippers, to help pay your claim.

Our record of success in truck accidents speaks for itself. We understand how these vehicles and this industry operate and the catastrophic harm these accidents can cause victims and their family members. Let us be your trusted representatives while you focus on healing and recovery.

Some of our successful results for truck accident victims include:

Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.

What Not To Do After a Truck Accident

Finding the best truck accident attorney to handle your Woodbridge or Edison claim can seem overwhelming. After all, there are plenty of choices for legal counsel.

Here are some tips to make sure you don’t make a mistake when choosing a lawyer:

  • Do not hire a “Billboard Lawyer.”  You want lawyers that show up in court, not on billboards.
  • Do not hire lawyers who send you police reports as a direct mail solicitation. What they say about their firm is often exaggerated and untrue.  
  • Do not hire a truck accident attorney who asks for money upfront. Truck accident cases often cost tens of thousands of dollars for experts, trial illustrations, and trial costs. You need a lawyer who will ask you for no money along the way and a law firm with the funds to pay these expenses upfront.  
  • Do not hire lawyers referred to you by “runners” who are illegally paid by lawyers to sign up cases.  Do your own research.

You only get one shot to win your case.  You deserve a lawyer with the experience and track record to win your case and take it to trial if necessary.  You deserve a lawyer called upon to head seminars to teach other lawyers about trucking litigation. You deserve a lawyer Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Civil Trial Attorney.

You Came to The Right Place

The legal team at Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. has over 40 years of experience representing many injured individuals in New Jersey and New York truck crashes. Because of our aggressive and skillful approach to personal injury claims and lawsuits, our clients have received over $1 billion in verdicts and settlements. We are ready to use our years of experience to pursue the compensation you deserve.

Contact us for a free consultation with an Edison truck accident attorney at Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C., to discuss your legal options.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

A variety of factors cause truck accidents. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the following are the top causes of semi-truck collisions:

  • Brake failure—Trucks need reliable brakes. About 29 percent of truck accidents are caused by the brakes failing.
  • Speeding—Truck drivers are on the road constantly and could fall victim to the temptation to speed to get the job done faster. They are also pressured to make tight deadlines, increasing the temptation to speed. Going too fast for road conditions or outright speeding causes approximately 23 percent of truck crashes.
  • Driver fatigue—Truck drivers’ work days are spent driving, which can result in them driving fatigued. Driver fatigue accounts for approximately 13 percent of truck collisions.
  • Distracted driving or inattention to the road—Truck drivers sometimes text and drive or get distracted while on the road. Distracted driving is estimated to account for 17 percent of truck collisions.
  • Tire blowouts—Not checking and properly maintaining tires can result in tire blowouts, which cause an estimated six percent of truck crashes.
  • Cargo problems—If cargo is not loaded correctly, it can become unstable. Improper loading or overloading cargo makes up about four percent of truck collisions.

Truck collisions can also be caused by a combination of factors that the attorneys of Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. can investigate. We can determine the specific causes and who bears liability for your accident.

Common Injuries Suffered in Semi-Truck Accidents

Semi-truck crashes often result in severe injuries because of the weight and size of the truck. Even at low speeds, a truck crash can result in serious injuries and can even be fatal.

Some of the most common injuries include:

Who Is Liable After a Truck Accident in New Jersey?

When you are injured in a truck crash, multiple parties could be liable depending on the specific circumstances of your case, including:

  • Truck driver—If the truck driver’s negligence caused the accident, they might be liable for your losses resulting from the collision. Examples of truck driver negligence include violating traffic laws, operating the truck recklessly, and driver fatigue.
  • Trucking company—The trucking company may be at fault if they didn’t train the driver correctly, failed to maintain the truck, or engaged in other negligent acts resulting in the crash.
  • Manufacturer—When a mechanical failure or a defect in the truck or one of its components results in the truck crash, the manufacturer may be held responsible for losses resulting from the collision.
  • Truck owner—If a truck owner does not maintain their vehicle, which results in a truck collision, they may be liable for your losses.
  • Mechanic—Sometimes trucking companies or owners hire maintenance companies to maintain their vehicles. If the maintenance company does not maintain the truck properly and that lack of maintenance caused the crash, they can be liable for the collision.

Determining liability in a truck accident can be complex because of how many different parties could be liable – and multiple parties can even be liable for the same collision. An experienced attorney will review the facts of your case and perform an investigation to help determine who is responsible for the truck crash.

Compensation Available in New Jersey Truck Accident Claims

Depending on the severity of your injuries, you might be eligible for compensation in the form of money damages for any of these losses after an Edison truck accident:

  • Past and future medical expenses—This can include any medical expenses you have incurred, such as hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, or any other medical treatments. It also covers any medical costs that you will incur in the future for ongoing medical treatment and future surgeries.
  • Lost wages—If you miss work because of your injuries from the truck collision, you may be owed your lost wages.
  • Reduced capacity to earn—You may be entitled to the difference in your prior and current income if your injury reduces your ability to make a living.
  • Pain and suffering—If you were injured and it results in emotional distress, you may be entitled to recover pain and suffering compensation.
  • Loss of consortium—If your injuries impact your ability to maintain your relationship with your spouse or other family members, you may be owed compensation for loss of consortium.

New Jersey Truck Accident Statistics

Approximately nine percent of the vehicles involved in fatal crashes in the United States in a recent year were large trucks. In New Jersey, that number was seven percent. The state reported 54 large trucks in fatal crashes that year, causing 51 deaths. Of those deaths, only six were truck occupants. Nationwide, truck crashes accounted for about 5,000 deaths and nearly 147,000 injuries that same year – or around 14 deaths and 403 injuries per day.

Statute of Limitations for New Jersey Truck Accident Lawsuits

In New Jersey, the statute of limitations typically allows two years to file your personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. If you do not file your lawsuit within two years of the collision, you may be barred from seeking compensation for your injuries in court.

Talk to an Experienced Truck Accident Lawyer in Edison, NJ Today

The attorneys at Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. are ready to put our 40 years of experience to work for you. We will use our skills and knowledge to review the facts of your case and vigorously fight for the maximum compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation about your legal options to get justice from the parties that harmed you.