Essex County Truck Accident Lawyer
As a country, we rely on truck drivers as a major part of the supply chain. However, these vehicles are the largest and most dangerous, which is why truck drivers must extend additional care when on the job. Truck accidents often cause serious, life-changing injuries to those involved. If you have been seriously injured in a New Jersey truck accident, you need strong legal representation on your side. Contact an experienced Essex County truck accident lawyer at Rubenstein, Berliner & Shinrod, LLC today to learn how we can assist you in your case.
What are the Causes of Truck Accidents?
Truck accidents happen for various reasons, including:
- Poor judgment: Any error in driving can lead to an accident, which is why it is important to be cautious while driving such a large vehicle. Dangerous driving can include speeding, reckless driving, improper lane changes, making dangerous turns, following others too closely, and more.
- Distracted driving: When a truck driver does not give the road their full attention, they may not be able to slow down or navigate the vehicle in time to prevent an accident.
- Impaired driving: The third leading cause of truck accidents is non-performance errors, such as if a driver operates the vehicle under the influence or drowsy. This may also be if they suffer from a medical condition while driving.
- Vehicle malfunction: This may be if the truck suffers from a defective part or malfunction on the road.
- Poor conditions: If the road is not properly maintained or if there is inclement weather, it can cause an accident.
Legal Factors In Delivery Driver Car Crashes
Delivery vehicles carry much of our nation’s commerce, though unfortunately, commercial delivery drivers are prone to many of the same poor driving habits as private individuals, including disobeying traffic laws, texting or talking on a mobile phone, or driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol. The factors that are most relevant as your lawyer assembles your claim include the following:
- If the driver was officially “on the clock” for his employer
- Whether the delivery vehicle was owned by the driver or the employer
- The insurance policy covering the delivery vehicle
- The condition of the company’s delivery car or truck
- If the company set unrealistic delivery deadlines for drivers
- If the employer knowingly hired a driver with a history of traffic violations or impaired driving convictions
If you are injured in a car crash involving a delivery driver, you must document the incident. Our attorneys can help obtain police reports, discuss data with accident reconstruction professionals, and employ other professionals to demonstrate who was at fault for your injuries.
Truck Accidents Caused By Distracted Driving
Distracted driving has been a challenge for motorists for generations, but when a truck driver is not paying attention to traffic and causes an accident, the results can be far worse than if a distracted driver collision involves two cars. Because of the truck’s exponentially larger weight and size, the injuries suffered by other motorists can include:
- Head injuries, including traumatic brain injuries
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord trauma
- Life-threatening and disfiguring burns
- Amputations and lost limbs
Our law firm, Rubenstein, Berliner & Shinrod, LLC, helps clients living in New Jersey obtain the funds they need to heal from catastrophic personal injuries. We take care of our clients, leverage our lawyers’ decades of collective legal experience to successfully document their claims, and recover the damages they are entitled to by law.
Who Is Responsible For Semi-Truck Accidents Involving Distracted Drivers?
At first glance, it might appear that the responsibility for safe driving rests entirely upon the trucker. They are operating the vehicle and they are expected to focus 100 percent of their attention on the road. Some of the temptations to become distracted that they encounter during their journeys include:
- Attending to a GPS navigation device
- Texting
- Talking on their mobile phone without using hands-free mode
- Grooming and personal care
- Eating or drinking
Beyond assessing the driver’s responsibility for the accident, our attorneys will research your circumstances to determine if the trucking company may also be at fault. The company may have placed unrealistic expectations on their truck drivers or hired the driver knowing that he or she had a traffic conviction related to distracted driving.
Pursuing Legal Action
When a person is involved in a truck accident, they can recover compensation by filing a personal injury claim. This involves proving the other party was negligent, thus causing the accident and their injuries. The negligent party may be the truck driver or, in the event of a vehicle malfunction, a third-party. Negligence can be proven with evidence such as medical records, a police report from the accident, pictures or video of the accident, any witness testimonies, and more. If the injured party is successful, they may be able to recover compensation as coverage for any economic and non-economic damages that stem from the incident.
Contact an Experienced Essex County Truck Accident Lawyer
We invite you to contact Rubenstein, Berliner & Shinrod, LLC, today for powerful, effective legal representation when you have been severely injured or your loved one has suffered a wrongful death. Our law firm represents clients throughout New Jersey. We offer free initial consultations. Contact an experienced Essex County truck accident lawyer at our firm to discuss your case today.