Truck Accident Investigation

Semi-trucks, when fully loaded, can weigh up to 80,000 pounds and can be up to 70 feet in length. Compared to the average car, which weighs between 3,000 and 7,000 pounds and averages 14 feet in length, it is easy to understand how these large vehicles can cause so much damage when an accident occurs.

To file for compensation, your attorney must establish who was at fault for the accident. This may not always be as easy as you think when it comes to semi-truck accidents. Even if it appears obvious that the truck driver was responsible for the accident, there may be additional underlying factors. It is not uncommon for trucking accidents to have multiple responsible parties.

Because of the complexity of these cases, your New Jersey truck accident lawyer will have to do a complete investigation of the accident and its causes. Some of the things that will be investigated will include:

Negligence on Behalf of the Driver

When examining the information surrounding the accident, your attorney will look at the performance of the driver. This will include areas such as:

• Distracted Driving
• Driving While Fatigued
• Driving Over Daily Hours Limit
• Driving Over Speed Limit
• Reckless Lane Changing
• Proper Training

This type of investigation applies to both owner-operators and employee drivers.

Negligence on Behalf of the Trucking Company

There are many areas where the trucking company can be held responsible for the accident, even though they were not physically operating the vehicle. Some of these areas include:

• Improper Training of Drivers
• Scheduling Tight Deadlines Forcing Driver To Speed or Work Over Hours
• Failure To Maintain Trucking Equipment

Negligence on Behalf of the Shipping Company

The company that is shipping the freight and loads the truck may also be held liable for the accident if:

• If the Freight Was Loaded Incorrectly
• The Freight Did Not Match Weigh Bill for Weight

Negligence on Behalf of the Maintenance Company

If the accident was due to mechanical failure, your attorney would investigate the company that provided the maintenance on the truck to see if:

• Correct Parts Were Used on the Truck
• Certified Truck Mechanic Performed Services

In addition to these areas of investigation, your attorney will also conduct investigations by:

• Working With Accident Reconstruction Specialists
• Interviewing Police Officers and First Responders
• Interviewing Witnesses
• Taking Pictures of Vehicles and Scene of Accident

Trucking Accident Victims Benefit From Legal Representation

Trucking accidents are almost always catastrophic events for the people in the much smaller passenger vehicle. Trucking accidents are associated with multiple and serious injuries for the parties involved. Many of these injuries take extended periods of time to recover from or need life-long care.

Establishing fault in a trucking accident is crucial to the case’s success. If multiple parties are responsible, multiple insurance companies will cover the event. This is when it becomes very complicated. This can become frustrating for the injury victim who is already trying to manage their injuries. Having quality legal representation can help ease the chaos associated with these accidents.

When you have been involved in a trucking accident, you want legal representation that understands the industry. You want to work with a law firm that has the resources that can effectively investigate the accident and make those who are responsible for the accident accountable for their actions.

Having an injury attorney manage your case will also provide you with the much-needed relief you deserve from dealing with the insurance company. It is difficult enough to manage your injuries, the doctor appointments, the changes to your lifestyle, and the pain you have to endure from the injuries without the insurers’ hassle.

Insurance companies will say or do anything to reduce the amount of the claim and deny you the coverages that you should receive. They “forget” the benefit they should provide, deny coverages that you need, and offer low-ball settlement offers to save their profits. Allowing an attorney to handle these issues ensures you get everything you are entitled to under New Jersey law.

If you have been injured in a truck accident, your best decision will be to hire an attorney. When you have legal representation, you can devote your time to recovering from your injuries.