Nagel Rice’s
Breakdown of
Truck Accidents
in New Jersey
Commercial truck and tractor-trailer accidents are common in New Jersey, often resulting in catastrophic and fatal injuries. Despite federal and state truck safety rules and regulations, some of the leading causes of truck accidents are improper maintenance, reckless driving, and driver fatigue. When a truck accident is caused by the negligence of a truck driver or trucking company, injury victims have a right to file a personal injury lawsuit to recover damages.
98% of casualties occur in passenger vehicles.
Trucks account for 4% of all registered vehicles…
...and 10% of all fatal crashes.
81% of fatal trucking accidents were multiple-vehicle crashes.
About 130,000 people suffer from truck accident-related injuries.
Fatalities have risen 52% in the last 10 years.
Tire defects account for 30% of truck related accidents.
This is the highest rated cause of accidents, next to other mechanical defects.
4%
of fatal truck accidents involve hazardous cargo.
In 2018,
7%
of truck drivers involved in fatal accidents were 25 years or younger.
32%
of truck drivers involved in a crash were either speeding, distracted, or impared
compared to 53% of passenger vehicles involved in a crash.
70%
of trucking accidents occur in ideal weather.
52%
of trucking accidents happen on major roads,
compared to interstates and freeways.
Thursday
is the most dangerous day of the week, Next to Monday and Wednesday.
Q:
In the event of an accident, who can be held responsible?
TRUCK ACCIDENTS IN
NEW JERSEY
A truck accident must be reported if there is…
$550+
in property damage or a person was injured/killed.
The statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit in NJ for a trucking accident depends on…
CLAIM YEARS
INJURY TO PERSON 2
PROPERTY DAMAGE 6
WRONGFUL DEATH 2
(FORM DATE OF DEATH)
Commercial trucks in NJ are required to display…
TRUCK OWNER’S NAME
PRIMARY BUSINESS MUNICIPALITY
GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT (GVWR)
Truck accident fatalities are up 50% in NJ over the past decade.
NJ states improper driver training is one of the top causes for trucking accidents.
Any vehicle that weights over 10,000 lbs classifies as a large truck, including 15-seat vans, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Agencies that regulate truck driving include…
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
works to prevent deaths and injuries from commercial motor vehicles
U.S. Department of Transportation
sets safety regulations
increased mandatory rest times to a minimum of 8 hours between hauls.
decreased the number of hours a truck driver can spend behind the wheel to 14.
Every state has a department of transportation with its own set of trucking regulations. They control everything from driver licensing to vehicle inspections.
