18-wheelers are some of the most dangerous vehicles on the road. Drivers need comprehensive training if they’re going to stay in control of an 18-wheeler, particularly as the weather starts to turn. More than that, they need an educated team of experts to help them pack and navigate their vehicles from one destination to another.
Unfortunately, there are several different forces that can cause an 18-wheel truck driver to lose control of their vehicle. If there are other cars, pedestrians, or motorcyclists around, that loss of control can result in severe injuries all the way around. As a victim of an 18-wheeler accident, you can work with a Passaic 18-wheeler accident attorney to address your losses in court.
18-Wheeler Truck Accidents Can Occur for Several Reasons
There’s no single force behind truck accidents today, not even negligence. While negligence can contribute to several personal injury cases involving an 18-wheeler, it cannot account for the misconduct of others on the road or even something like the weather.
You can, however, cite negligence as the force behind your accident should you be able to prove that a truck driver engaged in the following behaviors immediately prior to your accident:
- Texting while driving
- Eating at the wheel
- Talking on the phone or with a passenger
- Failing to abide by roadway laws
- Deliberately violating roadway laws
Finding proof of these behaviors, either courtesy of a truck’s black box, video footage of an accident, or another form of evidence, makes it easier for you and your fellow accident survivors to pursue settlements for your losses.
Who Else to Hold Responsible for 18-Wheeler Accidents
As mentioned, there are other parties who may be liable for your roadway accident. You can hold these parties accountable for the percentage of fault they contributed to your accident courtesy of New Jersey’s comparative negligence rulings.
Generally, accidents involving multiple parties see:
- Another driver compromise the safety of a truck
- A truck’s packers unsafely stack merchandise in the truck’s trailer
- Construction companies fail to redirect trucks in traffic
- Government parties fail to mark off unsafe roads
You can discuss to what degree you can hold multiple parties responsible for your 18-wheeler truck accident with an 18-wheeler accident lawyer in Passaic, NJ.
How to Hold Truck Drivers Accountable for Negligence
To hold a truck driver accountable for the negligence that resulted in your recent accident, you need to bring forward evidence indicating that:
- Another party owed you a duty of care at the time of the accident
- Negligence or other misconduct saw an applicable party violate that duty of care
- That negligence resulted in your accident and subsequent losses
- Your losses have had a quantifiable impact on your post-accident life
Collecting the evidence you need to prove these statements can be tricky. That, however, is what you have a Passaic, NJ, 18-wheeler accident lawyer for. Our team can go to the scene of your accident, gather evidence to make your points, and present the evidence in your initial complaint.
When to Hold Trucking Agencies Accountable for Roadway Losses
Even if the evidence indicates that a truck driver may be liable for your roadway losses, there may be other forces complicating your upcoming case. Specifically, truck drivers who can be categorized as employees under the umbrella of a shipping company, trucking agency, or similar conglomerate may be protected from civil lawsuits by their employers.
This legal responsibility, however, only exists between employees and employers. Independent contractors do not fall into this category and are thus not protected by clients when in an accident. You need to determine what role the truck driver involved in your accident plays, then, before you bring a complaint forward in civil court.
Passaic 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyer Near Me 877-751-9800
Taking a Case to Court Can Secure You a Truck Accident Settlement
18-wheeler truck accident claims can serve two purposes when brought forward. To start, they can help you hold the right person legally accountable for roadway negligence. These complaints can also secure you a settlement equal to or exceeding the value of your accident-related losses.
You specifically have the right to request the party responsible for your car accident with an 18-wheeler in Passaic, NJ, help you contend with the financial aftermath of that negligence. To establish the value of your case, you can find the sum of the bills your accident generated and modify them courtesy of state-approved multipliers.
Your post-accident bills are known as economic losses and represent the medical, physical, and job-related expenses you’ve endured as a result of someone else’s negligence. Your state-approved multipliers help you request financial compensation for accident-related distress, pain and suffering, and even loss of consortium and/or wrongful death.
File Your Claim Shortly After Your Truck Accident
Regardless of which party you want to hold liable for your truck accident losses, you have a limited amount of time in which you can act. Your submission deadline is dictated by NJ Rev Stat §2A:14-2. This statute of limitations notes that victims of a truck accident have only two years from the day their accident takes place to bring their losses to the attention of a civil court.
You can file your claim long before this deadline sets in, provided you have the information you need to establish your case. Trying to file a claim outside of this deadline may prove impossible, though. Most courts will waive an attempt to pursue compensation outside of the personal injury statute of limitations for want of keeping the cases currently in consideration relevant.
For help bringing together a truck accident claim within this statute of limitations, you can turn to an 18-wheeler accident attorney in Passaic, NJ, for guidance. Our team can stand with you and make the most of the tie you have to bring your case forward.
Our Attorneys Stand Up For You
Contending with the complexities of a truck accident case can prevent some victims from securing the compensation they deserve. Don’t let questions about liability, compensation, or even actionable opportunities in court prevent you from filing your claim, though. Instead, let 18-wheeler accident lawyers in Passaic, NJ, guide you through the process.
Morelli Law Firm specializes in tackling your complex questions about liability. You can meet with our attorneys during an initial case consultation to further elaborate on what right to compensation you may have. You can request your case evaluation by calling our office or reaching out to our team through our contact form.