New Jersey Truck Accident Lawyers
Truck Accident Statistics
Statistically, large truck accidents are relatively rare. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a federal agency that tracks accident statistics, reports that large trucks were involved in just 8.5% of fatal accidents in 2006 (along with 2.5% of injury crashes and 4.1% of damage-only crashes). By contrast, passenger cars were involved in 41.6% of fatal accidents and "light trucks" -- including SUVs, pickups and vans -- were involved in another 38.5% of fatalities. But the agency also reports that large trucks accounted for just 4% of all registered vehicles in the United States that year, and just 7% of all vehicle miles traveled. Crashes involving large trucks were responsible for one out of nine traffic deaths in 2006.
When large trucks do get into accidents, the result is many times fatal for the other motorists. The NHTSA reports that just 16% of fatalities in large-truck crashes in 2006 were the deaths of truck drivers. By contrast, 75% of fatalities in large-truck crashes were the deaths of the people in other vehicles, and another 8% were pedestrians, bicyclists and others not occupying a vehicle. In fact, the agency said large trucks are much more likely to be involved in multi-vehicle crashes than passenger vehicles, with 82% of all truck crashes and 60% of passenger-vehicle crashes being multi-vehicle accidents.
Within the category of large trucks, truck tractors (also known as tractor-trailers) were the body type that was by far the most likely to be involved in a fatal accident. Of the 4,732 fatal accidents reported by the NHTSA for 2006, 3,272 (69.1%) involved tractor-trailers. The body type that was the next most likely to be in an accident was the heaviest type of single-unit truck, those with a gross weight of over 26,000 pounds, at 945 fatalities. Rollovers took place in 4% of all large-truck accidents but 14.7% of fatal large-truck accidents, underscoring the danger to both truckers and the drivers around them from a truck rollover. Large trucks are also the type of vehicle that's statistically most likely to catch fire in an accident.
Just 1% of drivers of large trucks had a BAC of 0.08% after a fatal collision, as opposed to 23% for passenger cars and 24% for light trucks. However, truckers involved in fatal crashes were more likely to have a prior speeding conviction (24%) or previous recorded crash (16.7%) than drivers of passenger vehicles (19% and 13%). In 51% of fatal large-truck accidents, both vehicles were going straight. Twenty-eight percent of these were head-on crashes, while the other vehicle rear-ended the truck in 18% of accidents. Most fatal accidents took place on weekdays (79%), during the day (66%) and in rural areas (62%).
If you or someone you love was hurt in a truck accident in New Jersey, you should call Lependorf & Silverstein as soon as possible. Our firm specializes in helping seriously injured accident victims and their families hold the responsible parties legally liable for the injuries and damages they caused. In a trucking accident claim, you can receive the compensation you need for pain and suffering, to pay medical bills and funeral costs, repair or replace a vehicle, replace an income that was suddenly lost and cover other expenses caused by the accident. Our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don't pay legal fees unless and until you win your case. And Lependorf & Silverstein offers free consultations, so there's no risk in speaking to one of our experienced New Jersey trucking accident lawyers about your rights and the likely outcomes of your case.
For a free evaluation of your New Jersey truck accident case, contact Lependorf & Silverstein today.