New Jersey Truck Accident Lawyers
A crash with an 80,000-pound truck can change your life in an instant — and the trucking company's insurer is already building its defense. Onal Injury Law takes them on, identifies every responsible party, and fights for the full compensation these cases are worth. No fee unless we win.
A truck accident is not just a bigger car accident. A loaded tractor-trailer can weigh up to 80,000 pounds — about twenty times a passenger car — so injuries are catastrophic. These cases are governed by federal FMCSA regulations, usually involve several responsible companies (not only the driver), and carry much higher insurance (a $750,000 federal minimum, often $1 million or more). Critical evidence like the truck's black box and electronic logs can be legally erased within days if no one demands it be preserved — so contact a lawyer immediately. In New Jersey you generally have two years to file, and Onal Injury Law charges no fee unless we win. Free review: (201) 335-6788.
A truck case is a different fight.
The forces are overwhelming. When a commercial truck hits a passenger vehicle, the smaller vehicle absorbs nearly all of the crash energy. That's why truck accidents produce some of the most severe injuries on the road.
They're governed by federal law. Trucking is one of the most heavily regulated industries in the country. When a carrier breaks a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) rule, that violation becomes powerful evidence of negligence.
There's more money on the table — and more people defending it. Trucks carry far higher insurance limits than cars, and several companies can share responsibility. But the carrier's insurer sends a rapid-response team to the scene within hours to protect itself. You need someone doing the same for you.
Rarely just the driver.
Identifying every liable party is how truck cases reach every available insurance policy — the difference between a $750,000 minimum and a multi-million-dollar recovery.
- The truck driverFor negligence behind the wheel — fatigue, distraction, speeding, or impaired driving.
- The trucking company (motor carrier)Responsible for its drivers, and directly liable for negligent hiring, poor training, weak supervision, or pushing unrealistic delivery schedules.
- The cargo loader or shipperWhen freight is overloaded, unbalanced, or improperly secured and shifts or falls during transit.
- The freight brokerWhen it hires an unsafe or unqualified carrier to move the load.
- The truck or parts manufacturerUnder product-liability law, for brake failure, tire blowouts, or other defective components.
- The maintenance providerFor failing to inspect or repair the truck as federal rules require.
The evidence can disappear in days.
Truck cases turn on evidence that doesn't exist in an ordinary car crash. Trucking companies must keep much of it — but without a formal legal demand to preserve it, some records can be overwritten or destroyed within days or weeks. The moment we're retained, we send a preservation (spoliation) letter and launch our investigation to secure:
- The truck's black box (event data recorder) — speed, braking, and throttle in the seconds before impact
- Electronic logging device (ELD) and hours-of-service records
- The driver's qualification and training file
- Vehicle inspection and maintenance records
- Cargo loading, weight, and securement records
- Driver drug-and-alcohol testing results
- Dashcam and nearby surveillance footage
Why truck crashes happen.
- Driver fatigue & hours-of-service violationsFatigue is a factor in roughly 1 in 8 commercial-vehicle crashes.
- Distracted or impaired drivingPhone use, drugs, or alcohol behind the wheel of an 80,000-pound vehicle.
- Speeding & aggressive drivingA loaded truck needs far more distance to stop than a car.
- Overloaded or unsecured cargoImproperly loaded freight that shifts, falls, or causes a rollover.
- Poor maintenance & brake failureSkipped inspections and worn brakes — among the most common mechanical causes.
- Blind spots ("no-zones")Large areas around the truck where the driver simply can't see you.
- Inadequate training or unrealistic schedulesUndertrained drivers pushed to deliver faster than is safe.
When a carrier breaks the rules.
Hours of Service. Federal law limits a truck driver to 11 hours of driving within a 14-hour window after 10 hours off duty, with a required 30-minute break and weekly caps of 60 or 70 hours. Fatigue is a factor in roughly 1 in 8 commercial-vehicle crashes.
Electronic logging & driver qualification. Electronic logging devices record a driver's hours automatically, and FMCSA rules govern licensing, training, and mandatory drug-and-alcohol testing. Gaps in any of these can prove a carrier put an unsafe driver on the road.
Maintenance & cargo rules. Carriers must inspect and maintain their trucks and secure their cargo to federal standards. Skipped inspections, worn brakes, and shifting loads are frequent — and provable — causes of serious crashes.
What you can recover.
Catastrophic Injuries
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal-cord injury & paralysis
- Amputation & crush injuries
- Multiple fractures
- Internal organ damage
- Severe burns & scarring
- Wrongful death
Compensation You Can Recover
- Current & future medical care
- Lost wages & lost earning capacity
- Pain & suffering
- Long-term rehabilitation & home care
- Disability & disfigurement
- Wrongful-death damages for a lost loved one
What you should know.
You generally have two years to file. Under N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2, most New Jersey truck accident claims must be filed within two years of the crash. Claims involving a government vehicle can carry much shorter notice deadlines.
Being partly at fault doesn't end your case. New Jersey follows modified comparative negligence — you can recover as long as you weren't more than 50% at fault, with your award reduced by your share. Trucking defense teams routinely try to shift blame; we push back.
Higher insurance means more to fight for. Federal law requires interstate carriers to hold at least $750,000 in liability coverage, and many carry $1 million or more. Serious truck-accident claims regularly exceed the federal minimum, which is exactly why identifying every policy and every liable party matters.
Serving New Jersey & New York.
From our offices in Elmwood Park and Brooklyn, we represent truck accident victims throughout Bergen County and the greater New York metro area, including:
Verdicts and settlements shown were obtained by attorneys at Whittel & Melton and are presented with permission. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Truck accident questions, answered.
Why are truck accident settlements usually larger than car accident settlements?+
Two reasons. First, the injuries are more severe — a loaded tractor-trailer can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, roughly twenty times a passenger car, so the smaller vehicle absorbs most of the force. Second, commercial trucks carry far more insurance than personal cars (a federal minimum of $750,000, and often $1 million or more), and several companies can share responsibility, which means more coverage available to compensate you.
Who is responsible for a truck accident — just the driver?+
Rarely just the driver. Depending on the facts, the trucking company, the cargo loader or shipper, a freight broker, a maintenance contractor, and the truck or parts manufacturer can each bear independent responsibility. Identifying every liable party is how we reach every available insurance policy.
What evidence matters, and can the trucking company destroy it?+
Truck cases turn on evidence that doesn't exist in a normal car crash: the truck's black box (event data recorder), electronic hours-of-service logs, the driver's qualification file, maintenance records, cargo and weight records, and drug-and-alcohol test results. Trucking companies are required to keep much of it — but without a formal legal demand to preserve it, some of these records can be overwritten or destroyed within days or weeks. That's why we move immediately.
How soon should I contact a lawyer after a truck accident?+
As soon as possible. The trucking company's insurer often sends a rapid-response team to the scene within hours to build its defense. The sooner we're involved, the sooner we can send a preservation demand and secure the evidence before it disappears.
What if the truck driver was over their hours or falsified their logs?+
Federal Hours-of-Service rules limit how long a driver can be on the road, and electronic logging devices record it automatically. If a driver exceeded those limits or the logs were falsified, that violation is powerful evidence of negligence in your case.
What if a defective brake or tire caused the crash?+
Then the truck or parts manufacturer may be liable under product-liability law, in addition to the carrier. Brake failure and tire blowouts are among the most common mechanical causes of truck crashes, and they open an additional source of recovery.
What if I was partly at fault?+
New Jersey uses modified comparative negligence — you can still recover as long as you weren't more than 50% at fault, with your award reduced by your share. Trucking defense teams routinely try to over-blame the other driver, and we push back hard.
How long do I have to file a truck accident claim in New Jersey?+
Generally two years from the date of the crash under N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2. Claims involving a government vehicle can carry much shorter notice deadlines, so it's best to call right away.
Tell us what happened.
A few quick questions is all it takes. No cost, no obligation, and everything you share is kept strictly confidential.
We respond to every request within one business hour.