Hackensack Truck Accident Lawyer

Truck accidents are often catastrophic, leaving victims with severe injuries and life-altering consequences. If you were involved in a truck accident, you may be struggling to put your life back together. Whether you are focusing on healing, dealing with lost wages, or adjusting to an entirely new way of life for yourself and your family, fighting with insurance companies to get the compensation you deserve may not be your top priority.

At Garces, Grabler & LeBrocq, our personal injury attorneys understand the challenges that truck accident victims and their families face. We understand that it can take months—even years—to be in a position where you feel ready to fight for your rights, but the statute of limitations and the reality of financial pressures means someone needs to fight for you before that time. Our experienced Hackensack truck accident lawyers are committed to fighting for the justice and compensation you deserve.

How Truck Wrecks Occur

Truck drivers are the backbone of our economy, working tirelessly to deliver the goods we depend on for our quality of life. They face some of the harshest and most grueling job conditions out there, along with deadlines that can be realistic. As a result, some truckers may make poor decisions that significantly increase their risk of being in an accident. Common causes of truck accidents include:

• Driver fatigue
• Distracted driving
• Speeding
• Reckless driving
• Improperly loaded or overloaded cargo
• Mechanical failures
• Defective parts
• Inadequate training or supervision

Our Hackensack attorney works with our internal team and sometimes outside experts to identify the underlying causes of the truck collision. Doing so allows us to identify all of the responsible parties so that we can hold them accountable. Potentially liable parties include:

• Truck drivers
• Trucking companies
• Cargo loaders
• Maintenance providers
• Manufacturers of defective parts
• Other drivers

In some scenarios, there may be extended third-party liability. For example, if improper signage or a maintenance issue contributed to the wreck, the municipal or state government agency responsible for the upkeep of that area could have potential liability.

How Much is My Truck Accident Claim Worth?

The value of a personal injury claim, resulting from truck operator negligence, depends on the specific facts of your case. The court considers factors such as the full extent of your injuries, the evidence presented, and the negligent actions that led to the collision. Commercial truck crashes can often result in higher settlement amounts than those involving regular passenger cars, due to the significant size difference between trucks and other vehicles.

Economic Damages

Economic damages are the straightforward expenses you pay as a result of the collision, and those include the following:

• Healthcare costs and ongoing expenses, including past, current, and future bills for hospital stays, surgeries, therapy, diagnostic testing, and medication
• Lost wages, benefits, and earning capacity for the time you miss from work, or the long-term reduction in your ability to earn regular paychecks
• Property damages, such as repairs or vehicle replacement
• Any out-of-pocket expenses for transportation for medical care, home, or vehicle modifications

The court also typically awards non-monetary damages for injuries.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are the intangible losses that are more challenging to quantify, such as pain and suffering, loss of the enjoyment of life, and psychological damage. The total settlement amount can vary significantly depending on the case specifics and the strength of your claim for damages. A Hackensack truck wreck attorney could investigate and gather the essential evidence needed to obtain the maximum potential payout amount.

Who Can Be Held Liable For A Truck Accident?

Truck crashes often involve complex cases with multiple parties potentially at fault for the resulting monetary losses, depending on the specific circumstances of the case. State negligence laws allow you to hold anyone whose careless actions contributed to the collision and damages you suffered. Some examples include:

Truck Operator

If the truck operator’s error or recklessness caused the collision, you can list them in the suit as a defendant. That includes reckless driving, such as speeding, taking turns too quickly, or following too closely. It can also include failing to adhere to the hours behind the wheel laws and driving without adequate rest.

Trucking Company

The trucking company could be vicariously liable for the damages if it failed to monitor the trucker to ensure compliance with the rules and regulations. They could also be at fault if they failed to ensure the operator received adequate training.

Maintenance or Repair Companies

Third-party maintenance and repair companies could share liability if they made negligent repairs. Failing to inspect critical parts properly can lead to brake failures or tire blowouts with catastrophic consequences.

Cargo Loaders and Shippers

Cargo loaders and shippers may also share liability for the cause of action if their mistakes contributed to the crash. That includes failing to secure the cargo or improper loading, which can cause the weight to shift inside the trailer, leading to rollovers and other severe accidents.

What Is the Statute of Limitations for Truck Accident Claims?

State legislation, known as the statute of limitations, sets a deadline for commencing legal action in civil court to obtain a settlement resulting from someone else’s negligence. Under New Jersey Statutes § 2A:14-2, you have two years from the date of the collision to file the case in civil court. It applies to all claims against trucking companies, including those against the operator, their employer, cargo loaders, and others, to seek damages for medical care and other losses.

The plaintiff and defendant often settle cases through the insurer via negotiations. Our experienced truck crash lawyer in Hackensack could handle the communication on your behalf, and if they cannot reach an acceptable settlement, help you through the civil court process. Our team always prepares a case for trial and will fight for the full value of your claim.

Why Garces, Grabler & LeBrocq Should Be Your Law Firm After a Truck Crash

We bring a unique combination of compassion, dedication, and aggressive legal representation to every case. We are known for four characteristics that set us apart from many other law firms—a trial-ready approach, a dedication to maximizing case value, tenacious litigation, and treating our clients like family. Combined, these make us effective advocates against the other party in court but also great advocates for you.

Many personal injury law firms are settlement mills. They take cases preparing to settle, and—while they will advocate for fair settlement amounts—they may counsel their clients to accept settlements instead of litigating. While there are costs and risks involved in going to trial, being scared to go to trial can put you at a disadvantage in settlement negotiations. Since trucking companies and their insurers know that we are ready to fight in court, they often offer higher initial settlements and agree to higher final settlement amounts.

Properly valuing your case is essential. You need that compensation to pay for ongoing medical care, lost wages, and injuries. While no amount of money can make up for some catastrophic injuries, a settlement can go a long way toward helping you make adjustments to new physical challenges or limitations. That is why our truck crash lawyers in Hackensack are relentless in pursuing the maximum compensation due to you.

Big-money insurers and their lawyers often wait out victims, hoping that they can wear them down by wasting time or using wasteful legal maneuvers. We meet those tactics with our aggressive advocacy.

Meet With a Hackensack Truck Accident Attorney

While the theories of negligence may be similar in most truck wrecks, every case depends on its facts and circumstances. Starting the legal process begins with a free consultation. After discussing the case details, a Hackensack truck accident lawyer will answer your questions and talk to you about various remedies and rights you may have. Contact the team at Garces, Grabler & LeBrocq to learn more.