New Jersey Delivery Truck Accident Lawyers

If you were involved in an accident with a delivery truck and suffered any injuries, you might be entitled to financial compensation. Brach Eichler Injury Lawyers has decades of experience assisting clients throughout New Jersey with their cases. When you get hurt through no fault of your own, you should be allowed to hold the responsible party accountable for their reckless or negligent actions.

Delivery trucks, such as those used by FedEx, Amazon, and UPS, are necessary to our economy. They carry food, clothes, appliances, and other consumer goods to stores and peoples’ homes throughout the state. Many delivery drivers work long hours, causing fatigue that could affect their ability to drive safely. When they cause an accident, they could be held liable for the injured accident victim’s medical expenses and costs.

Your New Jersey personal injury attorneys at Brach Eichler Injury Lawyers are ready to meet with you for a free consultation to discuss your legal options and determine how we can help you. Call us at (973) 364-8300 to speak with one of our New Jersey delivery truck accident lawyers today.

Types of Delivery Trucks

Companies utilize different types of delivery trucks to carry specific products to homes and commercial properties. Their type depends on the goods they’re transporting and how far the driver has to travel. The most common delivery vehicles include:

Walk-in trucks – This is one of the more common delivery vehicles companies will use to deliver different items to various locations nationwide. Delivery companies, such as FedEx, use walk-in trucks to drop off and pick up goods from residential and commercial properties. They are tall enough for someone to enter the cargo compartment to retrieve or store boxes, products, and other materials.

Cargo vans – Smaller than a walk-in truck. They are more suited for delivering a small number of packages or if the delivery area isn’t easy for a walk-in truck to navigate. Many local businesses will use a cargo van if they offer delivery services to their customers.

Box trucks – Also called cube trucks. They are shorter than walk-in trucks and don’t allow the driver access from the front cab to the cargo area like a walk-in truck does. They are also available in different sizes. Many regional delivery services, such as U-Haul, will use this type of vehicle.

Freightliners – Commonly known as a semi-truck. They carry all kinds of cargo, from consumer goods to cars. There are made up of a front cab and rear trailer that transports products in mass quantities.

Mail trucks – Corporate mail delivery companies and federal postal workers use mail trucks to deliver mail to private residences and commercial properties.

Refrigerated trucks – Certain cargo that needs to remain cold during transport, such as raw meat, will go in a refrigerated truck.

Federal Regulations for the Trucking Industry

Trucking companies and truck drivers must comply with regulations set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. These regulations are meant to keep motorists safe. Any delivery truck driver who violates these rules could end up causing an accident and should be held liable for the victim’s losses.

Hours of service regulations prohibit delivery truck drivers from driving more than eleven hours during a single driving shift. They must also spend at least ten hours off duty before beginning their next shift.

After driving for eight consecutive hours, they should take a 30-minute break. They also can’t drive over 60 hours in seven days or over 70 hours in eight days.

Cell phones are prohibited while operating a delivery vehicle unless it is hands-free. That means the driver cannot pick up the phone to manually make a call, send a text, or read a text.

Inspections and maintenance on all vehicles should occur regularly to check for defective parts, damage to the truck, natural wear and tear, and any problems that could result in a crash. If they discover an issue, they must promptly address it.

Cargo should not exceed weight or size limits set by federal laws. Drivers should use the right securement systems and securely close the cargo compartment door, so it cannot open during transport.

Drugs and alcohol are not allowed before or during a driving shift. Companies should perform random drug and alcohol testing on their drivers, especially if they suspect someone is driving under the influence.

What You Do After a Delivery Truck Accident Could Affect Your Case

The most important steps you should take are during the weeks and months after your injury. On day one, you should seek medical treatment. If you or someone else called 911 to report the accident, an ambulance could transport you to the hospital.

An emergency room physician will evaluate your injuries to determine a diagnosis and recommend a treatment plan. You must follow up with the doctors they refer you to promptly. Insurance companies look at gaps in treatment as relevant evidence that the claimant didn’t get hurt and could end up denying your claim.

Show up for your appointments regularly until your doctors release you from their care or you fully recover. While you’re getting treatment for your injuries, we can focus on the legal aspects of your case. You mustn’t dispose of any evidence associated with the case. That includes your medical records and medical bills. They are useful in providing a timeline of your treatment and show that you sustained injuries in the accident and required medical care to heal.

You must also hire an experienced New Jersey delivery truck accident lawyer. You should seek legal representation so you don’t have to worry about navigating the confusing legal process. Brach Eichler Injury Lawyers knows the state deadlines and procedures to pursue client compensation. Most people don’t know their rights and how to communicate with insurance companies. We will ensure that the insurance company doesn’t mistreat you or take advantage of you in any way.

Common Causes of Delivery Truck Accidents in New Jersey

Poor weather conditions, defective roadways, and traffic congestion could all pose a risk to delivery truck drivers. They must adjust their driving to avoid an accident or find an alternate route to their destination. Any error they make could cause a collision between their vehicle and a small car. Human error is one of the most common reasons accidents occur, not just with commercial trucks but with all vehicles.

Truck drivers need to pay attention to where they’re going. If they crash, the force of a heavy and large delivery vehicle could crumple a passenger car, trapping the occupants inside. Distractions are everywhere, and the federal regulations for cell phone use are intended to prevent delivery drivers from becoming distracted behind the wheel.

Other common causes of delivery truck accidents include:

• Fatigued driving
• Reckless driving
• Failure to check blind spots
• Distracted driving
• Driver inexperience
• Loading cargo incorrectly
• Failure to follow traffic signs and signals
• Impairment from drugs or alcohol
• Speeding

Brach Eichler Injury Lawyers can investigate your case and determine if the delivery driver or employer should be held liable for the expenses you incurred due to your injury. We have the experience, resources, and knowledge to perform a thorough investigation and gather evidence that shows who was at fault.

Determining the Value of Your Case

Delivery truck accidents can lead to various expenses and losses. You likely need medical treatment to heal your injuries when you get hurt in a crash. This leads to medical bills, prescriptions, out-of-pocket expenses, and other losses. When you pursue compensation, you could seek the following:

• Past and future medical costs
• Emotional distress
• Loss of consortium or companionship
• Lost wages and lost earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life

Our New Jersey delivery truck accident lawyers have experience calculating the value of a client’s case based on multiple factors, including:

• The emotional effects of the crash
• The total cost of medical treatment
• Any permanent injury, disability, or impairment resulting from the accident
• The type of injury and its severity
• The duration of the recovery period
• The estimated cost of necessary treatment in the future
• The total hours and wages lost from an inability to work
• The impact of the injury on your daily routine, relationships, and happiness
• Any available evidence proving the delivery driver or company was at fault

When you hire us, we will do everything we can to maximize the value of your case. You deserve the maximum financial compensation for your past medical bills, future treatment, and other costs. You should not have to suffer the financial burden when someone else was negligent and caused your injuries.

Brach Eichler Injury Lawyers Will Help You Fight for Justice

We know delivery truck accidents can upend someone’s life. Handling a legal case can seem overwhelming if your injuries cause chronic pain and you struggle to pay your medical bills. Our New Jersey delivery truck accident lawyers are ready to take on your case, preventing additional stress. We will complete each step of the legal process and fight for the maximum compensation you deserve from the insurance company or at-fault party.

If you suffered injuries in a delivery truck accident in New Jersey, call Brach Eichler Injury Lawyers for a free consultation at (973) 364-8300.