Perth Amboy Truck Accident Attorney

Collisions with commercial trucks can change a life in seconds. A fully loaded tractor-trailer, semi-truck, or 18-wheeler can weigh many times more than a passenger car, so these crashes often lead to severe injuries, major medical bills, and time away from work.

If you were hurt in a truck wreck in or around Perth Amboy, you may be facing calls from insurance adjusters, pressure to return to work, and uncertainty about how you will support your family. You do not have to sort through that on your own. Palmisano & Goodman, P.A. has represented injured people and families across New Jersey since 1974, including many cases involving serious crashes and wrongful death.

Our firm has secured hundreds of millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements, and our attorneys personally guide clients through each stage of the process. We offer free consultations and work on a contingency fee basis, so you do not pay fees unless we recover compensation.

Contact our team today at (732) 709-4400 to schedule a free case evaluation.

Common Types of Semi-Truck Accidents

Commercial truck accidents occur in many different ways. Some of the most common types of semi-truck accidents include:

Jackknife Accidents

A jackknife accident occurs when the trailer swings outward and forms an angle with the cab, resembling a folding pocketknife. These crashes can block multiple lanes of traffic and involve numerous vehicles.

Rear-End Collisions

Due to their size and weight, commercial trucks require significantly longer stopping distances. When truck drivers fail to stop in time, they may crash into vehicles ahead of them.

Underride Accidents

Underride accidents happen when a smaller vehicle slides beneath a truck trailer. These crashes are often catastrophic and can result in severe or fatal injuries.

Rollover Accidents

Improper loading, excessive speed, and sharp turns can cause a truck to roll over and crush nearby vehicles.

Blind Spot Accidents

Large trucks have substantial blind spots on all sides. Drivers who fail to properly check these areas before changing lanes can cause serious collisions.

Wide-Turn Accidents

Semi-trucks often require additional space to complete turns. Drivers who fail to account for surrounding vehicles may strike cars in adjacent lanes.

Common Causes of Big Rig Accidents

Most truck accidents are preventable and result from negligence. Common causes include:

Driver Fatigue

Truck drivers often spend long hours on the road. Fatigue can impair reaction times, judgment, and overall driving performance.

Distracted Driving

Texting, GPS use, eating, or other distractions can divert a driver's attention from the road.

Speeding

Drivers may exceed speed limits to meet strict delivery schedules, increasing the likelihood of accidents.

Improper Cargo Loading

Overloaded or improperly secured cargo can shift during transport, causing instability and rollovers.

Mechanical Failures

Brake failures, tire blowouts, steering issues, and other mechanical defects can lead to serious crashes.

Driving Under the Influence

Alcohol, illegal drugs, and certain prescription medications may impair a truck driver's ability to operate a vehicle safely.

Inadequate Training

Trucking companies that fail to properly train drivers may contribute to preventable accidents.

Common 18-Wheeler Accident Injuries

Because of the force involved in truck collisions, victims often suffer severe injuries requiring extensive medical treatment.

Common truck accident injuries include:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Concussions
• Spinal cord injuries
• Paralysis
• Neck and back injuries
• Herniated discs
• Broken bones
• Internal bleeding
• Organ damage
• Severe burns
• Amputations
• Crush injuries
• Wrongful death

Many victims face months or years of recovery, rehabilitation, and ongoing medical expenses following a serious trucking accident.

Where Do Truck Accidents Often Occur in Perth Amboy?

Truck accidents can occur throughout Perth Amboy and the surrounding Middlesex County area. High-risk locations often include:

• Interstate 95 (New Jersey Turnpike)
• Interstate 287
• Route 440
• Route 35
• State Street
• Amboy Avenue
• Convery Boulevard
• Industrial and shipping corridors near the waterfront
• Busy intersections and commercial zones

These areas experience substantial commercial traffic, increasing the likelihood of collisions involving large trucks and passenger vehicles.

Federal Trucking Laws

Commercial shipping operations are heavily regulated to ensure public safety. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets forth stringent guidelines that all interstate transportation operators and drivers must follow.

Key regulations include Hours of Service (HOS) rules, which mandate that drivers can be behind the wheel for a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty. Additionally, commercial drivers are held to a much stricter blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit of 0.04%, which is half the limit allowed for standard drivers. Fleet operators are also legally required to maintain extensive logs, driver qualification files, and vehicle inspection reports.

When a crash occurs, Palmisano & Goodman, P.A. immediately moves to preserve these federal compliance records before they can be legally destroyed or altered by the defense team.

Truck Accident FAQs

How long do I have to file a lawsuit in New Jersey?

In New Jersey, the standard statute of limitations for personal injury claims is two years from the date the collision occurred. Failing to file your claim within this timeline generally means losing your legal right to pursue compensation.

Who can be held liable for a commercial vehicle collision?

Unlike a standard car collision, multiple parties can share liability in a commercial vehicle case. Depending on the details, target defendants can include the truck driver, the trucking company, the cargo loading facility, or the equipment manufacturer.

What damages can I recover in a legal claim?

You may be eligible to recover compensation for your medical expenses, future rehabilitation costs, lost income, reduced earning capacity, property damage, and your physical and emotional pain and suffering.

What should I do after a truck accident?

After a truck accident, seek medical attention immediately, report the crash to law enforcement, document the scene if possible, gather contact information from witnesses, and contact an attorney before speaking extensively with insurance companies.

Can I still recover compensation if I was partially at fault?

Possibly. New Jersey follows comparative negligence rules, meaning injured parties may still recover damages in certain situations even if they share some responsibility for the accident.

How much is my truck accident case worth?

The value of a claim depends on many factors, including injury severity, medical expenses, lost income, future treatment needs, and the impact on your daily life.

Why do truck accident cases often result in larger settlements?

Truck accidents frequently cause catastrophic injuries and may involve multiple liable parties with substantial insurance coverage, which can increase the value of a claim.

Do I need a lawyer for a truck accident case?

While not legally required, truck accident claims are often highly complex. An experienced Perth Amboy truck accident lawyer can help protect your rights, investigate the accident, and pursue maximum compensation.

Why Injured Truck Victims Choose Us

Since 1974, our firm has focused on serious injury and wrongful death matters, including cases arising from commercial vehicle and truck wrecks. We have obtained hundreds of millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements, with more than 40 recoveries between $1 million and $10 million in catastrophic injury and fatal accident cases. These results show that we have handled many high-stakes claims involving significant medical needs, lost income, and long-term care.

Two of our attorneys, Robert G. Goodman and Gregory G. Goodman, are certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as Civil Trial Attorneys. This Civil Trial Specialist credential is held by only a small percentage of New Jersey lawyers and reflects substantial trial experience in civil cases. For truck and semi-truck claims that may end up in front of a jury, that kind of background can be important.

We are also known for combining small firm attention with large firm level results. When you contact us about a truck crash in this part of New Jersey, you can expect to work directly with our attorneys, not be treated as a file number. We take the time to learn what happened, understand how the injuries affect your life, and explain your options clearly.

To discuss your situation with an attorney, call (732) 709-4400 today.