Accidents involving large trucks can be much more deadly than typical collisions between two cars. Commercial truck crashes also raise legal issues that are different from the usual issues in motor vehicle accident cases.
Recently in New Jersey, three members of a family were killed and a fourth seriously injured when a large truck collided with their vehicle. Police said a gas tanker truck collided with the family’s car at an intersection in Gloucester County, sending both vehicles off the road. A man and woman in their mid-40s and their adult daughter were apparently killed instantly. Their 11-year-old son was taken to an area hospital with injuries described as serious. The truck driver was treated for head and neck injuries.
As of this writing, police had not released a report on the accident or said who they think was at fault.
Because semitrailers and other large trucks are so much heavier than passenger cars, almost any collision can easily lead to catastrophic injury or death for the occupants of the smaller vehicle. As with any motor vehicle accident, if a truck accident was caused by a negligent truck driver, the injured may file a personal injury suit to recover compensation for their damages. In cases of fatal injury, family members may file a wrongful death claim.
Commercial truck accidents can lead to more complicated litigation for several reasons. For one thing, because the injuries are likely to be severe, the amount of damages is likely to be high. For another, in many cases the driver’s employer may be held liable, as well as the driver. Depending upon the facts of the case, other parties may be held liable as well. In some cases, state and federal trucking regulations may come into play as well.
The medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and other damages that follow a motor vehicle accident can be devastating. People who have been injured, or who have lost a family member in a tragic accident, can talk to a personal injury attorney about their case to learn more about their legal options.
https://6abc.com/couple-adult-daughter-killed-in-nj-crash;-son-hospitalized/5383345/
