New Jersey Attorneys Seeking Justice For Families After A Fatal Truck Accident
The untimely death of a loved one is a wound that neither time nor money can heal. However, compensation is nonetheless necessary and appropriate for the surviving family members of those killed by the negligence of a truck driver or trucking company.
At Burke Law Firm, LLP, our attorneys are tireless advocates for Northern New Jersey families whose lives have been upended by a fatal truck accident or other preventable tragedy. Our firm has earned a reputation for providing personalized attention and a strong track record of success on behalf of clients.
Identifying The Most Common Fatal Truck Accident Scenarios
The size and weight difference between trucks and smaller passenger vehicles means that nearly any type of crash can be fatal. Still, some scenarios are especially deadly, including:
- Rear-end collisions: Large trucks require a longer distance to stop. If a truck driver is not paying attention or following too closely, they may rear-end a smaller vehicle, often with devastating consequences.
- Jackknife accidents: When a truck’s trailer skids and forms a 90-degree angle with the cab, it can sweep across multiple lanes, striking vehicles in its path.
- Rollovers: Trucks are more prone to tipping over due to their high center of gravity. A rollover can crush or trap smaller vehicles nearby.
- Underride accidents: In these tragic incidents, a smaller vehicle slides underneath the trailer of a truck, often resulting in severe injuries or fatalities for the occupants of the smaller vehicle.
- Head-on collisions: If a truck crosses the center line or median, it can cause a deadly head-on collision.
- T-bone collisions: At intersections, when truck drivers run a red light or fail to yield, they can strike the side of a smaller vehicle, with the force centered on the driver or a passenger.
Common causes of 18-wheeler accidents include speeding and aggressive driving, failing to check blind spots, driving while fatigued or drowsy, securing or balancing loads improperly, and lacking experience or training.
Responsive Representation From Legal Professionals Who Are Ready To Fight
As we discuss on our truck accidents and injuries page, trucking companies and their insurers are very quick to respond to the scene of a trucking accident. They aren’t there to help, however. Instead, they want to control the scene, start shaping a self-serving narrative about the accident and reduce their own liability. As you can imagine, they respond even more aggressively to news of a fatal truck accident.
If you plan to file a wrongful death claim, you need to know who you are up against and seek help from attorneys who are ready to fight for justice and compensation. John Burke and Jennifer Burke have extensive experience taking on powerful and well-funded defendants, both in the courtroom and at the negotiation table. They are not fooled or intimidated by tactics insurers use to minimize or deny claims, and they will work tirelessly to ensure that your family has the resources needed to cope with this devastating loss.
Available Damages In Fatal Truck Accident Claims
The compensation available in any wrongful death claim depends on the details of the accident and the role that the victim played in their family. After losing a loved one in a deadly truck accident, our attorneys may be able to help you seek damages for:
- Medical bills incurred prior to the victim’s death
- Funds to cover funeral and burial expenses
- Loss of lifetime earnings and financial support (if the victim was a family wage earner)
- Loss of guidance and care
- Loss of family and household services previously provided by the deceased
In very rare cases, punitive damages may be awarded. However, these are only deemed appropriate in cases involving extreme negligence and an at-fault party that acted with disregard for the safety of others.
The Benefits Of Working With Burke Law Firm, LLP
If someone you love was killed in a truck accident caused by a negligent driver on New Jersey roads, you deserve to work with experienced tractor-trailer accident lawyers who will honor what you’ve been through and help your family seek justice. You can find those lawyers at Burke Law Firm, LLP.
Here are just some of the many benefits our firm offers:
- Trial attorneys with more than 50 years of combined legal experience
- A strong track record of success, recovering hundreds of thousands in settlements and jury awards
- Free initial consultations, with your choice of in person or online
- Contingency fee representation – You pay no fees until we help you recover money
- Personalized attention and supportive representation
- Local attorneys who know Northern New Jersey because they were born and raised here
When you call, you’ll talk to a lawyer right away, not an assistant. And you can be sure that your case will never be handed off to a junior associate or paralegal. Our experienced semi-truck accident attorneys personally work with each case and client that comes through our doors.
Tell Your Story To Truck Accident Attorneys Who Listen And Care
Based in Jersey City with additional offices in Bayonne and Montclair, we serve clients throughout Northern New Jersey. To schedule your free initial consultation, simply reach out online or call 201-293-8289.