New Jersey Truck Accident: Police Targeting Commercial Vehicles

Accidents involving semi trailers seem to be occurring more frequently now than in past years. This is due, in part, to an increasing number of big rigs traveling not only on roads in New Jersey, but in all areas of the country. As the results of a truck accident can be quite severe, it is reasonable for authorities to do everything possible to help prevent such an incident.

According to a recent report, law enforcement officials in New Jersey are working hard to help prevent truck accidents by targeting and ticketing truckers. So far in 2015, officers have handed out over 8,000 citations to the drivers of commercial vehicles. When compared to the statistics from 2014, this is said to be an increase of approximately 38 percent.

So, why has this been made a priority? Statistics reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that thousands of individuals suffer fatal injuries every year in collisions with commercial vehicles. In 2013 alone, approximately 4,000 fatal accidents of this nature occurred, 60 of which took place in New Jersey.

What are police looking for in order to justify a traffic stop? There are several reasons as to why authorities might stop a semi. These often include signs of impairment, drowsy driving, speeding, weight and tie down infractions and roadside parking violations.

Even though law enforcement officials are working diligently to help prevent such incidents, they cannot be in all places at all times. A truck accident may still happen, and if or when it does the victim or — in the event of fatality — his or her surviving family members will likely face significant challenges. In order to seek some relief, legal claims may be filed in a New Jersey civil court against the driver and his or her employer. If successfully litigated, taking such action may result in the awarding of compensation in a sum that is deemed fair for the circumstances.

Source: northjersey.com, “Road Warrior: Big N.J. police crackdown on big rigs”, John Cichowski, Aug. 27, 2015