Reviewed by: Mekhail Sarofiem, Esq. & Kerollos Antoun, Esq. Last Updated: May, 2026
⚖️ Available 24/7 – No Fee Unless We Win – Free Confidential Consultation Se Habla Español | نتحدث العربية Call (201) 792-3333 | 895 Bergen Ave #306, Jersey City, NJ 07306
Truck accident litigation is unlike any other personal injury matter. These cases involve multiple liable parties, complex federal regulations, electronic logging device (ELD) data, black-box analytics, and commercial insurance carriers with rapid-response defense teams that mobilize within hours of a crash. Our firm is built to fight back.
What sets our Jersey City truck accident attorneys apart:
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Jersey City sits at the crossroads of some of the busiest commercial truck corridors in the United States. Goods moving through Port Newark–Elizabeth Marine Terminal, the second-busiest container port on the East Coast, funnel directly through Jersey City on their way to New York, New England, and the Mid-Atlantic. According to the New Jersey Department of Transportation Crash Data Summary, Hudson County consistently ranks among the most dangerous counties in the state for motor vehicle fatalities.
The combination of dense urban traffic, narrow legacy roadways, and high commercial truck volume creates a uniquely hazardous environment for passenger vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists. Our firm also handles Jersey City pedestrian accident claims involving commercial vehicles.
Our firm regularly handles serious truck accident claims arising from crashes along these high-risk corridors:
For accidents in other Hudson County and New Jersey communities, view our full list of areas we serve.
Commercial trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds — roughly 20 to 30 times the weight of a passenger car. When a fully loaded tractor-trailer collides with a sedan, the physics are unforgiving. Our investigations consistently uncover the following causes of Jersey City truck crashes:
The FMCSA limits commercial drivers to 11 hours of driving within a 14-hour workday, with required rest periods. Pressure to meet delivery deadlines drives many truckers to falsify logs or ignore federal rest rules. Fatigue dramatically slows reaction time and is a leading cause of catastrophic crashes.
Mobile phone use, in-cab GPS, dispatch radios, and onboard computer systems pull driver attention from the road. Even a two-second glance at a screen at highway speed means a truck travels the length of a football field essentially blind. Distracted driving is also a leading cause of Jersey City car accidents.
A fully loaded tractor-trailer requires roughly 40% more stopping distance than a passenger vehicle. Speeding multiplies that gap and frequently turns minor traffic slowdowns into multi-vehicle pileups.
When cargo shifts during transport, the truck’s center of gravity moves — causing rollovers, jackknifes, or loose freight striking other vehicles. Cargo loaders and shipping companies share liability when this occurs.
Brake failures, tire blowouts, worn steering components, and faulty lights are all preventable through routine FMCSA-mandated inspections. When a trucking company cuts corners on maintenance, they share legal responsibility for the resulting crash.
Large trucks have substantial “No-Zones” on all four sides. Lane changes and right turns into a vehicle the driver cannot see cause a significant portion of urban truck crashes. Motorcyclists are especially vulnerable to blind-spot truck collisions.
The FMCSA requires random drug and alcohol testing for commercial drivers. When a positive test or post-crash screen confirms impairment, both the driver and (in many cases) the trucking company face significant liability.
Trucking companies that hire inexperienced drivers, skip safety training, or fail to vet driving records can be held liable under negligent hiring and negligent retention theories.
Not every “truck accident” involves a tractor-trailer. Our Jersey City truck accident lawyers handle claims involving every class of commercial vehicle, including:
The type of truck involved often determines which federal regulations apply, which insurance policies are in play, and which parties may share liability.
One of the most important differences between a car accident and a truck accident is the number of potentially liable parties. A thorough investigation may reveal that several entities share legal responsibility for your injuries.
| Liable Party | When They May Be Responsible |
|---|---|
| The Truck Driver | Speeding, fatigue, distraction, impairment, traffic violations |
| The Trucking Company | Negligent hiring, unsafe scheduling, falsified logs, poor maintenance |
| Cargo Loading Company | Unsecured, overweight, or improperly distributed cargo |
| Truck or Parts Manufacturer | Defective brakes, tires, steering, or other components |
| Maintenance Contractor | Failure to inspect, repair, or service the vehicle properly |
| Leasing Company | Negligent entrustment of the vehicle to an unfit operator |
| Government Entity | Hazardous road conditions, missing signage, defective traffic signals |
Trucking companies often carry insurance policies with limits of $750,000 to $5 million or more for hazardous materials carriers. Identifying every liable party is critical to recovering the full compensation you deserve.
Commercial trucks operating in or through New Jersey must comply with both Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations and New Jersey state law. Key rules include:
Violations of these regulations are powerful evidence of negligence. Our attorneys subpoena ELD data, driver qualification files, and inspection records to identify violations and establish liability.
Truck accident cases rise or fall on the quality of evidence. Critical evidence is often destroyed within days or weeks if no preservation demand is issued. Our investigative process includes:
Our firm partners with certified accident reconstruction experts, biomechanical engineers, and trucking industry consultants to build evidence-backed claims that withstand defense scrutiny.
Because of the mass and momentum involved, truck accident injuries are frequently catastrophic and life-altering. Victims we represent often suffer:
Each of these injury categories carries different long-term medical, financial, and emotional consequences — and each must be properly valued in your settlement demand.
Truck accident victims in New Jersey may pursue three categories of damages:
Awarded in cases involving extreme negligence or reckless conduct — for example, a trucking company that knowingly forced drivers to violate Hours-of-Service rules, or a driver under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
The steps you take in the hours and days after a truck crash can make or break your claim. If you are able:
1. Call 911 and accept medical evaluation at the scene. Many serious injuries — including internal bleeding and TBI — are not immediately apparent.
2. Request a police report. The responding officer’s crash report is essential documentation for your claim.
3. Document the scene if it is safe to do so. Photograph the vehicles, road conditions, license plates, DOT numbers on the truck, cargo, skid marks, and your injuries. Collect names and contact information for all witnesses.
4. Do not speak with the trucking company’s insurance adjuster. Trucking insurers deploy rapid-response teams designed to minimize their liability. Anything you say can and will be used against you. Direct all communication through your attorney.
5. Do not give a recorded statement — even to your own insurance company. Report the accident, but do not provide a recorded statement without speaking with a lawyer first.
6. Seek follow-up medical care and keep all records. Gaps in treatment are used by insurers to argue your injuries are not serious.
7. Call a Jersey City truck accident lawyer immediately. Evidence disappears quickly. Trucking companies are required to preserve ELD data and logs for only a limited period. Acting within days — not weeks — matters.
Call Sarofiem & Antoun at (201) 792-3333 — available 24/7.
Under N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2, truck accident victims generally have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit in New Jersey. However, important exceptions apply:
Because critical evidence (ELD data, maintenance records, dashcam footage) is routinely destroyed within months, waiting is never the right strategy. Contact our Jersey City truck accident lawyers as soon as possible to protect your rights.
Sarofiem & Antoun represents victims of all types of serious accidents throughout Jersey City and New Jersey:
If you or someone you love has been injured in a commercial truck crash anywhere in Jersey City, Hudson County, or throughout New Jersey, the time to act is now. Evidence disappears. Insurance companies move fast. Deadlines pass quietly.
At Sarofiem & Antoun Injury Attorneys, we are ready to fight for you the moment you call. Our Jersey City truck accident lawyers will investigate the crash, identify every liable party, preserve critical evidence, negotiate aggressively with insurers, and take your case to trial when necessary.
Call (201) 792-3333 now — available 24/7 895 Bergen Ave #306, Jersey City, NJ 07306 Request a Free Online Case Evaluation →
No fees unless we win. Free consultation. Se habla español. نتحدث العربية.
Case value depends on the severity of your injuries, total medical expenses, lost income, long-term disability, the insurance coverage available, and the strength of liability evidence. Truck accident settlements frequently exceed typical car accident recoveries because commercial policies carry higher limits. Our firm offers a free case evaluation to assess your specific situation.
Yes. Truck accident claims involve federal trucking regulations, multiple liable parties, commercial insurance carriers, and rapid-response defense teams. Attempting to negotiate without an attorney almost always results in a far lower recovery than the case is worth.
Straightforward cases may settle within 6 to 12 months. Complex cases involving catastrophic injuries, disputed liability, or multiple defendants may take 18 months to 3 years, especially if litigation is required.
Under New Jersey’s modified comparative negligence rule, you can still recover compensation as long as you are not more than 50% at fault. Your award is reduced by your percentage of responsibility.
This is common — most large trucking companies are interstate carriers. Our firm regularly handles cases involving out-of-state defendants, including those subject to federal jurisdiction.
Possibly. Even when a driver is classified as an “independent contractor,” the trucking company may still be liable under federal law, especially if the driver was operating under the company’s DOT authority or driving a company-leased vehicle.
Nothing upfront. We work on a contingency-fee basis. You pay no attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for you.
We are fully prepared to file a lawsuit and take your case to trial. Insurance carriers often increase settlement offers significantly once a trial-ready firm is involved.
Yes. Every initial consultation is free, confidential, and obligation-free.
Mekhail Sarofiem, Esq. — Founding partner of Sarofiem & Antoun Injury Attorneys, Mekhail Sarofiem is a New Jersey-licensed personal injury attorney dedicated to representing victims of serious motor vehicle and commercial truck accidents throughout Hudson County and the State of New Jersey.
Kerollos Antoun, Esq. — Founding partner of Sarofiem & Antoun Injury Attorneys, Kerollos Antoun focuses his practice on complex personal injury litigation, including commercial truck and tractor-trailer accident claims.
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