Monmouth County New Jersey Motor Vehicle Accidents Law Blog

As more and more cities around the nation embark on efforts like Vision Zero which focus on eliminating pedestrian deaths, people in New Jersey may want to get a full understanding of how big of a risk they face when on foot. Anyone can find themselves in the position of being a pedestrian as even the simple act of walking from a parked car through a lot to get into a grocery store qualifies a person as a pedestrian.

According to data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 29% of New Jersey's vehicular fatalities in 2017 were pedestrians. A total of 624 people were killed in motor vehicle accidents statewide that year, 183 of whom were pedestrians. That year also saw the number of pedestrian deaths in New Jersey jump by 20 over the previous year. In fact, the 183 pedestrian fatalities in 2017 were the most recorded in the state in the five years spanning 2013 through 2017.

From poor road conditions due to bad weather to driver fatigue, there are a lot of reasons why large truck wrecks continue to occur. With the massive size of these vehicles, these accidents are especially likely to result in the loss of life or serious injuries that derail someone's life. Unfortunately, some truck drivers use stimulants (both legal and illegal) in an attempt to stay alert while they are behind the wheel. This can be very dangerous, however. Not only does stimulant usage sometimes lead to intoxication, but it can also create a false sense of alertness even though a trucker is very fatigued.

In the trucking industry, drug and alcohol abuse is not uncommon. Some truck drivers develop an addiction to an intoxicating substance, which can result in frequent intoxication while they are behind the wheel. Strong stimulants such as methamphetamine and cocaine can dramatically affect a truck driver's ability to stay safe on the roadway, causing them to reach excessive speeds or ignore other vehicles around them. Moreover, truck drivers may also drive recklessly when they are coming down from such substances.

Tractor trailers are an essential part of the American economy, as they deliver goods to all parts of the country. Trucking companies rely on reliable and qualified truck drivers to get loads to their destination and meet tight deadlines. While there are nearly 3.5 million truck drivers in the country, a surprising 160,000 truck driving jobs will go unfilled within the next 10 years. This shortage of qualified truck drivers may lead to an increase in large truck accidents. 

With less truckers to transport loads, trucking companies may be pressured to put unqualified truck drivers on the road in an attempt to get their goods delivered on time. Some trucking companies turn job opportunities away simply because they do not have enough drivers to deliver products. Furthermore, truck drivers may choose to stay behind the wheel for longer periods of time, despite federal regulations mandating breaks and rest periods, in order to make deadlines and earn larger paychecks. Truck accidents caused by drowsy and distracted truckers may results from skipped rest periods. 

For the last several decades, New Jersey residents have seen and heard many public awareness campaigns highlighting the dangers of drunk driving and encouraging people to make alternative decisions that are wise and safe. Unfortunately, there remains a core of people unwilling to put the safety of others and even of themselves ahead of their immediate wishes. As a result, too many innocent people continue to die in accidents caused by drunk drivers.

Records from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that New Jersey overall has a lower rate of vehicular fatalities attributed to alcohol than the national average. Still, 125 lives were lost statewide at the hands of drunk drivers in 2017 alone. That number represents 16% of all automotive deaths in New Jersey that year. In Monmouth County, however, the story is a bit different. Drunk driving was responsible for almost 21% of all vehicular fatalities in the county, claiming nine out of 43 lives lost.