When a tractor-trailer and a smaller vehicle collide, regardless of who is at fault, the occupants of the passenger vehicle usually bear the brunt of the crash. However, when the accident involves more than one commercial vehicle, the odds may not be in the truckers’ favor. The vehicles often weigh as much as 80,000 pounds when they are carrying a full load of cargo.
In a recent traffic event reported by New Jersey 101.5, four large trucks crashed on the New Jersey Turnpike. Law enforcement responding to the incident noted that the accident scattered cargo from one of the trucks across the road. The trucking lanes remained closed for hours and caused traffic to back up for several miles.
Two of the tractor-trailers jackknifed, one rolled over and one ended up in the ditch. One of the truck cabs sustained heavy damage. A traffic worker was one of the first people on the scene and attempted to help the driver to escape the wreckage. At the time of the report, investigators did not know the extent of the drivers’ injuries. The cause of the crash was still under investigation.
Jackknifing and overturning are two outcomes common when trucks have brake issues or when drivers try to stop their vehicles suddenly while traveling at highway speeds. Drivers with fatigue or who do not have enough experience may make mistakes that lead to these types of accidents, as well. Negligent parties who contribute to a large truck crash may include the trucking company, the maintenance company and those who loaded the trailer, as well as the driver. Many people speak to an attorney about seeking compensation after a truck accident.