Truck Accident Lawyer Todd J. Leonard Says Trucking Industry Should be Doing More to Prevent Deadly Accidents on the New Jersey Turnpike
Sep 6, 2023
Morris County, New Jersey – However, horrific truck accidents can and do happen regularly in New Jersey and truck accident injury lawyer, Todd J. Leonard is concerned about the recent increase. In one particular crash earlier this year, a tanker trailer was heading northbound on the ramp from Interchange 2, and it merged into the right lane on the New Jersey Turnpike. According to a police account of what happened, a van in the right lane rear-ended a truck, ran off the road, overturned, and landed in a ravine. The two individuals in the van were pronounced dead at the scene.
“Accidents like this are investigated by the police to determine what happened to cause it in the first place. This process often takes some time,” explained attorney Todd J. Leonard, of the Todd J. Leonard Law Firm.
In instances where a truck accident has occurred and undergone investigation, the results are noted, and the trucking industry works to make safety improvements.
In the highly publicized 2014 tractor-trailer crash on the New Jersey Turnpike, in which the truck driver crashed into a limousine bus, comedian James McNair was killed, and actor/comedian Tracy Morgan was gravely injured. It was later determined, per the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report, the accident was caused by driver fatigue, as the truck driver had not slept in 28 hours. Morgan was in a coma for two weeks, and also sustained a broken nose, leg, and several broken ribs.
Since the cause of the crash was due to driver fatigue, it triggered a nationwide call to address how deadly driver fatigue is. Yet, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has not mentioned driver fatigue in its new safety strategy, and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) stated that it would not research such data. “Most importantly, the entire trucking industry needs to immediately address this ongoing deadly issue,” Leonard said.
“It’s obvious that truckers driving while drowsy is a major national problem,” added Leonard. “And not just to themselves, but to everyone else on the road with them.” The number of deaths in the wake of truck accidents is rising, according to the National Highway Safety Transportation Administration. (NHTSA). The number of people killed in such crashes jumped 10 percent during the first six months of 2022. This was on the heels of a 13 percent increase in 2021 over 2020.
“It’s vitally important for you and your family when traveling in New Jersey, or in any other state, to be alert and aware of all the traffic around you, including large trucks. They cannot stop on a dime, and the damage they leave in their wake after a collision is severe. Drive with safety in mind,” Leonard added.
“If you were in a truck crash and seriously injured, or a family member died, contact us at the Todd J. Leonard Law Firm immediately for legal advice and to discuss how to file a personal injury lawsuit,” said firm founding partner, Todd Leonard, Esq.
Attorney Todd J. Leonard is a Certified Trial Lawyer with more than 30 years of experience helping truck accident victims recover the compensation they need to overcome the hurdles they face, now and in the future. The Truck Accident Attorneys at the Todd J. Leonard Law Firm take an individualized approach to every case they handle, ensuring each client gets the attention they deserve. We are a five-star rated law firm, recovering a total of more than $100 million on behalf of our clients. We will do our best to hold the negligent party(ies) fully accountable for their actions and get you the justice you deserve. To learn more and to schedule a FREE, confidential consultation, give us a call today at 973-920-7900. You can also connect with us through our online form. There is never a fee unless we win your case.
Todd J. Leonard Law Firm
3010 NJ-10
Denville, NJ 07834
(973) 920-7900
https://www.lawleonard.com/
Press Contact : Todd J. Leonard
Distributed by Law Firm Newswire
