A red sedan that sat disabled in the center lane of the New Jersey Turnpike near Monroe Township was rear-ended by a tractor-trailer on the morning of June 16, causing a serious car accident that resulted in the death of the sedan’s driver, according to an nj.com report.
The impact knocked both the car and the tractor-trailer off of the Turnpike, causing the truck to flip over. The driver of the tractor-trailer was pulled from the wreckage of the truck and taken to Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in New Brunswick.
According to the news report, the driver of the sedan was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.
How Long Does it Take a Tractor-Trailer to Stop? 
According to statistics on Utah.gov, the stopping distance of a typically-weighted passenger vehicle traveling at 65 miles per hour is a little less than the length of one football field. Compare this with the stopping distance of a large commercial truck or tractor-trailer traveling at the same rate of speed: up to the length of two football fields to come to a complete stop.
So, to come to a complete stop, tractor-trailers and other large commercial trucks take about twice the distance to come to a stop than regular cars. This difference would certainly be an important factor in car accidents where a large freight-hauling truck rear-ends a smaller vehicle, like the accident that occurred between the tractor-trailer and the red sedan on the New Jersey Turnpike.
If a Tractor-Trailer Rear-Ended Your Vehicle, Multiple Parties Could Be at Fault
Just because you were rear-ended by a tractor-trailer doesn’t necessarily mean the driver is to blame for the accident. As discussed in a recent post to our blog, the liability for the crash can lie with a few different parties. You may be able to sue the driver if it’s clear that his or her negligence was to blame, but if the accident occurred due to a brake failure that made the tractor-trailer unable to stop in time before hitting you, it’s possible that the company that performed work on the brakes or the vehicle manufacturer may be liable for damages.
What to Do After Being Rear-Ended by a Tractor-Trailer
If you were involved in a truck accident caused by a tractor-trailer rear-ending your vehicle, you should waste no time in talking to a New Jersey injury attorney about legal options. These types of crashes can cause serious injuries or death, and legal settlements can help you cover unexpected costs and move on with your life.
Spevack Law Firm – Middlesex County Injury Attorneys
