A tractor-trailer crash on I-295 North in Mercer County early Monday morning caused significant traffic delays after a commercial truck apparently lost directional control, struck another vehicle and later caught fire.

According to News 12 New Jersey, New Jersey State Police said the crash occurred near mile marker 66 in Lawrence Township. The tractor-trailer reportedly struck a Ford before both vehicles collided with the left guardrail. The Freightliner then caught fire.

No injuries were reported at the scene.

Heavy rainfall had moved through portions of the area overnight. However, authorities have not said that weather caused the collision, and the crash remains under investigation.

That distinction is important. After a serious New Jersey truck accident, rain, snow or another hazardous roadway condition may be part of the circumstances—but determining why a commercial driver lost control requires evidence.

A tractor-trailer crash scene illustrates the complex factors that may require investigation after a commercial truck loses control on a New Jersey highway.

What Causes a Tractor-Trailer Driver to Lose Control?

“Lost control” describes what happened to a vehicle. It does not necessarily explain why it happened.

When a tractor-trailer leaves its lane, jackknifes, overturns or otherwise becomes uncontrollable, a New Jersey truck accident lawyer may need to investigate several potential factors rather than assuming there is one obvious cause.

Depending on the circumstances, those issues could include:

• Vehicle speed relative to roadway and weather conditions;
• Driver steering or braking;
• Driver distraction or fatigue;
• Tire condition;
• Brake or other mechanical problems;
• Vehicle inspection and maintenance;
• Cargo weight, loading or securement;
• Standing water or reduced roadway traction; and
• The actions of other vehicles.

These are general investigative considerations in commercial truck crashes. Authorities have not publicly attributed the August 17 Lawrence Township collision to any of these factors.

Can a Truck Driver Be Liable for Losing Control in Rain?

Potentially, but rain itself does not establish liability.

Drivers are expected to operate their vehicles with reasonable care under the conditions they encounter. For a commercial driver operating a tractor-trailer weighing many times more than a passenger vehicle, changing roadway conditions can become particularly important.

Heavy rain may reduce visibility and roadway traction and can increase the distance needed to safely slow a vehicle.

But after a tractor-trailer accident in New Jersey, an investigation should determine what actually occurred rather than simply blaming the weather.

Questions may include how fast the truck was traveling, whether the driver reduced speed as conditions changed, what the driver did immediately before losing control and whether the vehicle itself was operating properly.

The fact that heavy rain occurred near the time of the Lawrence Township crash therefore does not establish that rain caused it. New Jersey State Police continue to investigate.

Why Truck Maintenance Matters After a Loss-of-Control Crash

A commercial truck's mechanical condition can become an important part of a crash investigation when a driver reports or appears to lose control.

TheFederal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulates the inspection, repair and maintenance of commercial motor vehicles. FMCSA has also studied the relationship between vehicle-maintenance problems and commercial vehicle crash risk.

That can make records involving tires, brakes, steering components, inspections, repairs and preventative maintenance relevant in certain commercial truck accident claims.

Importantly, there has been no public finding that a mechanical defect contributed to the I-295 crash.

The point is that an investigation into a commercial truck collision should not necessarily stop with the driver's explanation of what happened behind the wheel.

What Evidence Can Show Why a Tractor-Trailer Lost Control?

Modern commercial trucks may generate or be associated with significant amounts of information.

Depending on the truck, carrier and circumstances, evidence potentially relevant to a NJ truck accident attorney may include:

• Electronic vehicle or engine data;
• GPS and fleet-management records;
• Electronic logging device records;
• Dashcam footage;
• Driver hours-of-service information;
• Inspection and maintenance records; and
• Dispatch and company communications.

For commercial drivers subject to the federal Electronic Logging Device rule, an ELD can create records associated with a driver's hours of service.

That information can become important when fatigue or compliance with driving-time requirements is legitimately at issue.

Electronic records are not proof that a driver or trucking company did anything wrong. They are evidence that can help attorneys, investigators and experts reconstruct what occurred before a serious collision.

If you were injured in a collision involving a tractor-trailer, box truck, delivery truck or other commercial vehicle, Khorozian Law Group can investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash and explain your legal options. Call (201) 944-9200or contact us online to speak with a New Jersey truck accident attorney.

Can the Trucking Company Be Responsible for a Tractor-Trailer Crash?

Potentially.

A serious truck accident investigation should not automatically end with the person sitting behind the wheel.

Depending on the facts, a New Jersey truck accident claim may involve questions concerning the motor carrier, truck owner, employer, contractor, maintenance provider or another company involved in the truck's operation.

For example, if a mechanical condition contributed to a loss-of-control accident, inspection and maintenance records could become important.

If driver fatigue is legitimately suspected, hours-of-service and electronic logging records may matter.

If cargo movement contributed to instability, loading and securement information could become relevant.

The responsible party depends on what the evidence establishes.

What If a Tractor-Trailer Hits Another Car Before Leaving the Road?

The Lawrence Township crash reportedly involved more than the tractor-trailer and guardrail.

According to News 12, State Police said the truck struck a Ford before both vehicles hit the left guardrail.

In a multi-vehicle NJ truck accident, investigators may need to reconstruct the sequence of events carefully.

That includes determining where each vehicle was positioned, which contact occurred first, whether either driver had an opportunity to avoid the collision and whether another event caused or contributed to the tractor-trailer's loss of control.

This distinction can be especially important for an injured passenger-vehicle driver who did nothing to cause the commercial truck to enter their path.

Does Bad Weather Excuse a Truck Accident?

Not automatically.

Poor weather can make a collision more difficult to avoid, but the existence of rain does not by itself answer the question of negligence.

In fact, dangerous conditions can make decisions about speed, following distance and vehicle control more important.

New Jersey has previously imposed temporary commercial-vehicle travel restrictions on I-295 and other interstate highways during significant winter weather events, illustrating the additional safety concerns large commercial vehicles can present when roadway conditions deteriorate.

That does not mean any such restriction was in effect during the August 17 crash. It simply demonstrates that weather and commercial-vehicle safety can intersect in important ways on New Jersey highways.

Why Early Evidence Preservation Matters in NJ Truck Accident Cases

A damaged tractor-trailer may contain physical and electronic evidence that helps explain a collision.

The trucking company or third parties may also possess records that an injured motorist does not have access to independently.

Depending on the case, a personal injury lawyer in New Jersey may seek to preserve relevant vehicle data, driver records, maintenance documentation, photographs, video, dispatch information and other evidence before it is lost or routinely overwritten.

This is particularly important when the initial explanation for an accident is simply that a driver “lost control.”

The legal question is often why.

Frequently Asked Questions About Tractor-Trailer Accidents in New Jersey

Who is liable when a tractor-trailer loses control?

Liability depends on why control was lost. Evidence may point to driver conduct, vehicle condition, cargo issues, another motorist, roadway conditions or a combination of factors. A loss of control does not automatically establish which person or company was negligent.

Can a trucking company be liable if its driver causes an accident?

Potentially. Liability depends on the circumstances and the relationship between the driver and company. A truck accident investigation may also examine company practices, vehicle maintenance, driver qualifications and other relevant records.

Can rain affect liability in a New Jersey truck accident?

Rain may be relevant to the circumstances of a crash, but it does not automatically establish or eliminate liability. Investigators may examine whether a driver operated at an appropriate speed and maintained reasonable control given the conditions.

What records should be investigated after a tractor-trailer accident?

Depending on the case, relevant evidence may include electronic vehicle data, ELD records, GPS information, dashcam video, inspection and maintenance records, driver qualification information, dispatch communications, police records and witness statements.

What if a tractor-trailer hits my car and then crashes?

You may have a claim if another party's negligence caused the collision and your injuries. The entire sequence of events should be investigated to determine why the truck struck your vehicle and who may be legally responsible.

Are NJ truck accident cases different from ordinary car accident claims?

They can be. Commercial trucking cases may involve federal safety regulations, motor-carrier records, electronic vehicle information, commercial insurance policies and multiple companies associated with the truck or driver. A New Jersey car accident lawyer handling a commercial vehicle collision may therefore need to investigate evidence beyond what is normally available in a two-car accident.

Injured in a Truck Accident in New Jersey?

The August 17 I-295 crash in Lawrence Township remains under investigation, and no injuries were reported. Authorities have also not determined publicly whether the overnight rainfall contributed to the collision.

But the crash illustrates an important issue in serious commercial vehicle cases: saying that a tractor-trailer “lost control” may only be the beginning of the investigation.

Driver conduct, vehicle data, maintenance history, roadway conditions, federal trucking requirements and trucking-company records may all help establish why a collision occurred.

If you or a loved one was injured in a truck accident, tractor-trailer accident, commercial vehicle accident or car accident in New Jersey, Khorozian Law Group can help investigate what happened and identify the parties who may be responsible.

Call Khorozian Law Group at (201) 944-9200 or contact us online to speak with a New Jersey personal injury attorney.

¿Usted o un ser querido resultó lesionado en un accidente de camión, tractor-tráiler o vehículo comercial en Nueva Jersey? Llame a Khorozian Law Group al (201) 944-9200 o contáctenos en línea para conocer sus opciones legales.