I-78 Truck Accident Lawyer — New Jersey
Interstate 78 is the primary freight corridor between the Pennsylvania Lehigh Valley warehouse belt and the Port of New York and New Jersey. Its 67-mile New Jersey stretch runs through some of the most truck-heavy exits in the Northeast — Bethlehem-bound drayage inbound at the Phillipsburg/Stewartsville interchange, port-bound freight queueing near the Newark area, and the Express Lanes across the Watchung Mountains carrying heavy east-west volume.
Why I-78 New Jersey Is a High-Risk Corridor for Truck Crashes
I-78 in New Jersey combines long grade changes across the Watchung Mountains with some of the region’s most aggressive commuter traffic. The express/local configuration east of Clinton concentrates heavy trucks with commuter vehicles at high speed. The approach to I-95/NJ Turnpike near Newark is a perpetual bottleneck. Fatal and serious crashes cluster in the stretch between Clinton and Berkeley Heights where the grade drops significantly and trucks struggle to manage speed on the descent.
Counties We Serve Along This Corridor
We represent injured motorists and their families across the full I-78 New Jersey corridor, including Warren, Hunterdon, Somerset, Union, Essex, Hudson counties. If your crash occurred on this route and you live in New Jersey or one of the neighboring states, we can help.
Common Causes of Truck Crashes on This Corridor
Causes of I-78 truck crashes in New Jersey include:
- Runaway and brake-failure incidents on the eastbound descent from the Watchung Mountains
- Rear-end crashes in the express/local lane transitions
- Jackknife crashes in the Phillipsburg–Warren County rural stretch
- Cargo shifts on the grade changes east of Clinton
- Driver fatigue on long-haul Lehigh Valley – Port of NY/NJ runs
- Failure to maintain safe following distances in high-speed commuter traffic
Recurring trouble spots include the I-78/I-287 interchange near Bedminster, the Watchung Mountain descent near Berkeley Heights, and the I-78/I-95 Turnpike Extension interchange near Newark.
New Jersey Law Governs Your Claim
New Jersey’s verbal threshold (N.J.S.A. 39:6A-8(a)) may apply to your auto claim, but truck crash injuries that meet any of the six statutory categories — death, dismemberment, significant disfigurement, displaced fracture, loss of a fetus, or a permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability — permit full non-economic damages. Many commercial-truck crash injuries clear the threshold with little difficulty.
NJ courts treat Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulation violations as evidence of negligence and, in egregious cases, as a basis for punitive damages against the motor carrier under the NJ Punitive Damages Act.
Statute of limitations: New Jersey gives injured motorists two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. Delay is your enemy — physical evidence, electronic control module (ECM) data, dashcam video, hours-of-service logs, and maintenance records begin disappearing within days of a crash if preservation letters are not sent promptly.
What to Do After a Truck Crash on I-78 New Jersey
- Call 911 and accept medical evaluation at the scene, even if you feel “okay.” Adrenaline masks serious injuries.
- If safe, photograph the truck’s USDOT and MC numbers on the cab door and trailer.
- Obtain a copy of the police crash report as soon as it becomes available.
- Do not give a recorded statement to the carrier’s insurer without counsel.
- Contact a truck-accident lawyer promptly so that preservation letters can be sent to the motor carrier before critical evidence is lost.
Why Siddons Law Firm for a I-78 New Jersey Truck Crash
We handle commercial-vehicle crashes across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Maryland. We know the local highway geometry, the carriers that run these corridors, and the defense firms that represent them. Our contingency-fee arrangement means you pay nothing unless we recover for you. Contact us today for a free case review.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is a truck crash case different from a regular car accident case?
Truck crashes involve federal regulations, multiple potential defendants, and evidence that disappears quickly without prompt preservation letters. The insurance policy limits are also typically much higher — $750,000 federal minimum for interstate carriers, often several million dollars in practice.
How long do I have to file a claim for a I-78 New Jersey truck crash?
New Jersey’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims is two years from the date of the crash. Wrongful death claims and claims against public entities may have shorter deadlines.
Who pays for a truck crash on I-78 New Jersey?
In most truck crashes, the motor carrier’s liability insurance is the primary source of recovery. When the crash involves equipment failure or brake defects, the manufacturer or maintenance contractor may also be liable.
What if I was partially at fault?
New Jersey uses a modified comparative-negligence rule: you can recover if you are 50% or less at fault, with your recovery reduced by your percentage of fault.