Commercial truck accidents on Route 4, the George Washington Bridge approach, and throughout Bergen County often result in catastrophic injuries or fatalities. When an 80,000-pound tractor-trailer collides with a passenger vehicle, the size and weight disparity creates devastating consequences for victims and their families. These cases require an attorney who understands both federal trucking regulations and local road conditions that contribute to collisions in our area.
Luis Martinez has represented truck accident victims throughout Bergen County for 34 years. Let him do the same for you today.
Truck accident cases differ fundamentally from typical car accident claims and demand specialized legal knowledge to navigate successfully. Unlike standard auto collisions, truck crashes involve multiple potentially liable parties including the driver, trucking company, cargo loaders, maintenance contractors, and vehicle manufacturers. These cases are governed by complex Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations covering driver qualifications, hours-of-service limits, vehicle maintenance standards, and cargo securement requirements.
Trucking companies and their insurers dispatch teams of lawyers and investigators to accident scenes within hours to gather evidence favorable to their defense. Without experienced legal representation, you face enormous disadvantages in preserving crucial evidence like electronic logging device data and driver logs, proving violations of federal safety regulations, identifying all liable parties and applicable insurance policies, and calculating the full value of catastrophic injuries. Luis Martinez has the resources to conduct comprehensive investigations, hire expert witnesses including accident reconstructionists and trucking industry specialists, and build compelling cases that demonstrate negligence. Most importantly, he works on contingency, meaning you pay no attorney fees unless he recovers compensation for you.
Having practiced throughout Bergen County for over three decades, Luis Martinez has handled virtually every type of commercial truck accident. He understands the specific hazards on Route 4, the merge challenges approaching the George Washington Bridge, and the dangerous conditions on local roadways where truck traffic creates heightened collision risks.
No matter what type of truck accident caused your injuries, Luis brings specialized knowledge and local experience to investigate thoroughly, identify all liable parties, and build compelling cases for maximum compensation. He works with accident reconstruction experts, reviews electronic logging device data, examines maintenance records, analyzes driver qualification files, and consults with trucking industry specialists to prove negligence.
The immense size and weight disparity between commercial trucks and passenger vehicles means collisions often result in severe, life-threatening injuries. While truck drivers sit elevated in protective cabs, occupants of smaller vehicles frequently suffer catastrophic trauma requiring immediate emergency intervention, multiple surgeries, extended hospitalization, and long-term rehabilitation.
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The violent impact of truck collisions causes occupants’ heads to strike windows, dashboards, or other surfaces with tremendous force, resulting in traumatic brain injuries ranging from concussions to severe brain damage. TBI symptoms include persistent headaches, memory problems, difficulty concentrating, personality changes, and cognitive impairment. Severe brain injuries may cause loss of consciousness, seizures, and permanent disabilities affecting speech, movement, and cognitive function, requiring lifetime medical care and dramatically reducing quality of life.
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The extreme forces involved in truck accidents frequently cause spinal cord damage resulting in partial or complete paralysis. Victims may experience paraplegia affecting the lower body or quadriplegia affecting all four limbs, permanently eliminating their ability to walk, work, or perform basic daily activities independently. Spinal cord injuries require extensive adaptive equipment, home modifications, round-the-clock care, and ongoing medical treatment, with lifetime costs often exceeding millions of dollars.
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The tremendous impact of truck collisions causes multiple fractures throughout the body, with particularly severe crush injuries occurring when vehicles become trapped or compressed. Victims suffer broken ribs, shattered pelvis bones, compound fractures requiring surgical intervention with plates and rods, and crushing damage to extremities that may necessitate amputation. These injuries demand numerous surgeries, extended recovery periods, intensive physical therapy, and often result in permanent limitations and chronic pain.
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Blunt force trauma from truck accidents causes internal injuries including ruptured spleens, damaged livers, kidney injuries, and internal bleeding that may not be immediately apparent but can be life-threatening. Victims require emergency diagnostic imaging, possible surgical intervention to repair or remove damaged organs, extended hospitalization, and careful monitoring for complications. Internal injuries can lead to long-term health problems, increased infection risk, and organ failure requiring transplants.
The aftermath of a truck accident is chaotic and overwhelming, but the actions you take immediately following the collision are critical for protecting both your health and your legal rights. Trucking companies often dispatch investigators to accident scenes within hours, making early documentation even more important than in typical car accidents. While you may be seriously injured or in shock, following these steps will help preserve crucial evidence and protect your ability to pursue full compensation.
Move to a safe location if possible without leaving the scene, check yourself and passengers for injuries, and call 911 immediately to report the accident. Police presence is essential for truck accidents as they create an official report documenting the collision. Insist on medical evaluation even if you feel fine, as adrenaline can mask serious injuries that become apparent hours later. Immediate medical documentation is crucial for linking injuries to the accident.
If physically able, take extensive photographs of all vehicle damage, the truck’s company name and DOT number, the truck driver’s commercial license, skid marks, road conditions, traffic signals, and the overall accident scene from multiple angles. Photograph any visible cargo issues, tire damage, or mechanical problems. This evidence is critical because trucking companies often repair or dispose of damaged vehicles quickly, and conditions at the scene may be altered within hours.
Collect the truck driver’s name, commercial driver’s license information, contact details, the trucking company name and contact information, insurance details for both driver and company, truck identification numbers and DOT numbers, and witness contact information. Note the time of day, weather conditions, and any statements made by the truck driver. This information becomes invaluable when investigating liability and identifying all parties responsible for your injuries.
Go to an emergency room immediately after the accident for comprehensive medical evaluation, even if injuries seem minor. Many serious conditions including internal bleeding, brain injuries, and spinal damage may not produce obvious symptoms initially. Prompt medical attention creates documentation linking your injuries to the truck accident and prevents insurance companies from arguing that injuries were pre-existing or caused by something else.
Keep all medical records, bills, and receipts. Save the clothing and personal items damaged in the accident. Maintain a detailed journal documenting pain levels and recovery progress. Preserve any correspondence with insurance companies. Do not give recorded statements to trucking company representatives or insurance adjusters without consulting an attorney first, as your words can be manipulated to minimize or deny your claim.
Time is critical in truck accident cases. Crucial evidence including electronic logging device data, surveillance footage, and driver logs can be lost or destroyed within days if not properly preserved. An experienced attorney acts immediately to send preservation letters, obtain black box data, review driver qualification files, and protect your rights before trucking companies build their defense. Luis Martinez responds personally to client calls and begins investigating cases immediately.
Truck accident liability often extends beyond just the driver to include multiple parties. The trucking company may be liable for negligent hiring, inadequate training, pressuring drivers to violate hours-of-service rules, or failing to maintain vehicles properly. Cargo loading companies can be responsible if improper loading caused the accident. Maintenance contractors may be liable for failing to properly service the truck. Parts manufacturers could be responsible for defective components. Your attorney will investigate thoroughly to identify all liable parties and maximize your potential compensation.
Truck accident settlements and verdicts are typically much higher than car accident cases due to the severity of injuries and multiple insurance policies involved. Compensation may include all medical expenses (past, present, and future), lost wages and diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, permanent disability, loss of enjoyment of life, and in cases of gross negligence, punitive damages. Catastrophic injury cases involving paralysis, brain damage, or wrongful death can result in multi-million dollar recoveries. Your attorney will accurately calculate damages based on medical evidence, expert testimony, and the full impact on your life.
Luis Martinez provides the personal attention and specialized knowledge that truck accident victims throughout Bergen County deserve. With 34 years of experience taking on powerful trucking companies, Certified Civil Trial Attorney designation, and deep roots in this community, Luis offers representation built on accessibility and results. He speaks your language—both literally as a bilingual Spanish speaker and figuratively through his commitment to direct communication. Unlike billboard firms that pass cases to associates, Luis personally handles every case and gives clients his cell phone number for direct access. Contact our office today for a free consultation about your truck accident case.
