Legally Reviewed by Jae E. Lee on July 16, 2026
A collision between an 18-wheeler and a passenger car rarely ends in an even trade. The size and weight difference between the two puts everyone in the smaller vehicle at a steep disadvantage, and the injuries that follow, brain trauma, spinal damage, broken bones, and in the worst cases, death, can change a family’s life in seconds.
When a truck driver’s negligence or a trucking company’s careless practices caused your crash, you may be able to pursue compensation from the parties responsible. The Hudson County personal injury attorneys at Jae Lee Law have spent over 30 years fighting for injured clients across New Jersey, and we are ready to look into what happened to you.
⚠ Time-Sensitive: New Jersey Law Limits Your Window to File
Injured in Hudson County? New Jersey’s 2-year statute of limitations begins from the date of your accident. Missing this deadline ends your right to compensation.
Over 30 years of personal injury experience. Millions recovered for injured clients. Certified by the NJ Supreme Court, a distinction held by only 3% of the state’s attorneys.
Trucking Accident Attorney Hudson County NJ
Truck accident cases involve more moving parts than a typical motor vehicle accident claim. A commercial vehicle crash may point to several responsible parties at once, including the driver, the trucking company, a maintenance contractor, or even the business that loaded the cargo. Sorting out who holds responsibility takes an attorney comfortable digging through logbooks, maintenance records, and federal trucking regulations, the same kind of investigation our firm applies to every New Jersey truck accident case we take on.
Federal data shows just how often these crashes happen, with large trucks and buses involved in tens of thousands of crashes nationwide in a single recent year. Hudson County’s dense highway corridors, including the New Jersey Turnpike, Route 1&9, and the approaches to the Holland Tunnel, see heavy commercial traffic every day.
Statute of Limitations for Hudson County Truck Accident Cases
New Jersey law gives you two years from the date of your accident to file a personal injury lawsuit against the parties responsible for a truck crash. If a family member died in the collision, the same two-year deadline applies to a wrongful death claim, running from the date of death rather than the date of the crash.
- In some cases, an injury is not obvious right away.
- New Jersey’s discovery rule may extend your filing window if the harm was not reasonably discoverable at the time of the crash, but this exception is narrow and courts apply it carefully.
- Claims against a government entity, such as a case involving a municipal or state vehicle, can carry a much shorter notice deadline of 90 days.
- You can review the general filing rules on the New Jersey Courts website, but missing any of these deadlines can end your right to recover compensation entirely, so it helps to speak with an attorney as soon as possible after your accident.
Types of Truck Accident Cases We Handle in Hudson County
Trucking crashes take a number of different forms, and the cause often shapes who can be held responsible. Our firm handles Hudson County truck accident claims involving:
Jackknife and Rollover Accidents
Caused by driver error or speed, these crashes can send a trailer into surrounding traffic lanes with little warning.
Underride and Override Collisions
These collisions between trucks and passenger vehicles often cause severe injuries because of the height and weight difference between the two.
Driver Fatigue and Hours-of-Service Violations
Federal rules limit how long a commercial driver can be on the road, and violations of those limits are a common cause of serious crashes.
Improperly Secured or Overloaded Cargo
Cargo that shifts or falls from a moving truck can strike other vehicles or force a driver into a sudden, dangerous maneuver.
Poorly Maintained Brakes, Tires, or Trailer Hitches
Mechanical failures often point back to a trucking company or maintenance contractor that skipped required inspections.
Distracted or Impaired Truck Drivers
A moment of inattention or impairment behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle can have catastrophic consequences for everyone else on the road.
Whatever the cause of your crash, the parties responsible are rarely eager to accept fault, which is why a thorough investigation matters from the first day of your case.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Truck Accident
More than one party can share responsibility for a commercial truck crash. Identifying every liable party matters because it can open up additional sources of compensation beyond a single insurance policy.
The Truck Driver
Speeding, fatigue, distraction, or impairment behind the wheel can make the driver directly liable for a crash.
The Trucking Company
A company can be liable for negligent hiring, inadequate training, or pressuring drivers to exceed hours-of-service limits.
A Maintenance Contractor
Faulty brakes, tires, or trailer hitches often trace back to a contractor that skipped required inspections or repairs.
The Cargo Loading Company
Improperly secured or overloaded cargo can shift a truck’s center of gravity and cause a rollover or jackknife accident.
A Government Entity
Unsafe road design or a poorly maintained public roadway can make a municipal or state agency partly responsible, though these claims carry a much shorter notice deadline.
How Jae Lee Law Approaches Your Case
Jae E. Lee and her team investigate every angle of a truck accident claim, from driver logs and black box data to the trucking company’s maintenance and hiring records. We work with accident reconstruction and medical professionals to build a full picture of your injuries and what they may cost you going forward, and we advance the costs of that investigation ourselves.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Truck Accident?
A truck accident claim can seek compensation for the full scope of what a crash costs you. This may include medical expenses, lost income, property damage, and pain and suffering. In rare cases involving especially reckless conduct, punitive damages may also be available.
The table below shows typical settlement ranges by injury category in New Jersey, based on publicly reported verdicts and settlements. These are ranges, not guarantees, and your outcome depends on the specific facts of your case.
| Injury Type | Typical NJ Range | High-Value Factors |
|---|---|---|
| Moderate injury (fractures, back or neck) | $50,000 to $250,000 | Surgery required, extended recovery, documented lost income |
| Serious or permanent injury | $250,000 to $1,000,000+ | Permanent disability, significant future care costs, strong liability evidence |
| Catastrophic injury (TBI, spinal, amputation) | $1,000,000 to $10,000,000+ | Lifetime care projections, vocational loss expert, life care planner |
| Wrongful death | $500,000 to $7,000,000+ | Dependents, lost future income, egregious liability |
Typical Timeline by Case Type
6 to 18 mo
Moderate injury requiring surgery or therapy
1 to 3 yrs
Serious or permanent injury, or complex liability
2 to 4 yrs
Catastrophic injury or case going to trial
Our firm has secured millions of dollars in recoveries for New Jersey clients across a wide range of motor vehicle claims. We are always prepared to negotiate a fair settlement, and if the trucking company or its insurer will not offer one, we are equally prepared to take your case to trial.
What to Do After a Truck Accident in Hudson County
Seek Medical Care Right Away
Get checked out even if your injuries seem minor at first, because some symptoms take time to appear.
Report the Crash to Police
Get a copy of the accident report once it becomes available. This report becomes an important piece of evidence in your case.
Photograph the Scene
Photograph the vehicles, the scene, and your injuries if you are able to. These images can be difficult to recreate later.
Avoid Recorded Statements
Avoid giving a recorded statement to the trucking company’s insurer before speaking with an attorney. Insurance adjusters often contact injured victims quickly, and their goal is to settle your claim for as little as possible.
30 yrs
of personal injury litigation by founding attorney Jae E. Lee
$M+
recovered for New Jersey truck accident victims
3%
only 3% of NJ attorneys hold Supreme Court certification, Jae E. Lee is one of them
5
languages spoken, English, Korean, Spanish, Russian, Ukrainian
$0
out of pocket, we advance all litigation costs on contingency
Frequently Asked Questions
Jae Lee Law
Jae E. Lee has spent over 30 years representing injured clients throughout New Jersey and is certified by the NJ Supreme Court, a distinction held by only 3% of the state’s attorneys. Our team speaks English, Korean, Spanish, Russian, and Ukrainian, and we invest our own resources into building the strongest possible case for every client we represent.
If you were injured in a Hudson County truck accident, our team is ready to review what happened and explain your legal options. You can reach our office by filling out our contact form to schedule a free consultation.
