Anyone who has driven on New Jersey’s highways and roads know how dangerous it can be to get too close to a tractor-trailer. Being involved in an 18-wheeler accident can have devastating consequences for occupants of passenger cars, which may not be able to withstand the impact of a big rig. Such was the case last month on Route 9 in Old Bridge, when a 50-year-old woman stopped at a red light was rear-ended by a semitrailer. The woman was killed in the wreck.
Now comes word that prosecutors have charged the driver of the 18-wheeler with death by auto and aggravated manslaughter. Also, investigators say, the man was under the influence of drugs at the time of the wreck. He was arrested at his home earlier this month.
Commercial vehicle drivers are held to higher standards than ordinary drivers. They are required to obtain more advanced driver licenses, maintain accurate records of their driving, and may be subject to random tests for illicit substances. This is because of the great responsibility that truckers and drivers of other commercial vehicles have. Whether it’s a bus driver entrusted to take students to school safely or a truck driver transporting hazardous cargo, the citizens of the state need to know that these drivers are held accountable for their actions.
When people are injured as a result of negligent behavior on the part of commercial vehicle drivers, they might choose to seek legal advice in order to recover compensation to help them recover from their injuries.
Source: My Central Jersey.com, “Trucker charged in Freehold woman’s death,” April 18, 2014