Tractor-Trailer Rollovers Cause Concern for NJ Drivers
Two recent crashes prompt warnings about “share the road” protocols
In the space of four months, major New Jersey roadways have experienced two tractor-trailer crashes resulting in a rollover of the trailer. These incidents produced lengthy traffic delays and road closures, but fortunately only a handful of injuries and no fatalities. Given the destructive potential of jackknife and rollover crashes, these outcomes were about as positive as we could hope for. Because Razi & Giampa Law, LLC is concerned with driver safety, we thought it prudent to discuss these crashes and remind drivers of the safety precautions they must observe to share the road safely with heavy commercial trucks.
Jul 11, 2025: I-76 Westbound near Gloucester City in Camden County
According to Action News 6, a tractor-trailer collided with a passenger car at approximately 12:30 p.m., resulting in a rollover. Photos show the semi-truck on its side extending across two of the westbound lanes of I-76 in Gloucester City, near the Walt Whitman Bridge. The passenger car is seen with extensive front-end damage. The collision produced heavy traffic delays and temporary lane closures, and early reporting did not speculate as to the cause. No serious injuries or fatalities were reported.
Oct 1, 2025: NJ Turnpike Northbound, Springfield Township in Burlington County
This early-morning collision near NJT Exit 5 involved a northbound Freightliner tractor-trailer and an Isuzu box truck. According to NBC10 Philadelphia, the crash occurred at about 6:40 a.m., causing the tractor-trailer to jackknife and overturn. The box-truck driver sustained minor injuries and was taken to a hospital. The crash blocked all northbound lanes and left shoulder for an extended period, causing significant delays through the morning commute and into the afternoon. No cause of the crash was reported.
Common reasons why semi-trucks overturn
To safely share the road with semi-trucks, it’s important to know why one might jackknife and/or overturn. The leading causes according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are as follows:
- Driver error —Trucks have a high center of gravity and require greater time and distance to execute maneuvers. Excessive speed (especially through curves or on ramps) reduces reaction time and can require sudden steering corrections that greatly increase the force that causes a rollover. The FMCSA has found that more than 78 percent of rollovers involve driver error.
- Load instability leading to cargo shift — Improperly secured or top-heavy loads (or liquids that surge in tanks) can shift the truck’s center of gravity during cornering or braking and trigger a rollover.
- Roadway geometry and surface conditions — Curves, uneven pavement, narrow shoulders, or slick surfaces (rain, ice, oil) reduce the margin for safe steering and can induce rollovers, especially when combined with speed or evasive maneuvers.
- Vehicle defects or maintenance issues — Suspension failure, tire blowouts, or uneven braking can destabilize a heavy truck and precipitate a rollover.
- Driver fatigue, impairment, or distraction — Fatigue and impairment increase the likelihood of late reactions, improper lane control, and excessive speed, factors that contribute to rollovers in FMCSA crash studies.
What isn’t overtly stated in this list is the role that other drivers often play in the crash. Passenger car drivers are not always prudent in their maneuvers around big rigs. They can create circumstances where the truck driver must exercise a sudden, evasive move which triggers the crash. More on that in the safety tips below.
Why rollovers are especially dangerous for passenger-car drivers
In the two crashes cited above, the accident victims were fortunate to escape with non-life-threatening injuries. Yet, the destructive potential of a jackknifed or rolling big rig is undisputed. The dangers of such a crash can take many forms, such as:
- Large mass and secondary impacts — A jackknifed or overturned semi can strike or crush passenger vehicles; the truck’s mass causes catastrophic energy transfer in collisions.
- Flying debris, cargo spill, and fires — Overturned loads (especially tankers) can spill fuel or hazardous materials, causing fires, toxic exposure, or slippery road surfaces that trap following vehicles.
- Loss of visibility and blocked escape routes — A rollover can block multiple lanes and shoulders, leaving car drivers little room to maneuver or escape. Smoke, fire, or spilled cargo can obscure exits.
- Chain-reaction crashes — An initial rollover often causes chain collisions at highway speeds. Thus, multiple vehicles may be involved before the scene stabilizes.
The potential of a rollover blocking lanes and setting off a chain reaction crash at highway speed is horrible to contemplate. But motorists must be aware of that potential at all times.
How drivers can reduce risk when sharing the road with semi-trucks
Motorists must understand the basic safety protocols that will prevent them from triggering a semi-truck rollover and perhaps even enable them to anticipate and avoid such a crash. FMCSA provides excellent guidance on this issue, which includes the following points:
- Stay out of the truck’s blind spots — If you cannot see the truck driver in the truck’s side mirrors, the driver probably cannot see you. Understand that a truck’s blind spot is much longer than that of a passenger car. Avoid lingering alongside a truck—either drop back or pass quickly and completely.
- Give the big boys extra room — Trucks need much longer stopping distances. Leave at least several car lengths (more at highway speed or in poor weather) and don’t cut in sharply in front of a truck after passing.
- Pass safely and quickly — Signal early, accelerate steadily, and pass on the left. Ensure you can see the truck’s cab in your rearview mirror before moving back into the lane. Avoid passing on the right, especially on ramps or in slow traffic.
- Anticipate wide turns — Trucks need room to turn right and often swing left before turning right; never try to wedge into the space between a turning truck and the curb.
- Be extra cautious in adverse weather, on ramps/curves, and near work zones — These are the places where rollovers and loss-of-control events are most likely. Reduce speed, increase following distance, and avoid sudden maneuvers.
- Don’t tailgate or speed up when a truck passes — Tailgating limits your reaction time; speeding up when a truck passes puts you in a truck’s blind spot and increases wind-gust effects.
- If you see a truck showing instability, slow down and pull away — If a truck ahead is swerving, braking unevenly, or looks overloaded, create distance and, if safe, change lanes to avoid following it.
- Report dangerous driving — Many trucks display the question, “How’s my driving?” If there’s an issue, don’t hesitate to call the number posted.
Situational awareness is always important while driving, but it’s absolutely vital when traveling in close proximity to tractor-trailers. We hope that these protocols keep you and your loved ones safe.
Contact Razi & Giampa Law, LLC in Paramus for a free truck accident consultation
Razi & Giampa Law, LLC in Paramus provides highly professional and compassionate legal representation for victims of commercial truck accidents in Bergen County and throughout New Jersey. To schedule a free consultation, call us today at (201) 534-5011 or contact our firm online.
