Between long hours, tight timelines and little margin for error, the stresses truckers encounter on the job are vast. But following safe driving protocols and best practices is the best way to mitigate the potential hazards associated with the job. Here are some tips for keeping truckers safe on and off the road.

Visual signaling

1. Put on your turning signal promptly, when approaching an intersection, to be sure that other motorists know which way your truck is turning.
2. Slow down well in advance when making a complete stop. Other motorists may not realize how long it takes for a truck to come to a full stop, but seeing the brake lights early can help avoid an accident.
3. Keep changing lanes to a minimum as trucking “no zones” or blind spots pose a threat for accidents.
4. Always check your headlights, brake lights and turn signal lights to make sure they are working properly.
5. Use your hazard lights when driving slower than the speed limit when you are driving with a heavy load or in bad weather.

Parking

1. Use the parking spaces designed specifically for trucks. Big rigs need four times the space as an average passenger car.
2. Follow the necessary protocol if your vehicle is disabled and you must pull off to the side of the road or highway. Drivers should keep flares, flashers and safety triangles in their vehicles to alert other motorists when necessary.
3. Do not park your truck near driveways or side streets, as the tractor trailer can obstruct a motorist’s view of oncoming traffic.
4. Never park facing oncoming traffic.

Idling

1. Conserve fuel. Do not let your truck idle for more than five minutes at a time.
2. Do not idle your truck while sleeping, loading or unloading. Not only does it burn fuel, it has also been linked to lung cancer in truck drivers.
3. Never leave an idled vehicle unattended. This is how theft happens.
4. If idling is necessary, keep the windows closed or wear a safety mask so you don’t inhale the fumes, which can pose a health risk.
5. Idling may be necessary in temperatures below 20 degrees F to avoid fuel-gelling. This can be for as long as 10-20 minutes as necessary.

Weather

1. Keep plenty of space between your truck and the vehicle in front of you during rain or snow conditions in case of an emergency stop.
2. Slow down in bad weather to avoid rollovers, jackknifes and collisions.
3. Always keep tire chains on hand in case of snow or ice.
4. Keep the fuel tank full during the colder seasons as water condensation can build up in the fuel line.
5. Remember to take extra precautions on bridges as they freeze before roads do.

Long haul driving

1. Do not tailgate. Although long haul trucking can aggravate frustrations on the road, keep emotions in check.
2. Take sufficient breaks and actually get out of the truck in order to stay fresh and alert on long hauls.
3. Wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing as sitting for long periods of time can cut off circulation and cause serious health problems over time.
4. Recognize when you are fatigued. Driving while exhausted can be more dangerous than driving while intoxicated.
5. Trucking regulations prohibit driving more than 11 hours continuously with a subsequent 10-hour off-duty break. However, this is not always enough rest time, so be sure to pay attention to your body’s fatigue levels.

WHY YOU NEED EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES LIABILITY INSURANCE (EPL):

• A private company is more likely to have an Employment Practices claim than a General Liability or property claim.
• 3 out of every 5 employers are sued by former employees
• 65% of all companies that have ever fired an employee have been hit with an employment related lawsuit
• In 2006, the median award for all plaintiff verdicts was over $200,000
• Over 40% of all Employment Practices claims are brought against firms with less than 100 employees

The following are important coverages that we offer in our EPL policy. Make sure that your policy includes all of these features.

COVERAGE FEATURES	OUR GROUP	COMPETITORS’ POLICY
Defense and Settlement provision (“Hammer Clause”) softened to cover 75% of defense costs and loss after Insured’s final refusal to consent to settle a claim
Defense outside the limit – We bear all costs of defense above the retention and defense costs do not erode the Limit of Liability (if a $500k or higher limit is chosen and there are fewer than 200 employees)
Duty to Defend - We have an obligation to defend all claims (as defined by the policy) even if found to be groundless, false or fraudulent. We use expert outside defense counsel and in-house claim adjusters to control defense costs as well as to reduce overall claim costs
Full Prior Acts available for most risks - provides coverage for acts occurring prior to the inception of the policy that result in claims made during the policy period
Punitive Damages are included in the definition of Loss with most favorable venue wording (available in most jurisdictions). Punitive damages can be one of the largest EPL exposures for an organization. Most favorable venue wording is especially important for organizations with multiple locations as punitive damages are not insurable in all states
Third Party coverage available for most classes of business provides coverage for claims made by non-employees, usually customers or vendors, that allege that an employee harassed or discriminated against them
Independent Contractors are included in the definition of Employee.
Risk Management Services- Free unlimited employment practices consultation helpline PLUS Sexual Harassment Prevention Training online at a 50% discount (satisfies state mandated training for CA, CT and ME)

Insure your financial well-being with a A++ stable company that will be there to pay your claim.

One of the most confusing aspects of a motor vehicle accident can be determining who pays the medical bills. Many people are surprised to learn that it is not the at-fault party's insurance. This article will, very briefly, outline the basics of New Jersey No-Fault laws.

Most people believe that the insurance company of whoever caused the accident should pay the medical bills of whoever is injured. While that would seem to make sense in terms of fairness, and that is how it used to be 40 years ago, that is not how it works in New Jersey. No-Fault means that medical bills will be paid regardless of fault, under a first party system. The reason No-Fault came about was, in part due to the pressure of doctors and hospitals who did not want to wait for a determination of who caused an accident in order to get paid. Under the current No-Fault system, the medical pills get paid quickly because fault doesn't matter, and that allows injured parties to receive prompt medical care. At least that's the theory.

All personal car insurance polices issued in New Jersey must contain No-Fault coverage which is called Personal Injury Protection (or PIP). The usual coverage is for $250,000 per accident. However, purchasers of insurance are offered cheaper premiums for reducing their coverage. There are certain types of policies which are exceptions, see section below.

Steps to Determine Which Insurance Company Pays the Medical Bills
This series of questions is to be directed to the injured party in any scenario involving an injury due to a motor vehicle.

1. Workers' Compensation
   If your injury occurred during your employment, such as making a delivery, running an errand for the boss, taking a company vehicle for repair, a police officer in squad car accident, taxi drivers (if not independent contractor), etc. If you were "on the job" then PIP does not pay your bills. Workers' Compensation actually comes before No-Fault and the Workers Compensation insurance will pay your bills. You will have to go to the authorized medical providers.
2. Do you own a motor vehicle?
   "Owning" a vehicle means it is registered in your name with the DMV. If someone else is the registered owner, even if you drive it every day, you do not "own" it.
   If yes, your own car insurance will pay your medical bills related to any accident involving a motor vehicle. So, even if you were in someone else's car or if you were a pedestrian hit be a car or bus, your own car insurance will pay your bills. You should know that if the accident is determined not to have been your fault, your insurance company may be able to recover any amounts paid for your medical bills from the at-fault insurance company. This happens later at an inter-company arbitration with which you will have no involvement.
   If you own a vehicle but it is uninsured there will be no insurance to cover your medical bills, even if you were in someone else's car or a pedestrian hit by a car. New Jersey takes the mandatory insurance laws seriously and if you have an uninsured vehicle you don't get any benefits. An exception is for an inoperable vehicle such as a junker up on blocks. If you own a car that doesn't run and it is not insured, you may be able to obtain PIP coverage from one of the below sources.
3. If you do not own a vehicle, do you live with any relatives who own a vehicle?
   This is where people usually go nuts. "What does my father's insurance have to do with this accident?" "I was in my friend's car". "My brother doesn't want his insurance involved". Unfortunately this is the usual response when it gets to this step. But, if you do not own a car the next place to look for PIP coverage is any family member living with you who owns a car. This can be a parent, child, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, grandparent, etc. It does not include a boyfriend/girlfriend or roommate, there must be some family relationship, although blood relation is not necessary. (step-father, step-brother can be covered)
4. If you do not own a vehicle, and no family member owns a vehicle, the next step for PIP coverage is the vehicle you were in when the accident happened.
   If your accident occurred while you were a driver or a passenger in someone else's car, (and you do not own a car, and you do not have any family member living with you who owned a car), then the insurance of the vehicle you were in (called the "host vehicle") will be responsible for your No-Fault coverage.
   Example:
   You are in your boyfriend's car, stopped at a red light, and rear-ended by another car. You don't own a car and you don't live with any family member. Your boyfriend's car insurance will pay your medical bills. (You must report the accident and request an application for benefits which an experienced attorney can help you with,. Your boyfriend's insurance rates can not be increased unless the accident was his fault.
5. Pedestrian hit by car
   If you were a pedestrian hit by a car, the first three steps are the ones above. If you own a car, your insurance pays your bills. If you don't have a car, does any family member that you live with? If not, there is a special remedy for you. The State of New Jersey maintains a special fund called the New Jersey Property Liability Guaranty Association ("NJPLIGA"). If you are a pedestrian hit by a motor vehicle and you have no insurance in your household, the NJPLIGA is responsible for your bills. It is recommended you consult an experienced attorney to help process the application. Also, if you are a pedestrian hit by a car that flees the scene, the same analysis applies. If you have no car in your household the NJPLIGA would be responsible for your medical bills.
6. Passenger in uninsured car
   If you were in an accident while a passenger in vehicle that turned out to be uninsured because the insurance was never obtained or was canceled before the accident date, then the same steps above apply. If you owned a car your own insurance pays your bills. If you didn't we look to any resident family member for car insurance. If there is no car insurance in the household, and the host vehicle is uninsured, then you too can apply to the NJPLIGA and they will have to pay your cover bills.
7. Passenger in a motor vehicle that is not a car
   Not all motor vehicles are required to carry no-fault insurance. Only vehicles that meet the definition of "automobile" carry PIP coverage. Taxis, commercial trucks, some commuter buses, and New Jersey Transit buses are some examples of vehicles which don't carry PIP coverage. If you are injured while a passenger in one of these types of vehicles, the inquiry is a little different. First, if you were working, you will be covered by workers' compensation. If not, then we again look to your own policy, if you have one, or then a household family member's policy. PIP does not apply, but your own policy should have coverage for "extended medical benefits" which applies in non-automobile situations. Be advised that this coverage is limited and is sometimes only $10,000 or just $1,000. An experienced attorney can obtain the insurance policy and verify the coverage.
8. "Basic" or "Special" Policies
   The standard insurance policy contains $250,000 of PIP coverage. However, you have the right to reduce this amount when you buy your insurance. There are limited policies called "Basic" policies which only provide $15,000 of PIP coverage. Also there are "Special" policies, available only to low-income persons qualified to receive Medicaid. Special policies provide PIP only for emergency care and they provide no coverage for continued medical care, therapy or treatment after the emergency phase unless there is a significant brain injury or catastrophic injury.
9. Motorcycle
   Injures occurring while you were on a motorcycle are not covered by PIP. Motorcycle insurance does not include PIP. Car Insurance does not cover you for PIP when you are on a motorcycle because it is an excluded act. You will have to submit your bills to your health insurance or the bills can be part f your damages claim against the at-fault driver.
10. Health Insurance Primary policies
    Some car insurance companies offer policies in which you designate that your health insurance will be primary. You will get a reduced premium. In practice, the health insurance always denies the bills because they see it is a car accident and assume that your no-fault should be paying. The medical providers, even if health insurance is primary, must submit to the car insurance for pre-certification of all treatments, and this almost never happens. I do not recommend the health insurance primary option to anyone. But there are many policies out there with this restriction.

A Final Note
This article can only scratch the surface of the New Jersey No-Fault laws, and is intended only as a general guide. Nothing contained herein should be construed as legal advice. The specifics of every case is different. At every point issues can arise which will require experienced legal advise to decipher. For example, where someone actually "lives" is often debatable. Who "lives" with you is not always clear. Permanent addresses, mailing addresses, temporary addresses, can vary. One thing that is certain, the insurance companies will look for a reason to deny benefits. If you were injured in a New Jersey accident, you should consult with an experienced lawyer to determine the proper insurance company to submit your No-Fault/PIP claim.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Adam Springer
The Jersey City personal injury law firm of Krivitzky, Springer & Feldman has represented New Jersey accident victims since 1976. Each of our attorneys has over 15 years experience helping those who have suffered injury or loss through another's negligence. Our experienced personal injury and worker's compensation lawyers apply over 90 years of combined experience in a wide range of personal injury cases, such as car accidents and other motor vehicle accidents (MVAs), slip, trip and fall-down accidents, work-related injuries, conditions or exposures, medical malpractice, wrongful death, dog bites or attacks, and other injuries.