Truck accidents happen far too often. Every time they occur, the risk of a person suffering serious injury and loss is high. While there are many rules and regulations in place to protect drivers, accidents happen, and when they do, victims are owed compensation for any and all losses they have. There are several key factors to consider here and a New Jersey tractor trailer accident lawyer can be of assistance.
Know the Risks in Tractor Trailer Crashes
Data from the New Jersey State Police indicates that, in 2024, 693 people died in tractor trailer accidents. When these accidents happen, there is a great deal on the line. Insurance companies for trucking companies will do everything they can to minimize the amount of compensation paid out because the damages are so significant. Truck drivers and companies that hire them are also motivated to do anything possible to ensure those case claims are minimized.
There is no simple or easy way to file a claim for compensation. Most importantly, victims must know that all of the burden of proof is on them. That means you will not be awarded compensation unless you demonstrate what losses you have. This makes it challenging to recover fairly. However, there are several things you can do to minimize the risks and increase the opportunity for you to recover fairly.
How to Protect Your Rights in a New Jersey Tractor Trailer Accident
Once you recover well enough to take action, hire an experienced New Jersey tractor trailer accident lawyer to fight for you. Your attorney is the most important resource you have for protecting your rights in this case.
Beyond an attorney, there are several additional steps you can take to protect your case and your right to recover damages. Let your attorney guide you in every decision related to these accidents.
Call the Police to the Accident Scene
After a tractor trailer accident, your first priority is to have the police get to you as quickly as possible. You certainly need to prioritize your health, but you also want law enforcement to document all evidence in the case and analyze the truck driver’s condition to determine if they put you at risk unnecessarily.
A key factor to remember here, though, is that you never want to admit fault, even indirectly. For example, make sure you tell the police officer what happened, but do not say, “I think” or “I did not see them.”
Get Medical Care Right Away
Even if you feel okay right now, go to the hospital and get checked out. That helps protect your health and well-being from unknown problems and health risks. However, it also works to demonstrate that your injuries occurred as a result of the accident.
If you do not get medical care for several days, the insurance company may try to claim that you were hurt in another accident after the truck accident. This is one way they may try to shift blame in the case so they do not pay for the losses you have.
In addition to this, be sure you continue to receive all medical care recommended by your doctors. Complete rehabilitation and therapy are recommended to show you are doing everything you can to recover.
Avoid Speaking to the Insurance Company Directly
You may need to notify the insurance company of the accident right after it occurs. However, you do not need to file a claim just yet. Instead, wait until you hire an attorney and begin working with your attorney to build your case. Then, let your attorney handle the conversations with the insurance company.
This helps you avoid several common problems that can occur:
- Insurance companies may try to ask you for more information than they need to make a decision, often trying to trap you into proving you had pre-existing injuries.
- Insurance companies may try to deny your claims or encourage you to make statements about your health and well-being that work against your ability to file a claim. For example, they may inquire seemingly innocently about your recovery. If you say it is going well, they may try to limit your recovery from damages.
- Trucking company insurance companies may try to trick you into making statements that you caused the accident in the first place.
The best way to protect yourself is to let the insurance company deal with your attorney and avoid all risks that they may try to abuse you throughout this process.
Your Tractor Trailer Attorney Is a Critical Advocate for You
With these strategies, you minimize the risk of struggling with your claims process. You protect your rights throughout the process. Yet, nothing is more important than hiring a trusted and experienced tractor trailer attorney to defend your rights. At Kwartler Manus, our legal team can help you start the process of building a strong case. Call today for a free consultation.