An accident involving a large commercial vehicle can lead to devastating consequences. Due to the massive weight and size of commercial vehicles, serious injuries, paralysis, and fatalities can result from a crash. Commercial vehicle owners have a responsibility to train and insure their drivers and to be certain their vehicles are safe for the road.
Being a shipping hub, New Jersey has various roadways. Tractor trailers, large trucks, and other commercial vehicles are constantly operating on New Jersey highways. Add to that a large number of passenger vehicles driving in New Jersey, and the result is a densely populated state with a high probability of crashes taking place.
According to the Port Authority, over 4,000 fatal crashes involving commercial vehicles weighing over 10,000 pounds occur every year in the U.S. And that’s only a fraction of the over 85,000 injuries suffered in big rig accidents nationwide each year.
How to Recover Expenses from a Commercial Truck Accident?
Because New Jersey has no-fault automobile insurance laws, your ability to sue negligent drivers who cause accidents is restricted. No fault-insurance is first-party insurance that provides immediate medical treatment and other benefits after an accident regardless of who may have been at fault. While this coverage can be beneficial, it does limit the policyholder’s ability to sue negligent drivers for personal injury.
This limitation on personal injury lawsuits does not always apply to commercial truck accident cases. Therefore, it may be possible for a motorist injured by a commercial truck to collect no-fault insurance benefits in addition to suing the negligent owner and operator of the commercial truck for damages.
Factors Determining Who Pays for Commercial Vehicle Accident Damages
A number of factors exist that can determine who is responsible for damages in a commercial vehicle accident. Our attorneys will consider the following:
- Do all drivers have insurance?
- Was the commercial vehicle independently owned or company owned?
- Were you a passenger, pedestrian, or driver?
- What are the specific terms of insurance for all drivers and vehicle owners?
- What are your medical treatment costs?
- Have you suffered permanent injuries?
- Were your injuries suffered while performing job-related duties?
These are some of the questions that must be carefully considered in order to properly prepare your claim for recovery. Our attorneys will work with you and the insurance companies involved to obtain the compensation you deserve.
Contact Us Today
The statute of limitations regarding personal injury claims in the state of New Jersey is two years. This means that you have two years from the date the accident occurred to pursue relevant damages. There’s no time to waste in obtaining an experienced, competent attorney to represent you. Don’t attempt to deal with the consequences of a commercial vehicle accident alone. We’ll fight for your best interest and conduct a thorough investigation of your case. If you or a loved one has been injured in a commercial vehicle accident, call one of our New Jersey commercial vehicle accident attorneys right away.