If you’ve ever been a victim of a car accident, you know how complex the situation can get in a short time. Thus, imagine how complicated a truck accident. While insurance claims and medical treatment are issues that need to be handled, determining who is at fault in a New Jersey truck accident can take a long time.
Reasons why truck accidents are complex
Since trucks are bigger than cars, accidents that they are involved in can cause serious injuries to occupants of other vehicles. In many cases, truck accidents result in fatalities. Trucks have more weight than cars, and thus they are harder to stop and when they collide, they do so with more force.
Truck ownership can entail a chain of parties. Many trucks are not owned by the driver, but by companies that lease them to other firms. Thus, in case of an accident, it’s hard to determine the ownership. Even though the driver is at fault, it is often hard to determine liability.
Many truck companies that are found at fault avoid paying for damages. When they do, they often pay very little. When truck accidents occur, the trucking company, insurance firm and truck driver will be involved in the equation. All these parties make the accident follow-up complicated.
What to do in case of a truck accident
If you are injured in a truck accident, there are a few steps you need to be aware of and that will help you:
- Focus on your health and ensure you are calm and remain safe.
- Taking photographs is an added advantage.
- Call 911 or file a police report
- Contact an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as you are reasonably able to do so.
