Union Truck Accident Lawyer
Trucks can weigh up to 10 times more than the largest passenger vehicles, which means that even small truck wrecks can cause severe injuries. In recognition of this, the state of New Jersey requires increased insurance for commercial vehicles. Even smaller commercial vehicles have to carry more insurance than other vehicles. These higher insurance amounts help ensure people injured in trucking accidents have access to the resources they need.
However, dealing with a truck accident claim can still be daunting. While their insurance policies are extensive, the insurance companies still try to avoid paying out money as much as possible. They may offer lowball settlements when you are at your most vulnerable. In addition, these cases are often complex and may involve multiple parties. Fortunately, if you are in a trucking accident, our personal injury attorneys could help. A Union truck accident lawyer can assess your case, explain your legal rights, and help you explore all your potential damages.
Damages in Truck Wrecks
Truck wreck victims can recover three types of damages. Economic damages repay people for financial losses like medical bills, lost wages, or loss of earning capacity. Non-economic damages cover intangible losses, like loss of consortium or pain and suffering. Together, the goal of these damages is to make the injured party whole, returning them to the position they were in before the accident.
The third type of damage is punitive damages, which punishes a wrongdoer. Punitive damages are only available if the driver’s behavior is egregious and are rarely awarded to an injured person.
Common Injuries from Truck Collisions
While some people may walk away from truck accidents with only minor injuries, it is not unusual for people to suffer life-changing injuries or even death. Some of these severe injuries include:
- Broken bones
- Soft tissue injuries
- Whiplash
- Spinal cord injuries
- Amputations
- Crush injuries
- Lacerations
- Organ damage
The nature of these injuries can be long-lasting, which can make it essential for a person not to accept a settlement offer without thoroughly understanding the cost of those injuries. A Union truck accident attorney may rely on medical evidence and expert advice to help determine the lifelong costs associated with particular injuries. Armed with that information, an injured person is better positioned to make wise decisions about settlement offers.
Causes of Truck Accidents
Truck drivers face some of the same risks as other motorists. However, like everything else involved in a truck accident, these risks can be more significant. The size of a truck means it is less maneuverable, more challenging to stop, and more likely to roll over than other vehicles. A mistake that could lead to a close call in a passenger vehicle is much more likely to result in a wreck in a truck.
Some truckers turn to both legal and illegal substances to manage the stresses of their job. Some may take sleeping pills to rest, stimulants to stay alert, or other drugs that can impair their driving ability. They may not even realize they are intoxicated if they use these substances to sleep or stay awake.
Fatigue is another significant risk, especially for long-haul truckers. Even with federally mandated rest breaks, lack of sufficient sleep can impair a driver’s abilities. Combining a lack of sleep with long stretches of driving makes it easy to see how drowsy driving can cause an accident.
While distracted driving has always been a problem for truckers, the widespread use of cell phones and other wireless devices has magnified the problem. While people tout the benefits of multitasking, truckers should only focus on the road. Activities like texting, making phone calls, eating, or even daydreaming can increase the risk of an accident. A lawyer in Union could determine the cause of a truck crash and collect evidence to demonstrate a trucker’s negligence.
Speak to a Union Truck Accident Attorney
Truck wrecks have the potential to destroy your health, keep you from being able to work, and change the nature of your relationships in a moment. Dealing with the aftermath can put an immense amount of pressure on you, threatening your physical, emotional, and financial well-being. Under that pressure, it can be tempting to take a lowball settlement offer to avoid having to fight. Insurance companies count on that. Instead of letting them dictate your future, get the help of a Union truck accident lawyer. Schedule a consultation to learn more.