Clifton Truck Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident in Clifton, New Jersey, help is available at the Law Offices of Jeffrey S. Hasson, P.C. Our local truck accident lawyers know how these cases work and have years of experience going up against truck companies and their insurance carriers on behalf of crash victims. As your team of attorneys, we can help you with every step of the legal process in the pursuit of justice and fair financial compensation. Contact us today to request a free truck accident case evaluation in Clifton.
What Types of Compensation Are Available?
Filing an insurance claim or bringing a lawsuit against a trucking company for causing your truck accident in Clifton could result in financial compensation (damages) being awarded for several economic and noneconomic losses. Although each case is unique, the list of damages available remains relatively the same under New Jersey law, and can include:
- Necessary health care bills
- Ongoing or future medical needs
- Disability costs
- Lost wages
- Lost future capacity to earn
- Property damage
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Wrongful death damages
The damages listed above are compensatory, meaning they are awarded to compensate a victim for his or her losses. Punitive damages, on the other hand, are used to punish a defendant who is found guilty of gross negligence, maliciousness, recklessness, or a wanton and willful disregard for the safety of others. You may be eligible for both types of compensation depending on the nature of your truck accident claim.
Common Causes of Clifton Truck Accidents
Trucking companies in New Jersey and throughout the U.S. have a responsibility to ensure the reasonable safety of their transports. They must abide by federal laws to improve trucking safety, such as driver training and hiring requirements, fleet maintenance minimums, drug and alcohol testing, hours-of-service restrictions, and cargo loading and securement rules. The purpose of these laws is to minimize the number of traffic accidents involving commercial trucks and 18-wheelers.
Unfortunately, many trucking companies break the rules to save time or money. This can result in trucks that are unsafe to drive or incompetent and dangerous truck drivers. Common truck driver errors include driving while fatigued, breaking hours-of-service rules, driving under the influence, driving while distracted, texting and driving, speeding, reckless or aggressive driving, tailgating, running red lights or stop signs, and making unsafe turns or lane changes. Other common causes of trucking accidents are part breakdowns, lost cargo loads and hazardous roadways.
What to Do After a Truck Accident in Clifton, New Jersey
Being involved in a truck accident is overwhelming. If you can, however, you should take the following steps to protect your rights immediately after the crash:
- Call the police immediately to report the truck accident.
- Check yourself and others for injuries.
- Exchange information with the driver of the truck.
- Write down the name of the trucking company and the truck number.
- Give your side of the story to the police and write down your report number.
- Write down the names and phone numbers of any eyewitnesses.
- Take photographs and videos before you leave the scene.
- Go to a hospital in Clifton immediately for professional medical care.
- Call the trucking company’s insurance carrier to file a claim.
- Hire an attorney to protect your rights before going up against the truck company.
If you are too injured to take these steps, don’t worry. An attorney at the Law Offices of Jeffrey S. Hasson, P.C. can help you with a claim no matter what steps you’ve taken or could not take.
Contact Our Clifton Truck Accident Lawyers for a Free Case Review
You have rights and legal options after being injured or losing someone you love in a devastating commercial truck accident. Contact our law firm to get in touch with an experienced and knowledgeable attorney about your case. Our Clifton truck accident lawyers can investigate the crash, preserve and collect evidence to support your claim, and go up against a powerful adversary on your behalf, such as a trucking company or its insurance provider.
At the Law Offices of Jeffrey S. Hasson, P.C., you won’t pay unless we win your truck accident case. To schedule a free case consultation in Clifton, call (201) 928-0300 or contact us online anytime.