Truck accidents can have devastating consequences for those involved. Because injuries in truck accidents are often severe, victims are forced to contend with high medical bills, lost income and long-term disabilities. In the aftermath of the crash, your focus should be on getting care that will help you to recover and get you back on your feet. But figuring out how you will be compensated for your medical expenses, lost wages and other damages can weigh heavy on your mind. If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, the insurance company may be offering you a settlement but how do you know if it’s fair?
Is This the First Offer from the Insurance Company?
In the first weeks or early months after a truck accident, the insurance company may try to contact you and pressure you to accept a settlement. Do not agree to an offer without consulting an attorney. Once you settle you can never go back to seek compensation for medical treatment or other losses. If you don’t understand the severity of your injuries and the expected prognosis, you may be left with bills that you may not have been anticipating. Insurance companies will try to take advantage of your fear and anxiety by convincing you to settle quickly.
Have You Reached Maximum Medical Improvement?
Fair truck accident settlements in New Jersey include the full cost of your medical expenses -- both in the immediate aftermath of the accident and ongoing treatment. If your medical treatment will extend far into the future, or you have lasting injuries that will require ongoing treatment, your claim could include a demand for compensation for these future medical expenses. Medical expenses include:
- Hospital bills
- Doctors and specialists fees
- Rehabilitation services and therapy
- Medications
- Medical devices
You need to have reached maximum medical improvement (MMI) before you can understand the total of your losses and before you should settle a claim. Maximum medical improvement is the point at which you have fully recovered from your injuries; or, in the case of serious injury, MMI may be the point at which continued medical treatment is unlikely to improve your condition. This is not to say that you may not need continued medical care to manage the limitations presented by your injury or additional services to have the best quality of life possible.
In addition, compensation can include lost wages and future lost wages. The higher the amount of your medical bills and other damages that you are seeking, the more complex the negotiation becomes--and the more important it is to enlist the help of a New Jersey truck accident lawyer who can represent your best interests. Most insurance adjusters will take you seriously if you pursue a high-value claim with the help of a lawyer, making it much easier to obtain fair compensation.
Fair Settlement for Pain and Suffering in a Truck Accident
A fair truck accident settlement often includes compensation for intangible losses for emotional injuries and mental anguish like pain and suffering or mental anguish. Every case and settlement is unique, so insurance companies look at the severity and permanency of your bodily injuries. In other words, you will be entitled to more money for pain and suffering if you suffered a burn injury than if you sprained your ankle. The more severe and permanent your injury is, the more pain and suffering you will experience, and the more you deserve in compensation for your injuries.
Do You Need a Lawyer for a Fair Settlement after a Truck Accident?
Hiring an experienced New Jersey truck accident lawyer can make all the difference in the outcome of your case. Why risk being unfairly compensated and not having recourse to fix it?
If you were harmed in a truck accident and believe the driver should be held liable for his or her reckless, careless, or otherwise negligent actions, we urge you to contact our New Jersey truck accident attorneys at Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law today. We can examine your case and gather evidence to fight for your rights and pursue maximum monetary compensation for you. We are highly skilled and experienced in this area, we understand what factors must be examined and what forms of evidence must be provided in order to get the justice and compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation.
When you hire a truck accident lawyer from Brandon J. Broderick, you pay nothing upfront. We work on contingent fees that are only collected if we win your case. If we don’t win, you don’t pay. Don’t wait, contact us today for a free consultation. With our proven track record of success and our commitment to client care, we can turn your setback into a comeback.
We have locations across New Jersey from Jersey City to Trenton.