Injured in a Truck Accident in East Brunswick – What Should You Do Next
If you have been injured in a truck accident in East Brunswick, New Jersey, you are likely facing serious physical, emotional, and financial challenges. Accidents involving large commercial trucks on roads like Route 18, Route 1, Cranbury Road, and near the New Jersey Turnpike in Middlesex County often lead to severe injuries due to the size and force of these vehicles. Knowing what to do next is critical. The steps you take after a truck accident can directly impact your recovery, your ability to prove fault, and the compensation you may be entitled to under New Jersey law.
Seek Immediate Medical Attention and Protect Your Health
Your health should always be your first priority after a truck accident. Even if you feel stable, you should seek medical attention immediately. Injuries such as concussions, internal bleeding, spinal damage, and soft tissue injuries are common in truck crashes and may not show symptoms right away. Delaying treatment can worsen your condition and create gaps in your medical records.
Under N.J.S.A. 39:6A-4, most New Jersey auto insurance policies include Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits. These benefits may cover medical expenses regardless of fault. However, whether PIP applies in a truck accident depends on the vehicles involved and your specific policy.
Report the Truck Accident in East Brunswick
You are required to report a truck accident that involves injury, death, or significant property damage. Under N.J.S.A. 39:4-130, you must notify law enforcement and ensure that an accident report is filed. In East Brunswick, this typically means contacting local police or the New Jersey State Police.
The police report is an important piece of evidence. It documents key details such as the location of the crash, the drivers involved, witness statements, and the officer’s observations. You should request a copy as soon as it becomes available and review it for accuracy.
Gather and Preserve Critical Evidence
Truck accident cases often rely heavily on evidence. If you are able, you should take photographs of the accident scene, including vehicle damage, road conditions, traffic signals, skid marks, and your injuries. You should also collect the truck driver’s name, employer, insurance information, and any identifying numbers on the truck.
Witnesses can provide valuable support for your claim, so obtaining their contact information is important. In many truck accident cases, additional evidence such as maintenance records, inspection logs, and electronic data may exist. This evidence may not be preserved indefinitely, which makes acting quickly essential.
Understand Liability in East Brunswick Truck Accidents
Truck accident claims are often more complex than typical car accident cases because multiple parties may be responsible. Liability may involve the truck driver, the trucking company, a maintenance provider, or another party connected to the operation of the vehicle.
New Jersey follows a modified comparative negligence rule under N.J.S.A. 2A:15-5.1. This means you can recover damages as long as you are not more than 50 percent at fault. However, your compensation will be reduced based on your percentage of responsibility. Because fault plays a major role in your case, a thorough investigation is necessary to identify all responsible parties.
Be Cautious When Dealing With Insurance Companies
After a truck accident in East Brunswick, insurance companies may contact you quickly. They may request a recorded statement or offer a settlement before you fully understand your injuries. You should approach these interactions carefully.
Insurance adjusters are focused on minimizing payouts. Early settlement offers are often far below the true value of your claim. Accepting one too soon may leave you without enough compensation to cover future medical care, lost income, and long-term effects of your injuries.
Know the Time Limits for Filing a Claim
New Jersey law imposes a strict deadline for filing personal injury claims. Under N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2, you generally have two years from the accident date to file a lawsuit. Missing this deadline can prevent you from recovering compensation. Some cases may involve different timelines, such as claims involving minors or public entities.
Understand the Serious Injury Threshold
New Jersey’s limitation on lawsuit option may affect your ability to recover damages for pain and suffering. Under N.J.S.A. 39:6A-8, you may need to meet a serious injury threshold to pursue noneconomic damages.
This threshold includes injuries such as permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability, significant disfigurement, displaced fractures, or loss of a fetus. Determining whether your injuries meet this standard requires detailed medical documentation and legal evaluation.
Types of Compensation You May Recover
A truck accident in East Brunswick can have long-term consequences. You may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, and reduced earning capacity. In addition, you may recover damages for pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.
In more serious cases, compensation may also include future medical care and long-term support needs. Properly valuing your claim requires a full understanding of how your injuries will affect your life now and in the future.
Fatal Truck Accidents and Wrongful Death Claims
If a truck accident results in the loss of a loved one, New Jersey law allows certain family members to pursue compensation. Under N.J.S.A. 2A:31-1, a wrongful death claim may be brought when death is caused by a wrongful act or neglect. Additionally, N.J.S.A. 2A:15-3 allows for a survival action on behalf of the estate. These claims involve specific legal requirements, including who may file and what damages may be recovered.
Why Hiring a Truck Accident Lawyer Matters
Working with an experienced East Brunswick truck accident lawyer can make a significant difference in your case. A local attorney understands Middlesex County roads, local courts, and the legal process in New Jersey. They can investigate your accident, preserve evidence, identify liable parties, and handle negotiations with insurance companies.
Having legal representation helps ensure that your claim is handled properly, deadlines are met, and your case reflects the full extent of your injuries and losses. This allows you to focus on recovery while your legal rights are protected.
East Brunswick Truck Accident Lawyers
Beninato & Matrafajlo Attorneys at Law, LLC has recovered over $100 million for New Jersey injury victims, including a $4,650,000 recovery for a pedestrian struck by a commercial vehicle. Led by Dan T. Matrafajlo—recognized as a Top 10 Personal Injury Attorney, Super Lawyers Rising Star, and member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum—the firm stands out for delivering high-value outcomes and aggressive representation. Contact Beninato & Matrafajlo Attorneys at Law, LLC by calling (732) 795-5679 or contacting us online for a free consultation with an East Brunswick truck accident lawyer.
Dan T. Matrafajlo, Esq. is the Managing Member and Lead Partner at Beninato & Matrafajlo, Attorneys at Law, LLC, a New Jersey-based personal injury law firm with offices in Elizabeth and East Brunswick. With over two decades of experience representing clients in complex matters—including motor vehicle accidents, workers’ compensation, and wrongful death cases—he has recovered over $100 million on behalf of his clients and is known for securing significant results. He has also helped shape New Jersey personal injury law through notable Appellate Division decisions such as Hardison v. King and Frenklakh v. Lojek, with his litigation work featured in the New Jersey Law Journal, underscoring his authority in the field.
Mr. Matrafajlo was recognized as a Super Lawyers® Rising Stars honoree from 2012 to 2017 and is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum—an honor reserved for attorneys who have achieved multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements. Combining deep legal expertise with a client-focused approach, he provides strategic, results-driven representation while guiding clients through every stage of the legal process. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law and is admitted to practice in both New Jersey and New York.
