Victims of NJ motor vehicle accidents are often overwhelmed. They have to deal with their injuries, at-fault drivers and insurance companies. When accidents involve multiple vehicles, victims of car or truck accidents are even more confused because they have deal with more insurance companies, involved parties, etc.
Using a recent truck-car accident that happened on a NJ highway as an example, this article will go through the legal options injured victims have and how they can obtain financial recovery.
Earlier this month, there was a fatal multi-vehicle accident on Route 78 in Union, New Jersey. A 24 year old in an Audi A4 was driving from the Garden State Parkway ramp entering Route 78 when the fatal accident happened. The 24 year old driver traveled into the path of a fuel tanker truck, which hit his car. Both vehicles then crashed into a tractor-trailer carrying mulch in the left express lane. The tanker and tractor-trailer didn’t come to a stop until the fuel tanker got mounted on the concrete barrier. The 9,000 gallons of fuel in the tanker ignited and flames engulfed both trucks. *Source: www.nj.com (WATCH: Truck driver escapes fatal Route 78 crash, fire by crawling out windshield)
The tanker driver crawled through the windshield of the burning truck and was listed in critical condition. The driver of the tractor-trailer hauling mulch also sustained injuries.
Related: NJ Motor Vehicle Accidents Involving Tractor-Trailers Often Result in Serious Injuries or Fatalities
Legal Options for the Injured Truck Drivers in this NJ Highway Accident
If liability in this NJ highway car accident is clear, i.e., the driver of the Audi caused the car accident, both injured truck drivers may pursue a motor vehicle accident injury lawsuit against the Audi driver.
The Audi driver’s insurance company would compensate the injured truck drivers pursuant to the liability coverage in his car insurance policy. Liability coverage, also known as bodily injury liability, is a coverage in all NJ auto insurance policies. If insured drivers cause motor vehicle accidents and injure other drivers, passengers or pedestrians, this coverage financially compensates the injured individuals for their damages and their losses, up to the limit purchased by the insured driver.
How Bodily Injury Liability Coverage Works in a NJ Car Accident Case
Bodily injury liability coverage is a split limit coverage in NJ. This means that the coverage is different if there is one person injured versus multiple people injured in the accident. For example, a bodily injury liability coverage of $15,000/$30,000 means that an injured individual may receive up to $15,000. If there are multiple injured parties, the maximum amount the insurance company will pay is $30,000 for all injured parties’ injuries per accident.
If there are 2 injured individuals, each individual may receive up to $15,000, totaling the maximum of $30,000 coverage for the accident. However, if there are more than 2 injured individuals, $30,000 will be divided among each of the injured parties depending on their injuries.
In this particular accident, if the Audi driver has $15,000/$30,000 policy, then each injured truck driver may receive up to $15,000. In addition, the truck drivers may pursue UIM claims if the Audi driver’s liability coverage is not enough to compensate them for their injuries and damages.
Click here to read the option of filing UIM claims for the injured truck drivers.
Injured in a NJ Car Accident? Call Philip T. Ciprietti, Esq. to schedule a FREE case evaluation. Mr. Ciprietti is an experienced NJ car accident lawyer and has helped many injured drivers and passengers in NJ. 800.281.8695
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