UPS delivery trucks make thousands of deliveries throughout Jersey City every day. When a collision involves one of these commercial vehicles, the aftermath can be more complicated than a typical car accident.
You may find yourself dealing with a large corporation, commercial insurance carriers, and an investigation that begins almost immediately after the crash.
The steps you take after a UPS truck accident can have a significant impact on your health and your ability to recover compensation.
At Glugeth & Pierguidi, P.C., we help injured people throughout New Jersey pursue compensation after serious truck and delivery vehicle accidents.
Our Jersey City truck accident attorneys have recovered more than $100 million for our clients and have extensive experience handling commercial vehicle cases. We understand the unique challenges these claims present and work to protect our clients from the beginning of the claims process.
The following steps can help protect your rights after a UPS truck accident in Jersey City.
What Should I Do After a Jersey City UPS Truck Accident?
The hours and days after a UPS truck accident can be chaotic. Taking the right steps can help protect your health and preserve important evidence that may support a future claim.
Here are some of the most important actions to take after a Jersey City truck accident involving a UPS delivery vehicle.
Seek Medical Attention
Your health should be the first priority.
Call 911 immediately and request emergency assistance. Even if your injuries seem minor, it is important to undergo a medical evaluation. Some injuries may not show symptoms right away. You may be transported to nearby facilities such as Jersey City Medical Center.
Prompt medical treatment helps protect your health while creating records that connect your injuries to the accident.
Collect Photographic and Video Surveillance
Evidence can disappear quickly after a truck accident. If you are physically able, take photographs of:
- All vehicle damage,
- The UPS truck,
- License plates,
- Roadway conditions,
- Traffic signs and signals,
- Skid marks,
- Debris fields, and
- Visible injuries.
Video footage may also exist. Depending on the location of the collision, surveillance footage could be available from nearby businesses, apartment buildings, gas stations, warehouses, or traffic cameras.
Get the Contact Information and Truck Details from the UPS Truck Driver
Obtain as much information as possible from the UPS driver before leaving the scene. Important information may include:
- Driver’s name,
- Driver’s license information,
- Phone number,
- Insurance information,
- UPS vehicle number, and
- License plate number.
Avoid discussing fault or apologizing for the accident. Even seemingly harmless comments can later be used against you during the claims process.
Identify Any Witnesses to the Accident and Ask for Their Contact Information
Independent witnesses often provide valuable evidence in truck accident cases.
UPS drivers and corporate representatives may have different versions of events. Neutral third-party witnesses can help establish exactly what happened.
Try to obtain:
- Names,
- Addresses,
- Phone numbers, and
- Email addresses.
Witnesses may include pedestrians, nearby motorists, delivery workers, business employees, or residents who observed the collision.
Order the Police Report
The police report provides an official record of the crash and often includes information about the parties involved, witness statements, road conditions, vehicle damage, and the investigating officer’s observations.
In most Jersey City UPS truck accident cases, the responding agency will be the Jersey City Police Department. However, accidents occurring on major highways such as Interstate 78 and Route 440 may be investigated by the New Jersey State Police.
If the accident occurs in or around Port Authority facilities, including areas associated with the Holland Tunnel approaches, the Port Authority Police Department will respond.
Request a copy of the police report as soon as it becomes available.
Save Any Medical and Financial Records Related to the Crash
The value of a truck accident claim is often determined by the documentation available. Keep copies of all records related to your injuries and financial losses, including:
- Emergency room bills,
- Hospital records,
- Physical therapy records,
- Prescription expenses,
- Diagnostic imaging reports,
- Pay stubs showing lost wages,
- Vehicle repair estimates, and
- Out-of-pocket expenses.
These documents help demonstrate the full impact the accident has had on your life.
Follow the Medical Treatment Set by Your Doctor
Many accident victims begin feeling better and stop treatment before they have fully recovered. This can create problems for both your health and your legal claim.
Insurance companies often review medical records looking for gaps in treatment. They may argue that your injuries were not serious or that you recovered sooner than claimed.
Attend follow-up appointments, complete physical therapy recommendations, and follow your doctor’s instructions as closely as possible.
Consistent treatment creates a clear record of your recovery and the challenges you continue to experience.
Notify Your Insurance Company of the Accident
Most insurance policies require prompt notification following a collision. When reporting the accident:
- Provide basic facts,
- Stick to accurate information,
- Avoid speculation,
- Do not guess about fault, and
- Decline requests for recorded statements until you speak with an attorney.
Remember that UPS and its insurance representatives may begin investigating shortly after the crash. Their goal is often to minimize the company’s liability and financial exposure.
Avoid Posting on Social Media
Insurance companies routinely review social media accounts during accident investigations. Photos, videos, comments, and location check-ins may be taken out of context and used to challenge your injury claim.
It is generally best to avoid discussing the accident online and limit social media activity while your claim remains pending.
Consult a New Jersey Delivery Truck Accident Lawyer
UPS truck accident claims are often more complicated than ordinary car accident cases. Consulting an attorney soon after the accident can help protect your rights.
An attorney can act quickly to investigate the crash, preserve evidence, identify all liable parties, and handle communications with insurance companies. Just as importantly, a lawyer can help ensure that your claim is filed before New Jersey’s two-year statute of limitations expires.
At Glugeth & Pierguidi, P.C., we help injured clients understand their legal options after serious truck and delivery vehicle accidents.
Looking for a UPS Truck Accident Lawyer Near Me? Contact Glugeth & Pierguidi, P.C. Today
Taking the right steps after a Jersey City UPS truck accident can help protect both your health and your legal rights.
At Glugeth & Pierguidi, P.C., our attorneys have spent decades representing injured clients and pursuing accountability from negligent parties.
We carefully investigate accidents, work with medical and financial professionals when necessary, and aggressively advocate for the compensation our clients seek.
Contact Glugeth & Pierguidi, P.C. for a free consultation with a seasoned New Jersey delivery truck accident lawyer.
David Pierguidi and Jared Glugeth understand how hard it may be for you and your family following an accident resulting from someone’s negligent actions. Get the medical treatment you need right away and then call our law firm at any time of day for answers to your questions.
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