Being involved in a car accident can be traumatizing and stressful, and you may end up with financial losses and obligations you otherwise would not have had. You may even face the death of a loved one, as traffic-related deaths are the leading cause of accidental fatality in New Jersey, according to the New Jersey State Police.
At Pintas & Mullins Law Firm, our legal team works with car accident victims to help them get the compensation they deserve after they become the victim of a wreck because of someone’s negligence. Speak with one of our representatives today at (800) 223-5115 to learn more, as you may benefit from hiring a New Jersey car accident lawyer to handle all aspects of your case.
What You Should Do After a Car Crash
After being involved in a car crash, there are some steps you should consider taking so that your case is as solid as possible. First, contact the police so that there will be an official police report on file. Hopefully, any witnesses stopped to help. You or someone else in the car should try to get their contact information so they can corroborate your account of what happened.
If you can, try to get some photos or video of the crash scene as well as the damage to your car. This will all need to be documented later on if you decide to file a claim.
No matter how small your injuries may be, you need to seek medical attention after the wreck. A medical professional will need to examine you so there is an official record of any injuries that you received from the accident.
You should also consider consulting with an auto accident attorney, as they will have the knowledge and expertise needed to help you figure out what you need to do to get everything in order.
Causes of Auto Accidents
Many times, car crashes are caused by driver negligence or road neglect. If you or a loved one are a victim of that negligence, then you may have a case. Some of the types of negligent behavior that can lead to auto collisions in New Jersey include:
- Distracted Driving
- Driver Fatigue
- Improper Loading
- Road Hazards
- Drunk Driving
- Texting While Driving
- Reckless Driving
- Speeding
- Refusing to Obey Stop Signs/Red Lights
- Failure to Yield
These negligent behaviors while driving violate the first element of negligence, which is that drivers have a duty to each other to operate their vehicles correctly. They breached that duty by behaving negligently while driving, and thus caused your wreck as well as any injuries you received, such as:
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Concussion
- Broken Limbs
- Internal Bleeding
- Organ Damage
- Lacerations
Proving negligence will make you eligible to seek compensation for your car accident. Hiring a New Jersey car accident lawyer may help you in this area, along with many others.
For a free legal consultation, call (800) 223-5115
How a Lawyer May Benefit Your Case
Hiring an attorney for your auto accident claim may end up beneficial to you in the long run, and the best part is that it comes with no financial obligation unless or until your case is won. This is called a contingency fee, which is how many personal injury lawyers operate.
Your lawyer will communicate with everyone involved, including your insurance company. This can help save you from getting lowballed on a settlement, as many insurance companies try to pay out as little as possible. The attorney will also know what they need to say and do in order to negotiate successfully with the other driver’s insurance company.
A lawyer will work to prove that the other driver was negligent and hopefully reduce your fault if any was assigned to you at the scene of the accident. Under New Jersey’s comparative negligence law, you are eligible to collect damages from the other driver so long as you have 50 percent or less of the fault. Your damages will also be reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to you. If your total award is $10,000 and you have 20 percent of the blame, then you would end up with $8,000.
According to New Jersey Statutes §2A:14-2, there is a two-year time limit on personal injury claims, and your attorney will compile all evidence and get your case filed in time before that statute expires.
Types of Compensation You May Collect After a New Jersey Car Accident
Once your eligibility to seek compensation is proven, you may file for several types of compensation in your claim. Your lawyer will work with you to help you decide what to add to your claim in order to get the maximum compensation possible. For example, if you have severe injuries that require long-term care, then you would need to file for lost future earnings as well as an estimate of your future medical costs for things like rehabilitation and physical therapy. Types of compensation you may want to file for include:
- Wrongful Death
- Personal Property Damages
- Lost Compensation
- Future Earnings
- Medical Bills
- Future Medical Costs
- Pain and Suffering
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Call Us for a Free Consultation Today
If you or a loved one were a victim of a car accident in New Jersey, you may be able to recover damages for what happened to you. The legal team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm could potentially help you with getting your case filed and solved as quickly as possible. We have been in practice for more than 35 years and have the experience needed to get our clients the most compensation possible. When you choose to work with us, you will get a New Jersey car accident lawyer who will communicate with you every single step of the way. Contact us today at (800) 223-5115 to set up a free initial consultation with one of our representatives.
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