Wall Township Car Accident Lawyer
New Jersey’s Public Health Data Resource reports that car accidents are the second leading cause of death in New Jersey and throughout the country. It is also a major leading cause of catastrophic injuries and disabilities. If you’ve been hurt in a New Jersey car accident, you may be eligible to pursue compensation for your losses.
Trust Harrrell Law Firm to ensure that you get the best possible result. Insurance companies work hard to protect their profit margins, which can often mean devaluing, delaying, or denying legitimate accident and injury claims. Having an experienced attorney protects your right to recover fair and reasonable compensation for the full amount of your damages. Call today to schedule a free case review.
Common Types of Car Accidents
There are many ways to classify car accidents, such as the location, e.g., rural or urban, point of impact, vehicles involved, and the accident’s severity.
The most common types of car accidents include:
- Rear-end collisions: When the following driver collides with another vehicle in front of them, often due to tailgating.
- Head-on collisions: When two vehicles traveling in opposite directions collide. They are less common than rear-end crashes but are more deadly.
- Side-impact collisions: Also known as T-bone crashes, these are common at intersections and happen when one vehicle strikes the side of another car.
- Rollover Crashes: This happens when a vehicle flips over, often due to reckless driving, high speeds, or being struck by another car.
- Single-vehicle accidents: Involves one vehicle and can include rollovers and collisions with stationary objects.
Note that the burden is on you, the plaintiff, to prove the other driver’s negligence and a direct causal link between their negligence and your injuries. It’s wise to consult with a Wall Township car accident lawyer as soon as possible so valuable evidence that supports your claim doesn’t disappear, e.g., witnesses who might be challenging to find or surveillance video that gets erased.
Factors That Contribute to Car Accidents
Car accidents are often the result of driver negligence and include the following:
Impaired Driving
When motorists get behind the wheel of a car while impaired, their reaction time and judgment are substantially reduced. They may not be able to respond to changing road conditions. Even prescription drugs can be dangerous. Further, driving while drowsy is another form of impairment, and studies have shown it is just as dangerous as drunk driving.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving includes texting, eating, grooming, or any other task that takes the driver’s attention away from the road.
Speeding and Reckless Driving
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that speeding plays a role in 29% of all traffic fatalities. The faster a vehicle travels, the less room for error and time to correct mistakes or react to emergencies.
Other forms of reckless driving may include:
- Ignoring traffic lights and stop signs
- Improper or illegal lane changes
- Aggressive driving or road rage
Road Hazards and Inclement Weather
In New Jersey, severe weather events like heavy rain, snow, and ice storms can make roads hazardous and increase the risk of car accidents.
Drivers have a duty to other cars on the road to adjust their speed according to weather and road conditions. Going the speed limit in these circumstances could be considered negligent if visibility is poor and the roads are slick with ice.
No-Fault Insurance in New Jersey
In a no-fault insurance state, motorists file claims against their own insurance policies after an accident, regardless of who is at fault. Because there’s no need to establish fault, financial recovery tends to be faster. Personal Injury Protection (PIP) covers medical expenses up to policy limits and a percentage of lost wages, irrespective of who caused the accident. However, this limits the ability to sue the at-fault party for these and other damages unless the victim has met the state threshold of serious injuries.
In New Jersey, examples of serious injuries include the following:
- Death.
- Dismemberment.
- Significant disfigurement or significant scarring.
- Displaced fractures.
- Loss of a fetus.
Statute of Limitations for Filing a Personal Injury Claim
The statute of limitations for filing personal injury lawsuits in New Jersey is generally two years from the accident date. If you fail to file your case within this period, you may lose your right to seek compensation. There are exceptions to this rule, such as in cases where the injured party is a minor. However, conferring with your attorney is always wise to ensure compliance.
Potential Compensation in a Car Accident Claim
If your injuries have met the state threshold, the amount you may be eligible to recover depends on the seriousness of the injuries and their impact on your life. Compensation can include economic damages, such as hospital bills, lost wages, and property damage, as well as non-economic damages, like pain and suffering, PTSD, depression, and reduced enjoyment of life. Courts sometimes award punitive damages in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct, e.g., drunk driving.
Schedule a Free Consultation at Harrell Law Firm
If you or a loved one were injured in a motor vehicle crash, your choice of a New Jersey car accident lawyer makes a difference. Whether the wreck occurred in Wall Township or another part of Monmouth County, you can count on our New Jersey injury lawyers for skilled representation. Schedule a free consultation today. Since we work on a contingency fee basis, you will not pay attorney’s fees unless we obtain compensation for your injuries.
