Find out who is ultimately liable for your car accident and how to get the compensation you need right away so that you do not compromise your recovery.
Negligent drivers, negligent drivers’ employers, vehicle manufacturers, and local municipalities may be liable for car accidents. Fault can even be shared between multiple parties. Once we determine who is liable and that you can file a lawsuit, we may pursue compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and non-economic damages on your behalf. Waiting too long to get an attorney after a car accident could put your case in jeopardy, so make it a priority.
Agrapidis & Maroules, P.C. can review your case for free when you call our car accident lawyers at (551) 525-6465.
Who Could Be Liable for a Car Accident in Scotch Plains?
Investigating all potential liable parties after a car accident is important so that you pursue compensation. While negligent drivers are most often liable for motor vehicle accidents, other parties can also be at fault.
A Negligent Driver
Even in a no-fault state such as New Jersey, a negligent driver can be held liable for a car accident that causes serious injuries. Drivers who ignore the speed limit, recklessly change lanes, follow other cars too closely, or drive while texting demonstrate negligence.
Drivers may also be liable for accidents due to gross negligence and egregious misconduct, such as drunk driving.
A Negligent Driver’s Employer
Many drivers on the road at any given time are making deliveries or otherwise working. If a commercial truck driver hits and injures you while they are actively working within the scope of their employment, their employer can be held liable for the consequences of the driver’s negligence.
Vehicle Manufacturer
Sometimes, design or production defects within vehicles cause severe single-vehicle and multi-vehicle accidents that warrant compensation. If an accident happened because you suddenly lost steering control, your car’s brakes failed, or the engine suddenly stalled, or another event occurred, the vehicle manufacturer might be held liable for your damages.
Local Municipalities
New Jersey allows victims to sue local municipalities for injuries under very specific conditions. If the municipality ignored a major pothole or other road imperfection that caused your accident, you may have a claim against Scotch Plains Township.
To do this, you must submit a formal notice of your intent to sue within the first 90 days of your injuries. You then have to wait 6 months while your claim is reviewed and cannot file during that time. The statute of limitations to sue local municipalities for car accident injuries is 2 years from the date of injury.
When Should You Get a Car Accident Lawyer for an Accident in Scotch Plains?
Many victims underestimate their injuries or assume that they can handle dealing with insurance companies and negligent drivers themselves and still get the compensation they deserve. Unfortunately, that is a common mistake, as having an attorney by your side can greatly increase your chances of recovering full compensation.
Prioritize finding a lawyer that you trust very soon after a motor vehicle accident of any kind. The days and weeks afterward are critical for evidence collection, which our car accident lawyers can oversee on your behalf.
Even if you are unsure whether your injuries are serious enough to sue or if you still have time left in the statute of limitations, you should still see whether you have a case. The statute of limitations for car accident lawsuits in New Jersey is 2 years, giving victims time to decide how they wish to seek compensation.
What Economic Damages Can You Seek After a Car Accident in Scotch Plains?
Car accident victims can seek relief for any lost wages, medical bills, and other out-of-pocket expenses they incur.
Medical Expenses
Injured drivers and passengers may seek compensation for any medical expenses they have incurred due to another driver’s negligence. Include all medical expenses in your request for relief when you file a lawsuit, from hospital stays to prescription medications. You should not have to pay any medical expenses yourself after suffering injuries because of someone else’s negligence or recklessness.
Lost Wages
You may also seek lost wages in the aftermath of a car accident. Being unable to return to work right after serious collisions is common, and victims should not try to resume working too soon, as this might exacerbate their injuries.
Tax returns, paychecks, and other employment information let us calculate your lost wages to date and estimate your future lost wages if you can never return to the same earning capacity after an accident.
What Non-Economic Damages Can You Seek After a Car Accident in Scotch Plains?
Most car accident victims incur non-economic damages, but whether they are recoverable largely depends on the outcome of each specific accident and the type of personal injury protection insurance victims have.
If You Select the Limitation on Lawsuit Option
New Jersey drivers with the limitation on lawsuit option for personal injury protection insurance may only seek non-economic damages after suffering serious injuries. This includes death, displaced fractures, miscarriage, significant scarring or disfigurement, dismemberment, and other permanent injuries.
Plaintiffs who pass the serious injury threshold may seek compensation for mental suffering, emotional anguish, physical pain, reduced quality of life, and other non-economic damages.
If You Select the No Limitation on Lawsuit Option
Drivers who select the no limitation on lawsuit option for personal injury protection insurance may file lawsuits for non-economic damages without suffering serious injuries. The no limitation on lawsuit option is less restrictive, but it is also more expensive, making it a less common selection among New Jersey drivers.
We can confirm the type of personal injury protection insurance you have and explain how it might impact your recovery.
Get Our Help with Your Scotch Plains Car Accident Case
Get a free, confidential case analysis from Agrapidis & Maroules, P.C. by calling our car accident lawyers at (551) 525-6465.