Washington Twp., NJ Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
A motorcycle accident can involve serious injuries that cause expensive medical bills and substantial time off work. If you or a member of your family was seriously injured, it might be difficult to get your life back on track. In many cases, victims of motorcycle crashes can get financial compensation from the at-fault driver who injured them. To learn more about how to get damages in your Washington Township motorcycle accident case, call Jerry Friedman today.
Jerry Friedman is a Washington Twp. motorcycle accident lawyer who represents injury victims and their families. Jerry has over 40 years of experience fighting motorcycle accident cases, and he might be able to take your case, too. For a free legal consultation, call our law offices today at 1-800-LAW-4-HOGS.
Getting Financial Compensation for Motorcycle Accident Injuries in Washington Township, NJ
If you were injured in a motorcycle crash, you could now face serious expenses and injuries. The cost of medical care can be very expensive, especially if you do not have health insurance. These costs could put you in serious debt or even bankrupt your family – but there is no reason you should have to cover these costs on your own if someone else caused your accident. A lawsuit against the driver who hit you can often pay damages for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
The compensation you claim in a lawsuit can pay for emergency medical care, follow-up care with your doctor, and ongoing physical therapy needs. It can also cover any wages you missed or will miss because of your injuries. This includes wages you already missed from time off work as well as any reduction in wages if you need to take a lower-paying job.
Financial compensation is also available for pain and suffering. Medical bills and lost wages are economic damages, and there are usually records of these costs. In contrast, pain and suffering damages are difficult to put a price tag on. However, your testimony about how the injury affected you and interrupted your life can help put a value on these damages.
Filing a Lawsuit vs. an Insurance Claim for Damages for a Washington Twp. Motorcycle Accident
To maximize the compensation you are entitled to, it might be better to file a lawsuit than an insurance claim. Insurance claims are limited by the insurance policy. That usually means excluding coverage for pain and suffering and capping damages for medical bills and lost wages at a fraction of their full value. In many cases, it is better to file your case in court.
Courts have a broader ability to order damages. They are not limited by insurance policies and can order an individual defendant to pay any and all damages that are proven in court. After trial, some portion of your damages might be used to pay attorney’s fees and court costs, but these can often be claimed against the at-fault party as well.
In some cases, defendants will seek to have a case settle early. If they can shut down the case quickly, they can avoid paying the cost of going to trial and might be able to settle for less. However, early settlement offers are often too low. It is important to talk to a lawyer before accepting any compensation to make sure that it is enough. If you accept a settlement that is too low, you might not be able to go back to court and seek additional compensation.
Determining Fault in a Washington Township Motorcycle Accident
Courts usually decide auto accident cases based on who was at fault for the crash. Determining fault usually means looking at the circumstances leading up to the crash and determining whether either party’s actions were “negligent.” Negligence in an auto accident usually means a violation of traffic laws or safe-driving practices that put someone else in danger. Drunk driving, distracted driving, and reckless driving are some examples of serious violations, but speeding, failing to signal, and running a stop sign can also cause crashes.
If you were hit while riding a motorcycle, the other driver might argue that you were actually at fault. Motorcycle riders are often accused of contributing to their own crashes by failing to wear protective gear or for the simple fact that they were exposed on a motorcycle instead of protected inside a car. Except for NJ’s helmet laws, issues of protective gear, airbags, or vehicle type should not affect your case. However, if you were speeding or you committed some other driving mistake leading up to the crash, you could be held partly responsible for the crash.
Even if the court does rule that you were partly responsible, it will not usually block your case. NJ law allows victims who were 50% liable to still claim damages. If you were partly liable, it simply means that your damages will be reduced by the amount of fault you shared. For example, if the court finds that you were 10% liable because your helmet visor was fogged up, you would lose 10% of the compensation you would otherwise receive.
Talk to a lawyer about how to present your case and control the narrative to help focus the case on the at-fault driver’s negligence and avoid statements that could be construed as admissions of fault. This usually means discussing your case only with your attorney and avoiding posts on social media or conversations with friends about your crash.
Call Our Washington Township Motorcycle Accident + Injury Lawyer for a Free Case Consultation
If you or a loved one was injured in a motorcycle accident in Washington Township, NJ, call Jerry Friedman today. Jerry is a motorcycle rider himself, and he has decades of experience representing injured motorcycle riders and their families in Washington Township and throughout New Jersey. For your free case consultation, call our Washington Township motorcycle accident lawyer today at 1-800-LAW-4-HOGS.
