Hackensack, NJ Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Hackensack is a very urban town and is incredibly close to New York City. As such, its close city streets are often filled with cars and commuters, and so are its highways. If you ride a motorcycle in the Hackensack area, you could easily become the victim of a serious accident caused by out-of-state drivers or commuters and other people whose failure to watch out for motorcyclists puts your safety at risk.

Should this happen to you, you can likely file a lawsuit against the negligent driver responsible for causing your injuries. To ensure the success of your case, document your injuries immediately by going to the hospital. Collecting other evidence, such as surveillance footage and eyewitness statements, can also enable you to prove fault. In order to claim compensation of any kind, you will have to bring your case by the filing deadline, which is two years in Hackensack. In addition to proving the defendant’s fault, you will also have to submit proof of your damages so that you can be properly compensated for all of your losses related to the motorcycle accident.

To schedule a confidential and free assessment of your case with Hackensack, NJ motorcycle accident lawyer Jerry Friedman, call 1-800-529-4464 today.

How to Handle a Motorcycle Accident Claim in Hackensack, NJ

After being injured in a motorcycle accident in Hackensack, you might have serious injuries that require medical attention, you might be too injured to go back to work, and you might experience serious pain and suffering. In many cases, these damages can be quite expensive, and you will want to have them paid for and covered as soon as possible. This often means filing some sort of claim to get the damages that you need.

In some cases, your motorcycle insurance might cover your accident, with your own insurance company paying you. However, this can involve deductibles, and your insurance company might be able to later take other damages back to reimburse them back for funds they supplied in your time of need. The at-fault driver’s liability insurance might be available to pay for damages through an insurance claim as well. However, they will want to fight down the cost of the case, deny liability, and potentially skip certain damages. Both insurance companies will also likely exclude damages for pain and suffering.

In many cases, the best way to get full compensation for a motorcycle accident case is to file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver. If they have insurance – which they are required to carry under New Jersey law – then their insurance company will pay for their lawyer and their liabilities in most cases. However, filing the lawsuit opens up additional compensation and procedural protections to help you collect evidence and get the chance you need to prove your case before a neutral judge and jury. Our motorcycle accident lawyer can help with these claims and work to get you the maximum compensation available by filing your case the right way.

Documenting Your Motorcycle Accident Injuries in Hackensack, NJ

Any time you are injured because of another person’s negligence, documenting those injuries will be of the utmost importance. You can initiate this process by going to the hospital immediately after you are injured on your motorcycle in Hackensack.

Medical records are important evidence in any injury claim, but especially in motorcycle accident cases involving victims who have sustained serious injuries. It will be necessary to show that you were hurt because of the other party’s negligence, not some other cause. By going to the hospital right after the accident takes place, you can accomplish this.

Since motorcycle accident injuries tend to be severe, victims often require extensive treatments, surgeries, and other procedures in order to heal. Because of this, it will be important for you to continue getting whatever care is recommended by your medical team. Show up to all scheduled appointments and see specialists as necessary. Failure to get continuous medical care following a motorcycle accident might ultimately harm your compensation claim in Hackensack.

Why Do Motorcycle Accidents Happen in Hackensack, NJ?

While motorcycle accidents might happen for any number of reasons, there are a few that lead the list. Any of the incidents mentioned below can lead to serious injuries for motorcyclists in Hackensack.

Passenger car drivers and truck drivers are known for ignoring motorcyclists on the road. They might not pay attention to these smaller vehicles, especially at intersections, which are common locations for motorcycle accidents in Hackensack and elsewhere.

Although other drivers are often at fault for motorcycle accidents, that does not mean that bikers’ involvement in incidents will not be scrutinized. Because of the various stereotypes placed on motorcycle riders, it might be assumed that they acted negligently, contributing to their injuries. Should this be argued by the defendant in your case, your compensation might be reduced proportionally to your percentage of blame, per New Jersey’s comparative fault standard, according to N.J.S.A. § 2A:15-5.1.

Regardless of the cause of your accident in Hackensack, consult with our motorcycle accident lawyer following the crash. We can perform a thorough investigation into the circumstances of your accident to confirm who is responsible for your injuries. From there, we can begin gathering evidence to use in your case.

Calculating Compensation for Hackensack, NJ Motorcycle Accident Cases

To get the full damages you deserve, it is important to understand how those damages are calculated and what areas of compensation you can claim. We can help you calculate what damages you faced and determine the proper level of compensation you should be entitled to in a lawsuit or settlement in Hackensack.

In most cases, you can claim economic damages for any financial harms you suffered because of the crash. This primarily includes compensation for the property damage to your bike, but, more importantly, it covers medical bills and lost wages. The cost of treatment for serious motorcycle injuries can be very expensive, and there is no reason you should have to pay these damages out of pocket if someone else caused your injuries. The same is true for lost wages and reduced earning capacity.

Financial records, bills, and pay stubs provide excellent records of these damages and can be used as evidence in court to prove how much your case costs. These will also help you calculate damages on your own before going to court or accepting a settlement from the insurance companies.

There are other damages, however, that cannot be calculated by looking at financial records. Pain and suffering are intangible things that people cannot see on paper or observe by looking at you. However, these are still very real damages you may have suffered because of your injuries. You can claim compensation for pain and suffering in court by testifying to the jury about how the injuries affected you, how they hurt your enjoyment of certain activities, and how they caused you PTSD symptoms, mental anguish, emotional distress, and other intangible harms. These damages are often some of the highest areas of damages in some injury cases and are not limited in Hackensack.

Filing a Lawsuit for Injuries Sustained in a Hackensack, NJ Motorcycle Crash

If you need compensation for your motorcycle injuries and expenses, then filing a lawsuit might be the best way to get those damages. When you file a lawsuit in court, it usually needs to be filed in the county where the accident happened or where the defendant lives. If you live out of state, this means you will need an NJ-licensed motorcycle accident attorney instead of one from your home state.

To file a lawsuit for motorcycle accident injuries in Hackensack, you would submit a “complaint” with the court. This lays out the basics of your case: who was responsible, what injuries you faced, when and where the crash happened, why the other driver is at fault, and how they caused the crash. Your lawyer can draft this document. You will also have to serve the defendant with papers from court, which we can help you do properly. According to N.J.S.A. § 2A:14-2(a), the statute of limitations for filing a motorcycle injury claim in Hackensack is two years.

Proving Fault for Motorcycle Accidents in Hackensack, NJ

In order to prove that another driver is responsible for your motorcycle accident injuries in court, you will have to meet the burden of proof. To do this, you will need to present evidence of fault.

In Hackensack, the burden of proof in civil claims is on the plaintiff to establish that it is more likely than not that the defendant caused their injuries. This is known as the preponderance of the evidence standard. In meeting the burden of proof, you will have to establish that the defendant owed you a duty of care and breached it. You will also have to establish that the breach in duty of care caused your injuries, subsequently causing you to incur real damages.

Eyewitness statements and incident reports can place a negligent driver at the scene of your accident. Other evidence, like security camera footage, can help show how the at-fault party acted negligently, causing your physical injuries. Photographs and videos from the accident scene can show that you sustained your specific injuries during the course of the crash.

In addition to proving fault, you must also prove that you incurred damages. To submit proof of damages, keep track of all losses sustained as a result of the accident. This will include things like medical bills and invoices from your treatment. You should also keep a record of any lost wages or other out-of-pocket expenses incurred in the aftermath of a motorcycle accident in Hackensack.

When it comes to proving your need for non-economic damages, keeping a journal detailing your emotional struggles or seeking help from a mental health care professional can be effective.

Once you have proven fault in your case, the jury will award damages. Damages will be based on the evidence you have submitted of your losses.

Call Our Motorcycle Accident Lawyer for Help with Your Injury Case in Hackensack, NJ

For help with your potential case, call motorcycle accident lawyer Jerry Friedman today at 1-800-529-4464.