Woodbridge, NJ Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
It is easy to feel lost and hopeless after a severe motorcycle crash. Motorcycle crashes can lead to very serious injuries, with equally serious medical expenses. That is a nasty combination that can be incredibly stressful to deal with. The last thing on your mind should be facing the liable parties in an uphill battle for your compensation.
You don’t have to go through this moment alone. Our Woodbridge motorcycle accident attorney Jerry Friedman can help you fight for the compensation you deserve while you focus on healing. Thanks to our many years of experience handling motorcycle accident claim in Woodbridge, NJ, we know how to build a strategic, persuasive case to maximize your compensation. Let us put our knowledge, skill, and dedication to work for you.
Call our law offices today at 1-800-529-4464 and get a free case review from our motorcycle accident lawyers.
What to Do After a Motorcycle Collision in Woodbridge, NJ
After a motorcycle accident, it is easy to feel disoriented and overwhelmed with everything related to your crash. Most injured victims may not be sure what to do or how to react. However, it would be best to preserve as much evidence as you can as it can be beneficial in any future claim.
There are several things you can do after a motorcycle crash. You should gather photographic or video evidence from your accident. The more evidence you can gather, the better you can build a compelling, persuasive case. Collecting all the essential information from those involved in your accident is another excellent way to gather and preserve evidence. For instance, you can obtain information such as the party’s name, address, and insurance information.
It is always recommended to ask for a copy of any medical treatment you have received after your crash. This document can be used as evidence to prove the extent of your injuries and everything related to them. Furthermore, it would help if you also asked for a copy of any police reports. All of this information can help you build a solid foundation to exercise your right to fight for compensation. Our Woodbridge, NJ motorcycle accident lawyer can help you with these matters.
Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Woodbridge, NJ
Motorcycle accidents can happen for a lot of different reasons. While the fact that you got injured may seem more important than how your accident happened, the fact of the matter is that the cause of your accident is incredibly important to the success of your future motorcycle accident lawsuit. In law, you can only successfully sue and get damages from parties that caused your injuries, so finding out what the cause of your accident was can help determine the correct party to sue in your lawsuit.
Negligent Drivers
Many motorcycle accidents are caused by the careless actions of other drivers. In the legal world, we call this “negligence.” Negligence is when someone does something careless which injures someone else as a result. You have to prove that another party was negligent in order to get damages in a motorcycle accident lawsuit.
Drivers can be negligent in many different ways. Speeding, running red lights, and ignoring stop signs are all ways that drivers can be negligent. Crimes such as driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol are also considered negligent acts by drivers. Finally, distracted driving due to texting or talking on the phone can be considered negligence and impart liability in a lawsuit.
Motorcycle Defects
Sometimes, a motorcycle accident is not the fault of a driver at all. If a motorcycle malfunctions, it may look like a freak accident with no real cause. However, this is often not the case. Single-vehicle motorcycle accidents are frequently caused by problems with the bike itself, called “defects.” A defect is something that creates a danger when a product is used in the way it is expected to be used. There are two main kinds of product defects: design defects and manufacturing defects.
Design defects are problems that arise in a “correctly” built product when it is used in the way it is meant to be used. As an admittedly absurd example, a motorcycle without built-in brakes would be considered to have a design defect because it will not stop when it is supposed to. Manufacturing defects, on the other hand, arise from mistakes in the process of making a product. In a motorcycle, manufacturing defects can take the form of faulty transmissions, weaker-than-average tires, or incorrectly installed front and rear lights.
Poor Road Conditions
Motorcycle accidents can also be caused by problems with the road. Potholes, broken down guardrails, and uncleared debris can all cause accidents for motorcycle riders. When these accidents happen, you file a lawsuit against the entity responsible for road maintenance. Usually, this is some kind of government entity. There are special rules about filing lawsuits against the government, so you should speak with our lawyers if you believe that this applies.
Common Injuries in a Motorcycle Accident in Woodbridge, NJ
Compared to passenger vehicles, motorcycle riders lack the most safety features. Unfortunately, despite wearing a helmet, motorcycle riders are always at risk of sustaining severe injuries during a crash. Those “lucky” enough to survive a devastating motorcycle accident have to face many challenges as they try to recover from their injuries.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
One of the most devastating injuries a motorcycle driver can face is a traumatic brain injury (TBI). A TBI is caused a hard hits to the head that puncture the skull or otherwise damage the brain. TBI victims often have to face many debilitating symptoms that can significantly impact their quality of life. For instance, after a massive trauma to the head, a motorcycle rider can experience fogginess, loss of memory, dizziness, and other debilitating symptoms that may develop over time. All of those symptoms are consistent with “mild” traumatic brain injuries, also known as concussions. Moreover, concussions compound on each other, so if you have had a mild TBI in the past, a future TBI in a motorcycle accident will be that much worse. In severe TBI cases, the injured victim may need to go through one or multiple surgeries. These medical procedures not only take a lengthy recovery period, but they can also be expensive.
More severe traumatic brain injuries can also have dire, life-altering side effects. You may lose the ability to speak, walk, or use body parts or end up with permanent brain fog. Tragically, the most serious traumatic brain injuries can result in death.
Spinal Cord Injuries and Nerve Damage
Spinal cord injuries are prevalent in motorcycle accidents. People suffering from a spinal cord injury may need multiple surgeries and continuing medical assistance. A spinal cord injury can result in pain, numbness, or tingling sensation in portions of the body. This may be because of pressure being placed on a nerve due to injury. In serious cases, a spinal injury or nerve injury can result in partial or full loss of mobility in a limb or other area of the body. In the direst cases, spinal/nerve injuries can result in partial or full paralysis.
Amputation
Unfortunately, there have been severe cases where a motorcyclist has suffered an amputation as a result of their crash. An amputation can occur in one of two ways. The first way is in a medical setting after it is assessed that a limb is too damaged to make a recovery and must be amputated to save your life. The second, much more gruesome, way, is a traumatic amputation. A traumatic amputation happens when an accident removes a limb from the body. Since this is not in a controlled medical setting, such injuries are incredibly dangerous and can easily prove fatal through blood loss, infection, or a combination of both.
You can file a lawsuit against the liable parties for all of your losses. If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, Jerry Friedman can help you.
Compensation for Motorcycle Accident Injuries in Woodbridge, NJ
You can file a personal injury claim against the liable parties for your losses. By filing your claim, you get a chance at getting compensation to cover expenses such as your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Note that every case is different, and the amount of compensation you may get will depend on different things. In New Jersey, you might get compensation for your losses under the comparative negligence rule, but the amount might be reduced if you were partially responsible for your accident.
Additionally, New Jersey’s personal injury protection insurance does not extend to motorcycle accidents, which may place you in a challenging position. A motorcycle accident injury victim can file a personal injury claim against the liable party in specific circumstances. Our Woodbridge motorcycle accident attorney can help you understand what you may be entitled to after your crash.
When you file your motorcycle accident lawsuit, you need to specify what you are asking for damages to cover. In law, damages are broken down into economic, non-economic, and punitive damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages have a quickly ascertainable monetary value. Things like medical bills as well as lost wages from work will fall into this category. Moreover, any damage to your bike will fall under this category as well. Motorcycle repairs are expensive, so it may be a good idea to incorporate them into economic damages.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are more abstract than economic damages. They are based on more esoteric things like “pain” or “distress.” It is hard to put a concrete value on these damages because their value is not backed up by bills or receipts. Physical pain does not have a set financial cost, and potential trepidation doing an activity you once enjoyed is hard to price out.
If your motorcycle was totaled in the accident, the loss of sentimental value the bike had may be able to be incorporated into non-economic damages.
Punitive Damages
Punitive Damages are a special kind of damages that are linked to the defendant’s conduct. They are only awarded when a defendant has done something especially bad. Usually, this means that they intentionally tried to hurt you. Courts are wary of awarding these damages, so you need a compelling argument to successfully be awarded them in court.
The Statute of Limitations After a Motorcycle Accident in Woodbridge, NJ
While you have the chance to file a claim against the liable parties after a motorcycle accident, you don’t have unlimited time to do it. The law has established a limited time in which all claimants must file their lawsuit with the court. This time limit is known as the statute of limitations. It is essential to consider the time you have, so you have enough time to prepare adequately for trial. Under New Jersey law, you have up to two years from the moment of your accident to file your claim.
As an injured victim, you might want to take time to heal from your injuries. You may be tempted to leave your claim for later. After all, all you want is to recover and move on. However, two years may not be as much time as you think. Gathering all of the necessary evidence for your claim takes time. Tracking down witnesses and preparing your case is a time-consuming process that can go quickly if you don’t take immediate action. It is always in your best interest to act promptly to avoid the dismissal of your case. Our Woodbridge motorcycle accident lawyer can help you with these matters.
Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Serving Injured Victims in Woodbridge, NJ
Our NJ motorcycle accident lawyers can fight for the compensation you deserve when you call our law offices today at 1-800-529-4464.
