Burlington County Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Motorcycle enthusiasts will tell you how they love the feeling of cruising down the highway with the wind in their faces and the hum of the motorcycle beneath their seats. They will also tell you how dangerous it is to ride a motorcycle and that every precaution possible should be taken. A motorcycle accident could lead to very severe injuries that could impact the rest of your life.
If another driver is at fault for your motorcycle collision, you may have a valid personal injury case. Our Burlington County motorcycle accident attorney can help get you the compensation you deserve and move past your accident. Call Jerry Friedman at 1-800-529-4464 and ask about a free and confidential legal consultation regarding your case.
Helmet Requirements for Motorcycles in Burlington County
Burlington County and the rest of New Jersey requires motorcycles riders to wear helmets. Not just any helmets will do. The state requires all motorcycle riders to wear helmets covering one-half, three quarters, or all their faces and heads. A one-half helmet covers the top of your head and may come down over the ears while leaving the face exposed for visibility. A three-quarter helmet comes down even further to wrap the sides of the face while leaving the face exposed. A helmet that covers the whole face and head fits over your head and covers everything. It also has a visor covering your face. A helmet is the only thing between your head and the pavement in the event of a motorcycle accident. You absolutely must wear one.
Determining Fault in a Motorcycle Accident in Burlington County
Suing for personal injuries after an accident on your motorcycle in Burlington County means proving the other driver is the one at fault. Demonstrating fault is easier said than done unless you are lucky enough that the driver of the other vehicle admits fault. Police records of the accident are crucial to proving fault. The police are very adept at analyzing crash scenes. They may be able to piece together details such as whether the driver of the other vehicle was speeding or driving recklessly when the accident occurred. If the police are conducting a criminal investigation connected to the accident, they may be able to give an accurate explanation of the crash based on accident reconstruction.
If the police issued the driver a citation for a traffic violation connected to the accident, this could also be used to prove fault. Crashes and accidents are often the results of unlawful driving, like speeding or running red lights. For example, the other driver may have crashed into you because they were speeding, and they ran a stop sign. It is easier to prove those things happened if the police issued the driver traffic citations.
It is crucial to understand that New Jersey follows a comparative negligence rule. This rule means that if you are somewhat responsible for the accident or your injuries, you can still win your case, but your damages may be reduced. This brings us back to why helmets are so important. While you may not have caused the accident, your failure to wear a proper helmet would make your injuries worse, so a jury might say that you were partially to blame for your injuries. Call our Burlington County motorcycle accident attorney today for help proving fault.
How to Calculate Damages from a Motorcycle Accident in Burlington County
Your damages, or the money you want to cover the costs of your injuries, will be calculated based on physical and non-physical injuries and losses. We will include things like medical expenses and the cost to repair or replace your motorcycle. But damages can also come from things like lost wages from being out of work. The longer you are unable to return to work, the greater your damages will be. In addition, if your injuries require life-long medical treatment, we can estimate the costs of a lifetime of treatment and add them to your damages.
Damages may also include intangible or non-economic losses. This typically includes things like pain and suffering. Pain and suffering is a rather broad category and can include a number of emotional or mental injuries. For example, depression or a loss of enjoyment of life is frequently included with damages for pain and suffering. Damages for pain and suffering can be deduced by looking at factors such as the longevity of your injuries, any impairment to your everyday life, and the long-term consequences of the accident, just to name a few. Instead of relying on insurance companies to get compensation, speak with our Burlington County motorcycle accident lawyer for help.
Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit for a Motorcycle Accident in Burlington County
In New Jersey, personal injury lawsuits must be filed within the two-year statute of limitations. This means if more than two years have come and gone since the date of your accident, you might be barred from filing the lawsuit. Some circumstances might toll the statute or give you extra time to file. You should consult with our Burlington County motorcycle accident lawyer about your accident if you think too much time has passed.
If you file a lawsuit, you must also serve notice on the other driver. This may seem simple, but in the case of a hit-and-run, you might not know the other driver’s identity. This would make serving them notice quite tricky, if not impossible. If, after doing all that you can to identify and locate the other driver, you still come up empty, you may still have other options. Call our Burlington County motorcycle accident attorney for more details.
Reach Out to Our Burlington County Attorney for Motorcycle Accidents for a Legal Consultation
If a motorcycle collision or crash has left you injured and unable to return to work, please get in touch with our Burlington County motorcycle accident attorney. Call Jerry Friedman at 1-800-529-4464 to set up a consultation.
