How to Gather Evidence for Your Motorcycle Accident Case in NJ
Finding, obtaining, and organizing evidence can be challenging for victims suffering from serious motorcycle accident injuries in New Jersey, and Jerry can oversee this process on their behalves.
To preserve evidence immediately after motorcycle crashes, victims can photograph it. This includes obvious damage to your vehicle and any visible debris left in the area. We will then gather all pertinent medical records showing your injuries and proving your damages from treatment. Furthermore, we can contact and interview eyewitnesses so their statements remain intact and have experts testify about the severity of your injuries and their likely effect on your life. We can leverage evidence appropriately during settlement negotiations to get better offers and organize it into a strong argument of liability to prove fault at trial.
Call 1-800-529-4464 to set up a free and confidential assessment of your case from New Jersey motorcycle accident lawyer Jerry Friedman today.
How Can You Preserve Evidence After Motorcycle Crashes in New Jersey?
Victims can preserve evidence after motorcycle crashes in several ways, namely by photographing damage and calling the police so officers can write accident reports.
Though inadmissible in injury lawsuits, police accident reports can help us piece together a collision’s sequence of events, identify all involved parties, and pinpoint possible contributing factors. For example, the police report should contain the at-fault driver’s information, which may be useful to victims unable to speak to negligent parties because of their serious injuries.
If you are able, document property damage and other physical evidence by taking pictures. Damage to your motorcycle could indicate the at-fault driver’s speed and liability, so make sure to preserve the vehicle itself as well. We may have crash reconstruction experts assess it along with photos of tire marks on the road and noticeable debris.
Medical Evidence We Can Gather for Your New Jersey Motorcycle Accident Case
When preparing injury lawsuits for victims, Jerry will gather and review all relevant medical records showing victims’ immediate and ongoing care after accidents, as well as their diagnosed injuries.
Victims who need onsite medical care after crashes can call 911 and ask for paramedics to come with the police. Records from emergency medical services can show your apparent injuries at the scene and any treatment you received in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.
When victims reach the emergency room, they could undergo various tests and evaluations and may need trauma care or surgery. When you reach out Union City, NJ motorcycle accident lawyer Jerry Friedman for your case, we can contact the appropriate hospitals and providers to get records showing diagnostic test results and all prescribed care to date.
In addition to using medical records as evidence, we may have the physicians who treated you testify in court. They can confirm the care you received was necessary and can explain upcoming rehabilitative treatments you will need in the future, so the lawsuit also covers those anticipated damages.
Statements from medical experts can also solidify compensation requests for current and future lost wages. Though we will calculate these damages based on your previous income, we can support requests for relief with expert testimony confirming you cannot return to work because of your injuries.
Gathering Eyewitness Statements for Motorcycle Accident Claims in New Jersey
Other useful evidence for motorcycle injury lawsuits includes eyewitness testimony. We can prioritize identifying witnesses as soon as possible to eliminate the risk of their memories fading and their testimony becoming less relevant to your case.
Victims who notice and speak to witnesses at accident scenes can request their contact details right away. Otherwise, we can learn their names and contact information from the accident report, as law enforcement will typically talk to eyewitnesses who remain on the scene.
By interviewing eyewitnesses immediately, we can preserve their statements as evidence for your case. We’ll ask witnesses detailed questions about the accident, specifically about the at-fault driver’s actions. Eyewitnesses might take pictures or videos of an accident’s aftermath themselves, and we can obtain such evidence during interviews as well.
When eyewitness testimony isn’t available because none were present during the accident, we may get video evidence from local security cameras. We can promptly contact the owners of these devices to preserve footage and ensure it doesn’t get deleted.
How to Use Evidence in Your New Jersey Motorcycle Injury Lawsuit
Gathering enough evidence to meet the burden of proof is crucial for plaintiffs. Otherwise, they could fail to prove the defendant’s liability, not getting the compensation they need for their injuries.
After gathering and organizing evidence into a compelling case, we can file your lawsuit in New Jersey. This must happen within two years of your crash, according to N.J.S.A. § 2A:14-2(a), or the court could dismiss your claim. The sooner we start gathering evidence, the better, as it could become degraded with time.
Generally, settlement negotiations follow lawsuit filings and discovery. During settlement negotiations, Jerry can leverage the physical evidence, witness statements, and records previously gathered to convince the opposing side to increase their offers so you can accept a fair amount and avoid court.
New Jersey is a modified comparative fault state, meaning victims’ damages can be reduced proportionally to their liability, according to § 2A:15-5.1. Negligent drivers might attempt to use this against motorcycle accident victims who are concerned about going to court and proving liability to a jury. We can prepare for possible uses of comparative fault arguments and promptly address them, whether during settlement negotiations or a trial. Eyewitness statements can be particularly useful evidence in undermining such arguments, as witnesses can testify to each party’s actions during the crash and if they acted irresponsibly or negligently.
Call Jerry For Help with Your New Jersey Motorcycle Crash Lawsuit
Call 1-800-529-4464 to discuss your case for free with Trenton, NJ motorcycle accident lawyer Jerry Friedman.
