Plainfield, NJ Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
The aftermath of motorcycle accidents can be difficult to endure. Victims often suffer devastating injuries that lead to great physical pain and emotional distress. Furthermore, the medical bills incurred by injured riders can be highly costly.
You may be able to pursue payment for the injuries you suffered because of a motorcycle accident. Drivers can be held responsible for collisions caused by their careless and reckless conduct. The assistance of an attorney can be very beneficial when gathering evidence to prove another driver is at fault.
If you were hurt because of a motorcycle crash in Plainfield, NJ, get help building your case. Reach out to an experienced Plainfield motorcycle accident lawyer by calling Jerry Friedman at 1-800-529-4464 to review your case for free.
Who to Sue for a Motorcycle Accident in Plainfield, NJ
After suffering a crash in Plainfield, you can bring a motorcycle accident lawsuit against the driver who caused your accident. The process for pursuing compensation can differ depending on the cause of your accident and the extent of harm you suffered. However, in every case, the following four elements must be established in order for a defendant driver to be held responsible:
- The defendant driver was under a duty of care
- The defendant driver failed to adhere to their duty of care
- You sustained injuries because of the defendant driver’s breach of duty
- You incurred damages as a result of your injuries
During your free case review, our Plainfield motorcycle accident lawyers can evaluate the strength of your claim by determining if the aforementioned elements are present. If so, our team can begin gathering the evidence required to prove that the defendant is at fault.
Common Sources of Plainfield, NJ Motorcycle Accidents
Many motorcycle crashes happen because of drivers’ negligent actions. The cause of your accident can impact the legal strategies and analyses applied in your case. Our Plainfield motorcycle accident lawyers can help determine if your accident stems from one of the following sources:
Speeding
Speeding drivers will have trouble reacting appropriately as they approach riders on the roadway. Accordingly, many motorcycle accidents occur because motorists are travelling at excessive speeds. Further, collisions that happen at high speeds are more likely to lead to severe harm. Victims of such accidents can pursue payment for the injuries they suffered.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is also a source of many motorcycle accidents. Drivers can become cognitively, visually, and manually distracted. When distracted, motorists are prone to making devastating mistakes behind the wheel. The following are examples of activities that distract drivers in Plainfield:
- Choosing music for the stereo
- Texting
- Eating or drinking
- Talking with passengers
- Talking on the phone
- Entering information into a GPS
- Viewing social media on a mobile device
Some activities, like picking music for the stereo, can involve multiple forms of distraction. Our Plainfield motorcycle accident lawyers can help hold distracted drivers accountable for collisions they cause.
Illegal Lane Changes
Also, illegal lane changes are a cause of many motorcycle accidents in Plainfield. Drivers can commit illegal lane changes by changing lanes without using their turn signals or by changing lanes in improper areas. Driver who commit illegal lane changes can cause harmful crashes with motorcycle riders travelling alongside them.
Drunk Driving
A great number of motorcycle accidents occur because of mistakes made by drunk drivers. Drunk drivers will exhibit blurry vision, reckless decision-making abilities, and poor motor skills when behind the wheel. Our Plainfield motorcycle accident lawyers can help victims recover monetary damages from the drunk drivers who caused their collisions.
Improper Left Turns
Furthermore, improper left turns are a common source of motorcycle accidents in Plainfield. Many riders are struck by drivers who fail to yield the right-of-way before making improper left turns at intersections. The assistance of our attorneys can be highly valuable when gathering evidence to prove that a driver who committed an improper left turn is at fault.
Disobeying Traffic Signals
Lastly, motorcycle accidents often occur because drivers disobey traffic signals. For instance, a catastrophic head-on collision may occur because a motorist ran a red light. In such cases, injured parties can seek compensation for the many damages they incurred.
Settling a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit vs. Taking a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit to Trial in Plainfield, NJ
In most motorcycle accident lawsuits in Plainfield, NJ, plaintiffs will have to choose between settling their cases early or taking their cases to trial. When you reach a settlement agreement with a defendant, they will pay you an agreed-upon amount of damages in exchange for your case being dismissed. There are potential advantages to settling early. For example, by reaching a settlement agreement, you can recover payment sooner. Furthermore, parties who settle early can save on the expensive costs associated with going to trial. For instance, after a trial, you may have to pay for additional attorney’s fees, expert witness fees, and administrative costs.
Still, settling a motorcycle accident case early is not always the right choice. Defendants are typically represented by insurance companies who want to settle plaintiffs’ claims as cheaply and as quickly as possible. By going to trial, you will have the chance to recover additional compensation that was not offered to you during settlement negotiations. However, if you are unsuccessful at trial, you may receive nothing for your injuries. Our experienced Plainfield motorcycle accident lawyers can help assess any settlement offers, so you can confidently decide if going to trial is the right decision in your case.
Statute of Limitations for Motorcycle Accident Lawsuits in Plainfield, NJ
States’ statutes of limitations set forth time limits for filing specific types of cases. According to N.J.S.A. § 2A:14-2, you will usually have two years from the date of your crash to file your motorcycle accident lawsuit. Failure to comply with this deadline could cause you to forfeit your claim. Accordingly, you should contact our Plainfield motorcycle accident lawyers as soon as possible after your collision, so we can begin working on your case right away.
If You Suffered a Motorcycle Accident in Plainfield, NJ, We Can Help
If you were injured because of a motorcycle crash in Plainfield, NJ, get help from an experienced Plainfield motorcycle accident lawyer by calling Jerry Friedman at 1-800-529-4464 to review your case for free.
