Roselle, NJ Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Most motorcycles riders know that a negligent driver can strike anytime they hit the road. When one injures you, you need an attorney who knows these cases to help you recover compensation.
Jerry has years of experience helping victims hold negligent drivers accountable in a lawsuit. Accident victims must bring their case within two years of getting injured or will not be allowed to recover damages unless a rare exception applies. However, if you contact Jerry immediately after your collision, he will be able to develop and use strategies that might not be available if you are pressed for time. This also allows more time to assess your damages and address the financial needs of any complications that arise or could occur in the future. He will also use this time to develop evidence of your pain and suffering damages.
Call 1-800-529-4464 to speak with our knowledgeable motorcycle accident attorney, Jerry Friedman, and have your case reviewed free of charge today.
When to Start a Motorcycle Accident Claim in Roselle, NJ
While each motorcycle accident case is different, and there might be good reasons for waiting to start a claim, as a general rule, you should get yours underway as quickly as possible. There are several good reasons for starting your claim immediately after the collision and very few for putting it off. Not only will filing sooner than later give you a better chance of getting quality evidence, but the “statute of limitations” will not prevent your case from being heard. This is the deadline under N.J.S.A. § 2A:14-2(a), which gives motorcycle accident victims only two years to file a lawsuit. If your claim is filed after the two-year anniversary of the accident, the court will not allow it to proceed, and you will be denied a chance to recover compensation through the court.
Unfortunately, riders often suffer serious injuries when a negligent driver hits them, and the full extent of their damages will usually not be known at the beginning of a case. By starting your lawsuit right after the accident, our motorcycle accident lawyer, Jerry Friedman, can use the allotted time to assess your damages and monitor for complications that will increase the compensation you need. The more time you have to work with under the statute of limitations, the better our attorney will be able to evaluate your medical costs and the pain and suffering that has developed since the crash.
If the limitations period has closed, a few exceptions might allow the case to be filed after two years. Victims under the age of 18 and those with a “mental disability” will have two years to file a claim once they turn 18, or the disability does not limit the victim’s lawful rights, according to § 2A:14-21. A “disability” will usually qualify if it prevents the victim from understanding their legal rights at the time of the incident. § 2A:14-22(a) can also provide more time if the defendant leaves New Jersey after the accident and does not respond to legal communications. Clearly, these exceptions are highly specific, so speak with Jerry before deciding one might apply.
Damages You Can Claim in a Roselle, NJ Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit
“Damages” is the name given to the broad range of financial and non-economic losses caused by the other driver’s negligence. Because motorcycle accidents tend to cause significant injuries, the damages a victim is entitled to can be quite high. Jerry can explain what damages you can claim and gather the records that will prove them.
Your economic losses will be a major portion of your damages, especially if you get treatment for serious injuries. Hospital visits, doctor appointments, medical testing, and physical therapy costs can easily reach tens of thousands of dollars, even for comparatively minor injuries. Your lost wages and property damage costs to your motorcycle should also be accounted for in your economic damages.
The other part of your damages will be for your non-economic losses. These are the damages you suffer that do not correspond to a cost or bill. Instead, they are based on the pain and suffering you experienced in and following the accident. Non-economic damages usually compensate for the physical pain endured in the collision and the pain your injuries cause you to live with after. It also includes compensation for psychological and emotional distress, including mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Jerry can estimate the value of these losses by using your economic damages as a baseline and assessing how your life has been impacted overall.
Proving Your Motorcycle Accident Claim in Roselle, NJ
To recover the damages discussed above, you need evidence. Without evidence of the damages you suffered and how the defendant caused them, you will be left covering whatever losses insurance would not. Working with Jerry immediately after your accident is the best way to get the evidence you need.
One of the first steps he will take is to investigate the accident scene. Nowadays, many homes and most businesses have security cameras installed. Depending on where your accident occurred, you might be able to obtain footage if you act fast. The defendant might also have footage of the accident if they had a dashcam recording at the time, which you are entitled to use in your lawsuit if it exists. You can also use your own footage if you had a helmet cam equipped when you were hit.
If video does not exist, photos of the accident scene and your injuries can be used as evidence. Unless it is unsafe to do so, take pictures of the wreckage, including where the other driver impacted your motorcycle and injuries if they are visible.
Witness testimony can also be evidence in a claim, so speak to any that offered aid. Jerry will also review police accident reports to identify witnesses you might have missed.
Contact Our Motorcycle Accident Lawyer, Jerry Friedman, in Roselle Today to Recover the Compensation You Deserve
Call motorcycle accident lawyer Jerry Friedman today at 1-800-529-4464 for a free case review.
