New Jersey Car Accident Attorneys 

Have You Been Injured in a New Jersey Car Accident?

Car accidents remain one of the leading causes of serious injury and death in the state of New Jersey. According to data by the New Jersey Department of Transportation, there were 524 traffic fatalities in New Jersey in 2019. Another 59,850 people were injured and required hospitalization. No one ever expects to be in an accident, but they tend to happen all the same. Depending on the severity of an accident, it can be life-altering. It’s important that accident victims take some steps to help secure their medical and financial well-being. Among other things, it’s nearly always a good idea to speak with an experienced attorney if you or someone that you love has been injured in a car accident.

The New Jersey car accident attorneys at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. can help you get the information and resources that you deserve. They focus 100% on helping accident victims and have over 39 years of experience getting justice for their clients. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into a collision, they are here for you. You can always reach out to us anytime for a free, confidential case evaluation.

Sources of Liability For Car Accidents

No two car accidents are going to be completely similar. Depending on how an accident took place, there could be numerous sources of liability for a crash. Multiple entities may have acted negligently leading up to a crash. What follows below are some of the most common sources of liability for a car accident.

• Drivers: All drivers must operate their vehicles with due care to avoid collisions. However, many collisions are due to drivers that are speeding or otherwise committing traffic infractions.
• Bars: Like many other states, New Jersey has a Dram Shop law. In short, any person that is injured by an intoxicated driver can seek damages from a vendor that provided alcohol if: (a) the intoxicated driver was “visibly intoxicated” when they were served or (b) the vendor knew, or should have known, that the person served alcohol was under the age of 21.
• Rideshare Companies: More and more people are turning to rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft as their primary means of transportation. If you’ve been hit by a rideshare driver that was transporting another passenger, you may be able to seek damages from the rideshare company.
• Tire Manufacturers: Not all car accidents are due to driver error. Many collisions occur when a car or its component parts malfunction. For example, a large number of rollover collisions are due to tire tread separations. If the tire tread separated due to defects with a tire’s bonding process, this could expose the manufacturer of the tire to a negligence claim.
• Cities/ Corporations: Many vehicles are operated by either cities or companies. When their driver’s are negligent, those cities or companies could be liable through the legal doctrine of respondeat superior.

It is crucial that evidence is properly preserved after an accident. Demonstrating liability after a collision is not always straightforward and will require a careful presentation and analysis of the facts. Insurance companies will do nearly everything in their power to deny liability for collisions. This is one of the reasons it’s important to seek legal advice as soon as possible after an accident.

Different Types of Car Accidents and Their Causes

Accidents happen under a wide variety of different circumstances in different locations. Some accidents are far more dangerous than others. What follows below are just a few of the most common types of accidents along with their various causes.

• Rear-End Collisions: By far, rear-end collisions are the most common type of car accidents that take place. They nearly always occur when drivers are distracted, speeding or following the lead vehicle too closely. Victims often receive whiplash injuries. But the injuries can be far more severe when accidents involve larger vehicles or vehicles traveling at higher speeds.
• Head-On Collisions: Only around 2% of all car accidents involve head-on collisions. But they account for over 10% of all traffic accident fatalities. They are by far the most dangerous accident that people can be involved in.
• Side-Impact Collisions: Most side-impact collisions occur at intersections. They are nearly always the result of one driver failing to yield at either a stop sign or traffic signal. They also occur when drivers fail to yield before making turns.
• Rollover Collisions: Vehicles with high centers of gravity are more prone to rolling over. Rollover collisions are also more likely at high speeds. They might occur when a car takes a turn too sharply or is hit from the side by another vehicle.

Every accident carries with it the risk of injury and death. No matter what type of accident you are involved in, it’s important to be checked out by medical professionals. The shock of being involved in an accident often has a numbing effect. People may not realize the full extent of their injuries until several weeks or months following a collision.

Injuries Associated With Car Accidents

In 2019 alone, there were an estimated 6.6 million motor vehicle accidents that led to over 4.8 million injuries. The damage from these accidents can take a heavy toll on victims, both medically and financially. Even seemingly small injuries from a car accident can leave victims with extremely high medical bills. Many people simply aren’t able to cope with the financial stress that a serious accident can bring. According to the BMJ Medical Journal, nearly 40% of all bankruptcies are due to medical bills. What follows below are some of the most common injuries associated with car accidents.

• Whiplash/Soft-Tissue: When a person is involved in a car accident their head may jerk around in ways that are unnatural and lead to injuries. Treatment can consist of pain medication, ice and chiropractic care.
• Traumatic Brain Injuries: Even a moderate traumatic brain injury can leave victims with medical bills from $85,000 to $3,000,000. Brain injuries can occur when a person’s head makes contact with a fixed object like a steering wheel or a car window.
• Broken Bones: The bones in the human body are only so durable. At certain levels of force from a car impact, bones can break and puncture through the skin. Victims may need a cast or a metal rod put in so that the bone can grow back in place.
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Even after the physical injuries of a car accident have healed, many people are left with PTSD. The odds that a person will experience PTSD after an accident go up when people believe that their life was in danger.

The injuries that come with serious accidents can be life-altering. For example, if your job depends on you being able to perform physical tasks, a serious injury may prevent you from being able to return to work for a long period. Some people are so injured that they may never return to work. Worse still, many people get their health-insurance from their jobs. Losing a job due to a serious injury can also mean losing the financial ability to cover the costs of all of the treatment a person may need. A car accident attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know how much compensation you may be entitled to.

Compensation Available After A Car Accident

Victims of car accidents in New Jersey do have recourse if they’ve been injured. Under New Jersey law, all drivers must have at least $15,000 of personal injury protection (PIP) insurance. This can help cover medical expenses, lost income and other sources of financial loss stemming from an accident. New Jersey is unique in that it is a “no fault” insurance state. An injured person can recover monetary damages through PIP even if they were at fault for the collision. In general, victims cannot recover non-monetary damages through PIP for things like pain and suffering. An injured person can pursue a claim against the at-fault driver if the accident caused them to suffer:

• An amputation
• Substantial disfigurement
• Substantial scarring
• The loss of a fetus
• Permanent injury
• Death

When an accident causes an injury that meets that threshold, the injured party can file a third-party negligence claim. In doing so, they can recover damages such as pain and suffering. New Jersey has some of the most complex auto injury laws in the United States. It’s important to seek legal advice as soon as you can after an accident. On top of the statutes regarding who can pursue a claim and when, there are also statute of limitations to consider. Failing to act within the statute of limitations may result in a permanent forfeiture of your rights.

Getting Legal Help After A New Jersey Car Accident

If you’ve been injured in a New Jersey car accident, there is help available. Our New Jersey car accident attorneys are here for you. We understand how difficult it can be just to get back on your feet after an accident. Our team of highly experienced attorneys can listen to your case one on one and let you know how they might be able to help you. Even if we’re not able to help you, we’ll do our best to direct you to someone who can.

Hiring an attorney can be highly stressful, but at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. you’re in good hands. You don’t have to take our word for it. Just take a look at some of the five star reviews that our clients have left us. You can also read about some of the multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements that we’ve won for our clients. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. You can reach out to us at 1-646-798-9355 for a free consultation.