What To Do After a Car Accident
The first thing you want to do is assess yourself for injuries. If you have trouble feeling any parts of your body, try not to move.
Contact the emergency services and let them know of your injuries or if anyone else you can see requires medical attention.
If the accident involves an injury, death, or property damage of $500 or higher, New Jersey law states that you must report it. If the police are not called to the scene of the accident, but there was property damage, you will have to send aletter to your local Motor Vehicle Commissions Agency within 10 days.
You will also need to exchange information with the other person involved in the accident. Get their personal information, license number, and vehicle registration number, but make sure not to speak about the accident or mention who was at fault.
The next step is to start documenting the car accident. Take pictures of the cars involved, any road markings, injuries you have, and property damage. It can also help to write down what you remember about the accident while it’s still fresh.
If there were witnesses, you may want to ask them for their contact information, too.
Contact your insurer and let them know what happened. Don’t delay doing this since it can affect your claim. To ensure you get the best guidance throughout the entire process, it’s crucial that you turn to car accident lawyers in New Brunswick.
One of the most important things you can do following an accident is to protect yourself by not discussing your case. When you speak to the other driver involved in the crash, you risk saying something that could be misconstrued as an admission of guilt.
A major mistake that you should avoid is speaking with the other driver’s insurance company. Their adjusters are likely to reach out immediately after a collision, and their purpose is to lock you into a story with the hopes of using your own words against you in the future. The less you say about your claim, the better.
The best way to protect yourself is to rely on the guidance of a skilled attorney from the very beginning. When you reach out to legal counsel right away, they can deal with the attorneys and adjusters that could otherwise put your recovery at risk.
Common Car Accident Injuries
Car accidents can result in injuries, with milder injuries like bruises being a possibility, as well as more serious issues like traumatic brain injuries. The severity of the injury and the way it can impact your quality of life can all factor into any claims you make.
Whiplash
Whiplash is one of the most common injuries people experience during a car accident. It more frequently occurs when the car is rear-ended, causing your head to jerk forward and then backward in a movement similar to cracking a whip. Whiplash can damage tendons, ligaments, discs, muscles in the neck, and more.
Manytimes, whiplash resolves on its own. In some instances, however, it can lead to severe headaches and chronic pain that impacts your quality of life.
Bruises
Bruises, scrapes, and cuts are also common. When you come into contact with any car surface with enough force, it can cause damage to small capillaries and lead to bleeding under your skin.
Most of the time, bruises heal on their own, but in some cases, bruises can appearas a result of internal bleeding. This is a much more serious condition and requires urgent medical attention. It’s important for medical professionals to fully check you.
Broken Bones
Car accidents often result in broken bones. Although most types of broken bones will be obvious, others may not be until the shock of the accident has passed.
The sudden trauma of a car accident can dislocate and break hips, ribs, and limbs. The bones in your hands and feet are often at risk because of how they’re positioned when you drive.
If you have broken bones, you’ll likely feel severe pain, mobility issues, as well as swelling in the area. It’s more common to experience broken bones if you are involved in a high-speed crash.
Back and Spinal Cord Injuries
Some of the injuries that can be the most complex to treat and which can put the most strain on your everyday life are those that involve your back and spinal cord. These injuries can include disc slips, spinal fractures, back sprains, and back strains Back and spinal cord injuries are more likely in roll-over accidents and high-speed collisions.
Spinal cord injuries may lead to paralysis, either temporary or permanent. They can be complete, meaning you have no feeling below the injury, or partial, which is when you have some feeling left below the injured site.
It’s not always possible to notice a spinal cord injury after the accident, so paying attention to any changes in mobility or any numbness or tingling is vital in the days and weeks that follow.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
If you hit your head with enough force, it jolts your brain, leading to brain injuries. It often happens if your neck snaps forward or if your head hits anything.
Although some traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can be treated at home, the majority of them will need medical attention. A concussion is a type of TBI. It always requires help from professionals.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Most people concern themselves with the physical injuries they receive after a car accident without realizing there can also be psychological damage after living through a traumatic event like a car crash. Although you can’t see these injuries, they may severely impact your life.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition that leads you to re-experience the trauma by having flashbacks or nightmares, makes you avoid anything related to the traumatic event, and creates feelings of anxiety. Someone who received injuries after a car accident that left them with chronic pain is more likely to struggle with PTSD.
An attorney in New Brunswick can account for all injuries in a car accident claim.
How Much Is Your Case Worth?
Every car accident is unique. With all the factors that impact the kind of compensation you may receive, speaking with New Brunswick car accident lawyers is the right thing to do.
The type of injuries you receive, as well as their severity, is a significant factor in what your case is worth. Your lawyer will consider this while also noting whether you will need ongoing treatments, may experience permanent damage, or may face other health challenges because of the accident.
Property damage is also considered. Most of the time, this means the value of your car, but it can involve anything in your possession that was damaged during the accident. Your team will also consider whether the car crash was the result of driver negligence.
Most of the time, if your injuries are visibly severe or your life has been significantly altered by the accident, your case will be worth more than someone who received a few scrapes and bruises.
Although there is no accurate number your lawyer can give you for what you can expect from your car accident case in New Brunswick, having people on your side who are experienced makes you more likely to get higher compensation.
Potential Damages in a Car Accident Case
After being in a car accident in the New Brunswick area, you may be entitled to financial assistance to cover everything from medical bills to car repair bills. You may be able to make a number of damage claims to get the compensation you deserve.
Is New Jersey a Fault or No-Fault State?
New Jersey is a no-fault state. In no-fault states, everyone involved in the accident will file claims and get compensation from their own insurers. What makes New Jersey law even more complex is that you can choose between limited right to sue and unlimited right to sue policies.
A limited right-to-sue policy allows you to sue the person at fault beyond what your insurance pays out, but you can only do so if you’ve had severe injuries. With an unlimited right-to-sue policy, you can sue no matter what kind of injury you have.
Easing the Burden After an Accident
Being involved in a car accident can create challenges that go far beyond your physical injuries. Many victims experience overwhelming stress, confusion, and emotional exhaustion in the days and weeks that follow. The constant uncertainty about how much your medical care will cost or when you can return to work can add to the burden. On top of this, there is the logistical maze of paperwork, deadlines, and phone calls to take into account. Insurance companies are also known for pressuring victims to accept quick settlements that don’t fully cover their losses, leaving them unsure of what to do next.
Our firm is here to take on these challenges so clients can focus on what matters most—healing. We handle the communication with insurance adjusters, review and file the necessary documents, and fight to ensure that every loss, both financial and personal, is accounted for in your claim. By shouldering these responsibilities, we relieve clients of the pressure that often follows an accident. Whether negotiating a fair settlement or preparing for trial, we stand as your advocate every step of the way. With us managing the stress and logistics, you can concentrate on your recovery and know that your case is in trusted hands.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I Am Partially at Fault?
New Jersey relies on a comparative fault system. If you are partially to blame for an accident, you are not automatically barred from recovering compensation from the other driver. You could recoup a portion of your losses if you are less than 50 percent at fault for the crash.
What If I Am Hit By An Uninsured Driver?
You could have options for recovering damages after an accident with an uninsured driver. Even if they do not have a policy that can pay for your losses, you have the right to sue them directly. The downside is that these drivers likely lack the assets to pay your claim. You can also file a claim with your own policy if you opted in to uninsured motorist coverage.
Should I Negotiate With the Insurance Company?
It is never a good idea to have direct contact with an insurance adjuster. Their only goal is to reduce the value of your claim, which means anything you say to them could work against you. Let an attorney deal with the insurance company on your behalf.
Why Hire GGL?
Being involved in a car accident can leave you physically, psychologically, and financially struggling. To be better able to focus on the difficulties of healing from injuries, you need to know your rights are protected and that you have people in your corner fighting for you.
With more than 30 years of experience and our determination, we can guide you through the intricacies of filing a claim. Our New Brunswick car accident lawyers are here to answer questions, so reach out to 800-923-3456. Contact us today to get the kind of representation you need.
