Paterson Car Accident Lawyer
We are a team of highly skilled personal injury attorneys. If you have a bodily injury legal issue in or around Paterson, New Jersey, we can help. Call us today for a free consultation.
Paterson Car Accident Lawyer
Most people understand that getting behind the wheel each day can mean facing an accident, but it’s not until you’ve been in one that you really comprehend how it can impact your life. In New Jersey, there are an average of 121,259 crashes each year, and almost 13,000 of these are in Passaic County.
A car accident often leaves people with injuries, property damage, and psychological trauma. If you’ve been in a collision in New Jersey, one of the best things you can do to get the help you need is to reach out to a Paterson car accident lawyer.
Garces, Grabler & LeBrocq is here to offer guidance as you begin the process of filing a personal injury claim after a car accident. Learn more about what you need to do right after the collision, as well as what your rights are.
Steps To Take After a Car Accident in Paterson
To ensure that you obey New Jersey laws and to make it easier to file a claim later, you have to take some vital steps right after an accident in Paterson.
CALL FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION
The moments after a car accident, you need to take stock of your injuries as well as those of your passengers before anyone starts moving. Many times, trying to stand or move around can worsen injuries, especially issues like concussions and spinal cord injuries.
Feeling lots of pain, seeing blood, or experiencing severe confusion are all signs that you shouldn’t move. If that’s the case, you need to call for emergency medical services.
To be safe, it’s always a good idea to call for medical help — no matter how mild you think your injuries are. Your body has powerful ways of protecting you during an accident, like dulling pain with floods of adrenaline, so you may not notice that you’re injured until all of that has worn off.
When the medical professionals show up, make sure they check you. They’ll notice if there are injuries you need care for, even if you feel fine. Another benefit is that you’ll get the chance to start a record of the injuries you sustained.
ALERT THE POLICE
Because New Jersey law requires you to alert the police of an accident only if it results in injuries, fatalities, or property damage that totals $500 or more, lots of people hesitate to call the police. That’s never a good idea.
It’s difficult to know if anyone has suffered an injury right after the accident occurs, and most people need a repair person to give them an accurate estimate of how much it will cost to repair their vehicle.
To avoid having to pay fines for not reporting the accident and to be able to file a claim, call the police. Have someone do it for you if you’re incapacitated.
When the authorities arrive, give them as clear an account of the accident as possible. Don’t assign fault. Just stick to what happened.
EXCHANGE INFORMATION WITH OTHER PARTIES
If you don’t need to go to the hospital for medical attention, the next step is to exchange information with the other parties involved in the accident. This means other drivers as well as witnesses. You may need eyewitnesses to give you a statement later on, so getting their contact information makes a difference.
When you’re speaking with witnesses or the other parties involved, don’t mention who’s at fault.
BEGIN GATHERING EVIDENCE AT THE SCENE
You can begin gathering important pieces of evidence right at the scene of the accident. Take lots of pictures or videos that include the position of the cars, the state of the road, and anything else that you think could be important.
It’s also a good idea to reach out to witnesses and get their statements. You can record them using your phone or ask the witnesses to write down what they saw.
SPEAK WITH A CAR ACCIDENT ATTORNEY
It’s essential that you reach out to a lawyer before doing anything else. They will be able to assess your claim and give you an idea of the kind of compensation you may receive. You want to speak with a lawyer before you reach out to your insurer.
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Understanding Car Accident Laws in Paterson
Although New Jersey is a no-fault state, which means you can get compensation from your own personal injury protection (PIP) insurance even if you were partly at fault, the state complicates the claims process by also following a modified comparative negligence system.
Modified comparative negligence means that you are allowed to get compensation as long as you are less at fault than the other party. If, for example, you’re in a two-car accident, your fault has to be 50% or lower. Any more than that, and you won’t be eligible for compensation.
There are further issues that can make the process of getting compensation difficult. You have to understand the kind of insurance you have.
New Jersey requires you to have three types of insurance:
- Personal injury protection
- Liability insurance
- Uninsured motorist insurance
A basic insurance policy offers all of these three insurance options, which allow you to get compensation for economic damages like medical bills, property damage, and lost wages. It doesn’t, however, let you recover non-economic damages like pain and suffering. For that, you need a standard policy.
A standard policy has two options: limited right to sue and unlimited right to sue. With the former, you need to have suffered a severe injury like permanent disfigurement, the loss of a limb, or a similar issue to be able to pursue legal action against the at-fault party.
If you have an unlimited right to sue, you don’t have these restrictions. You can claim non-economic damages from the other party if they hold the majority of fault. This does mean, however, that you have to be able to prove the other party was negligent.
Although these kinds of claims have a two-year statute of limitations, in some circumstances, the timeline could be much shorter. To avoid missing the deadline and losing the possibility of compensation, you need to contact a car accident lawyer as soon as possible.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in Paterson
Getting into a car accident can involve a number of different scenarios. There are a few common causes in Paterson.
DISTRACTED DRIVING: DRIVING AND TEXTING CAN KILL
A distracted driver is a danger to everyone on the road, from other drivers to cyclists and pedestrians. Driving a car requires the utmost focus, and yet it’s not uncommon for people’s thoughts to wander while they drive or for boredom to set in and make them reach for the radio or their phones.
Texting and driving, social media scrolling and driving — doing anything else and driving — can make someone less responsive to what’s occurring on the road. That makes accidents more likely to happen.
Each year in the United States, an average of 3,500 people die because of distracted driving.
SPEEDING: GOING TOO FAST FOR THE ROAD
Most people assume that speeding means going above the posted speed limit. While that is one type of speeding, it can be more complex than that. Many times, road conditions dictate what speed you should go.
If there’s low visibility because of heavy rain, for example, you probably shouldn’t travel at full speed. If a driver does, they may not have time to stop to avoid a crash.
Speeding makes the force of impact more powerful, and that usually results in more serious injuries.
INTOXICATED DRIVING: IMPAIRED COORDINATION AND REFLEXES
Drinking and driving is a combination that can be fatal. New Jersey has a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) limit of 0.08%, the same as the rest of the country, but it’s important to know that even one drink can affect your coordination and reflexes. That makes it much easier for an accident to occur.
It’s not just alcohol that can be a problem. Using drugs, including marijuana, opioids, and stimulants, makes a driver less responsive and more dangerous on the road.
ROAD RAGE: THE DANGERS OF ANGRY DRIVERS
In populous cities, traffic congestion is normal. People who are frustrated and bored from sitting in stalled traffic can respond aggressively. Those who display road rage can take more risks on the road, including going in and out of lanes, tailgating, and even running through red lights. All of this leads to more accidents.
FATIGUED DRIVING: NODDING OFF AT THE WHEEL
Getting behind the wheel when you’re tired is not a good decision. Tired drivers have more trouble focusing on the road and might not react quickly enough to hazards. They may also fall asleep at the wheel, lose control of the car, and suffer all kinds of accidents.
ROAD CONDITIONS: POTHOLES, UNEVEN PAVEMENT, AND MORE
Road conditions also affect the chances of getting into an accident. If there are potholes or uneven surfaces, drivers can lose control of their cars and crash into other vehicles.
Unclear road markings, malfunctioning lights, and a variety of other issues can create hazards. The complicated nature of these accidents requires that you turn to lawyers for help.
Dealing With Insurance Companies After a Car Accident In Paterson
Insurance companies are, first and foremost, out to make a profit. Helping people who are suffering get the compensation they deserve is not the priority of insurance companies. In fact, it is something they’d like to avoid.
To achieve that goal, they’ll try a number of tactics, including threatening you with not paying you at all. That often leads people to accept low-ball offers that don’t cover what they need or deserve.
One of the most challenging aspects of dealing with insurance companies in New Jersey is modified comparative negligence. If the company can prove that you were more at fault than the other party, it doesn’t have to pay you. So that’s what the company will try to do.
To have the best chance at getting the right compensation, you have to have a lawyer by your side. A Paterson car accident lawyer will know how to deal with insurance companies. They have experience with negotiations and know the law, so they can push back against the bullying that insurance companies engage in.
You don’t want to speak with insurance companies on your own. Always consult with an attorney to get their recommendations and guidance.
Finding a Reputable Paterson Car Accident Lawyer
To have a chance at getting compensation in Paterson after a car accident that wasn’t your fault, you need to find an attorney you can depend on. But how do you know which attorney to choose?
LOOK FOR YEARS OF THE RIGHT EXPERIENCE
The lawyer you choose to represent you through a car accident claim has to be someone who has years of experience with these types of claims. They need to have worked on claims similar to the one you’re involved in.
It’s not enough for the lawyer to have worked on these claims — they have to have been successful in a majority of them. Look to see what kind of winnings they’ve managed, too. A lawyer who under-settles claims won’t be able to get the results you need. You want to see a lawyer who fights for their clients and doesn’t rush through cases.
READ REVIEWS FROM PAST CLIENTS
You should search for online reviews and look for testimonials from previous clients. Even the best lawyers have some disgruntled clients, but if you see that the majority of comments are negative, that lawyer is not the right choice.
REVIEW LITIGATION BACKGROUND
There are instances when insurers just don’t want to offer a fair settlement, or they try to argue that you were to blame. In those cases, the only option is to file a lawsuit and go to court.
Lawyers without experience in litigation or who haven’t been successful in court will try to do everything to avoid taking the claim forward. They may even end up under-settling.
You need to find lawyers who don’t hesitate to take your case to court if that’s the best way to get you fair compensation. Often, the mere threat of litigation can be enough to get insurers to treat you with more respect.
ASK ABOUT THE FEES PROCESS
After a car accident, you’ll likely be dealing with many additional expenses. You could be struggling to pay medical bills or repair bills for your car. In the worst case, you could have lost a loved one and be facing funerary expenses.
The last thing you need is to worry about coming up with fees just to get a lawyer to represent you. That’s why you want to find attorneys who work on a contingency basis. A contingency basis means that they don’t get paid if you don’t.
Before making a decision on the lawyer you hire, you have to fully understand what percentage they will receive from the winnings and any other details that make a difference.
PAY ATTENTION TO PERSONALITY
The claims process can be complicated, which means you may spend a significant amount of time with the lawyer you hire. Do you feel comfortable speaking with them? Do you trust them to prioritize your needs and rights?
Trust is essential, so if you don’t feel like they’re always telling you the truth or if they don’t explain the process in a way that you can understand, it’s better to go with another attorney.
Sometimes, it comes down to a matter of clashing personalities. If that happens, you can decide whether you can continue to work with them or if you’d prefer to go with someone who’s a bit more compatible with you.
PRIORITIZE COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Complicated cases can take time to settle, and that puts a lot of stress on clients who are dealing with injuries and other losses. The wait can seem unending. A lawyer who regularly communicates with you and lets you know how the claim stands can do a great deal to put you at ease and make the wait a bit more manageable.
If you have to chase the lawyer down and wait days for them to return a phone call, that’s likely not the right person for the job.
The lawyer also has to have a game plan. Once they have looked at your claim, they should be able to tell you about the process play-by-play. If they can’t do that, they’re probably not the best option.
You want a lawyer who will be honest with you about the claim. Don’t trust someone who promises to win. Even with clear-cut cases, winning is never a given. Any lawyer who states otherwise isn’t reputable and could just be stringing you along.
What Makes Garces, Grabler & LeBrocq a Choice You Can Trust?
We know how difficult it can be to decide to file a claim after a car accident. Many times, people want to forget about the whole thing so that they can move on with their lives. But if the accident wasn’t your fault, why should you have to deal with its financial consequences?
When you choose Garces, Grabler & LeBrocq, you get the guidance you need right from the start, so the process can feel a bit less overwhelming. We offer free consultations where we get to meet you and assess your claim so we can provide the most effective help.
As one of the only bilingual firms in the area, we offer representation to both the English- and Spanish-speaking communities. You shouldn’t have to miss out on the compensation you deserve because you can’t effectively communicate with your lawyer.
We treat each of our clients like family. This means you can expect respect and compassion from our entire team. We are here to help you, not to make your life more stressful, so if you have concerns or questions, we’re available to address them.
At GGL, we have years of experience with all manner of car accident claims in New Jersey. We never shy away from taking a claim to court if that’s to your benefit.
One thing we never do is under-settle a case or treat you like just a number.
If you’re struggling after being in a car accident, you could have the right to compensation that helps to cover those expenses. Don’t let another day go by. Contact Garces, Grabler & LeBrocq online today or give us a call at 1-800-923-3456 to schedule a free consultation.
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GGL Wins
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OFFICIAL PARTNER OF RUTGERS ATHLETICS
Paterson Car Accident Lawyer
Phone: (800) 923-3456
Open 24/7 365
Office:
8:30-6:00 Monday
8:30-6:00 Tuesday
8:30-6:00 Wednesday
8:30-6:00 Thursday
8:30-6:00 Friday
Recent GGL Wins
Medical Malpractice
A 30-year-old pregnant woman went into labor. The doctor failed to take proper steps in the baby’s delivery, making the mother wait in the hallway for ten hours while the baby’s heart rate began to drop. The baby was delivered via C-Section; he was blue from lack of oxygen resulting in Cerebral Palsy.
$14 Million
Verdict
Construction Accident
Mediation award resulting from an industrial explosion causing disfiguring burns and severe orthopedic injuries.
$7,8 Million
Verdict
Auto Accident
31-year-old man who was cut off by another car causing his car to flip over. He sustained head injuries, facial injuries, and half of his pinky finger was amputated.
$3 Million
Verdict
No Fee Unless
GGL Wins
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