Paterson Personal Injury 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 Personal Injury Lawyer

Being in any kind of accident can prove to be a devastating experience, leaving you to deal with injuries, property damage, and pain and suffering, among plenty of other factors.

That being said, if your accident occurred because of someone else’s negligence, you shouldn’t have to deal with the resulting medical expenses, repair bills, and other out-of-pocket costs on your own. At Garces, Grabler & LeBrocq, you can get help from a Paterson personal injury lawyer.

Still, what exactly constitutes a personal injury, and what should you do if you get into an accident that causes one?

Understanding Personal Injury Law in Paterson

Personal injury law is the body thereof that establishes your rights if you’ve been injured by someone else. There are a few types of legal claims that fall under the umbrella of personal injury law in Paterson.

One of these is accidental injuries, which are what most people think of when they hear the term “personal injury law.” They refer to injuries that result from someone’s negligent behavior or their failure to live up to their professional responsibilities, including everything from medical malpractice to car accidents.

Another type of personal injury claim is a strict liability claim, which doesn’t require that you prove negligence. An example of such a claim could be a malfunctioning product causing your injuries; although the manufacturer or designer of the product didn’t mean to cause harm, they’re still liable.

Intentional torts also fit under the umbrella of personal injury. These refer to injuries you sustain from someone who intentionally sets out to hurt you; examples include instances of assault and battery.

Regardless of the case you bring forward, one of the most important things to know about personal injury law in Paterson is that the state follows a modified comparative negligence system, which means that you can receive compensation even if the accident was partly your fault, provided that your percentage of fault is below 50%.

With that system in place, turning to a personal injury lawyer for help is essential to ensure your rights are respected and that insurance companies don’t try to cheat you out of compensation.

What You Must Prove When Filing a Personal Injury Claim

In the majority of personal injury claims in Paterson (and throughout the country), you have to prove the other person’s negligence, and that requires meeting a few key requirements.

First, you must show that the other party owed you a duty of care, meaning they had an obligation toward you. In the instance of a car accident, for example, the other person had a duty to drive safely to protect other people, like yourself, while on the road.

You then have to show that they failed to meet that obligation; in the same car accident example, that could mean that they were speeding or driving while intoxicated.

Lastly, you must draw a direct link between the person’s negligence and your injuries and explain that you suffered losses that you can be compensated for.

What Damages Can You Receive in a Personal Injury Claim?

It’s possible to receive both economic and non-economic damages in a personal injury claim.

Economic damages refer to those that are objectively quantifiable, beginning with medical expenses, such as hospital care and physical therapy, among many other things. All of these costs often significantly add up, but if you file a claim, it’s possible to get compensation to help with them. If the injury was severe enough to leave you in need of ongoing care, you could file for future medical expenses as well.

Having to deal with an injury and getting treatment for it can mean missing days of work, resulting in lost wages. You can claim these losses, too. If the injury won’t allow you to return to your previous job or prevents you from working, you could also receive future wages you would otherwise have received.

Lastly, in cases regarding property loss, which often occurs in car accidents, you also have the chance to claim these; your car may need repairs or replacement, for instance.

Non-economic damages are more complex, in contrast, as it’s not as simple to put a number on losses that affect you emotionally. One of these is pain and suffering, which refers to the physical and emotional distress that you suffered because of the accident. There are a few different ways of quantifying pain and suffering, but generally, the more serious your injuries are, the more compensation you can receive.

Loss of enjoyment of life is another type of non-economic damage you can claim, and it refers to the way in which your injury has impacted your life. Loss of consortium can also apply if you lost a loved one in an accident or if the injuries were severe enough to leave them incapable of providing you with their support and affection.

Types of Personal Injury Cases in Paterson

In Paterson, Garces, Grabler & LeBrocq offers help in a variety of personal injury cases. The following is just a selection of what we can help you with; if you’re not certain whether our team can represent your claim, scheduling a consultation with us can answer all of your questions.

Approximately 13,000 car accidents occur every year in Passaic County, home to Paterson. Such accidents can lead to serious injuries, including fatalities, and they can be the result of distracted driving, reckless driving, and even driving while intoxicated.

Accidents that involve 18-wheelers, semi-trucks, and big rigs can all be catastrophic. Proving who was at fault can also be difficult, as the truck driver may not always be to blame; in some instances, malfunctioning truck parts, or even the trucking company itself, could be deemed more at fault.

Motorcycle accidents can have serious consequences for riders because bikes are smaller and offer less protection. In New Jersey, you could get compensation for your injuries depending on the circumstances surrounding a motorcycle crash.

When you walk into a property, private or commercial, the owners have a responsibility to keep the premises safe for you. If you slip because there are wet floors without proper signs stating so, or if you trip and fall down flights of stairs because of uneven steps, you could have a personal injury claim on your hands.

If you are harmed in any way on private or commercial property as the direct result of a lack of security, you could file a personal injury claim.

A product that doesn’t function as it’s supposed to could lead to serious injuries. Pharmaceuticals, medical devices, safety equipment, and even children’s products all fit under product liability.

A medical professional who doesn’t perform their job as required, thus leading to an injury, can be held responsible for their negligence.

Although many construction site accidents deal with workers’ compensation, not all of them do. If you’ve been seriously injured at a construction site because of someone else’s negligence, you could be able to file a personal injury claim.

New Jersey has a strict liability system for dog bites, which means that even if a dog’s owner isn’t negligent, they can still be held responsible for any injuries you sustained because of a dog bite or other animal attack.

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Steps to Take After Suffering a Personal Injury in Paterson

After suffering a personal injury in Paterson, the first thing you need to do is call for help, whether that be from the police or an ambulance. As you wait for help to arrive, take stock of your injuries, as well as those of other people who may be involved; if you’re in significant pain or bleeding profusely, try not to move.

Make sure you let the on-scene medical professionals look at you, even if you think you don’t have any injuries. Many times, adrenaline can make you feel like there’s nothing wrong, but medics will be able to spot any issues and get you the help you need. That also begins the process of leaving a record of the injuries.

If you’re able to do so, gather the contact information of everyone involved: the party that caused the accident, as well as any witnesses that could offer statements later on. You should also take photos and videos of where the accident occurred. If you’re incapacitated, have someone else do this for you.

As all of the above occurs, do not speak about the accident at all; you don’t want to inadvertently admit to fault, which could cost you fair compensation. It’s also a good idea to write down your narrative of the accident as soon as you can. Include everything you remember, no matter how small the detail may appear. This can work as evidence later on.

The next thing you should do is reach out to a personal injury lawyer. You don’t want to involve insurance companies before reaching out and speaking with an attorney who can offer some guidance on what you should say.

It’s essential that you reach out to a lawyer as soon as possible because there are statutes of limitations you have to worry about in New Jersey. Each case is unique, so even though two years is the general timeline, many people could have less time in which to file a claim. Once you miss that deadline, you have no chance of filing.

Why Choose Garces, Grabler & LeBrocq?

One of the most difficult decisions you have to make once you’ve suffered an injury is choosing the attorney you want representing you.

At Garces, Grabler, & LeBrocq, our strong work ethic and our compassion make it easier for you to focus on healing while we handle the rest, and our tenacity makes us a bonafide asset. We never under-settle a case, and if we feel that your rights are not being respected, we’re ready to take your case to court.

Furthermore, we make sure to treat each of our clients like family. We understand how difficult and stressful the entire process of filing a personal injury claim is, so we’ll always keep you in the loop with consistent communication. We even offer bilingual services, ensuring we can help both Spanish and English-speaking communities.

When you turn to us, you turn to people who are focused on your needs. From the moment you walk into our offices, you’ll feel welcome among people who want to help. After an accident that wasn’t your fault, don’t hesitate to get help. Contact us online today or call 1-800-923-3456.

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Paterson Personal Injury Lawyer

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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