A recent headline proclaimed New Jersey’s highways as “the worst and costliest in the nation.” With those kinds of statistics, whether you’re on the Garden State Parkway in Mattawan, the Turnpike in Newark or a local road in Jersey City, it’s no wonder drivers may find themselves in a car accident. In this blog post, we’ll review when you should call a lawyer after a car accident.
You’ve Been Injured
If you, a passenger or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, it’s in your best interest to discuss your case with a lawyer. You may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and other financial awards for intangible losses, like pain and suffering. If your injuries are serious, it’s even more critical to ensure you receive the maximum compensation available to cover what could be large expenses and a long period out of work.
Often, insurance companies will attempt to contact an injured victim and try to settle for very little as quickly as they can. It’s critical to give yourself time to fully consider the scope of your injuries and how those injuries not only affect your expenses now but also how those injuries could affect your quality of life later.
Accident Involved a Truck or Commercial Vehicle
Liability can be more complex when the accident involves a tractor-trailer truck or commercial vehicle. The commercial drivers can often be at fault but so can the business or commercial entity that owns or operates the vehicle. Further, mechanical defects or failure to properly maintain the vehicles could be cause for an accident. Because of the complexity of commercial vehicle accidents, it's in your best interest to contact an experienced car accident attorney.
If you are a passenger in a commercial vehicle or a ride sharing service like Lyft or Uber, different car insurance laws may exist for your circumstances. For example, Uber and Lyft are required to carry relatively large liability policies in the event of injury accidents in New Jersey. Contact a car accident lawyer who has experience in ridesharing accidents.
Multi-Vehicle Accidents
Similar to the complexity of a car accident that involves a commercial vehicle, an accident involving several vehicles will have potentially multiple liable parties. An experienced car accident lawyer will have knowledge and skills to communicate and negotiate with multiple insurance parties.
Insurance Company Is Denying or Devaluing Your Claim
While it’s in your best interest to contact a lawyer as soon as possible after a car accident, it’s never too late for a consultation. Insurance companies typically offer lowball settlements early in the process to pressure injured victims to settle quickly. Don’t sign a settlement agreement after a car accident without discussing your case with a lawyer.
If the insurance company has denied your claim all together because of pre-existing conditions, liability questions or any other reason, contact a car accident lawyer to review your case. Most attorneys offer free consultations and only charge a fee if your claim is successful.
Contact Us for Help Today
Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law, is an experienced, successful law firm dedicated to helping people get back on their feet after an injury accident. Our dedicated attorney team steps in and handles everything so you can focus on healing. Our team of experienced attorneys will work with you to achieve the settlement that you deserve.
There is no law requiring you to have a lawyer when filing a personal injury claim after a car accident. However, working with experienced car accident attorneys can make all the difference in the outcome of your case. Why risk being unfairly compensated and not having recourse to fix it? When you hire a personal injury lawyer from our team, you pay nothing upfront. We work on contingent fees that are only collected if we win your case. If we don’t win, you don’t pay.
Contact Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law, for a free consultation. With our proven track record of success and our commitment to client care, we can turn your setback into a comeback.