Medford Car Accident Lawyer

New Jersey is a hub of activity, with residents not only constantly moving about the city but also commuting to Philadelphia, New York, and other major cities.

This is one of the reasons why the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway can sometimes be dangerous, and why the number of motor vehicle accidents continues to rise. Luckily, most car accidents that occur do so without any of the involved parties being injured. But in the most unfortunate cases, injuries can be severe, and even life-threatening. When these injuries are present after a car accident, and the accident was the fault of someone else, it is important those injured contact a Medford car accident lawyer to discuss filing an injury claim.

Accident Considerations

The fact that New Jersey is a no-fault state is one of the factors that will contribute to Medford car accident cases. Under no-fault law, an individual’s own insurance company will cover medical costs no matter who was at fault for the accident.

Many plaintiffs believe that because it is their own insurance company working for them, they will be given the highest amount of compensation right away. However, that is not the case. The insurance company is still an insurance company that is in the business of making money, and they will still try to offer the lowest possible settlement first.

For this reason, injured parties should never speak to their insurance company before speaking to a car accident lawyer in Medford.

Comparative Negligence

In addition to no-fault insurance, New Jersey also makes compensation allowances when the plaintiff was partly to blame for the accident.

First, the court will determine the degree to which the plaintiff was at fault, and equal it to a percentage. When determining compensation amounts, the court will then deduct that percentage from the overall compensation.

In cases where the plaintiff is found to be more than 50 percent at fault for a car accident, they are not eligible to file a claim for any compensation.

Understanding exactly what the law says about car accidents can be difficult with all the caveats that are provided under New Jersey law. It is essential that accident victims contact a Medford car accident attorney as soon as possible to get the legal help they need.

Determining Compensation

One of the first questions most accident victims have after the fact is whether or not they will be eligible for compensation.

While each case is unique, typically if there are injuries, and the person filing a lawsuit is not more than 50 percent to blame, a lawsuit can be filed. However, compensation awarded in those cases varies widely.

Economic damages can be awarded for losses that have an actual dollar value such as lost wages or medical bills. Non-economic damages may also be awarded for losses that do not have a dollar value, such as pain and suffering.

These types of awards are rare in New Jersey and are capped at five times the amount of economic damages, or $350,000, whichever is greater. A motor vehicle accident lawyer in Medford can help an individual determine the damages they may be entitled to in their particular case.

Benefits of an Attorney

The moments and days following a car accident can be confusing and stressful, but they are also critical. This is the time you need to focus on your recovery, yet you also have mounting medical bills or might be unable to work.

Before you even speak to the insurance companies or the other parties, contact a Medford car accident lawyer that can help get you the compensation you deserve, while you focus on getting back on your feet.