Frequently Asked Questions
DO I EVEN NEED AN ATTORNEY?
With everyone appearing to be concerned for your welfare after an accident, it almost seems as if there’s no need to take any further steps once the insurance company is involved. However, New Jersey’s “No Fault” legislation, mandating that all drivers must maintain a level of personal injury coverage, gives drivers in the state a special incentive to protect their best interests after an auto accident.
Because of these guidelines, insurance providers will often work to minimize or eliminate their responsibility to provide coverage after an accident, which can leave a driver on the hook for costly medical bills and damages.
The insurance provider may also attempt to lure you into signing away your right to seek full restitution for damages by offering a small settlement. In many cases, only an experienced legal professional can help you evaluate whether accepting an offer from an insurance provider is the best choice for you or for the insurance provider.
An attorney becomes even more important if you are an uninsured victim of an accident. “No Fault” laws place responsibility for all passengers in a vehicle at the feet of the owner, or if the owner is uninsured, coverage may be sought from any resident relative of the injured party that resides in the same household. This means that an auto accident, even if caused by another driver, can result in unintended consequences for individuals completely unrelated to the incident.
New Jersey’s “No Fault” laws can make dealing with the effects of an auto accident much more complicated than they may seem. If you have suffered damages after an auto accident in New Jersey, there is a strong possibility that you need legal representation.
WHY INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE YOUR ENEMY?
One of the most important things to remember about insurance companies is that they are businesses first, meaning that the steps they will take when you are involved in an auto accident will be focused much more on the company’s interests rather than ensuring justice for you.
After an accident, providers typically send investigators to the scene to collect details as soon as possible. The main job of these representatives is to identify and minimize the provider’s liability in an incident, and information gained at the scene will be manipulated for this purpose. Never disclose any details about the accident or your injuries with the other party’s agent, as you are under no obligation to submit to an interview at the scene.
Your own insurance company may also work to mitigate any responsibility by attempting to prove that you’re at fault in the accident, especially in cases where the other driver is uninsured or underinsured, which leaves them to foot the bill if you have uninsured/underinsured motorist driver coverage.
New Jersey’s “no fault” accident codes mandate that your insurance company is responsible for covering your medical bills in most cases no matter who is at fault in the accident. Another way your insurance provider can lower their potential investment in your recovery is to try proving that you’re not injured. A common tactic also used by providers to escape liability is requiring frequent visits to a handpicked doctor in an effort to establish that you are not injured.
The complex methods of insurance companies in minimizing their liability means that it is important to seek competent professional legal advice to navigate this tricky area of New Jersey law after an accident. If you are involved in an auto accident, seeking guidance from the experienced professionals of our law offices is the best decision you can make.
SOCIAL MEDIA AND PERSONAL INJURY CLAIMS
Social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram allow virtually anyone to share a thought or an experience on a global stage. However, a clear example of how the reach of social media can work against users is their potential effect on personal injury claims resulting from an auto accident. It can be easy for some to forget that the Internet is a public access resource so there are some things that should be kept offline immediately after an accident.
“I’m Okay”
Social media posts are gaining increasing credibility in courtroom proceedings as evidence, and if your immediate claim of perfect health after an accident contradicts your later discovery of an injuriy resulting from the incident, the credibility of the claim can greatly suffer.
Oversharing
Providing an immediate public recount of an accident while still in a state of shock and excitement can result in exaggerations and other perception-based inaccuracies, all of which could be taken as fact in a court of law.
Posting Pictures
Your pictures at the scene are the most unfiltered evidence possible corroborating your version of the events leading up to your accident, and placing these pictures in the public domain means releasing all control over them.
Discussing a Settlement
Many settlements and judgments contain clauses prohibiting discussion of settlement terms as a matter of legal confidentiality. Any breach of this clause can result in the voiding of any entitlement a victim may have to compensation after an auto accident, and this includes online posting.
In the world of today, social media has become an extension of everyday life. This means that in the aftermath of an auto accident, the best connection you can make is with the team of experienced attorneys at our law offices.
WHAT IF I CAN'T WORK AFTER AN ACCIDENT
An accident involving personal injury is not only immediately traumatic, but can have extended consequences as well. Along with any property damages and medical bills that you must now contend with, there is also a possibility that your injuries will leave you physically or mentally unable to perform your job duties.
One of the most common mistakes in the aftermath of an accident is to immediately accept any settlement offered to you, but accepting this type of settlement usually invalidates any later claims, and so if lingering aftereffects of the accident later leave you unable to work, you will be left with very limited recourse.
When you are injured in an accident, you should immediately establish a relationship with the examining doctor. Be detailed about the extent of your injuries as well as your employment responsibilities and general lifestyle so that you can receive an accurate prognosis for your potential return to full health as well as information about any other conditions that may later develop as a result of your injuries.
If you have suffered injuries that leave you unable to work, it is possible to file suit for reimbursement of expenses as well as damages and lost wages by enlisting the assistance of a qualified attorney. If you are unable to perform your job duties after an accident, talk to our team of experienced attorneys and put our expertise to work for you.
WHO PAYS MY MEDICAL BILLS?
An accident involving personal injury is not only immediately traumatic, but can have extended consequences as well. Along with any property damages and medical bills that you must now contend with, there is also a possibility that your injuries will leave you physically or mentally unable to perform your job duties.
One of the most common mistakes in the aftermath of an accident is to immediately accept any settlement offered to you, but accepting this type of settlement usually invalidates any later claims, and so if lingering aftereffects of the accident later leave you unable to work, you will be left with very limited recourse.
When you are injured in an accident, you should immediately establish a relationship with the examining doctor. Be detailed about the extent of your injuries as well as your employment responsibilities and general lifestyle so that you can receive an accurate prognosis for your potential return to full health as well as information about any other conditions that may later develop as a result of your injuries.
If you have suffered injuries that leave you unable to work, it is possible to file suit for reimbursement of expenses as well as damages and lost wages by enlisting the assistance of a qualified attorney. If you are unable to perform your job duties after an accident, talk to our team of experienced attorneys and put our expertise to work for you.
WHAT IF I CAN’T AFFORD REPRESENTATION?
New Jersey’s “No Fault” laws ensure that the immediate needs of all victims are met by requiring that all drivers carry a level of personal insurance. This insurance protects the driver as well as any passengers and automatically covers many expenses that may arise from an auto accident.
Basic policies are popular because they are affordable and satisfy a driver’s legal responsibilities, but can have coverage limits starting at $15,000 per accident. Medical bills alone can easily exceed the limits of standard policies, and common realities such as property damage and lost wages due to injury serve to further elevate the risk. Another complicating issue could arise in the case of injury to an uninsured party.
The fact is that in many cases, the policy that a driver carries does not deliver nearly enough benefit to cover expenses after an accident involving their vehicle. Of course, it is possible to seek compensation through the responsible parties by filing suit, but it is often extremely expensive to retain legal representation, leaving working individuals with few options.
Fortunately, our law offices offer our full representation on a contingency basis, and we collect our fees only when you collect your restitution so you can focus on your recovery. When you are injured or suffer damages in an auto accident, you are entitled to compensation. Turn to our family of attorneys for the compassionate representation you deserve.
WHO PAYS FOR MY VEHICLE DAMAGE?
In the aftermath of an accident, your most immediate concern may be for the safety and health of yourself, your passengers and even the other driver, but eventually you will have to deal with the damage to your vehicle.
New Jersey law allows drivers to seek restitution for lost resale value associated with a major collision, and while insurance companies are law-bound to negotiate with you in good faith, but will always try to settle a case for the minimal amount possible.
A provider often even delays any offer for settlement until the investigation is complete, eventually offering a fraction of the damages you’re entitled to as a quick and easy dismissal of the issue. You have the right to full restitution when the other driver is at fault. If you feel you’ve exhausted your options for restitution after an accident, speak with one of our attorneys and get advice to make it right.
