Most people do not get in a car with someone who they think is going to crash, so when an accident happens, it very often takes everyone by surprise. If you were injured as a passenger in a car accident, you are most likely now seeking financial compensation. If you find yourself in this situation, here are some of the questions you may have regarding your legal options going forward:
How do car accidents happen?
Car accidents are an unfortunate, though frequent reality of our lives. In fact, on average, there are 6 million car accidents in our nation every single year. This is unacceptable, especially considering that most of them are caused by negligent driving behavior. In other words, they can be avoided. While yes, many accidents are caused by outside factors like mother nature, there are far more accidents caused by texting while driving, drunk driving, and distracted driving than slipping on patches of black ice, for example.
What are the most common injuries passengers sustain?
Passengers are often badly injured in car accidents since there is so little they can do to protect themselves. Some of the injuries that have recovered financial compensation in the past are as follows:
- Lacerations
- Facial disfigurations
- Broken bones
- Psychological trauma
- Spinal injuries
- Back trauma
Can I recover compensation for my injuries?
To recover financial compensation, you must first hire an attorney. From here, your attorney will have to assess the situation and obtain all evidence pertaining to your accident. For example, your attorney may work to recover photographic or video evidence of your accident, witness statements, police reports, medical documents, and more to prove your claim.
What is the statute of limitations?
The statute of limitations in New Jersey is two years, which means you have two years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit against a negligent party. If you wait too long, you will be barred from suing. Do not let this happen to you.
What if I was injured as a passenger using mass transit?
Lawsuits against municipalities are a bit different and are sometimes harder to win. This is why you must promptly hire a knowledgeable attorney who will file a Notice of Claim within 90 days of the accident and provide the skill you need to win your claim.
Contact our experienced New Jersey firm
Our firm understands how serious criminal and personal injury cases are. We are prepared to guide you towards a favorable outcome because we believe false accusations or preventable injuries should never cause a person harm. This is why those who require experienced legal counsel in New Jersey should do themselves a favor and contact The Law Office of Andrew S. Maze today for any criminal and personal injury matters.