Car Accident Attorney in Jersey City

We understand that when you're hurt in a car accident, the most important thing is to focus on your recovery, not worry about your rights being trampled. One of the first things your lawyer will do is establish a boundary between you and everyone (insurance companies, bill collectors, and the other party's legal representation) that may hinder your ability to recover in peace. Next, we go all in to make sure your rights are protected while we begin the compensation recovery process. Some of the challenging issues we may step in to take charge of include the following:

• Working with hospitals and doctors to arrange payment for services once the claim is settled
• Talking with police and investigators about the cause of the accident
• Advise you on what to say to your own insurance company, as they will need your statements
• Provide counsel on what to say to the other party's insurance company, as they will need your version

We understand that you can handle these matters on your own. Still, you wouldn't be researching a car accident lawyer in Jersey City if you didn't recognize the gravity of the situation. Serious injuries mean extensive medical bills, time lost from work, and losses to your well-being and personal life. These losses can pile up rapidly, and when you're still reeling from the results of the accident, you can make critical mistakes that could impact your ability to recoup expenses.

When Morgan and Morgan Law Firm represents you, we take charge of the entire process and intervene on your behalf whenever we see an opportunity to further your claim or defend your rights. We stand as watch guards from the time we take on your case to its successful conclusion. 

You hear the phrase "we will protect your rights" a lot from law firms, but what does that really mean? While it's straightforward to intervene when your rights are violated, it takes some expertise to anticipate the other party's moves and address these legal issues before they escalate. A car accident case involves many moving parts that require a sound strategy, knowledge of insurance and state laws, and the fortitude to battle it out in court if necessary.

When we begin to work on your claim, we'll tell you what steps need to be taken to initiate a settlement proceeding with the insurance company. Your version of the accident is the guide we use to lay the groundwork to ensure your legal rights are protected. We will interview you to uncover the facts of the accident and will follow up on any information that remains unclear. We listen to understand the factors that may have influenced the accident and learn about your injuries, the pain you're suffering, and what the doctors say about your recovery. The next step is to perform a thorough investigation.

Investigations are integral to negotiating a settlement and preparing for a trial. Depending on the circumstances of your accident, we may even need to hire an expert witness to assist in explaining any evidence that may not be easily recognizable to a layperson. For example, a medical expert witness may be needed to explain how your injuries will impact your life moving forward. This is crucial to ensure you get all compensation you'll need to deal with a disability or impediments that will affect your ability to enjoy your life and provide for yourself and your family.

An investigation may include the following:

• Tracking down and interviewing any witnesses
• Obtaining accident scene photos, video, and police reports
• Taking photos of vehicle damage
• Documenting any detrimental conditions at the accident scene, such as road debris or faulty traffic signals
• Reviewing your medical records and bills
• Analyzing your insurance policy

Evidence is the cornerstone of any successful claim, and determining who was at fault for the accident is paramount to overcoming the no-fault law in New Jersey. If your injuries exceed your PIP coverage, the following elements will need to be supported by the evidence we uncover to have a successful claim:

Duty - As the injured party, it must be established that the other party owed you a duty not to cause you harm. This is generally the easiest element to establish because every one of us owes a duty of care to fellow motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians.

Breach - The second element is that some action or inaction breached the duty of care. For example, someone that ignores speed limits or traffic signals is not being careful of the safety of others which is a breach of their duty to do so.

Causation - Once we establish that the other party breached their duty of care, we have to show that their actions or inactions were the cause of the accident. At this point, it can get a little tricky, especially if you played any part in the cause of the accident. We must demonstrate that even if you were being negligent (for example, going 5 MPH over the speed limit at the time of the accident), the actual cause of the accident was ultimately the other party's responsibility.

Injury - To win any compensation, you must have sustained an injury. Injuries are an essential component of any personal injury claim. If you were in a minor accident, such as a fender bender, you would likely handle it with PIP insurance, not a third-party insurance claim or a lawsuit.

Damages - Damages are the legal term for losses. Your damages must be significant for us to get outside of no-fault insurance laws. They may include both economic and noneconomic losses like pain and suffering and emotional stress. Economic losses will consist of medical bills, lost income or income capacity, and other out-of-pocket expenses.

When you're in a car accident in Jersey City, any insurance company that's involved will want to talk to you. It's important to let us handle these communications so that your rights are protected and you don't share anything that might negatively influence the claim. To prevent a barrage of inquests, your car accident lawyer will notify other parties to inform them that Morgan and Morgan are representing you.

This will not only alleviate your stress level but also ensures we keep on top of the claim. We will track your medical progress, expenses, and other information that is crucial to the integrity of your claim.

We will work hand-in-hand with you to prepare for any necessary interviews or depositions to ensure this. At the same time, we will work on negotiating with the insurance company, encouraging them to cover your expenses, and providing evidence to instill their responsibility.

Not every personal injury lawyer handles all types of motor vehicle accidents. For example, accidents involving commercial vehicles can be exceedingly complex, especially when that commercial vehicle is linked to a government entity, like a city bus. At Morgan and Morgan, we don't shy away from any motor vehicle accident because we have experts that understand every aspect and scenario. Our specialties include accidents involving:

• Passenger vehicles
• Commercial vehicles
• Buses
• Trains
• Light rail
• Motorcycles
• Pedestrians
• Bicyclists
• Tractor-trailers
• Heavy machinery

Additionally, we can arrange for a product liability suit if we find a faulty part or defect in either party's vehicle that had something to do with the accident. Historically, defective car parts and poor design have been the cause of millions of serious injuries worldwide that may have otherwise been chalked up to be the result of a collision. Many of the companies that have been involved with faulty vehicles kept these defects quiet. At the same time, people died, resulting in a deluge of wrongful death lawsuits once the deception was revealed.

At Morgan and Morgan, we are well-versed in the medical conditions that will override New Jersey's no-fault insurance law exceptions:

• Loss of a body part
• Loss of fetus
• Permanent injury (the affected body part is not expected to heal enough to regain the previous function)
• Displaced fracture (the bones are out of alignment or might be in several pieces)
• Substantial disfigurement or scarring
• Death

When presenting a liability claim, your lawyer will need to understand the extent of your injuries and prognosis to come up with a figure. This should include past and future medical bills, income loss, and joy of life losses. Once a settlement demand has been made, the other party will respond and offer a fair settlement or further challenge the demand. If the latter, your lawyer will prepare to go to trial.

Sometimes, the threat of a court trial is enough to bring an insurance carrier back to the table and continue negotiations. Sometimes, it isn't. Either way, you need an intelligent expert on your side that can poke holes in the other side's legal arguments and strategy.

When you're struggling to recover from a serious Jersey City car accident, you need a lawyer that will work vigorously to ensure you recover the compensation you need for a better future. That means putting in the time and effort often required in claims that involve catastrophic injuries. The more money at stake, the harder the insurance companies will fight to pay.

You'll not only have a fierce and knowledgeable advocate fighting on your side, but you'll have access to all the resources that back them. Morgan and Morgan is one of the nation's largest and most successful personal injury firms, and we invest in expanding the availability of resources and technologies to our attorneys. Results like ours are achieved through hard work, agility, and exceptional skills. Our fee is free unless we recover compensation for you.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation.