10 Things You Should Know Before Filing a Personal Injury Claim in New Jersey
If you are facing the prospect of pursuing an injury claim for the first time after being hurt in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence or recklessness, below are some tips you should keep in mind as you go through the process of filing a personal injury lawsuit.
Personal Injury Lawsuits Protect Your Rights
A personal injury lawsuit is designed to protect your rights and to protect you from the financial consequences of injuries that you suffered due to someone else’s fault. In a personal injury lawsuit, you may be entitled to recover compensation for financial expenses such as medical bills and lost wages, as well as recover money for personal losses that you have experienced due to your injuries, including pain, emotional distress, or a loss of quality of life.
People with Legal Representation Tend to Recover More Money
Injury victims who hire personal injury lawyers can recover as much as three times the compensation that those who are unrepresented by legal counsel receive. Personal injury lawyers have the experience to properly value your personal injury claim and know what it takes to negotiate with insurance companies. When the insurance company is unwilling to offer a fair settlement, a personal injury lawyer can then fight for maximum compensation for you in a personal injury lawsuit.
You Can Improve Your Case by Contacting a Lawyer As Soon As Possible
To preserve your rights and options in your personal injury claim, you should speak with a lawyer as soon as possible. A lawyer can begin recovering evidence critical to your case before it is lost or before people’s memories begin to fade. Your attorney can also help you avoid making mistakes when dealing with insurance companies that may cause you to inadvertently lose important legal rights and options.
Personal Injury Lawyers Don’t Charge Up Front
Personal injury lawyers represent injured victims on what is known as a “contingency fee basis.” This means that you don’t have to pay any money upfront to hire a personal injury lawyer. Your lawyer is paid only when they secure compensation for you in a settlement or a trial verdict, with the money coming out of the compensation you’ve won rather than out of your pocket. That way, you have no financial risk in pursuing a personal injury claim and don’t have to worry about having to pay another bill as you recover from your injuries.
You Should Talk to an Attorney Before Signing Papers from the Insurance Company
The insurance adjuster is looking out for the insurance company’s interests, not yours. The adjuster’s goal is to get you to settle your injury claim for as little money as possible. You should not sign anything from the insurance company until you’ve spoken with a personal injury lawyer.
You Have Options for Winning Money in Your Case
While people may be more familiar with trials as part of the legal process, in most personal injury cases injured victims recover compensation through a negotiated settlement. A settlement gets an injured victim money in an efficient manner while avoiding the time and expense of litigation. However, if a fair settlement cannot be reached, you have the option of pursuing a personal injury lawsuit, where jury verdicts are often higher than the amounts that were discussed during settlement negotiations.
You Must Prove the Other Side’s Negligence to Recover Compensation
To win compensation in your personal injury lawsuit, you will need to prove that your injuries were caused by the negligence of the other side. Negligence is defined as the failure to exercise reasonable care, where that failure causes you to suffer injuries and losses that you can be financially compensated for.
Personal Injury Lawsuits May Take a Long Time to Resolve
Depending on the complexity of a personal injury claim, a negotiated settlement can take months to reach. If a lawsuit is filed in the case, it can take even longer to reach a resolution, often a year or more.
A Thorough Investigation Is Needed to Properly Value Your Claim
Your personal injury lawyer cannot properly advise you on the value of your case or what fair compensation might look like until after performing a complete investigation to determine the severity of your injuries and the underlying facts and circumstances of how your injuries occurred.
The Law Limits the Time You Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit
Finally, keep in mind that under New Jersey’s statute of limitations, you typically have only two years from the date that you were injured to file a personal injury lawsuit. Filing after the statute of limitations expires on your claim may cause you to lose your right to recover compensation.
Contact a Scotch Plains Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Case in New Jersey
Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries in New Jersey? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at Bramnick, Rodriguez, Grabas, Arnold & Mangan, LLC represent clients injured in Edison, Woodbridge, Old Bridge, Piscataway, and throughout New Jersey. Call (908) 325-5571 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 1827 E. 2nd St., Scotch Plains, NJ 07076, as well as offices in Westfield, Newark, East Brunswick, Clifton, Cherry Hill, and Elizabeth.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.