New Jersey Auto Accident Attorneys

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that at any given time of day, there are over 600,000 drivers using cell phones or other electronic devices WHILE DRIVING! In 2012, there were over 421,000 drivers injured due to distracted driving and 3,328 people killed. Additionally, did you know that texting is among the most dangerous form of distracting driving and actually triples your risk of crashing.

No matter what caused the other driver to become distracted or cause an accident, we are experienced and here to help you. We handle many different types of motor vehicle accidents.

Types of Motor Vehicle Accidents in NJ:

Car Accident: this may involve 1 car, 2 cars, 3 cars or even more hitting one another. Sometimes it could be a chain reaction due to a driver not paying attention.
Truck Accident: this may involve a tractor trailer striking the rear end of a car and possibly pushing it into other cars. Due to the size of the truck, the car struck is frequently totaled.
Drunk Driving Accident: this may involve a drunk driver losing control on the road and striking another vehicle. It can also involve a drunk driver crossing the double yellow line and hitting another car head-on.
Motorcycle Accident: this may involve a car hitting a motorcycle.
Turnpike or Highway Accident: most often this is a result of driving too fast and frequently involves many cars.
Pedestrian Accident: this may involve an individual crossing the street and a car hitting the person.
Bicycle Accident: this may involve a bicyclist riding on the roadway and a vehicle hitting the bike.

Top Things that Cause an Accident:

Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Driving tired
Speeding
Distracted driving: texting, cell phone use, Facebook use, etc.
Driving too fast for the weather conditions
Driving too close to tractor trailers and other cars
Reckless driving
Failure to yield to the right away of another vehicle
Running a yellow light

What to do if you were involved in an Auto Accident

Call the police to write a report. We hear many times that the police were not called because the other driver seemed nice and said they would pay for your vehicle damage. What about when your body starts hurting a few days later? Where is the proof that the accident occurred or that it involved the other driver?
Go to the ER or doctor. If you are in immediate pain, go to the emergency room. If the pain right now is not that bad where you do not feel you need an emergency room doctor, call your family doctor and make an appointment to be evaluated and have your injuries documented. Your doctor will direct you further for treatment.
Call your insurance company to report the accident. Even if you were not at fault, your insurance company will be responsible for your medical bills. Therefore, you need to notify them that an accident occurred and you were injured.
Get your car fixed. Decide if you want to have your own insurance carrier repair your car or if you want the at-fault driver's insurance carrier to do it. Keep in mind that your own insurance carrier will get the job done quickly, but you will have to pay your collision deductible and wait to get it back. The other driver's insurance carrier will take their time because they are investigating the claim to ensure that they are responsible for the repairs. When that is finished, you will not have to pay a collision deductible.
Talk to the insurance carrier about a rental car. If you are going to be without your car for a period of time, find out if you or the at-fault driver have rental car coverage.
If injured, meet with an lawyer. You will want to schedule an appointment with a personal injury attorney. Most, like our firm, offer free consultations for you to meet the attorney and determine if it is a good fit for you. Hiring an attorney is like finding a mate. Except this mate will only last for a few months-years depending on the length of the claim. Therefore, you want to trust the attorney that you hire and make sure that the attorney will be responsive to your concerns.
Apply for temporary disability if you can't work. Most people don't realize that NJ have a State Temporary Disability Benefit program that can help you while you are out of work. However, you need to apply within 30 days of the disability starting. If your doctor has told you not to work, you need to obtain the application and make sure everything is submitted promptly.
Take photographs of your vehicle damage. This will come in handy later and your attorney should ask you for it.
Take photographs of your injuries. If you have a broken arm, laying in a hospital bed, stitches, bruises, black and blue marks, etc., document it now before it heals.

What to bring to your appointment with your attorney

police report
photographs of damage to anything involved in accident, including your car and body
hospital discharge papers
auto insurance declaration page
health insurance card (to use as secondary insurance)
any letters you received from your insurance carrier or the at-fault driver's insurance