Introduction
After a car crash in New Jersey, victims can file claims with their own insurance companies regardless of who was at fault. This is because New Jersey is one of the 12 no-fault car accident states. However, if a car accident has caused some serious injuries due to another driver’s negligence and demands immediate medical attention, the victim can bring claims against the other driver too.
If you were injured in a car accident in New Jersey, you can claim certain available damages. But to be sure of what you are entitled to, you will require a car accident lawyer in New Jersey to guide you through your legal rights. This will help you in getting monetary recovery for your losses.
Required medical treatment
As per the state’s no-fault law, every driver needs to carry personal injury protection (PIP) insurance to pay their own medical bills and other related losses that occurred due to a car accident. Your PIP insurance will pay for your damages after the collision irrespective of who was at fault and the minimum required amount of PIP insurance is $15000, which is the amount for a basic policy, to pay for your surgeries, medical tests, therapies, medications etc.
Compensation for lost income and services
If you were part of a car collision which caused you serious physical injuries that eventually made you lose your job or miss work days, you could possibly be entitled to draw compensation for your lost income or wages that you would have earned during the time of suffering and recovery. This includes the lost wages of both the past and the future. It can be difficult for you to decide if you deserve compensation in such cases and hence consulting a car accident attorney in New Jersey should be your next important step.
Pain and suffering
Other than the economic losses, some intangible damages are not usually quantifiable and they fall under the category of non-economic losses. Pain and suffering refer to the physical and mental distress that follows an accident, resulting in anxiety, loss of joy, anguish or persistent unpleasant train of thought. If you or someone you know are a victim of such intangible injuries, you may deserve compensation for such damages too.
Emotional distress
This may come across as an uncommon thing but you can actually file a claim for undergoing emotional distress after a car accident. You could be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, severe anxiety, or even depression. It is advised to have a car accident attorney by your side to represent you in case of such damages as these need proper attention and cure just like physical injuries.
Punitive damages
Since these are very rare in car accident cases and are only awarded under exceptional circumstances. Punitive damage is to punish the at-fault party for any wrongful act conducted by them and to deter others from repeating similar things in the future. To be able to prove your right to punitive damages, you ought to prove in court the defendant’s willful misconduct or malice to your rights. You can obviously not decide whether or not you deserve punitive damages and therefore, you will need the assistance of lawyers for car accidents to proceed with your case and give you a strong representation.
Conclusion
Suffering a car accident can be traumatizing on many levels and you may not even come to know about them all at once. However, to get your deserved compensation, you need to file a claim within a definite period of time. Delay in filing a lawsuit can even cause you to lose a lot of damages and you certainly would not want to suffer any more. It is recommended to consult car accident attorneys in New Jersey to show you the right way and help you make informed decisions.
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