A motorcycle crash in Little Ferry, New Jersey, has left a family and community grieving the loss of a young man. On Tuesday, July 2, a 25-year-old motorcyclist was traveling southbound on Bergen Turnpike when he was struck by a car making an illegal left turn across a double yellow line.
According to Little Ferry Police, the crash occurred late at night when the driver of a car attempted to turn left into a laundromat parking lot, directly cutting through the motorcycle’s path. The rider suffered critical injuries and was rushed to Hackensack University Medical Center, where he tragically passed away on Saturday, July 5. This heartbreaking motorcycle accident was caused by negligence and was entirely preventable. When drivers violate motor vehicle laws, they end up putting those that legally share the roadway in danger. This is especially true when they disrespect or ignore the rights of motorcyclists because they have little outer physical protection and the consequences can be deadly.
Too often people are biased against motorcyclists, thinking that they assume the risk of serious injury merely by operating a motorcycle. This is fundamentally wrong because motorcycle operators are fully entitled to ride their motorcycles on all roadways with the expectation that other drivers will yield the right of way and obey all motor vehicle laws.
But motorcycle operators do have legal rights that hold negligent drivers accountable for their careless driving by suing them in a court of law. Our legal advice is to hire a good personal injury lawyer who’s an expert in handling motorcycle accident cases with a proven track record. Our attorneys at Davis, Saperstein & Salomon P.C. will help you understand your rights, guide you through the claim, and fight hard for the justice and compensation you and your family deserve. We have a proven 40-year track record of knowledge, experience, and expertise in representing injured motorcycle drivers and motorcycle passengers.
Illegal Left-Turns in Motorcycle Accidents
Left turn crashes are one of the deadliest accidents for motorcyclists. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) traffic safety facts, 44% of fatal two-vehicle motorcycle accidents occur when a car makes a left turn in front of an oncoming motorcyclist. These crashes mostly happen when a motorcyclist has the right of way, and when the other driver doesn’t see them, misjudges their speed, or breaks the law, like turning across a double yellow line. The result of negligence too often is life-changing.
In New Jersey, the traffic laws are clear that it is illegal to make a left turn when faced with oncoming traffic. In that situation, drivers must yield the right of way to a car or motorcycle traveling straight. These laws protect all drivers from tragic accidents like the one in Little Falls, New Jersey, but they are especially important for motorcyclists.
Motorcycle Wrongful Death Claims in New Jersey
When a motorcyclist is killed due to another driver’s carelessness, negligence, or because they broke the law, the family has the right to file a wrongful death claim in New Jersey. This helps families recover money for financial and other losses they suffered after losing a loved one, especially if the accident was preventable.
New Jersey’s Wrongful Death Act (N.J.S.A. 2A:31-1) allows close family members like the spouse, children, or parents to bring a claim against the person, people, or parties responsible for the accident and death. The claim can include:
- Funeral costs
- Medical bills from the accident
- Lost income the deceased would have provided
- Loss of companionship
Motorcycle wrongful death cases are especially challenging, and they require careful and thorough investigation to prove fault. An experienced New Jersey motorcycle accident attorney will gather critical evidence like police reports, crash scene photos, police body cam, and other video footage that proves the cause of the accident.
What Steps Should I Take After a New Jersey Motorcycle Accident?
The aftermath of a serious motorcycle accident is overwhelming, but the most important thing to do first is obviously to seek medical attention. This should always be the first priority, but the steps you take early on can have a big impact on your health, your case, and your future.
For that reason, if you have been involved in a motorcycle crash in New Jersey, you should personally or have a close friend or family member protect your legal interests by hiring a motorcycle accident lawyer who will worry about winning your case while you heal from your wounds. They will:
- Investigate and reconstruct the motorcycle accident.
- Lock down valuable evidence.
- Hire Accident reconstruction experts.
- Preserve valuable video footage.
- Secure and perhaps amend the official accident report.
- Interview eyewitnesses or anyone else involved in the accident.
- Take photos of the scene, injuries, and any other property damage.
- Protecting you from giving any recorded statements or speaking to insurance companies.
- Helping hospitals and doctors get their medical bills paid.
The sooner you start working with a New Jersey motorcycle accident lawyer, the better. They will help preserve evidence, gather important documentation, and protect your case before any important legal deadlines are missed.
You Have the Right to be Angry and Take Legal Action
Suffering major injuries or losing a loved one in a New Jersey motorcycle accident is incredibly painful. Especially when these accidents are caused by negligence and carelessness, the grief is made worse because often it is understandably paired with anger.
Often, the negligent driver makes a statement quoted in the official police report, wrongfully blaming the motorcyclist. But you need to know that you can get justice by suing the car, truck, or bus driver who injured you. Under New Jersey state law, you can sue for your past, present, and future physical and emotional injuries, plus financial losses caused by the accident.
Motorcycle personal injury accident claims are never as simple as they seem, especially when there is a death involved. Victims of these accidents should never assume they don’t have a case. They should contact a skilled motorcycle accident attorney to explore all possible contributing causes of the collision.
No family should be left alone picking up the pieces after a crash. No negligent driver should walk away without being held responsible. A skilled and experienced New Jersey Personal injury motorcycle accident attorney will help guide you through the complex legal process and get you the justice and compensation you deserve.
Need An Experienced New Jersey Motorcycle Accident Attorney?
For over 40 years, the attorneys at Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. have won more than $1 billion in verdicts and settlements for over 35,000 clients and their families. These claims recover the money they need to get their lives back on track. If you or a family member has been injured or lost their life in a motorcycle accident and are looking to hire a New Jersey personal injury lawyer or a New Jersey wrongful death attorney with a proven track record, you’ve come to the right place, because results do matter.
Founding and Managing Partner at Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C., Garry R. Salomon, Esq., is one of New Jersey’s most experienced motorcycle accident personal injury attorneys. With decades of courtroom experience, Garry has handled many serious motorcycle and wrongful death cases and has helped thousands of clients recover the compensation they need to rebuild their lives and get back on the road.
Some of his most notable motorcycle accident settlements are:
- A $5.75 million settlement for a motorcyclist injured in a collision with a bus.
- A $4.5 million settlement for a motorcycle crash with an ambulance.
- A $1,815 million settlement by a passenger on a motorcycle.
- A $489,526 settlement for a motorcyclist struck by a car making a left-hand turn.
When asked about the tragic motorcycle crash in Little Falls, NJ, attorney Garry Salomon said, “I’ve had my motorcycle license since I was 17, and I’ve made it my mission to protect the legal interests and rights of all motorcyclists.”
Garry is certified as a Civil Trial Attorney by the Supreme Court of New Jersey, an honor bestowed upon less than 2% of all New Jersey lawyers. The National Trial Lawyers, an educational organization for trial attorneys, has also recognized him in New Jersey as a member of the “Top 100 Trial Lawyers”. He has further been recognized by Martindale-Hubbell, a highly respected and reputable attorney peer review rating organization, conferring upon him their highest rating as an “AV” rated attorney, along with many other awards and honors throughout his career as a personal injury lawyer.
Along with his many recognitions for his work in the personal injury legal field, he also co-authored, along with attorney Jeffrey E. Salomon, Esq., The Consumer’s Guide to New Jersey Personal Injury Claims, 2nd edition, a book designed to help people who have been injured due to someone else’s negligence. It is an easy-to-follow guide to personal injury claims that explains some of the simple steps that can help your case and common mistakes that can hurt it.
If you would like a copy, the book can be purchased on Amazon.com, or a free copy can be shipped free of charge to you by clicking the link or calling Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. at 1-800-LAW-2000.
Contact Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. Today!
Clients seeking experienced personal injury lawyers in Teaneck, NJ, or the surrounding Bergen County area can contact Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. at 1-800-LAW-2000 or via email at info@dsslaw.com. Our firm offers free, no-obligation, consultations and second opinions, and has offices throughout New Jersey and New York City. We take cases on a contingent fee basis, meaning clients pay nothing unless the firm wins their case.
Author Note:
To speak with Garry Salomon Esq., for a free, no-obligation, consultation or second opinion, he can be contacted at 201-907-5000 or at garry.salomon@dsslaw.com to schedule a meeting. There is no charge for the consultation, and we are happy to meet with you in person or virtually via FaceTime, Zoom, or Skype. We have Spanish speakers on-site and offer translations for Korean, Polish, Italian, Albanian, Russian, Portuguese, and many more languages, in case English is not your preferred language. It’s important to act fast so your attorney can begin building a compelling case for you. Contact us today to get started.
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SuperLawyers – Selection process – Super Lawyers
Top 100 Trial Lawyers – Contact Us – The National Trial Lawyers
NJAJ Board Membership – About New Jersey Association for Justice
Martindale-Hubbell – AV Peer Review Ratings & Client Review Awards | Martindale-Hubbell®
201 Magazine – Best of Bergen Community’s Choice Awards
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Since 1981, the compassionate personal injury lawyers at Davis, Saperstein & Salomon have been delivering results for our deserving clients. We are solely committed to helping injured individuals, never representing corporations. No matter how large or small your personal injury case is, you can trust that it is important to us.
