East Rutherford Car Accident Lawyer
Car accidents are unfortunately common in East Rutherford and throughout Bergen County. Whether it’s a high-speed crash on Interstate 95 or Route 17 or a rear-end collision in your own neighborhood, these accidents can be physically, emotionally, and financially devastating. However, the good news is you don’t have to face the aftermath alone.
The experienced New Jersey car accident lawyers at Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C., have proudly represented injured East Rutherford clients for over 40 years. We offer not only aggressive advocacy but compassion and critical support during this difficult time in your life. Call today to learn more. We’re happy to meet in person or virtually via FaceTime or Zoom, and we offer translation services for Spanish, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and several other languages.
Why Choose Our Car Accident Lawyers?
If you’re looking for help after a car accident in East Rutherford, you’ve come to the right place.
Choosing the right car accident lawyer in Bergen County, NJ, is a crucial decision that should not be made lightly. The team at Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. is deeply rooted in the East Rutherford community, and we know what it takes to tackle these cases. When you choose us, you receive:
- Decades of Experience: We’ve been protecting the rights of Bergen County clients since 1981. That means we not only have deep experience fighting for fair settlements or verdicts, but we also understand the challenges car accident victims face as they pursue personal injury claims.
- Local Insight: We’re familiar with local roadways, traffic patterns, and the East Rutherford, NJ, municipal court system. Our local knowledge helps strengthen your case when negotiating for a fair outcome.
- Proven Results: Our strong track record of substantial settlements and verdicts speaks for itself. We’ve recovered over $1 billion on behalf of more than 35,000 individuals and families.
- Personalized Attention: We may be a large firm, but we treat every case as if it were our only one. Our attorneys are accessible throughout the process, and their number one priority is providing the attention and understanding you and your case deserve.
- No Fee Unless We Win: We’re proud to say that 98% of our clients have won their settlement or verdict. However, if your case is not won, you owe us nothing in legal fees.
Types of Car Accident Cases We Handle
Our car accident lawyers have handled almost every case you can imagine. Some of the most common among them include:
- Rear-end collisions
- T-bone crashes
- Drunk driving accidents
- Distracted driving accidents
- Multi-vehicle pileups
- Pedestrian and bicycle accidents
- Truck accidents
Every type of car accident case comes with unique legal considerations. Our attorneys have the experience and knowledge necessary to investigate the accident, gather evidence, and build a strong case for you.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Crash?
New Jersey is a no-fault state, which significantly impacts how compensation is pursued in a car accident claim. In a no-fault state, you don’t have to prove that someone else was at fault for the accident to get some of your expenses paid. In New Jersey, your own auto insurance pays for your medical expenses through your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage, regardless of who was responsible for the accident. PIP may also cover your lost wages and some other expenses, depending on the type of coverage you purchased. After you have used up all the money in your PIP policy, you can seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and some other expenses from the other party’s insurer.
In New Jersey, a registered vehicle owner can opt for a standard policy or a basic policy. In a standard policy, you may choose a limited or unlimited right to sue option. Suppose you opted for a limited right to sue policy. In that case, you can only seek compensation from the at-fault party for pain and suffering if your injuries include a permanent injury, the loss of a body part, the loss of a fetus, a displaced fracture, or death. If you purchased an unlimited right to sue policy, you need not meet these conditions to sue for pain and suffering.
A basic policy comes with a limited right to sue.
Once your PIP policy limits are exhausted, and depending on the type of policy you purchased, your attorney will seek money damages for:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Lost future earning capacity
- Property damage
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional Distress
What to Do After a Car Accident in East Rutherford
Your actions in the days and weeks after a car accident can significantly impact the outcome of your case. Once you’ve sought medical attention and filed a police report, you should:
Contact a Lawyer
Pursuing a car accident claim is a complicated process. Working with an experienced car accident lawyer in Bergen County, NJ, can alleviate much of the burden of seeking the money you need to heal while also helping you avoid any errors that might compromise your claim. Contact one as soon as you are able.
Document the Accident Scene
If you can’t return to the scene yourself, ask a friend to do it for you. Take photos and videos of accident debris, traffic signs and signals, weather and road conditions, visible injuries, and the surrounding area. Also, get images of the damage to the vehicles. This will provide visual evidence to support your claim.
Collect Contact Information
Gather names, contact information, driver’s license and plate numbers, and insurance details of all involved parties, as well as contact information of any witnesses. Third-party testimony can offer key details and a credible, objective account of what caused the accident and who might be responsible.
Avoid Admitting Fault
It’s a natural reaction to apologize and accept some level of blame in the immediate aftermath of an accident. However, you rarely, if ever, have all the necessary details to determine who was at fault at this point, and anything you say to the involved parties, witnesses, or responding officers may be used against you. Avoid admitting any fault, and do not post anything about the accident on social media.
Maintain Careful Records
A successful car accident lawsuit must not only establish liability through clear and convincing evidence but also clearly show the extent of the physical, emotional, and financial damage the responsible party caused. Be sure to safely file all medical records, invoices, receipts, bills, evidence of lost wages, and any other relevant documents.
Be Cautious When Speaking with Insurance Companies
No insurance company is your friend. They will attempt to weaken insurance claims and minimize your payout by offering quick, lowball settlements and seeking unnecessary recorded statements they can use against you. Never admit fault, avoid recorded statements, and always speak with a personal injury lawyer before speaking with them.
Local Experience in Bergen County and East Rutherford, NJ Municipal Court System
Our car accident attorneys have decades of experience with the East Rutherford, NJ, municipal court system and its major players. This experience can be crucial when pursuing your case, as we understand how local judges approach car accident claims, and we’re well-acquainted with the area’s investigators, law enforcement, and medical experts.
Depending on the nature of the accident, there may be added complexities to your case that can make our extensive experience even more valuable. For instance, if the accident involves a construction zone, it may involve multiple liable parties, including government agencies, which have a unique set of rules regarding filing your claim. Our many years of practice in East Rutherford mean we’re well-versed in handling the complexities of these cases.
FAQs About Car Accidents in East Rutherford
Here are some of the most common questions our East Rutherford clients ask when pursuing a car accident claim:
How long do I have to file a car accident claim in NJ?
Under New Jersey law, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, there are certain exceptions. For instance, if the plaintiff is a minor, the two-year deadline doesn’t begin until their 18th birthday. Conversely, lawsuits involving government entities have significantly shorter deadlines. While there is still a two-year window to file suit, a Notice of Claim must be filed within 90 days of the accident.
The legal process takes time, insurance companies may employ stalling tactics, and evidence can be lost or destroyed if you wait too long to pursue your claim. Contact a car accident lawyer in Bergen County, NJ, as soon as possible to avoid severely limiting your legal options.
Do I need to go to court for a car accident in East Rutherford?
Not necessarily. Most car accident cases are settled out of court through negotiations with insurance companies. However, suppose the insurance companies refuse a fair settlement. In that case, our attorneys can file a lawsuit and take your claim to either the East Rutherford, NJ, Municipal Court or Bergen County Superior Court. An experienced trial attorney will then fight for a favorable verdict on your behalf.
How much does a car accident lawyer cost?
At Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C., we believe there should be no financial barriers between car accident victims and the accountability and compensation they deserve. That’s why we don’t charge anything for your initial consultation, and you won’t owe any legal fees unless we win your case.
Contact Our New Jersey Car Accident Attorneys Today for a Free Consultation
If you’ve suffered injuries in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence or misconduct, the team at Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C., can help. Our experienced car accident attorneys will fight for your right to fair results and the accountability you deserve. Contact us today for your free consultation.
