Cherry Hill Car Accident Lawyer

Data compiled by the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) shows that there were 236,702 crashes in our state in 2022 alone.

While many motorists travel back and forth from work, school, and shopping without any problem, there are the occasional accidents. Those collisions can lead to catastrophic injuries and significant property damage.

Sadly, if you’ve been involved in an auto collision, you don’t need any reminding of this. You know how life-altering crashes can be, personally.

If a negligent motorist’s actions in New Jersey led to you suffering harm, there’s no better time than now for you to seek out legal representation from a firm like ours, Folkman Law. Reach out to our law office for an initial consultation with an experienced Cherry Hill car accident lawyer to understand if you qualify for compensation for your losses.

Making Sense of the New Jersey No-Fault Insurance Rule

According to the New Jersey Department of Banking & Insurance (DOBI), all licensed drivers must carry the following minimum insurance coverage:

• Bodily Injury Liability – Minimum of $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident
• Property Damage Liability – Minimum of $25,000 per accident
• Personal Injury Protection (PIP)- Minimum of $15,000 per person or accident

Motorists can purchase coverage that extends beyond these minimums.

Because New Jersey adopts the “no-fault” approach to personal injury, you will initially file a claim with your insurance company to cover your medical expenses and damages. Should your costs exceed that $15,000 in PIP and any other coverage limits you have, you or your Cherry Hill car accident attorney can use evidence to determine if another party was liable for your crash and, if so, file a claim with their insurance carrier.

How the Comparative Negligence Standard Impacts the Recovery of Compensation

In addition to being a no-fault insurance state, we also have a comparative negligence standard in place here. DOBI describes that standard as follows:

“Comparative negligence is a term used to indicate the degree of fault each individual involved in an accident contributes to the cause of the accident. In New Jersey the insurance company investigates the accident and determines how much each individual or vehicle involved contributed to the accident occurring. If you are seeking reimbursement from your own insurance company under your collision coverage, comparative negligence does not apply. However, if you are pursuing a claim against the other driver, his or her insurance company will determine whether and to what extent that driver is at fault for the accident.”

If you’re wondering what impact this standard has on your ability to secure compensation after a crash, it can affect how much in damages you can recover.

You may be unable to make a recovery if you’re more than 50% liable for the accident. Additionally, any amount you may be eligible to recover could be reduced by your percent of fault for causing the wreck. For instance, if you are found to be 30% at fault for the accident, you would only receive 70% of the settlement.

If you are seriously hurt, you should know that it is in the insurance company’s best interest to lower the amount they pay you. That is why you need a strong Cherry Hill car accident lawyer to advocate on your behalf and defend your version of what transpired leading up to your crash.

Damages You Can Recover If a Car Wreck Injured You

From your first trip to see a doctor for your injuries to a body shop you visit to repair your vehicle, you’ll be paying bills. Another driver’s liability insurance is designed to compensate you for any immediate out-of-pocket or future expenses. Here are the recoverable damages that you would be entitled to from them:

Economic Losses

Your economic damages are all the expenses for which you can provide a bill. Those include the following:

Noneconomic Losses

Your noneconomic damages are the losses that are directly linked to how your accident has impacted your life. Some examples of these include:

Punitive Damages

You might also be able to pursue punitive damages against the at-fault driver. These are damages that are typically awarded in a civil lawsuit. They are meant to punish the at-fault driver when they engaged in grossly negligent acts.

How a Cherry Hill Car Accident Lawyer Can Help You

Negligence is defined as the “failure to meet a standard of behavior established to protect society against unreasonable risk.” When negligence is a factor in a car accident, it means someone is at fault, and establishing that fault will help you find a remedy.

The team at Folkman Law can help establish that fault. If this is the first time that you’ve considered hiring a car accident attorney, it will help to understand how they will support you in your pursuit of a remedy.

Here’s what you can expect:

Case Evaluation

During your first consultation with your lawyer, you will provide them with a preliminary review of your case. You’ll have an opportunity to share what happened to you and describe how your motor vehicle collision has impacted your life. You’ll also be able to get your questions answered about the best way forward to pursue your claim.

Fight for Maximum Compensation

When we take on a case, we will fight to secure the highest possible compensation for you. We’ll work closely with you to calculate all the damages associated with your car accident. Once we have an agreed-upon number, we’ll take the lead in all the negotiations with the insurance company with which you will file a claim. We know how insurers operate, so we can be of great assistance to you in dealing with them.

Represent You in Court

If there is an impasse, such as the insurer denying your car accident claim or making a low-ball offer, we will discuss the possibility of filing a civil complaint. If you agree to that course of action and your case goes to trial, you can count on us to represent you in court.

That will mean presenting all the evidence in your claim and preparing you to provide testimony. Throughout the entire preparation, we’ll continue to negotiate with the insurance company to seek a fair settlement before your case goes in front of a jury.

Provide Support and Guidance

We will also provide you with support and guidance through every step of the process. We establish open lines of communication at the start and will always be available to answer your questions and address your concerns. When we get an update, you’ll get it as well.