$400K in Auto Case vs. Fire Dept
An Essex County jury awarded $400,000 on Sept. 25, 2018 to a woman struck by a fire department vehicle.
Pain and Suffering Damages in New Jersey
If you have been injured due to someone else’s negligence, you may have suffered damages. Damages can be economic in nature, such as lost wages and out-of-pocket expenses, or they can be non-economic in nature, as in the case of pain and suffering. But what exactly is meant by pain and suffering?
What is Pain and Suffering?
Pain and suffering are actually two different types of non-economic damages in personal injury cases. Pain is an immediate sensory feeling. If you break a bone, you will feel immediate pain. Pain can range from mild to severe, and can even go away at times. Suffering, on the other hand, is more of a long term concept. Suffering occurs over a longer span of time after an injury, when the permanent effects of the injury set in and change someone’s life in a negative way. […]
Are Self-Driving Cars Safer?
Self-driving automobiles, also known as autonomous vehicles (AVs), are making their mark. Some analysts expect their growth to expand exponentially, claiming that AVs might enjoy a 60 percent U.S. market share by 2030. Proponents predict decreased motor vehicle accidents and lessened traffic jams with the increased use of self-driving vehicles. So, how safe are these vehicles?
Self-Driving Car Accidents
AVs are not foolproof and accidents can and will occur for a variety of reasons, including product defect, roadway factors, inclement weather, and other external factors. Thus, while self-driving vehicles are designed to take operator error out of the equation, what if the AV itself malfunctions and causes an accident? Or a driver in a conventional automobile negligently collides with the self-drivng vehicle? Or dangerous road conditions cause the AV to crash?
Safety in Numbers
Driver error is responsible for 94 percent of all motor vehicle accidents, […]
Personal Injury Deposition FAQs
Depositions serve two main purposes in personal injury cases. First, they allow the parties to learn about the facts of the case. Second, they let the parties develop a factual record that can be used to cross-examine adverse witnesses at trial. Below are some of the common questions we receive regarding depositions in personal injury cases.
Q: What is a deposition?
A: This is a method of gathering information by obtaining testimony under oath from parties, fact witnesses and expert witnesses in a personal injury case. It is essentially a question and answer period, where an attorney asks a witness a variety of questions relating to the lawsuit. The witness is under oath, thus their testimony has the same force and effect as if it were in court. The deposition testimony is recorded by a court reporter and printed in a booklet called a transcript. The testimony […]
Motor Vehicle Accident FAQs
Q: Who pays to fix or replace my car?
A: Assuming you have sufficient auto insurance at the time of a motor vehicle accident, your own insurance should cover your property damage, less your deductible. It is usually not a good idea to try and make a claim yourself against the other driver’s insurance for property damage costs since they are not your insurance company, and often don’t have your best interests in mind.
Q: Since New Jersey is a no-fault state, does that mean I can’t sue the driver who caused my car accident and injuries?
A: No. Basically, “no-fault” means that your own insurance company will cover the cost of medical treatment for your injuries if you have Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage. The PIP coverage in your policy may also cover essential services and lost wages, depending on the coverage you selected in your […]
The Role of Expert Witnesses and Their Importance in Personal Injury Lawsuits
In a personal injury case, the injured party has the burden of proof. This means it is the victim’s responsibility to demonstrate that they suffered damages as a result of the defendant’s negligence. This often requires the testimony of expert witnesses in various fields.
What is an Expert Witness?
An expert witness is a person with specialized knowledge in a particular field that is beyond the knowledge of the average juror. Expert witnesses offer testimony in both criminal and civil legal matters. Their testimony is relied upon to prove or disprove claims. An important distinction between a fact witness (i.e. eyewitness) and an expert witness is the type of testimony they provide.
Fact witnesses offer testimony that requires no specific skill or training. They are simply relaying something they saw or heard. Expert witnesses, on the other hand, provide opinion testimony on specialized issues in the lawsuit. These witnesses […]
New Jersey Personal Injury Protection (PIP) FAQs
Recovering damages for your car accident is often a difficult and complicated process. Dealing with medical bills, insurance adjusters, co-pays, deductibles and maximum coverage thresholds when you are struggling with an injury can be overwhelming. The following information is provided to help answer questions you might have regarding Personal Injury Protection insurance. For more detailed information regarding the facts of your accident, please contact our law firm to schedule a free initial consultation.
Q: What is Personal Injury Protection (PIP)?
A: Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is a form of no-fault insurance available to auto insurance policyholders and other qualifying people who are injured in auto accidents. PIP covers medical treatment expenses, wage loss and death benefits, among other benefits. If you are injured in an accident, it is important to determine whether you qualify for PIP insurance benefits given the extraordinary costs of medical treatment today.
Q: […]
Personal Injury FAQ
Personal injury lawsuits seek to compensate wrongfully injured people who have been injured by the negligent actions of others. These claims help to compensate the injured parties for the cost of medical treatment and lost income, as well as more intangible losses, such as pain, suffering and the loss of enjoyment of life. Personal injury lawsuits also serve to deter future negligent behavior that can harm others.
Q: What is a Personal Injury Lawsuit?
A: A personal injury lawsuit is sometimes called a tort, or a civil wrong that results in damages or injury. A personal injury claim may become available to someone after they are harmed and suffer damages due to the negligence of another person or entity. Some common personal injury claims involve:
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Slip/trip and falls
- Products liability/defective drug claims
- Medical malpractice
- Work accidents
- Dog bites
- Nursing home abuse
Q: What is Negligence?
A: This […]
Common Injuries In New Jersey Motor Vehicle Accidents
Motor vehicle accidents were responsible for injuring 2.44 million people in 2015, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The National Safety Council (NSC) places the number much higher, identifying 4.4 million serious motor vehicle-related injuries in 2015. “Serious” means that the injured individuals sought medical attention. Both sources noted an increase in both fatalities and injuries over those suffered in 2014. The NSC reported that 2.2 million people were seriously injured already during the first 6 months of 2016.
On a state level, the New Jersey Department of Transportation reported that during the 2000 to 2014 timeframe, New Jersey’s public roads saw between 241,740 and 294,851 motor vehicle collisions each of those years. The number of crashes that resulted in injury during this period ranged from 56,882 to 79,169 annually.
Common MVA Injuries
Motor vehicle accident (MVA) injuries can range from minor to catastrophic, […]
Tips for Getting the Settlement You Deserve for Your NJ Injury Claim
New Jersey personal injury claims come in many sizes. For the large, complex cases, your attorney may handle most of the heavy lifting. He will guide you through the process, and he will typically rely on expert witnesses and various resources to investigate the claim and gather evidence to recover the best possible monetary award. Smaller cases are no less important, but you may play a more pivotal role at the outset. For these cases, there are steps you can take immediately to help your case and to secure a settlement that best meets your needs.
Seeking Medical Treatment for Your Injury
Regardless of how serious your personal claim is, documenting your injuries as soon as possible is important. Whether it was a car accident, slip and fall, a dog bite or some other injury, it is important that you seek medical attention […]