If you’ve been in a serious car accident in New Jersey, you may have been left with medical bills, devastating injuries, and an inability to work that leaves you wondering how you’re supposed to pay for everything. The insurance company may be nagging you to sign a settlement agreement, and you may wonder if it would be easier to sign now and get it over with.
You may be entitled to compensation if you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident due to another person’s negligence or carelessness. New Jersey laws are complicated, and the insurance companies want you to settle quickly to keep their payments low. You need a skillful car accident lawyers in Philadelphia like those from Wapner Newman there to help you fight for your rights and the compensation you deserve.
When you need a Collingswood car accident attorney, contact the legal team at Wapner Newman. The consultation is free, and we will answer your questions and show you how we can help. Our attorneys serve clients throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Call us today at (215) 569-0900.
Why Choose Us
At Wapner Newman, we get results. We have decades of experience in the legal field, winning million-dollar settlements for our clients. We want to see you get the compensation you deserve for your injuries, and we treat each case with the personal attention and compassion our clients need during their cases.
Each case is assigned to a senior partner with extensive knowledge of that area of law. This lets the attorney devote their full attention to the case and direct their legal team to the specific documents and evidence needed to prove your case.
Attorney Robert Miller leads one of the Collingswood car accident teams and has been recognized as one of Pennsylvania’s Best Lawyers in Personal Injury for 2022.
When you’re looking for car accident lawyers in Collingswood, NJ, you want a team that can help you from the start of your case through the settlement negotiations or litigation if that becomes necessary. Our team will ensure we resolve your case in whatever way is best for your needs, whether that means a settlement or taking it to court.
The consultation is free and confidential. Call or make an appointment to discuss your case as soon as possible after your accident. We are here at (215) 569-0900.
How We Can Help
Even if you think your injuries are minor, you should consult an experienced Collingswood car accident attorney as soon as possible. There are time limits for filing a lawsuit, and it’s important to get started while evidence is fresh and witnesses can be found.
When you have our Collingswood car accident lawyers on your side, we will:
- Meet with you to discuss how the accident happened, who the at-fault parties may be, and determine what type of settlement to fight for
- Ensure you get proper medical care and that everything is documented
- Investigate your case by gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses, police officers, and first responders
- File all paperwork in accordance with deadlines and court requirements
- Hire experts to reconstruct the crash scene and experts to testify as to your costs and how your injuries negatively impact your life into the future
- Negotiate with insurance companies and their attorneys for a fair settlement
- Build your case and take it to trial if necessary.
Our Collingswood car accident attorneys are available whenever you have questions or concerns. When you have questions, we will be there to answer them, and you won’t leave until all your worries have been satisfied.
Damages
There are no guarantees in the legal system. The damages you may be awarded vary, depending on factors like the nature of the accident, the number of victims, and the severity of your injuries. The skill and experience of your attorneys are very important. And nobody can predict what a jury might do.
In New Jersey, you can sue for economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages include damages that can be calculated or billed. They include such damages as:
- Medical costs, doctor bills, and rehabilitation expenses, including costs of continuing care
- Lost wages and income, including future earning potential and lost opportunity
- Funeral expenses
- Property damage not covered by vehicle insurance.
Non-economic damages are damages that cannot be readily calculated but which affect your quality of life. They can include:
- Physical and emotional pain and suffering
- Disfigurement
- Disability
- Loss of quality of life
- Loss of consortium.
Punitive damages may be awarded in cases where the defendant acted in an unusually malicious or egregious manner or where there was a clear disregard for human life. Under New Jersey law, N.J.S.A. 2A:15-5.13 (e), punitive damages in personal injury cases are capped at $350,000 or five times the total compensatory damages, whichever is greater.
Proving Negligence
To win your case, our attorneys must show that your injuries were caused by another party’s negligence or fault. Negligence means:
Duty: The defendant owed you a duty to take reasonable care not to cause you harm.
Breach: The defendant breached this duty and failed to exercise this care.
Cause: The breach of duty caused your injuries.
Damages: You suffered an injury as a result.
Proving negligence can be a complex process since other factors may come into play. For instance, the other driver may have run a red light, but it may have been partially obscured by a large truck or a tree branch. Or they might have been pushed through the intersection when they were rammed by the car behind them.
When your Wapner Newman attorney investigates your claim, they will review all the documentation and reports surrounding your case to determine who was ultimately responsible for your accident or whether there was more than one party to blame. We will hold all negligent parties accountable, as they all may have insurance and assets that can go toward a settlement.
Frequently Asked Questions
After a car accident, you are bound to have questions and concerns. The best place to get answers is during your free consultation, but to get you started, here are answers to some questions our lawyers are often asked:
Should I talk to the insurance company?
No. Insurance companies, even yours, are out for profit and are concerned with their bottom line, not your well-being. They will try to get you to accept the lowest settlement possible or ask questions to get you to admit the accident was your fault. Your best course of action is to tell them to speak to your attorney instead. Our Wapner Newman lawyers know how to negotiate with insurance companies, who often come up with better offers when they know you have an attorney willing to take your case to trial.
How long do I have to file my case?
According to New Jersey Law (Section 2A:14-2), the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit is two years from the date of the accident, although there may be exceptions. If you miss the deadline, the chances are the courts will refuse to hear your case. The sooner you contact a Collingswood car accident attorney, the better.
I was partially at fault in my accident. Can I still recover?
Maybe. New Jersey courts use a “modified comparative negligence” rule, meaning that even if you were partially responsible for your accident, you might still be able to recover damages, as long as your percentage of fault is less than the other driver’s.
New Jersey Rev Stat § 2A:15-5.1 states that the plaintiff in a case may recover damages if their fault is not greater than that of the other party or combined parties in the case. That means if your fault is 50% or less, you can still recover, but your award will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
For instance, if the award in the case was $100,000 and you are found to be 20% at fault, you can still recover $80,000. If you are 50% at fault, you could recover $50,000. But if you are 51% at fault, you would recover nothing. This is why having an experienced attorney on your side is so critical to your case.
We know you have more questions, and our Collingswood car accident attorneys are fully prepared to answer them. Give us a call today.
Contact Us
If you or a family member has suffered an injury from a car crash, don’t wait to get help. The skilled and experienced Collingswood car accident attorneys at Wapner Newman are committed to giving your case individual attention. Our personal injury lawyers will provide you with dependable guidance, a compassionate ear, and strong legal strategies. Through the years, we have helped hundreds of clients deal with accident costs and secure the compensation they are entitled to through our thorough and creative investigative legal solutions.
Contact a Collingswood car accident lawyer at Wapner Newman today — schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced lawyers or call (215) 569-0900. We are available for clients in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.