Teaneck Personal Injury Attorneys
Accidents happen every day and when they do, they often result in serious injury and personal harm. Even the most cautious of individuals are not immune from unexpected accidents. When another person acts negligently and you are injured as a result, you shouldn’t have to deal with the consequences on your own. At the Law Offices of Jeffrey S. Hasson, P.C., our personal injury attorneys can fight for your rights in Teaneck, Union City, and all of New Jersey.
Whether you were injured in a car accident, bitten by a dog, slipped and fell on someone else’s property, or were a victim of medical malpractice, we will fight to recover the maximum compensation you are owed. Our team has helped numerous individuals recover fair settlements to help cover the cost of their damages; find out what we can do for you.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim?
The state of New Jersey has a two-year statute of limitations on personal injury cases. This means that you have two years from the date of your injury to file a claim or you will lose your right to compensation. If you are filing a claim against a state government worker or agency you must do so within 90 days of your accident. There are a few exceptions to these rules depending on your specific situation.
Additionally, New Jersey follows a “modified comparative negligence rule.” This means that even if you are partially at fault for the accident that led to your injuries you can still pursue compensation, as long as you are found to be less than fifty-one percent at fault. In this situation, whatever amount of blame you are determined to have will be reduced from your total compensation amount. For example, if you were injured in a car accident and found to be fifteen percent at fault for the accident, whatever compensation you are rewarded will be reduced by fifteen percent.
What Damages Can I Recover in a Personal Injury Case?
Generally, there are three main types of damages an injury victim can seek in a personal injury claim. Each of these types of damages seeks to compensate for a different loss so, ideally, in the end the injury victim is compensated for all they suffered. The types of damages are economic, non-economic, and punitive.
Economic damages compensate for the financial, easily quantifiable losses associated with suffering an injury such as the inability to work and medical expenses. Non-economic, on the other hand, compensates for the more abstract not as easy to quantify losses such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. Since non-economic damages deal with abstract sufferings they are also called “general damages.” The state of New Jersey does place a cap, or limit, on non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases. An attorney from our firm will be able to inform if these laws will affect your case.
The last type of compensation an individual can pursue is punitive damages and they differ from the first two in that their main purpose is to punish the negligent party as opposed to compensate the injured party. As such they are not often awarded and are usually reserved for cases where the negligent party knew their actions would cause harm.
What is Personal Injury Protection Insurance?
When it comes to car accident laws, New Jersey is known as a “no-fault” state. This means that after an accident an injury victim pursues compensation through their own insurance policy as opposed to filing a claim against the negligent driver. Because of this law, drivers in no-fault states are required to carry a special type of insurance called personal injury protection insurance or PIP coverage.
An injury victim’s PIP benefits can compensate them for all economic damages related to their injuries, such as medical expenses and the inability to work. It will not compensate for non-economic damages such as pain and suffering or emotional distress. New Jersey law does allow injury victims to file a personal injury claim against a negligent driver if they meet certain criteria, allowing them to recover economic and non-economic damages, most notably if the injury victim suffers:
- A permanent injury or disfigurement
- The loss of a body part
- The loss of a fetus
- A displaced fracture
- A fatal accident
Should I Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?
If you were recently injured or had a loved one die in an accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation to assist with unforeseen damages related to the accident. In order to determine if you have a personal injury case, your attorney will first look at who was at fault for the accident. If another person’s negligent behavior, or the careless or unlawful actions of a manufacturer, company, or other entity was the cause of the accident, you may have a case. While financial compensation cannot negate the pain and suffering caused by an unexpected injury or death of a loved one, it can often help ease the financial burden you are likely facing.
Generally, there are two main types of damages available in a personal injury case economic and non-economic. Both these types of damages are categorized as “compensatory damages”. Economic damages, also called special damages, compensate for quantifiable losses as a result of an injury such as medical bills or missed days at work. Non-economic damages, sometimes called general damages, compensate for more abstract losses such as pain and suffering or loss of companionship.
In some cases, punitive damages can be awarded. Unlike compensatory damages which seek to compensate the injured for a loss, punitive damages seek to punish the negligent party. Typically, this type of damage is not usually awarded and is reserved for cases where a negligent party was aware their actions would lead to harm and did so intentionally. According to the New Jersey Revised Statutes section, 2A:15-5.14 punitive damages are limited or capped, at five times the amount of compensatory damages or $350, 000 whichever is the greater amount.
Common damages associated with accidents and injuries include:
- Hospital and ambulance fees/medical bills
- Costs for ongoing physical and cognitive therapy
- Physical and emotional pain and suffering
- Lost wages due to temporary or permanent disability
- Loss of a loved one/loss of support
- Burial expenses, including funeral/cremation costs
Often, insurance companies deny or devalue just claims. At the Law Offices of Jeffrey S. Hasson, P.C., we can help you fight back.
Contact Our Firm Today for the Strong Representation You Deserve
If you or a loved one suffered injuries as a result of someone else’s negligence, you don’t have to suffer alone. Our team of dedicated personal injury attorneys in Teaneck and Union City are prepared to stand up to insurance companies on your behalf. We work tirelessly in our pursuit of a fair settlement and will even represent you in the courtroom whenever necessary. No matter how complex your unique situation may be, we’re ready to fight for you. Contact us to one of our personal injury attorneys in New Jersey today; call the firm at (201) 928-0300 to get started. Our law firm serves Bergen County, Hackensack, Teaneck and all of New Jersey with personal injury matters.
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