Accidents can be very dangerous, and motorcycle accidents can be particularly nasty. Drivers in cars often disregard motorcycle riders, and their negligence can cause severe accidents.
Negligent drivers in cars often cause motorcycle accidents. Not only do motorcycle riders have an unfair reputation for being reckless, but many drivers ignore their presence on the road and put riders in serious danger. After an accident, you should call for help immediately. While waiting for help, document the scene with photos and videos, and exchange information with other drivers and witnesses. You should contact an attorney about how to get compensation as soon as possible. Our legal team can help you sue the negligent driver who caused the crash and make them pay for your damages. Possible damages include economic losses like medical bills and non-economic injuries like physical pain and emotional trauma.
If you were hit by a negligent driver while riding your motorcycle, that driver should be held accountable. Our Paterson, NJ motorcycle accident lawyers can help you get compensation. For a free case assessment, call Legal Care New Jersey at (732) 838-9769.
Typical Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Paterson, NJ
One of the biggest concerns on the road today is distracted driving. Cell phones and other communication technology are significant sources of distractions behind the wheel, and many accidents result from distracted driving. If a driver was looking at their phone instead of the road, they might hit a motorcycle rider.
Traffic violations are another common cause of accidents. When a driver in a car commits a traffic violation, they put other drivers on the road at risk. The risk is especially high for motorcycle riders not protected within an enclosed vehicle. Even seemingly small violations like failing to signal a turn could cause a severe accident for a motorcycle rider.
Motorcycle riders also must contend with the unfair reputation of being reckless on the road. Drivers often assume that motorcycle riders are dangerous and naturally risky. In reality, many motorcycle riders take extra precautions on the road because they understand how dangerous an accident can be. After an accident, people sometimes unjustly assume the motorcycle rider is to blame. Our Paterson, NJ motorcycle accident lawyers can help you fight for compensation and prove the other driver is to blame for the crash.
What to Do Following a Motorcycle Accident in Paterson, NJ
Immediately after a motorcycle crash, you need to call for help if you can. If you are too severely injured to call for help yourself, someone at the scene, like the other driver, should be the one to call. Again, if your injuries are serious, stay where you are, wait for help to arrive, and get medical attention as quickly as possible.
Document the scene if you feel up to it. This can be as simple as snapping photos and recording videos of the crash scene. These recordings are important because they preserve details and information about the crash that we can use to your advantage later. These recordings may be used as evidence in a trial or an insurance claim.
Exchange information with other people at the crash scene, but only do so if you can. If you are hurt badly, wait for help, and get to a hospital immediately. Exchanging information is important because you need to know the other driver’s details to file a third-party insurance claim with their insurance provider. You also need their information if you want to file a lawsuit.
Finally, you should call a lawyer as soon as you can. After an accident, you should begin taking steps to hold the other driver responsible and make them pay for your damages and expenses. Our Paterson, NJ motorcycle accident lawyers can help you explore your legal options for compensation.
Filing a Lawsuit After a Paterson, NJ Motorcycle Accident
There is a lot to consider when filing a lawsuit for a motorcycle accident. For most people involved in accidents, the first course of action is to file an insurance claim. New Jersey is a no-fault insurance state, meaning drivers must file claims with their own personal injury protection insurance. No-fault insurance in New Jersey does not cover motorcycles, so you might have to file a third-party claim against the other driver’s insurance.
One significant drawback to the no-fault insurance system in New Jersey is that injured drivers might be restricted from filing a lawsuit for non-economic damages. Since motorcycles are not covered by no-fault insurance, you are not bound by this restriction. Your right to sue is not limited by no-fault insurance.
Our Paterson, NJ motorcycle accident lawyers can help you gather evidence to prove that the other driver’s negligence caused the accident and that they should be held liable. While an insurance claim might cover your economic damages to a certain extent, it often does not cover non-economic damages. The benefit of a lawsuit is that you can claim much greater damages than insurance is willing to pay, including non-economic damages.
Potential Damages Available in a Motorcycle Accident Case in Paterson, NJ
Economic damages are the injuries and losses tied to an actual price or value. If you lost or spent money because of the motorcycle crash, you can claim those expenses as part of your economic damages. Injuries are often severe in motorcycle accident cases, and injured riders can claim their costly medical bills as part of their economic damages. Your lost income can also be claimed if you cannot go back to work after the accident. You should also claim the value of your damaged motorcycle.
Non-economic damages are more complicated because they often do not take a financial toll on the plaintiff but should still be financially compensated. Your emotional and physical pain and suffering might be quite great, especially if your injuries are severe or permanent. You can also claim humiliation, damage to your reputation, and reduced quality of life.
Call Our Paterson, NJ Motorcycle Accident Lawyers for a Free Case Assessment
A motorcycle accident can be extremely painful, and the driver who hit you deserves to be held responsible for their behavior in court. Our Paterson, NJ motorcycle accident lawyers can assist you in your search for justice. For a free case review, call Legal Care New Jersey at (732) 838-9769.
