Car Accident Lawyer in Marlton

Why Choose KaplunMarx Car Accident Lawyers to Handle Your Case?

There are two specific reasons to choose KaplunMarx for your New Jersey car accident case - #1 we provide outstanding client service and #2 we work hard to achieve outstanding results.

Clients come first. That is the maximum that we stand by at KaplunMarx. We pride ourselves on answering clients' concerns, updating them on their cases, and partnering with them to get their car accident cases to the finish line.

Our reputation for taking the fight right to the insurance companies has allowed us the leverage to obtain great results for our car accident clients in New Jersey. While no lawyer can promise a specific dollar figure for your case, our law firm has a long history of getting great results for car accident victims in New Jersey. Our team of car accident trial lawyers in Marlton is not afraid to take a case to court for our clients, and our car accident case results speak for themselves.

What Should I Do After a Car Accident?

The immediate aftermath of a traffic accident can be frightening and confusing for those involved. However, knowing what to do afterward can help you remain calm. If you are involved in a car accident, here are a couple of essential tips to keep in mind:

At The Scene:

1. Call 911 and report the accident to the police.
2. Call an ambulance or get medical care immediately if anyone is injured. We highly recommend getting checked out to make sure you don't have any internal injuries.
3. If it is safe to do so, photograph the accident scene and damage to your car. Be sure to document the location of the crash, your injuries, and any weather conditions that may have contributed to the accident.
4. Exchange information with the other driver(s) involved, including license numbers, names, phone numbers, and insurance policy details.
5. Get the contact information of anyone who witnessed the accident; you will likely need them later.

After the Accident:

1. Contact a car accident lawyer in Marlton, New Jersey, as soon as possible. If you were injured, you might have a personal injury claim. Having a lawyer experienced in car accidents often makes a big difference in getting a positive outcome.
2. Follow your doctor's advice and attend follow-up appointments for medical care.
3. Report the accident to your insurance company.
4. Request a copy of the accident report from the police.
5. Don't post about your accident on social media.

IMPORTANT TIP: Never give a recorded statement to an insurance company before speaking with a lawyer. It is common for insurance companies to ask you to provide a recorded statement regarding the accident's details and any injuries you sustained. Most people don’t realize that they aren't required to give a recorded statement to the at-fault driver’s insurance company. Your statement could even hurt your personal injury case if you decided to sue the other driver.

Why do they want a recorded statement? The insurance adjuster for the other driver might be trying to get you to admit that you are partly to blame for the accident. If you admit any level of fault, the insurance company can use this against you, and your compensation could be significantly reduced. An insurance adjuster may also want a recorded statement to try to get you to say something that makes your injury seem less serious than it is. This is why we recommend not giving a recorded statement to the insurance company. They may try to pressure or scare you into giving one, but don't fall for that trap. If you decide to get an attorney, they can help field these types of damaging phone calls and help protect your rights.

How Much is My Accident Case Worth?

Our team hears this question frequently, and it is never easy to answer. Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all formula for calculating the value of your personal injury case, especially right after a car accident.

Some insurance companies immediately offer to settle your case days after the wreck. They may even send you a check with a seemingly good amount of money. However, it is crucial not to accept the settlement offer or cash a check from your insurance company for your injury case before talking to an attorney. Fast money may sound great, but the insurance's first offer will most likely not cover even a small percentage of the bills related to your wreck.

Waiting to resolve your car accident case is most times necessary for a couple of reasons. An injury or injuries need to mature, and the entire scope of the injury can only be seen in time, jumping the gun to resolve a car accident claim before knowing the extent of the injuries suffered will only serve to short-change you. Another reason to wait to settle your car accident case is because your car accident lawyer needs to explore every avenue of insurance coverage that may be available to compensate you for your claim.

An experienced New Jersey car accident lawyer will better determine if the insurance company is offering a fair settlement after you have recovered from your injuries. This is because they have extensive knowledge of similar cases and injuries.. The job of a great car accident lawyer is to work diligently to maximize the value of your car accident case which can take time to develop.

What Compensation May I Be Able to Get for My Car Accident?

New Jersey Is a No-Fault State. New Jersey is one of the few states with no-fault car insurance laws. That doesn't mean there is no one "at fault" for your car accident. However, no matter who caused the wreck, your own insurance company pays your damages up to the amount of your PIP (personal injury protection) coverage.

So, the type of auto insurance coverage you have is important when determining if you can get compensation from the other driver's insurance company. A car accident lawsuit could be limited if you have limited tort insurance because you are restricted from suing the other driver for pain and suffering unless you have a permanent injury or were disfigured. On the other hand, if you have full tort insurance, there are no restrictions on your right to sue the other driver if they are found at fault for your wreck.

The amount of money you may get for your car accident will also vary based on the severity of your injury, the cost of your medical bills, and how much insurance coverage is available. Other factors that may add to your compensation are:

• Medical bills
• Loss of income (missed work)
• Pain and suffering
• Punitive damages (does not apply to every case)
• Future medical expenses
• Loss of future earnings
• Costs associated with tasks that you are no longer capable of performing
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Emotional or psychological distress
• Loss of companionship or consortium

Can I Handle My Case Myself?

There are portions of your car accident that you can handle on your own, such as dealing with your property damage. An experienced attorney can guide you through this process, but they won’t personally handle property damage. This actually is a good thing, because if your car is totaled and you handle the property damage claim yourself, you get to keep 100% of the money to purchase a new car.

However, the insurance company should not be trusted to manage your injury claim without a lawyer. From the first phone call, the insurance adjuster is looking for ways to either deny your claim or lower the amount of money you'll get for your injuries. No matter how nice your insurance adjuster seems, they are not looking out for you or your family's best interests medically or financially. Unlike your property damage, a personal injury claim can cost an insurance company tens to hundreds of thousands, so they will work very hard to limit how much you get for your injury by using unfair tactics.

Therefore, we highly recommend speaking with a skilled Marlton, NJ car crash lawyer soon after your accident to help guide you through your next steps. They will be able to look into your insurance coverage to determine the best route to move forward in getting you compensation. With our dedication and significant track record of success, you can trust us to work tirelessly on your case and get results. Our personal injury law firm has helped thousands of car crash victims get their lives back after suffering an injury in a car crash.

You can get a free case review from the KaplunMarx team if you were injured in a car accident in Marlton and throughout New Jersey caused by another driver's negligence.

How Does a Police Officer Decide Who is At fault in a New Jersey Car Accident?

It's not unusual for people involved in car crashes to blame the other driver immediately. This leaves the question: how do cops choose who is to blame?

Examining the accident scene, noting weather conditions, and reviewing eye-witness accounts are crucial details the police officer may look at when determining who is at fault. In some situations, such as when someone runs a stop sign, or when a driver rear-ends another driver at a stoplight, it is usually clear who is at fault.

Remember: time is of the essence to examine a car crash scene and gather evidence that even the police may have missed. A great car accident law firm will have investigators at the ready to get out to a car crash scene, take photos, canvas the area for witnesses, obtain any video and recover data from the computers within the vehicles – but this evidence needs to be gathered quickly because it can disappear if you wait.

Finally, the police generally report a car accident after the fact and don’t actually witness the crash itself. Their determination of fault is based on a number of factors as listed above, but that does not mean they always get it right – you should always speak to a New Jersey car accident lawyer to get a better idea of who may be at fault for your car crash.

Common Damages in Vehicle Collisions

Depending on the force and angle of the impact, a car wreck can result in catastrophic injuries. Injuries commonly sustained in serious collisions include:

• Broken bones
• Soft tissue injuries
• Organ damage
• Whiplash
• Ruptured discs
• Loss of a limb
• Burns
• Disfigurement
• Spinal cord damage and paralysis
• Brain injuries

These car crash injuries may not only place a significant emotional and physical strain on an individual but could cause them considerable financial hardship as well. By filing a civil lawsuit, the injured party may be able to recover compensation for these losses. An automobile wreck attorney in Marlton could help someone pursue recovery for their lost wages, medical bills, pain, suffering, disability, loss of consortium, future reduced earning ability, et cetera.

Depending on the facts of the accident, the court might sometimes include punitive damages in the plaintiff’s injury award. Unlike the other forms of compensation named above, which are designed to compensate the plaintiff for the harm they have suffered, punitive damages are meant to punish the at-fault party and discourage others from similar misconduct. Punitive damages are generally looked at when a car accident case involves a commercial vehicle and may be awarded in cases that involve texting while driving or driving under the influence.

How Long Does a Plaintiff Have to File a Car Wreck Claim?

One of the most important laws that plaintiffs should be aware of is the statute of limitations to file an injury lawsuit for compensation. Under New Jersey law, the statute of limitations deadline to file a car accident claim is typically two years.

It is wise to consult with a Marlton car accident lawyer as soon as possible, as delaying filing a claim could inhibit someone’s financial recovery. The two-year filing window typically goes into effect on the date of the accident, however, if someone is killed due to their injuries, the statute of limitations would not start until the date of the party’s death.

How Can Auto Insurance Impact Recovery?

Most states follow one of two systems regarding insurance claims after car accidents. In a “no-fault” system, accident victims who want to seek civil recovery from a negligent third party must first make a claim through their own car insurance for covered economic losses and exhaust their own policy limits before they can file suit. In a “fault” system, injured parties can choose whether to file a claim with their own insurance, file a claim against a negligent third party’s car insurance, or pursue a separate civil lawsuit.

Verbal Threshold

Verbal Threshold coverage, like limited tort, is a cheaper option that essentially functions as typical no-fault coverage. This means policyholders can recover for medical expenses and certain out-of-pocket financial losses after an accident. However, it may be difficult to seek compensation for non-economic losses like pain and suffering unless they suffer a serious disability, disfigurement, or impairment. If you have Verbal Threshold insurance and are injured in a New Jersey car accident, you should strongly consider retaining a skilled Marlton car accident attorney to help.

Zero Threshold

Zero Threshold, or full tort coverage, allows policyholders to seek restitution for both economic and non-economic damages after a crash regardless of whether they suffer serious injury. State law requires insurance companies to notify customers of all available policy options before any contracts are signed.

No matter what policy a driver in the area chooses, they must purchase a minimum amount of coverage of auto insurance coverage for different situations. The minimum car insurance for New Jersey drivers is:

• $5,000 property damage liability
• $5,000 per accident with $500 deductible uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage
• $15,000 bodily injury per person per accident
• $15,000/$30,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury
• $30,000 bodily injury for all persons per accident

During a consultation, a car accident lawyer in Marlton may go over recovery options that could be available if an at-fault party is under-insured or uninsured.

Liability and Modified Comparative Fault

Proving liability for a car accident is essential when filing a claim for personal damages. If the plaintiff can prove that the other driver owed them a legal duty, violated this duty, and consequently caused the accident that injured the plaintiff, the at-fault driver could be liable for the plaintiff’s damages.

In some cases, the court may determine that the plaintiff is partially liable for what happened. If the plaintiff is found responsible, this will impact their recoverable damages. Pennsylvania law permits the plaintiff financial recovery if they are no more than 50 percent at fault, but reduces the person’s damages accordingly, and eliminates recovery if the plaintiff is 51 percent or more at fault. Skilled Marlton car accident lawyers could help someone determine their percentage of fault after a car accident in New Jersey.

Evidence in Marlton, New Jersey Car Accident Claims

While there is no question that every licensed driver owes a duty of care to everyone else with whom they share the road, proving that a driver who violated this duty of care can often be a complicated prospect. Police officers who respond to accident scenes do not always cite a particular driver for a traffic violation that occurred prior to the incident, and even if the law enforcement official did cite someone, that may not be enough to prove that the violation in question directly caused the accident. Accordingly, it is often necessary to work with seasoned legal counsel to collect, preserve, and effectively present additional evidence of negligent conduct.

In a typical case, relevant evidence might include eyewitness testimony, physical evidence from the accident scene like tire tracks and vehicle debris, footage from traffic cameras and nearby surveillance cameras, and potentially testimony from an accident reconstruction expert. If someone causes an accident because they were texting while driving, it may also be worthwhile to subpoena cellphone records that show whether a defendant had sent or received a message immediately before the accident.

Contact Our Marlton Car Accident Lawyers Today

Our team of Marlton car accident lawyers can provide the legal support and guidance you need to move forward after a devastating crash. We can work with you to answer your questions, get you appropriate medical care, and recover compensation for your injuries as a result of the accident. Our focus is always on obtaining maximum dollar compensation for your car accident claim, whether by settlement or verdict and allows you to focus on recovering from your injuries suffered in the car accident. Our team of award-winning trial attorneys can work tirelessly to safeguard your rights and get you the compensation you deserve. To speak with a skilled attorney, contact us today for a free initial case consultation.

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