Being involved in an auto accident, even a minor collision, can be a traumatic experience. Your immediate focus is usually on getting out of the car and getting the medical attention you need. But while the accident is over in seconds, the repercussions of it can last for weeks, months, or even years, especially if you are seriously injured. The steps you take after an auto accident can have a substantial impact on your physical, emotional, and financial health.
When you are injured in an auto accident in New Jersey, you should seek prompt medical attention, call the police, and contact your insurance provider. Taking these steps can help you get the financial compensation you need to stay afloat as you recuperate. You may also want to contact an auto accident lawyer in New Jersey with proven experience in handling cases like yours.
Seek Medical Care After an Auto Accident in New Jersey
Your health is the most important concern after an auto accident, so the first thing you should do is seek medical care. Proper diagnosis and treatment of your injuries are not only critical to your recovery, but they are also critical for a potential legal case. Documenting your injuries immediately after the accident links them directly to the accident. Your medical records can serve as evidence if you need to file an insurance claim or sue the other driver.
If you do not have a regular medical provider, our auto accident lawyers in New Jersey can recommend one for you.
Call the Police After an Auto Accident in New Jersey
You should also call the police after an auto accident in New Jersey. The police can help with logistics after your accident, such as calling an ambulance for you or anyone else who was injured and a tow truck for your car if needed. The police will also file a report that can be used as evidence for your case.
Contact Your Insurance Company After an Auto Accident in New Jersey
According to the New Jersey Department of Banking & Insurance, drivers in New Jersey must carry auto insurance. Drivers may carry either basic or standard coverage. Most people choose the standard option because it provides more types of coverage, but the basic option does meet the state’s legal requirements.
If you are injured in an auto accident, your personal injury protection (PIP) coverage should pay for your medical care. Both basic and standard insurance include PIP coverage, which provides a minimum of $15,000 for injuries to you and any passengers in your car, regardless of which driver caused the accident. PIP coverage also provides up to $250,000 for certain injuries.
Can I Sue the Other Driver?
If you have standard coverage, you may be able to sue the other driver for pain and suffering caused by your injuries. When you purchased the standard option, you chose either a limited or unlimited right to sue option.
If you chose the limited right to sue option, you can sue for pain and suffering caused by the following injuries:
- Loss of a body part
- Significant scarring or disfigurement
- Displaced fracture
- Loss of a fetus
- Permanent injury
- Death
If you chose the unlimited right to sue option, you can sue for pain and suffering caused by any type of injury.
Contact a New Jersey Car Accident Lawyer
While you do not have to contact a car accident lawyer after your accident in New Jersey, you may want to consider doing so. A lawyer with experience in handling cases like yours can help you immediately after the accident and in the weeks and months that follow, guiding you through the insurance and legal process to provide you with the best possible outcome.
A lawyer from our team can:
- Investigate your auto accident: Much of the evidence from a car accident is time-sensitive. Our lawyer can come directly to the scene to take photos and interview eyewitnesses before the police clear everything away. Our lawyer can also gather police reports, cell phone records, toxicology reports, and other evidence to determine which driver caused the accident.
- Estimate your damages: PIP coverage does not pay for your vehicle repairs, lost wages, or pain and suffering. Our lawyer can estimate the total value of your losses.
- File insurance claims: Our lawyer can file the paperwork for your PIP claim and file a claim with the other driver’s insurance provider for your additional losses.
- File a lawsuit: If we are unable to reach an out-of-court settlement, our lawyer can file a lawsuit seeking fair damages for your losses.
Call Cordisco & Saile LLC After Your Auto Accident
If you were injured in an auto accident in New Jersey, contact the team at Cordisco & Saile LLC today. Our car accident lawyers are ready to help you recover the damages you deserve for pain and suffering, lost wages, and more through an out-of-court settlement or a lawsuit. We work on contingency, which means you pay us nothing unless we win your case. Call us now at (215) 642-2335.
