Personal Injury Law in Jersey City, NJ
Were you hurt due to another’s negligence in Jersey City? If so, it may have far-reaching consequences such as a loss of wages or extensive medical treatment. Personal injury law allows an injured person to get damages if the responsible person acted recklessly. A personal injury attorney in Jersey City, NJ can help navigate the lawsuit to make sure you receive all of the compensation you deserve.
What Is Personal Injury Law?
Personal injury law in Jersey City relates to the legal process of getting compensation for an injury caused by someone else’s negligent behavior. These cases involve one party, the plaintiff, trying to seek financial compensation for expenses incurred and money lost as a result of the defendant’s reckless behavior. These cases involve both parties’ insurance companies and may even settle before proceeding to litigation.
Examples of Personal Injury Claims in Jersey City, NJ
Some personal injury claims are more common than others. However, almost any incident that ends with a physical or mental injury could qualify, depending on the circumstances.
A few of the most common personal injury claims are:
- Car Accidents
- Slip and Fall
- Dog Bites
- Medical Malpractice
- Workplace Accidents
- Burn Injuries
Most Common Injuries in Jersey City
According to the New Jersey Department of Health, most injuries in Jersey City are from falls, auto accidents, and poisoning. Poisonings, usually in the form of accidental drug overdoses, are increasing sharply across the state. Poisoning has recently overtaken auto accidents as the leading cause of injury-related death. However, regardless of cause, the severity of Jersey City injuries can range from minor to very serious. Unfortunately, preventable injury is the leading cause of death for Jersey City residents aged 15 to 49.
Steps in a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Jersey City, NJ
Once you determine that you wish to proceed forward with a personal injury action in New Jersey
A lawsuit begins when a complaint is filed with the court and served on the defendant. The complaint alleges your assertion as the plaintiff that the defendant’s negligent behavior resulted in damage to your body or mental state. As the process proceeds forward, you may have to go through depositions, independent medical evaluations, and document production. This discovery process is lengthy and ends in either a settlement or a court appearance. All civil cases in Jersey City fall under the jurisdiction of the Hudson County Superior Court. Cases involving less than $15,000 are heard by the Special Civil Part of the Civil Division. Larger cases are heard by the Civil Division. With most personal injury cases, insurance companies and injured parties prefer settlement negotiations rather than going to court for a trial. You may wonder how much you should seek in your settlement and the factors that impact the final amount. Multiple factors are used to determine the settlement amount for a personal injury case in Jersey City. Actual costs of medical bills and lost wages generally make up the majority of a personal injury settlement. According to the National Safety Council, the average cost of a non-fatal injury ranges from $9,000 to $40,000. Your Jersey City settlement may also include compensation for pain and suffering, damage compensation, or even punitive damages. If the other party has insurance, the insurance company likely wants to settle out of court to avoid leaving the final settlement decision to a jury. Settlements benefit injured parties as much as they do insurance companies. This is because accepting a settlement means you receive compensation sooner rather than later. Also, by going to court in NJ, that means you risk not receiving any compensation at all. If your New Jersey personal injury lawsuit goes before a judge or jury, your legal team will be ready with a request for damages. In personal injury cases, there are three types of damage awards a court may order the defendant to pay to compensate you for the damage he or she inflicted. Special compensatory damages reimburse you for things such as lost income, medical bills, and insurance deductibles. You submit receipts proving these losses. General compensatory damages are subjective. If you receive special compensatory damages, you may also collect general damages. If your injury was particularly painful, you might request that the judge order the defendant to compensate you for the pain and anguish. Punitive damages are the most rarely awarded and are up to the court. The judge or jury may determine that the defendant’s negligence was particularly heinous and the resulting injury to you was equally horrific. New Jersey does not cap the amount of damages a Jersey City plaintiff can receive for pain and suffering. However, New Jersey law limits punitive damages to the larger of $350,000, or 5 times the amount of compensatory damages. Personal injury cases are subject to strict time limits, known as statutes of limitations, set by state law. Typically, the clock starts running from the date of the injury or when the injury is discovered. However, proving the date of discovery can be more complex and may require evidence to support your claim. In Jersey City, New Jersey, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases is two years. If you fail to file your claim within this period, you will likely lose your right to seek compensation. It’s crucial to consult with a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Don’t risk missing the deadline and forfeiting the compensation you deserve. Pursue a personal injury claim in Jersey City against the responsible person if you are dealing with an injury caused by someone else. One of our experienced lawyers can help you navigate your personal injury claim. We can even help you connect with an attorney across New Jersey state lines. Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area! Aaron is a professional legal writer with a B.S. in English Education from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. He has written, published, and edited thousands of legal articles for RequestLegalHelp, which has connected over 5 million people to legal help in the United States. With over five years of experience writing thousands of legal articles for law firms across the U.S. and Canada, Aaron specializes in covering federal, state, and city-level legal issues ranging from auto accidents to wrongful terminations.New Jersey Personal Injury Settlement
Damage Awards in New Jersey
Statute of Limitations in Jersey City, NJ Personal Injury Law?
Work With an Experienced Jersey City, NJ Lawyer
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