Newark Car Accident Lawyers

Newark carries the distinction of being a city that lives on wheels. From the Essex Freeway to the McCarter Highway, Broadstreet, Springfield, and University Avenues, the people who call Newark home rely on their cars to get around. Cars are infused in the Newark culture, and people are very proud of what they drive, but driving in this city isn’t without its hazards.

Built up from a different era, the roads are often narrow, with lots of congestion. The harsh, wet winters and sudden freezes open up any number of hazards, from slick streets to potholes. When you share the highways, streets, and roads of a city with millions, you are bound to find yourself in an accident. Read on to learn more about your potential recovery options from our experienced Newark personal injury lawyers.

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Why choose Jacoby & Meyers, LLP?

Jacoby & Meyers LLP have been working for the last fifty years, fighting for our clients’ rights in personal injury cases to ensure they are compensated for their losses. We add a personal touch to our attorney/client relationship with free home and hospital visits, 100 percent secure online access to case files 24/7, and the experience of having fought tens of thousands of cases.

We were pioneers in providing straightforward language on legal documents and observing a Client’s Bill of Rights. We keep our clients informed on the case throughout the process and work diligently to represent them, from negotiation and arbitration to a jury trial if necessary.

Compensation you deserve

After an accident, the other driver’s insurance company might contact you with a settlement offer. More often than not, this offer is significantly lower than the compensation you will need to recover your losses after the accident. They offer as little as possible to protect their bottom line and save money. But with medical expenses, repair and replacement costs for damaged property, and other damages, not to mention pain and suffering, lost time and wages at work, and any future expenses, this number is rarely as much as it seems.

Typically, our clients have received larger payouts from insurance settlements than the initial offer. If an insurance company offers to cut you a check for any amount, it is advisable to speak with an attorney. They have an idea based on years of experience about how much better the settlement could be. Sometimes, our clients have received double the initial offer or more!

Statistics

Considering the number of accidents, injuries, and fatalities on the road each year, it is a wonder anyone drives anymore. But driving is one of the necessary parts of life to get us to work, school, home, and the store.

Here are some statistics that show just how hazardous driving can be and why the odds aren’t always in your favor.

  • Drivers using smartphones while they are driving caused 67 accidents in a recent study, with 33 resulting in injuries. Even hands-free devices can distract a driver enough to cause problems. The same study showed that hands-free devices contributed to 27 accidents, with 17 resulting in injury.
  • In a recent study, 30,078 car accidents happened in Newark, with 6,779 resulting in injuries. Forty-three of those injuries were fatal.
  • Recent statistics show that 584 people died in traffic accidents in New Jersey alone, with 38,824 deaths nationwide.
  • Accidents occur mostly during daylight hours, especially at peak traffic times such as rush hour. More people on the road often leads to more accidents with a greater chance of injury.

Types of accidents

With so many people sharing the road, Newark has a wide spectrum of different types of vehicle accidents.

Here are just a few and why they are significant.

  • Motorcycle accidents: Motorcycles are lightweight, highly maneuverable, and very vulnerable to crashes. Riders are often protected only by their personal protective gear, such as helmets, leathers, gloves, and boots. Due to the difference in sizes in vehicles, the force is often directed at the rider, leaving them with serious injuries if they survive the crash.
  • Car vs. truck accidents: Another example of larger vehicle crashes causing some serious damage. Trucks are upwards of hundreds of thousands of pounds of weight, often with blind spots, poor maneuverability (especially in snow and ice), and longer braking times. When trucks and cars collide, the passengers in the car are often hurt severely. These accidents are often a result of a fatigued driver or a driver operating their truck under the influence of illegal drugs to overcome the fatigue of long hours.
  • Rear-end collisions: These types of accidents can be very serious, resulting in neck and soft tissue damage to the occupants of the car that has been hit from behind. These types of accidents result from slick road conditions and, more often than not, distracted drivers, who are paying more attention to their phones than the road in front of them.
  • Poor road conditions: The cold New Jersey winters are rough on roads, from potholes caused by ice and rain to the neverending construction zones which always seem to be fixing the roads. Weather plays havoc on our roads and highways in other ways, creating slick areas, damaged roads that can make a driver lose control of their vehicle, and other hazards.
  • Hit and run: These types of accidents are frustrating in that it is often difficult to find the person responsible for the accident and make them pay for damages. An attorney can investigate these accidents, reviewing CCTV footage, traffic cameras, and vehicle cameras if available to find the culprit.
  • Elderly motorists: A growing population of the elderly on roads and highways has become a recent concern. With reduced reflexes, visibility, and other challenges, elderly motorists involved in accidents are on the rise.
  • Uninsured motorist: Though auto insurance is mandatory in New Jersey, people drive all the time without insurance. If you are struck by one of these unlawful drivers, you might find yourself in a serious financial struggle as you fight to pay for losses such as medical bills and property damage. An attorney can help you find compensation through other venues, such as litigation.
  • Drunk/impaired driver: Driving under the influence of alcohol or other substances is a leading cause of car crashes in Newark. Alcohol reduces reaction times, impairs judgment, and can even cause a driver to fixate on oncoming traffic and veer into other vehicles. Head-on collisions are common with drunk drivers, even in the city. Due to the speed and nature of the accident, these kinds of crashes are often serious or fatal.

Types of Injuries

Being in a car accident can yield some serious injuries. The forces involved in a car collision are intense enough to shatter bones, disrupt internal organs, and sheer blood vessels in the brain. Even if your injuries don’t seem major at first, it is important to get medical help after any car accident and have your injuries checked out by a doctor.

Here are just a few common injuries you might experience from a car accident.

  • Lacerations and hematomas: Cuts and bruises are common, and the resulting infections could be serious. Bruising may even be a sign that there are other injuries below the surface.
  • Internal injuries: Ruptured organs such as your spleen, collapsed lungs, and damage to your liver and kidneys are all too common in car accidents. These conditions are serious and may lead to long-term, debilitating injuries.
  • Burns: Due to fuel, coolant, and other vehicle fluids, burns can be common in accidents. Hazardous materials being carried in vehicles can result in chemical burns or even incendiary spills resulting from a collision. Even the propellant in an airbag that has deployed can burn skin. Burns can become infected and even cause tissue loss and disfigurement.
  • Whiplash: When the force of a collision causes the head to move suddenly and change direction, the strain and inertia involved can damage the neck, cause nerve damage, and even damage the supporting tissue of the structures which support the head and neck. Whiplash can lead to permanent spinal damage, paralysis, and chronic pain.
  • Traumatic brain injuries: Much like whiplash, TBIs primarily affect the brain. Due to internal bruising in the skull, the pressure exerted on the brain has nowhere to go and will continue to damage brain tissue until it can be remediated surgically. TBIs can result in cognitive damage, loss of hearing or vision, and even death.
  • Loss of limb: Deep cuts and blunt trauma to the body during a car crash can result in the loss of a limb. With it comes years of overcoming trauma, rehabilitation, and a drastic change in how a person is expected to continue with their life.
  • Loss of an eye: The eyes are important organs necessary to help us interact with our world. Losing an eye in a car accident is a serious concern since it affects a survivor in such a debilitating way.
  • Death: For those closest to the person who has died in a car accident, not only is there the grief of continuing without that person, but for many, they have lost a member of their family, a breadwinner, and a mentor who was taken from them. For the survivors, no amount of compensation will bring back a loved one, but it should be able to help carry them to the next part of their life without them.

After the accident

After the initial crash and meeting with first responders, everything might seem like a blur. You might have had to figure out the situation without much guidance, still rattled from the accident.

Here are some things to keep in mind after a car crash.

  • Remain calm: Reducing your panic can help in coping with the trauma and limit your vulnerability to shock and other life-threatening conditions. Remaining calm will help you make good decisions, such as rendering first-aid if needed, getting to a place that is a safe distance from the accident, and notifying emergency medical services.
  • Admit no fault: In the heat of the moment, you are likely to say anything. It is crucial that you admit no fault in the accident. Liability can be decided by law enforcement or even your attorney later on.
  • Get medical treatment: No matter how minor you might think your injuries are, it is important to be seen by a doctor. Some injuries, such as TBIs and bruising, can result in life-threatening conditions. This is an important step in documenting what has happened since the hospital will have records of your injuries.
  • Documentation: Use your smartphone to take pictures of the other driver’s insurance cards, take pictures of the scene of the accident, and get witness statements if possible. Take pictures of road conditions, any malfunctioning signs or signals, or other details that could come in handy later during your attorney’s investigation of the events. Keep all medical bills, receipts, and other expenses. Get copies of police reports, and keep a journal of your recovery. These can all help later if necessary.
  • Contact an attorney: An attorney can make all the difference in determining liability, investigating the accident, and handling your affairs as you focus on more important things, such as healing and taking care of yourself after this traumatic event.

Dealing with the insurance company

An insurance company is interested in only providing the bare minimum as compensation for your losses. A quick payoff from an insurance company might not even begin to pay for a lot of damages you have sustained due to a car accident.

Outside of the initial losses, such as repair or replacement costs to your car, there are a variety of other things you need to consider, which can take years to assess the total amount.

An attorney can help you get the compensation you need for these unforeseen damages.

  • Medical bills
  • Lost wages/time at work
  • Lost job
  • Recovery
  • Rehabilitation
  • Pain management
  • Permanent disabilities
  • Long-term care
  • Pain and suffering
  • Death and burial expenses

Contact Jacoby & Meyers LLP

Being injured in a car accident is one of the most stressful experiences you can have. As you recover from your injuries, you will likely face mounting hospital bills, lost time from work, repair and replacement expenses, and the stress of recovering from your injuries.

The mental and physical trauma alone is enough to deal with, which can be exponentially worse with the prospect of permanent disabilities and long-term care. An attorney can help you navigate a confusing time in your life while focusing on more personal matters, such as getting your life back together.

Contact us if you would like to learn more about how Jacoby & Meyers LLP can help negotiate a reasonable settlement with insurance companies or even take the matter to court if necessary. We have decades of experience in personal injury law, from arbitration to cases in front of a jury. Your injuries have made life hard enough, so give us a call at (973) 643-2707 to get started on finding the help you need to get the compensation you deserve.

Newark Office

550 Broad Street suite 608
Newark NJ 07102
973-643-2707

Client Testimonials

Review: 5/5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
“The case managers are one of the most helpful individuals in the office, the attorneys are great in explaining my case and the process of the legal system. I felt secure in my choice of selecting Jacoby & Meyers for my legal representation and I’m thankful for their hard work. Preparation is key, and I’m glad my team of legal representation had my back when I needed them most. I hope this review steers you readers into the right direction in selecting Jacoby & Meyers as your legal team as I did for my case. Greta was one of the individuals who made me feel secure in addressing all of my concerns. Thank you Jacoby & Meyers for your representation and your time.”
Review by: Roberto M.

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