Marlton Car Accident Lawyers
Marlton, New Jersey is a busy community that is a part of Evesham Township in Burlington County. Marlton sees a significant amount of traffic due to Routes 70 and 73, which intersect right in the heart. Those two main roads came together in what was initially known as the Marlton Circle. That was replaced in 2010 with a standard overpass, which helped alleviate some of the heavy traffic. Despite the change, the area is still prone to many car accidents.
Accidents can happen at any time. You may fear the financial ramification of sustaining a serious injury in an accident or your ability to support your family. A Marlton car accident lawyer will be on your side to help ensure that the financial impact of your accident is minimized.
What Are Common Causes of Car Accidents?
There are a variety of reasons why car accidents occur. In most instances, it is usually a driver who is at fault, but there can be other factors as well. The most common reasons for most car accidents include:
- Speeding: A driver who speeds can be a danger to themselves and others. When they speed, they reduce their reaction time, as they increase the time it takes to stop their vehicle in an emergency.
- Reckless driving: A person who is driving with complete disregard of the law can cause an accident by forcing others to avoid them.
- Drunk driving: When you drink too much, your senses can become impaired, and you do not respond to situations as quickly as you would normally. In addition, you are not as observant of your surroundings as you are when you are in full control of yourself.
- Distracted driving: This has become a major problem on roads all over the country but particularly in New Jersey. Drivers are constantly doing tasks other than paying attention to the road, including checking their radio, drinking coffee, or looking at their cellphone. When you are distracted, you will not see what is taking place on the road, meaning you could collide with a stopped car or a pedestrian.
- Inclement weather: When the weather is poor, it can cause havoc on the road, including rainy and slippery conditions. If you are not careful in these situations, you could lose control of your vehicle. It is best to avoid during when these hazardous conditions exist.
- Road conditions: The conditions on the road can cause their own share of problems as well. With loose pavement or potholes, drivers can lose control of their vehicle or swerve to avoid obstacles, which can result in an accident.
Many questions arise in the days and weeks after a car accident. A Marlton car accident lawyer can help you through the process and sort out your legal options.
Filing a Claim in New Jersey
New Jersey is a no-fault insurance state, meaning that you can collect reimbursement for your injuries and any loss of your work salary through your car insurance. Since this is a no-fault state, you can collect on this compensation regardless of your role in a car accident. However, you can only collect economic expenses and you are prohibited from filing a claim against a company.
Through your personal injury protection (PIP) coverage as part of your car insurance, you can receive compensation for any medical bills that you incur. That includes visits to the doctor as well as any treatments, such as surgeries, medications, and rehabilitation assignments. You can also claim lost wages if you were forced to miss work due to your injuries.
There are situations that occur when you can file a claim against another driver. One of those has to do with the type of insurance you purchased prior to your accident. There are two forms of coverage that you can purchase:
- Basic policy: This policy is the version most drivers purchase because it has lower premiums. This policy has a Limited Right to Sue option. The drawback is it prohibits you from filing a claim against another driver.
- Standard policy: This is a more expensive policy, although you can choose the Unlimited Right to Sue option. That means that you will be able to file a claim against an at-fault driver regardless of the severity of your accident.
Those who obtain a basic policy do have certain circumstances when they can file a claim against another driver, such as when the party has a catastrophic injury. A claim can also be filed against an at-fault driver on behalf of the family of a person who was killed in a car crash.
Those who can file a claim against another person because they have a standard policy or because they sustained a serious enough injury can seek both economic and non-economic expenses.
Drivers should also be aware that New Jersey follows the legal concept of comparative negligence. This means that everyone considered to bear some responsibility for the accident must contribute a portion of the overall award based on the percentage of fault. You may not get as much as you were expecting when you initially filed your claim. Those who are more than 50 percent responsible for an accident are ineligible from collecting any compensation.
New Jersey has a two-year statute of limitations, meaning that if you fail to file a claim within that two-year window, the court may dismiss your case. Failure to meet the deadline means you will be barred from collecting compensation.
What Should I Do After a Car Accident?
While you might feel helpless in the immediate moments after a car accident, there are several steps you can take to improve your chances of recovery. These steps include:
- Check on everyone involved in the accident, including yourself. Call for an ambulance if someone requires it.
- If it is a minor car accident, you should do what you can to clear your vehicle out of the traffic in the road.
- Call the police. They will come down and assess the situation and create an official report. Be sure to get a copy of the report when the officer is done. It is also important to cooperate with the officer but avoid taking any responsibility for the accident.
- Collect as much evidence at the scene as you can, including photographs of the area, the circumstances that led to the accident, and the damage inflicted on your vehicle. Be sure to take meticulous notes about the accident. Document what you were doing at the time, as well as the road and weather conditions.
- Speak with any eyewitnesses on the scene and find out what they might have seen. Be sure to get their names on contact information in case you or your lawyer needs to reach out to them in the future.
- Exchange all relevant information if there are other drivers involved in the car accident, including contact information, make and model of each car, license plates, insurance information, and anything else. Be sure not to admit to any guilt or role in the accident. It can be used against you later.
You should also not waste time in contacting a Marlton car accident lawyer who can help you determine what your legal options are and how to execute them. They will protect your rights.
Marlton Car Accident Lawyer at the Law Office of David S. Rochman Works Hard to Get You the Settlement You Deserve After an Accident
When you are injured in a car accident, you want to know that a diligent lawyer is on your side. Our experienced Marlton car accident lawyer at the Law Office of David S. Rochman knows the law and will protect your rights. Call us at 856-751-2345 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. We are located in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, and we proudly assist clients throughout Burlington County and the surrounding areas.