What You Should Know About NJ Motorcycle Accidents
New Jersey has some of the most ideal roads for taking a cruise on your motorcycle in the spring. However, motorcyclists are the most prone to accidents when it comes to those that occur on the state’s roadways. Due to the lack of safety restraints such as seatbelts and their small size compared to automobiles and commercial trucks, motorcyclists account for a large percentage of serious injuries and fatalities that result from motor vehicle accidents.
Did you know motorcycle accidents in New Jersey are treated differently than other kinds of accidents? Motorcyclists are required to have motorcycle insurance on them while riding. Because of this heavily enforced law, there are certain policy limits required:
- A minimum of $15,000 bodily injury coverage per person involved in the accident
- $30,000 total bodily injury coverage per accident
- $5,000 coverage for property damage
Purchasing the proper motorcycle insurance policy is key to operating a motorcycle. This is because New Jersey’s no-fault regulations do not apply to motorcycle accidents.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
If you ride a motorcycle, you should be aware of the hazards that can cause an accident. Some might be amazed at what really factors into a motorcycle crash. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), at least two-thirds of motorcycle accidents were not the fault of the rider. Here are some of the most common causes of accidents involving bikers and another vehicle:
- Inexperience
- A driver following a motorcycle too closely (or vice versa)
- Roadway defects
- Inclement weather
- Failure to give the motorcyclist right of way
- Road rage
- Aggressive driving
It is easy to determine why a motorcycle accident can translate into such a tragedy. For starters, a helmet can only do so much to protect someone. You still risk the chance of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) depending on how hard you hit the ground. Aside from head injuries, you could be facing broken bones and other contusions too. Some motorcycle victims are permanently disabled with paralysis or severe brain injuries.
Receiving Compensation for a NJ Motorcycle Crash
Motorcycle accidents often leave people with thousands of dollars in bills. Your motorcycle could need costly repairs or be completely totaled. Injuries like fractures and road rash require immediate medical treatment so that your condition does not deteriorate. You will also have extra medical expenses for prescription drugs, painkillers, rehabilitation, and follow-up visits.
Our clients also lose out on income when they are in such pain that they can’t go to work. Serious injuries require months of rest and rehab. In fact, rehabilitation often feels like a full-time job. It isn’t unusual for our clients to suffer more than $10,000 in losses for even a relatively minor motorcycle wreck.
Fortunately, we can help you seek compensation from the driver who injured you. If they were at fault, they should pay to compensate for damages:
- Medical bills
- Loss of income
- Future medical care for long-term injuries
- Loss of earning capacity
- Past and future pain and suffering
- Past and future emotional distress
- Motorcycle repairs
An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer in New Jersey is the correct person to review your case and determine how much you should ask for in a settlement. Our firm can also negotiate with the driver’s insurer to obtain a fair settlement.
Important Deadlines to Meet
In New Jersey, a personal injury lawsuit must be filed within 2 years of the accident. That’s a very hard deadline. If you go over it, then you can lose the ability to seek any compensation from the person who struck you. In fact, the defendant will ask a judge to dismiss the case, and New Jersey judges will comply.
It is critical that you not go even a day past the deadline. Of course, there are many challenges ahead. Some people lose track of time while focusing on their recovery or their families. Please reach out to a NJ motorcycle accident lawyer. We will keep an eye on all deadlines for you to protect your rights.
Why Obtaining Fair Compensation is Difficult
One challenge you will face is convincing an insurance adjuster that you weren’t to blame for the crash. Some adjusters are biased and automatically assume a motorcyclist was weaving in and out of a lane or running a red light.
We can help you by pulling together sufficient evidence to recreate what happened. We rely on important pieces of evidence, including eyewitness testimony and physical evidence from the crash scene. You can help your case as well by taking photographs of all vehicles involved. You should also refuse to admit fault, which can only be used against you later to diminish a driver’s liability.
Another challenge involves hit-and-run accidents. Too many drivers refuse to stop their vehicles after getting into a crash. It is against the law to flee, but hundreds do it just the same. Unfortunately, you can’t sue someone if they don’t stop to render assistance, so seeking a settlement is virtually impossible. Let us strategize how to obtain compensation following a hit and run.
Contact the Law Offices of Anthony Carbone
If you or a loved one sustained a severe injury from a motorcycle accident, the Law Offices of Anthony Carbone can get you the compensation you deserve. With thirty years of experience handling accident injury claims, we can help you get your life back on track. Contact us today at 201-829-3805 to schedule a free consultation.