The consequences of a personal injury are often long-lasting. Even if you only spend a few days in the hospital, the resulting injury may be severe enough to cause unending complications. Despite this, the insurance company usually gives a lowball offer, so they can focus on profits.
At O’Connor, Parsons, Lane & Noble, we know our clients deserve better. With decades of combined legal experience, our Monmouth County personal injury lawyers have recovered millions of dollars for injured clients. We have the resources necessary to take on the big insurance companies, so you have time to focus on recovery. If you or a loved one sustains an injury in an accident caused by another person’s negligence, contact us to schedule a consultation.
Personal Injury Cases We Handle
At O’Connor, Parsons, Lane & Noble, we have experience litigating several types of personal injury cases, including:
- Car accidents,
- Truck accidents,
- Bicycle accidents,
- Pedestrian accidents,
- Ridesharing collisions,
- Product liability,
- Premises liability,
- Medical malpractice,
- Nursing home abuse,
- Workplace injuries, and
- Dangerous drugs.
These are just a handful of the cases we accept. If you don’t see your case type on this list, contact us to discuss your situation. Chances are you may have a personal injury claim if the negligence of another party caused your injury.
Medical malpractice is a major part of our practice. For people in Middletown and the surrounding area, we handle claims involving misdiagnosis and failure to diagnose, surgical errors, medication errors, and birth injuries.
How a Personal Injury Lawyer in Monmouth County, NJ Can Help
We know that these cases often lead to lifelong difficulties like ongoing treatment, extensive medical bills, and job loss. Over time, your serious injuries may affect your ability to work and make it difficult to take care of yourself and your family.
For this reason, it’s important to have experienced legal representation to fight for the compensation you need to recover. Our experienced Monmouth County personal injury lawyers will pursue damages on your behalf, including, but not limited to:
- Medical bills for surgery, prescriptions, and more;
- Lost income from job loss or transfer;
- Accessibility modifications for your vehicle or home;
- Child care services (if applicable);
- Loss of consortium;
- Loss of quality of life; and
- Pain and suffering.
When you seek compensation, the insurance company will do whatever they can to minimize or reject your claim. Our attorneys know the tactics used by insurance companies and are dedicated to fighting for your needs.
New Jersey Rules That Affect Your Injury Claim
- Filing deadline: Most personal injury lawsuits in New Jersey must be filed within two years of the injury under N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2. Claims against a town, county, school, or state agency generally require a written notice of claim within 90 days under the New Jersey Tort Claims Act.
- Shared fault: Under New Jersey’s comparative negligence law, your recovery is reduced by your share of fault, and you can’t recover if you’re found more than 50 percent responsible.
- Car accidents and no-fault: Your own auto policy’s personal injury protection (PIP) coverage generally pays your medical bills first, no matter who caused the crash. If your policy has the limitation on lawsuit option, a claim for pain and suffering generally requires a more serious injury, such as a permanent injury, a displaced fracture, or significant scarring. Our guide to the statute of limitations after a New Jersey car accident covers the deadline.
- Work injuries: Workers’ compensation is generally your only claim against your employer, but you may have a separate claim against a contractor, property owner, or equipment manufacturer whose negligence contributed to the accident.
Injury Claims in Middletown and Monmouth County
Middletown is one of the largest townships in Monmouth County, and many of the crashes we see in the area happen on busy roads like Route 35, Route 36, and the Garden State Parkway. After a crash on a state highway, you may need a copy of the police report, and our FAQ explains how to get a New Jersey State Police crash report. Personal injury lawsuits arising in Middletown are generally filed in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, in Monmouth County, which sits in Freehold.
Injuries in the area also happen at shopping centers, on residential sidewalks after a storm, at the Jersey Shore beaches and boardwalks a short drive away, and on commuter routes into New York. Wherever it happened, the key questions are the same: who was responsible for keeping the people involved safe, and what did they fail to do.
Steps You Should Take After Being Injured
Whether you get into a car accident or slip and fall at work, there are a few things you should do to build your claim. Once you make sure the scene is safe, take the following steps:
- Report the incident. If it’s safe to do so, report the accident as soon as possible. For auto accidents, call 911 and stay at the scene of the crash until police arrive.
- Collect evidence. Take pictures of the scene, including your injuries and any of the conditions leading to the incident.
- Find witnesses. If anybody witnesses your injury, ask for their contact information. They may be able to provide a statement about the events leading up to the incident.
- Get medical attention. Immediately seek help from the doctor or responding EMTs. This helps create an official record of your injuries.
- Contact a Monmouth County personal injury lawyer. An attorney can help you collect the evidence you need and handle communication with the insurance company.
If you decide to file a claim, make sure to contact a lawyer before dealing with the insurance company. Any statement you make to the insurance adjuster may be used against you. Our attorneys will communicate with the insurance company on your behalf and help make sure your personal injury claim is error free.
Personal Injury FAQs
How much is my case worth?
It depends on the severity of the injury, the medical treatment you need now and in the future, how the injury affects your ability to work, and the amount of insurance available. Clear medical records and a full picture of how the injury has changed your daily life are usually the most important factors. We’ll explain what drives the value of your claim once we understand the facts.
Should I accept the insurance company’s first offer?
Usually not without a review. Early offers often come before the full extent of an injury is known, and once you sign a release, you generally can’t reopen the claim if your condition turns out to be worse than expected.
Will my case go to trial?
Most personal injury cases settle, but insurance companies pay closer attention when they know a firm is prepared to try the case. We prepare every claim with that possibility in mind, which often leads to better settlement offers.
What if the person who hurt me doesn’t have enough insurance?
Your own auto policy may include underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage that can make up some or all of the difference. In other cases, more than one party may share responsibility, such as an employer, a property owner, or a product manufacturer.
Need a Personal Injury Lawyer in Monmouth County, NJ? Our Results Speak for Themselves
The consequences of a personal injury can be incredibly devastating for victims and their families. However, you don’t have to face them alone. The attorneys of O’Connor, Parsons, Lane & Noble have decades of experience fighting for clients throughout New Jersey. We offer a free, no-obligation case review and work on a contingency fee basis. This means that you pay nothing unless we win your case.
To schedule a consultation with one of our Monmouth County personal injury lawyers, contact us at 908-928-9200. We serve clients from our practices in Springfield, Newark, Woodbridge, Jersey City, Paramus, and Freehold, NJ.