Since you're here, we assume that you're considering contacting a Jersey City personal injury lawyer about a potential claim. If that's true, there are a few things you should know about our law firm:
- We offer free, no obligation case reviews. If you think you have a personal injury claim, you have nothing to lose by speaking to us about your case, and much to gain.
- We work on a contingency fee basis. If you retain us to handle your claim you pay us nothing out of pocket.
- Time is of the essence. In New Jersey, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases is 2 years.
Not ready to talk to one of our attorneys? No problem. We invite you to keep reading to gain a better understanding of what it means to have a personal injury claim in New Jersey.
Our Jersey City Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help You Recover Compensation
Although we like to think that other people are careful, that’s not always true. Accidents happen nearly every day, even in Jersey City.
According to the State of New Jersey Department of Transportation, there were 19,237 car crashes in Hudson County and Jersey City in 2017 alone. 3,431 of these crashes resulted in injuries, and another 73 crashes resulted in fatalities.
Aside from these staggering statistics, there are an overwhelming amount of injuries related to other accidents that affect Jersey City's 283,927 residents, such as medical malpractice and brain injuries. The list goes on.
If someone else's carelessness leads to you suffering an injury, there can be devastating effects on your life and loved ones. At O'Connor, Parsons, Lane, and Noble, our personal injury lawyers are here to help you. We can help you recover compensation for your losses and hold the at-fault party responsible.
O’Connor, Parsons, Lane, and Noble has a long history of helping clients get compensation for their injuries and accidents. Our firm cares deeply for the surrounding community and the families within it.
We believe that it is our duty to help these families by fighting for their right to justice and compensation. If you or a loved one were injured in an accident in New Jersey, you need a reliable and loyal attorney from our firm to help you through this difficult time.
What Types of Personal Injury Compensation Can I Claim Under New Jersey Law?
The most important part of your personal injury case will be getting the compensation you deserve. This compensation will enable you to recover from your injuries so that you can move on. Under New Jersey law, a personal injury victim may be able to recover two types of damages: compensatory and punitive.
Compensatory Damages
In New Jersey, you can receive compensation to help you recover from injuries sustained in your personal injury accident. These are generally referred to as “compensatory damages.” Compensatory damages for which you can receive compensation are broken up into economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages may include:
- Past and future medical expenses,
- Lost wages,
- Travel expenses,
- Lost earning capacity,
- Rehabilitation and recovery expenses, and
- Property damage.
It is important to remember to keep all receipts and bills that resulted from your injuries. If you don't, you may not be able to get compensation. Make copies of everything, and keep them in a safe place.
Non-economic damages, on the other hand, help compensate a personal injury victim for their emotional damages. Examples of non-economic damages include:
- Pain and suffering,
- Emotional distress,
- Loss of enjoyment of life, and
- Loss of companionship or consortium.
While these types of damages can appear more subjective than economic damages, they are still very important in the pursuit of recovery. Together, economic and non-economic damages allow a personal injury victim to be made whole.
Punitive Damages
In addition to compensatory damages, the law also allows for the recovery of punitive damages in certain situations. Under New Jersey law, punitive damages may be awarded where a party’s “acts or omissions were actuated by actual malice or accompanied by wanton and willful disregard of persons who foreseeably might be harmed by those acts or omissions.”
It is important to note, however, that the award of punitive damages is very rare. This is because they are typically awarded only where the actions causing the harm were intentional, malicious, or made with extreme disregard or indifference to the potentially harmful consequences.
Whereas compensatory damages are designed to make an injured party whole, the purpose of punitive damages is to punish a wrongdoer and deter future wrongful conduct.
What is the Personal Injury Statute of Limitations in New Jersey?
After sustaining an injury in an accident, speak to a personal injury attorney in Jersey City, NJ, right away to file your claim on time. New Jersey's statute of limitations for personal injury is two years.
This means that a personal injury victim has two years from the date of the injury to file a claim (New Jersey Revised Statutes section 2A:14-2). If you fail to file within this period, your case will be dismissed, and you will not be able to receive compensation.
Thus, it is absolutely imperative that you file your claim within the two-year statutory period. If you or a loved one has sustained injuries in an accident, act quickly. Contact our firm today so that we can evaluate your case and determine whether you are still within the statute of limitations. If you are, it is important to get started on your claim as soon as possible to give yourself your best chance at success.
Why do Statutes of Limitations Exist?
They help to preserve evidence: As time elapses, the risk of losing evidence and experiencing changes in circumstances increases, along with the potential fading of witnesses' memories.
They help to preserve the fair factor: If lawsuits could be initiated without any time restrictions, defendants might be unfairly disadvantaged due to the possibility of vital evidence becoming inaccessible as significant time passes.
Are There Exceptions to the Statute of Limitations?
There are circumstances that deviate from the mentioned time periods. For instance, if an injury is not immediately apparent, such as a delayed illness caused by environmental exposure, the statute of limitations can be "tolled." In such cases, the countdown for the time limit does not commence until the injury is discovered or until the person becomes capable of filing a lawsuit (such as in the case of a minor).
What are the Common Types of Personal Injury?
Personal injury is a broad category of the law that is comprised of many subcategories. Moreover, a personal injury claim can arise in a number of different scenarios.
Some of the most common personal injury cases include:
- Car accidents,
- Slip and fall accidents,
- Assault,
- Medical malpractice, and
- Workplace injuries.
Being able to identify a potential personal injury claim is one of the first steps toward getting the recovery you deserve. If you have sustained injuries in any of the above scenarios, contact our firm today to see if you may be entitled to recovery.
How Long Does it Take to Settle a Personal Injury Claim in NJ?
The length of time it takes to settle a personal injury claim in New Jersey can vary depending on a number of factors, including the severity of the injury, the complexity of the case, and the willingness of the parties to negotiate a settlement.
On average, it can take several months to a year or more to settle a personal injury claim in New Jersey. In some cases, the process may take longer if the case goes to trial.
It's important to note that every personal injury case is unique, and the length of time it takes to settle a claim can depend on many individual factors. If you have been injured and are considering filing a personal injury claim, it's a good idea to consult with an experienced Jersey City personal injury attorney from our firm who can provide guidance on your specific case.
Personal Injury Cases We Handle
Our lawyers are experienced in many areas of the law, including:
- Personal injury;
- Vehicular accidents;
- Brain injuries;
- Medical malpractice;
- Employment law;
- Product liability; and
- Premises liability.
The attorneys at O’Connor, Parsons, Lane and Noble have over 100 years of combined experience practicing personal injury law. We have handled a wide variety of cases and have achieved tremendous results for our clients. If you don't see your type of case listed here, contact our firm to speak with a lawyer about how we can best assist you.
Being in an accident can result in a lot of confusion, including confusion about whether or not you need a personal injury attorney. If you file a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver, it is highly recommended to hire a personal injury attorney in Jersey City, NJ.
The personal injury claims process can be challenging and overwhelming to navigate without experienced legal representation. Without legal help, you might not get the compensation you deserve for your damages. Insurance companies are famously known for undervaluing claims, and personal injury lawyers ensure that your settlement is fair.
1. We Can Investigate Your Accident
In New Jersey, those who are found to be negligent and cause harm to others are required to provide compensation. However, if the person was not negligent, they are not liable for any damages. To receive compensation, it is necessary to present compelling evidence that demonstrates what happened and who is responsible.
For example, in a car accident, there may be a disagreement over fault. The other driver's insurance company will not provide compensation unless their insured was responsible for the accident. Therefore, you need evidence to prove your case.
As your personal injury attorneys, we have the expertise to investigate the accident scene, analyze the police report, and conduct witness interviews. We can also help you document your recollection of the incident. These pieces of evidence can serve as a strong foundation to demonstrate your entitlement to compensation for your injuries.
2. We Can Handle All Your Paperwork
After experiencing a severe accident, your priority should be on your recovery. You may need to rest at home, visit the doctor frequently, or stay in the hospital. Concentrating on your well-being and family will consume most of your attention, making it difficult to meet deadlines and gather the required documentation to file a claim. That's where our personal injury attorneys come in. We will assist you in:
- Gathering essential medical records
- Acquiring a copy of the police report Completing
- Submitting the necessary insurance claim forms
3. We Can Negotiate with an Insurance Company
If your accident resulted only in property damage, the insurance company might pay your claim shortly after you submit repair bills. However, if you or a loved one suffered a bodily injury, the insurance company will scrutinize your case more closely. The potential compensation amount increases when bodily injuries such as burns, broken bones, concussions, or back injuries are involved
Insurance companies are not eager to pay full compensation. They may make a low initial offer, which you must not take. Many victims without legal representation are unaware of the true value of their injuries, causing them to accept a low compensation offered by the insurance company.
It is important to work with an attorney who understands the strengths and weaknesses of the evidence and who will fight to maximize the settlement amount.
4. We Can File a Lawsuit if Necessary
Not all accident cases can be resolved through a settlement. Sometimes, the defendant or their insurer may act unreasonably and reject a legitimate claim. In such scenarios, the only option is to file a lawsuit to seek compensation.
However, filing a lawsuit is a complex process that requires the timely submission of complicated legal documents and responding to the defendant's arguments. Without a lawyer, the defendant's team of attorneys can put you at a disadvantage.
But with the assistance of your attorney, all necessary paperwork can be filed and served to the defendant while staying on top of crucial deadlines. Although many cases eventually settle, filing the lawsuit provides an incentive for the defendant to come to the negotiation table and offer fair compensation.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident in Jersey City, you need a compassionate and dedicated attorney on your side who will do whatever it takes to get fair compensation. For instance, here are some testimonials from previous clients:
Patrick T., a client who moved to O’Connor, Parsons, Lane & Noble after having difficulties with his personal injury claim, said the following:
Everyone I spoke to at the firm also offered the utmost help when I needed it. Sometimes I would get down about the process and just needed to hear a few nice words and I always got them from the staff. Even recently, several years later, I called Scott for help with a question about a legal issue. He called me right back and was happy to give me advice. If I would ever need a lawyer again, Scott Parsons would be the man!
Patrick
Marie G., another client who moved to O’Connor, Parsons, Lane & Noble after having difficulties with her personal injury claim, said the following:
“Words can't truly express how much I appreciate everything you have done for me. When we started on this journey 2 years ago on “the eleventh hour,” I was very concerned because of the problems I was having before I retained you. You quickly put my mind to rest by explaining everything to me, and answering all my questions. The outcome of this lawsuit is nothing less than a miracle because of the many obstacles we faced. I know that your professionalism, knowledge, dedication, and patience is what got us through.”
Marie
Examples of Our Firm's Personal Injury Case Results
We have won multi-million dollar settlements for clients involved in many types of accidents:
- We recovered $28 million in damages for a client who suffered from the doctor's negligence to order a test for a muscle-wasting disease. She recovered $15 million in future medical expenses and $13 million for anguish.
- We recovered $22.6 million in damages for a client who was the victim of physical and verbal abuse and employment discrimination. He recovered monetary damages for medical bills and emotional trauma.
- We recovered $15 million in damages for a client whose baby suffered due to the doctor's negligence to perform heart surgery. Her family recovered damages for current and future medical bills and emotional distress.
Our personal injury attorneys in Jersey City, NJ put your best interests first and cares about the outcome of your case. The goal of O'Connor, Parsons, Lane, and Noble is to help you receive compensation and justice for your injury.
Contact Our Firm Today for Immediate Assistance
We know how confusing the events following an accident and injury can be. At O'Connor, Parsons, Lane, and Noble, our main priority is to advocate for you and help you through this process.
If you were injured in an accident in Jersey City, contact O'Connor, Parsons, Lane, and Noble today. Our experienced and compassionate Jersey City personal injury lawyers are ready to help you with your case.
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