Suing for a motorcycle accident and injury is your right after being harmed by negligence. We can help you take the appropriate steps to get sufficient compensation, which could come from a jury award or settlement.
Victims need evidence to prove negligent drivers harmed them, so we will seek to preserve relevant proof immediately following motorcycle accidents in Glen Rock. This may include eyewitness statements, video footage, and photos, as well as victims’ hospital records. After building a strong case, we can file the complaint in court. This must happen within two years of the collision, or the court might bar your recovery. Once lawsuits are filed, defendants may want to settle. We can enter settlement negotiations knowing your claim’s value, so do you not accept less than what you deserve. Going to trial is also possible and could enable victims to claim greater damages, such as punitive damages for gross negligence.
Call motorcycle accident lawyer Jerry Friedman at 1-800-529-4464 for a confidential and free case analysis.
Timeline of Recovering Damages After Motorcycle Accidents in Glen Rock, NJ
Motorcycle accident lawsuits begin with Jerry gathering and preserving relevant evidence for victims’ cases. This typically includes witness statements, photographic evidence, and victims’ medical records. We can then write and file complaints within the two years following accidents so victims do not miss their chance to sue. We will guide you through settlement talks, possible court appearances, and all other aspects of your case to protect your interests.
Collecting Evidence
Right after collisions is the most consequential time for evidence preservation and collection. We may start by identifying sources of photographic evidence, like nearby video surveillance systems. These could include private security, doorbell, and even dashboard cameras. We can also review materials from responding police officers in case law enforcement takes pictures or videos of property damage. We can do the same with eyewitnesses when we interview them and preserve their recollections. Witness testimony is typically useful evidence in motorcycle accident lawsuits that go to trial and could be strong enough to compel negligent drivers to offer victims better out-of-court settlements.
During this stage of the case, we can also determine which types of experts might improve your recovery. This might include crash reconstruction professionals, physicians, and mental health experts. Organizing evidence into a strong case from the beginning is important, and we will strive to accomplish this on your behalf.
Writing and Filing Complaints
We can write and file the complaint after we are confident in your case. This is a crucial step in the recovery process, as incomplete or inaccurate complaints could be dismissed after filing. To begin, motorcycle accident lawyer Jerry Friedman will identify you as the plaintiff and name the negligent driver. We will explain how they breached the duty of care they owed you, caused the accident, and injured you. We will then request relief for the damages you have incurred, both economic and non-economic. To ensure these calculations are correct and we can support them in the future, we will also collect copies of medical bills, document your lost wages, and maintain proof of all other out-of-pocket expenses. We may use other tactics to estimate your subjective non-economic damages, which are also compensable.
Once the complaint is written, we can file it with the appropriate court. According to N.J.S.A. § 2A:14-2(a), motorcyclists injured in collisions have two years to file their court complaints. Filing your case much sooner than the ultimate deadline is preferable, as delaying filing would only delay your access to compensatory damages. When complaints are filed, defendants are notified, and lawsuits commence.
Negotiating Settlements
Negotiating settlements is a common part of motorcycle injury lawsuits. Some lawsuits end in settlements after aggressive negotiations, and certain tactics may convince negligent drivers to improve their offers. Being found liable in court could be the last thing they want, even if settling means they still have to pay victims large sums. Many victims also want to settle quickly out of court, which is understandable after suffering serious injuries. Despite wanting fast compensation, carefully assessing all proposals is essential. Signing settlement agreements ends cases. Victims who then realize their damages are greater may have no recourse to seek compensation, having already settled with a liable party out of court.
Settlement does not automatically guarantee a fast recovery. Some defendants intentionally drag out settlement negotiations or become non-communicative to frustrated plaintiffs, convincing them to accept lower amounts. We can identify and address these tactics to protect your recovery in Glen Rock.
Going to Court
Cases that do not settle may go all the way to trial. Some victims want to go to court almost immediately to hold negligent drivers liable and maximize their recoveries. For example, if a drunk driver struck you while you were riding your motorcycle, a jury could award you punitive damages to punish them for their gross negligence. This would only be possible if you went to court, and we can confirm if punitive damages are available in your case after assessing the defendant’s conduct.
A trial means proving liability by a preponderance of the evidence, meaning convincing the jury that the defendant more than likely caused your injuries. We can do this by satisfying the four elements of an injury claim: that the defendant owed the plaintiff a duty of care, that the defendant breached the duty of care, that the breach caused the plaintiff’s injuries, and that the plaintiff suffered real damages. All of the preparation done in the initial stages of your claim can enable us to meet the standard of proof, confirm the defendant’s fault, and recover the compensation you need to heal from an accident.
Call Jerry About Your Glen Rock, NJ Accident Today
Call motorcycle accident lawyer Jerry Friedman at 1-800-529-4464 for a free case review today.