When injured in a motorcycle crash, victims in Mercer County can recover compensatory damages by filing a lawsuit.
After you are hurt in a motorcycle accident, exchange information with other parties involved. Be sure to speak with police officers when they arrive so that the report they create can be accurate. Then, go to the nearest hospital to get assessed by doctors and, in the following days and weeks, specialists. When suing for compensation, victims in Mercer County should have a good understanding of their actual damages. You can estimate your damages by adding up all of your economic losses. Non-economic damages are more subjective and are largely based on a victim’s pain and suffering.
Schedule a free and confidential discussion about your case by calling Mercer County, NJ motorcycle accident lawyer Jerry Friedman now at 1-800-529-4464.
Exchanging Information After a Motorcycle Accident in Mercer County, NJ
Because motorcyclists are not covered by their personal injury protection insurance in Mercer County, their main options for recovery are filing a claim with a negligent driver’s liability insurance or filing a lawsuit.
You must exchange insurance information with a motorist after being injured on your motorcycle in Mercer County. You will need their liability insurance when filing a claim for recovery. Furthermore, it is required by law that you stop and exchange information when an accident occurs in New Jersey, according to N.J.S.A. § 39:4-129(c).
That said, you might be seriously injured and unable to speak directly to the person whose negligence caused your injuries. In that case, law enforcement officers should get the other involved driver’s insurance information, which motorcycle accident lawyer Jerry Friedman can recover in the hours or days following the incident. You can then make an informed decision after assessing the possible compensation available to you through the driver’s liability insurance. Their policy limits might be low, meaning you may be able to claim greater compensation by suing following your motorcycle accident in Mercer County.
Speaking to the Police After a Motorcycle Accident in Mercer County, NJ
When any type of motor vehicle accident happens and results in injury, the police must be called. After arriving, police officers can speak to victims and document an accident.
Speaking with the police is imperative after a motorcycle crash. Police officers can record important information, like road conditions, weather, eyewitnesses, contributing factors to an accident, and other details, like involved parties’ names and contact information. Additionally, if a negligent driver was intoxicated at the time of the accident, that information will be included in a police report. Other possible causes, like if a driver was texting and operating their vehicle at the time of an accident, will be included in a crash report.
Police officers also take down the statements of involved parties. This is your opportunity to be clear about the fact that you did not cause your injuries. Motorcyclists are often thought of as the cause of an accident, so clarifying that you are not to blame is vital. While it is important to be forthcoming with the police, your injuries might make that impossible. Officers can visit you at the hospital, or you can go to the police department to provide more information in the days after your crash.
Getting Medical Care After a Motorcycle Accident in Mercer County, NJ
Although motorcycle crash victims in Mercer County do not have to prove that their injuries are serious in order to sue for compensation, they do have to provide proof of their damages and injuries, which is why having extensive medical records is necessary.
It is incredibly important to visit the hospital immediately after being hurt while riding your motorcycle. There are several hospitals in Mercer County. Go to the one nearest to your accident location. If emergency medical services are called to your accident scene, they can take you to the hospital in an ambulance. Do not resist medical attention, as doing so can allow your injuries to worsen.
In motorcycle accident claims, it is necessary for victims to establish their injuries and draw the connection between their physical damages and a defendant’s actions. This is partially done by providing medical records from immediately after an incident that show the extent of a victim’s injuries. Victims should continue getting medical attention for the duration of their case or for however long it takes for them to heal from their injuries completely.
Assessing Your Damages from a Mercer County, NJ Motorcycle Accident
When entering into litigation against a negligent driver in Mercer County, it is important that victims are prepared and capable of identifying their damages and quantifying them.
Regarding economic damages, you should know your exact losses. This begins by adding up all of your medical bills from treatment. You might require additional care after your lawsuit concludes. Medical professionals can estimate the cost of that treatment. You can then add that amount to your financial losses. Then, consider the income you have missed out on while healing from a motorcycle accident. Lost wages are considered financial losses and are compensable in a motorcycle accident lawsuit in Mercer County.
Then there is the matter of non-economic damages. These are more challenging to quantify as they do not have a monetary value attached to them. Victims can explain how an accident has affected their mental and emotional well-being in personal statements. Friends and family of a victim can provide statements that explain how a victim’s quality of life has decreased since the accident. Testimony from a therapist treating a victim or from medical experts with greater insight into how a victim’s injuries will affect their abilities moving forward can also assist in quantifying non-economic damages in a claim.
Get Compensation Following a Mercer County, NJ Motorcycle Accident
To get help with your case from motorcycle accident lawyer Jerry Friedman, call 1-800-529-4464 today.