Auto Accident Attorneys in Metuchen, NJ, Working Towards Favorable Outcomes in Middlesex County and Throughout New Jersey
You might have only looked away for a split second, and now you're dealing with injuries, medical bills, and insurance companies. Accidents happen in moments and can impact your life for months or years. Our Metuchen car accident lawyers understand how quickly life can change after a crash.
We’ve helped countless Metuchen residents recover the compensation they deserve.
Don't navigate this difficult time alone. Contact us today for a free consultation and learn how we can help you move forward.
Types of Damages You Can Recover for Your Car Accident in Metuchen
New Jersey law allows you to recover two main types of damages:
- Economic damages
- Non-economic damages
Economic damages cover your actual money losses:
- Current and future medical bills
- Lost wages and income
- Property damage to your vehicle
- Transportation to medical appointments
Non-economic damages compensate for things you can't put a price tag on:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
The Process to Recover Compensation for Damages
Navigating the claims process can feel like driving through a maze without a map. Here's your roadmap:
File a Claim With Your Insurer Under PIP (Personal Injury Protection)
Your own insurance (PIP) kicks in first in New Jersey, regardless of who caused the crash. PIP covers
- Medical expenses
- A portion of lost wages
- Essential services like housekeeping if you can't perform them
File a claim with the at-fault party's insurance
Since PIP has limits (typically $15,000-$250,000 depending on your policy), you'll need to go after the other driver's insurance for full compensation, especially for pain and suffering.
Use your uninsured motorist coverage
If the at-fault driver has no insurance, your own uninsured motorist coverage becomes your safety net.
Tap into underinsured motorist coverage
When the other driver's insurance isn't enough to cover your damages, your underinsured motorist policy can make up the difference.
File a lawsuit against the at-fault party
If insurance companies deny your claim or offer pennies on the dollar, you can take them to court.
But in New Jersey, your ability to sue depends on whether you chose the "Limited Right to Sue" or "Unlimited Right to Sue" option in your insurance policy:
- With limited right to sue, you can only file a lawsuit if you've suffered permanent injuries, significant disfigurement, significant scarring, displaced fractures, loss of a fetus, or death.
- With unlimited right to sue, you can pursue compensation for pain and suffering regardless of injury severity.
Don't worry if you're unsure which option you selected. We can review your policy and identify the best path forward based on your specific situation and injuries.
Our Metuchen car accident lawyers have recovered over $1.5 million for crash victims just like you. We won't let insurance companies shortchange your future. Discuss your case with us today.
Laws That Come Into Play in Car Accidents in Metuchen
Modified Comparative Negligence
New Jersey follows a modified comparative negligence rule to determine whether you’re eligible for compensation.
This means if you were partly at fault, your compensation gets reduced by your percentage of blame. But if you're more than 50% responsible, you can't recover anything.
For example, consider John was driving slightly over the speed limit when Maria ran a stop sign and hit him. The court finds Maria 80% at fault and John 20% at fault. If John's damages total $100,000, he'll receive $80,000.
Statute of Limitations
In Metuchen, you have just two years from the date of your car accident to file a lawsuit. Miss this two-year deadline, and you likely lose your right to recover compensation.
How Our Metuchen Car Accident Lawyers Assists Accident Victims in Recovering Compensation
The days after your crash shouldn't be spent fighting with insurance adjusters. That's our job. Here's how we stand up for you:
Our Metuchen car accident lawyers handle the entire legal process:
- Investigate your accident thoroughly
- Gather critical evidence before it disappears
- Track down and interview witnesses
- Obtain police reports and medical records
We take on insurance companies:
- Block their tactics to reduce your payout
- Handle all communications so you don't say something they'll use against you
- Calculate the true value of your claim, including future costs
- Negotiate aggressively for full compensation
Prove the Other Driver's Negligence
Proving the other driver’s negligence is one of the complex tasks in the entire process. The law requires you to:
- Establish the other driver had a duty to drive safely: Every driver in Metuchen has a legal responsibility to follow traffic laws and operate their vehicle with reasonable care.
We demonstrate this fundamental duty that all motorists must uphold when sharing the road.
- Show how they breached that duty: We collect evidence that reveals exactly how the other driver failed in their responsibility. This might include running a red light, texting while driving, exceeding speed limits, failing to yield right-of-way, or driving under the influence.
- Connect their actions directly to your injuries: We establish a clear cause-and-effect relationship between the driver's negligence and your specific injuries.
For example, we might show how their sudden lane change caused the neck injury, using medical records to strengthen this connection.
- Document the full extent of your damages: We go beyond current medical bills to calculate all impacts of the accident. This includes future medical needs, ongoing therapy costs, lost earning capacity, and the physical and emotional toll on your daily life.
We use medical expert testimony and detailed documentation to show the true scope of what you've lost and deserve to recover.
Don't battle the system alone. Discuss your situation with our auto accident attorneys in Metuchen, NJ, today.
Why The Law Offices of Harold J. Gerr Could Be Your Trusted Advocate After Car Accidents in Metuchen
After a car crash in Metuchen, you need a lawyer who cares about you and knows this town well. We promise to fight hard to help you get back on your feet during this tough time.
Personal Attention That Makes a Difference
As your lawyers, we:
- Listen to your story and how the crash has changed your daily life
- Treat you like a real person with real needs
- Keep you updated so you always know what's happening with your case
Experience You Can Trust
For over 40 years, we've helped crash victims in Middlesex County. We know the tricks insurance companies use and how to beat them. We work with great doctors in our area who can help you heal. We've helped hundreds of people like you get the compensation they need after a crash.
Deep Metuchen Knowledge That Matters
We've worked in Metuchen for many years and know its traffic trouble spots well—like the busy train station area and the tricky crossings on Route 27. We know the local rules that affect your case, which judges handle these cases, and how to present your story in our courts. When insurance companies try to pay you less, our knowledge gives you an edge.
Recognition That Matters
Our work has earned respect:
- Named to The National Trial Lawyer: Top 100
- Member of the American Association for Justice
- Active in the Brain Injury Association to better help clients with serious injuries
Other Benefits
Our firm gives you benefits others can't:
- The caring touch of a small firm where we understand your needs
- The strength of a big firm to fight for you
- A team focused on getting you every dollar you deserve
Discuss your case with our auto accident attorneys in Metuchen, NJ. The sooner we start, the better—traffic videos and witness stories need to be gathered quickly in Metuchen.
Contact Our Metuchen Car Accident Lawyers at The Law Offices of Harold J. Gerr Today for a Free Case Evaluation
We've sat across from hundreds of Metuchen residents just like you, people whose lives were upended by someone else's careless driving. We've heard the frustration in their voices after being lowballed by insurance companies.
And we've helped them turn the page to a new chapter.
For help from car accident lawyers in Metuchen, contact The Law Offices of Harold J. Gerr online or call today.
