Get Help With Your Motor Vehicle Accident
Whether you are on the New Jersey Turnpike or any of our state’s many other routes and side streets, you regularly see motorists acting recklessly. Speeders, tailgaters, drunk drivers and drivers on their cellphones – all of them put you at risk of getting into a serious car accident.
Maybe you have already been seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident. If another driver caused the crash, you are likely entitled to substantial financial compensation. The Law Office of Donald W. Bedell is here to help you assert your rights and get that compensation. We represent clients in Ocean and Monmouth counties and the Jersey Shore area.
A Personal Injury Lawyer Who Gets The Job Done
Contact us after any severe motor vehicle accident, including:
- Car crashes
- Commercial truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian and bicycle accidents
- Distracted driving accidents
- Hit-and-run accidents
- Highway accidents
If you have been injured in an accident caused by negligence, we will work with you to get maximum financial compensation for your losses, such as your hospital bills, pain and suffering, and lost wages.
Since 1992, our attorney, Donald Bedell, has aggressively pursued financial compensation for victims of auto collisions. He will take your case to trial if the defense does not agree to a fair settlement. Some of his car accident cases have resulted in million-dollar settlements and verdicts.
What Is The Statute Of Limitations For Auto Accident Claims In New Jersey?
Every type of personal injury claim, including car accidents, is time-limited. Once the statute of limitations passes, victims forfeit the right to file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver and their insurance company.
Under New Jersey law, a car crash must file a claim within two years of the date the accident occurred. For most people, this provides adequate time in which to take legal action if they are suffering from the long-term effects of the accident, but it isn’t adequate for everyone. Thankfully, there are exceptions to this rule.
In certain cases, the statute of limitations can be “tolled,” or paused. These scenarios include:
Being underage: If the injured individual is underage, the statute of limitations does not begin until they reach adulthood. The plaintiff then has two years after their 18th birthday to file a claim.
Delays in knowledge: If a person becomes aware of their injuries after the date of the accident, the countdown begins after the day the injury is discovered of the injury.
Lack of mental capacity: The statute of limitations does not apply to those who are not mentally competent enough to understand their rights until they become able to do so.
Unreachable defendant: If the at-fault party is in a location where he or she is unreachable, then the plaintiff may file an affidavit to that effect, and have the statute tolled.
New Jersey Is A No-Fault State For Auto Accidents
New Jersey is a no-fault state when it comes to auto insurance. Put simply, this means that if you’re in an accident, you will first look to your own insurance to cover your medical bills, regardless of who was at fault.
No-fault insurance is intended to provide each driver and passenger with a safety net of coverage in the event of an accident. This aspect of your coverage – called personal injury protection (PIP) – is the first source of compensation after an accident.
But what if your expenses extend beyond your PIP coverage limits? This is a common problem after serious accidents, resulting in catastrophic injuries and wrongful deaths. Thankfully, depending on the circumstances, you may retain the right to sue the at-fault driver or other parties. If someone else’s negligence caused or contributed to the accident, you may have the right to sue them for damages that exceed your PIP coverage.
Free Consultation With Our Attorney
To learn more about your legal options, please call 732-348-3439 to schedule a free legal consultation at our Brick and Toms River offices. You can also send us a message using our online intake form.