South Jersey Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Request a Free ConsultationThere’s nothing like the thrill of a motorcycle ride along the Jersey shore or enjoying the gas-friendly convenience of using a motorcycle for transportation within South Jersey communities. Sadly, the very same open, unencumbered format that makes motorcycle rides so exhilarating also places riders at great risk during an accident. When a much heavier car or truck collides with a motorcycle, the results can be grave for the rider, often with catastrophic injuries and life-altering repercussions.
When you or a loved one are still reeling from a motorcycle accident, you need to focus on making the best possible recovery. A South Jersey motorcycle accident attorney at Grungo Law can help you recover the financial damages associated with your motorcycle accident while you work on healing from your injuries.
Why Choose a South Jersey Motorcycle Accident Lawyer From Us?
Choosing an attorney to represent your interests against powerful insurance companies is an important decision. The motorcycle accident lawyers at Grungo Law have deep compassion for those injured in the devastating crashes that occur when a driver doesn’t take reasonable measures to prevent harm. At Grungo Law:
- We believe in open, honest communication with our injured clients throughout the claim process so you’re never left wondering about the progress of your case
- Our skilled South Jersey car accident attorneys and diligent staff work together toward the best possible outcome for each client, so we’ll make your injury case our own
- We use the latest in cutting-edge technology to investigate your case and prove damages, while also relying on time-honored client advocacy methods
- We have a track record of success in representing our injured clients
- We have powerful local resources in South Jersey
- We’ll provide the skilled guidance you need throughout the process and represent your rights and best interests during negotiations with the insurance company and in court if required
You deserve the time you need to focus on your injuries while we focus on the compensation you’re owed for your damages.
Causes of Motorcycle Accidents In South Jersey
Motorcyclists can wear their helmets and practice safe and defensive riding, but it isn’t always enough to prevent injuries. Motorcycles have a slim design that makes it more difficult for motorists to see and correctly judge speeds and distances compared to four-wheeled vehicles. For this reason, car and truck drivers must take reasonable measures to prevent accidents when they share the road with motorcycles. Sadly, driver error remains the main cause of motorcycle accidents in New Jersey and elsewhere. Common causes of motorcycle accidents include:
- Motorists exceeding the speed limit
- Distracted driving
- Intoxicated driving
- Driver left-turn accidents
- Tailgating
- Improper passing
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Drivers making unsafe lane changes
- Drivers opening car doors in a motorcycle’s pathway
In some cases, other entities may be found at fault in a New Jersey motorcycle accident, such as the manufacturer of a defective motorcycle part or a negligent road maintenance agency that failed to address a significant hazard like a pothole or uneven road surface.
It takes an experienced attorney to investigate the cause of a motorcycle accident, identify the at-fault party, and prove liability for damages.
Liability in Motorcycle Accidents In South Jersey
While no motorcycle rider is perfect, oftentimes it’s the negligence of drivers that causes the worst motorcycle accidents. Drivers do not always afford motorcycles the space and courtesy that they’d give to other full-sized vehicles, often with disastrous results, just ask our brain injury lawyers in South Jersey. At Grungo Law, we understand the appeal of the open road and the danger associated with inattentive drivers who share the roadways with bikers.
An experienced personal injury lawyer in South Jersey understands how to successfully navigate the state’s no-fault legal system with insurance policies that sometimes allow for claims against the insurance policy of a liable driver. Proving liability in a motorcycle accident requires addressing the following legal points:
- That the at-fault driver owed a duty of care to keep others on the road safe, including motorcyclists by taking reasonable precautions and adhering to traffic laws
- That the driver breached their duty by acting negligently or recklessly
- That the breach of duty directly caused your injury
- That you suffered real economic and non-economic damages from the injury
Once the legal criteria for liability have been provably met, your chances of recovering damages from the part at fault greatly increase. The South Jersey motorcycle accident attorneys at Grungo Law understand how to investigate the circumstances of an accident to prove liability and craft a compelling case for your compensation.
If there was a death involved in your motorcycle accident, please reach out to our wrongful death lawyers in South Jersey about the next steps.
How To Prove Liability In A South Jersey Motorcycle Accident
Your attorney from Grungo Law in South Jersey will thoroughly investigate your motorcycle accident to determine how the accident occurred so they can identify the liable party and document evidence of their negligence or recklessness. This requires the following investigative methods:
- Examining the police report
- Viewing any available photo and video evidence from nearby surveillance cameras, dash cams, or traffic cameras
- Interviewing eyewitnesses or examining their testimony
- Consulting with accident reconstruction experts
Having a skilled investigator in your corner during a motorcycle accident claim can greatly increase your chances of recovering compensation. Once your attorney documents a preponderance of evidence to prove liability, they can carefully calculate your damages to maximize your compensation.
Common Injuries in Motorcycle Accidents
Because motorcycle riders and their passengers are not belted or enclosed, motorcycle injuries tend to be severe or even grave, with life-altering consequences. While helmets protect riders from some types of head injuries, the jarring force of a motorcycle accident can cause the brain to bump against the inside of the skull. Riders often wear tough, protective clothing to protect against contact with the road surface, but this isn’t always effective in a serious accident. Common injuries in motorcycle accident claims include the following:
- Brain injuries
- Fractures of the limbs, hips, ribs, or pelvis
- Spinal cord injuries
- Back and neck injuries
- Knee injuries
- “Road rash” abrasions
- Internal injuries
- Burns (spilled gas tanks are not uncommon in motorcycle accidents)
- Soft tissue damage such as sprains, torn ACLs, and torn ligaments
- Bruises, cuts, and abrasions
Motorcycle injuries are painful and traumatic. They also require expensive medical treatment. Some result in life-altering injuries, disability, disfigurement, or death. A wrongful death claim can help family members of deceased motorcycle accident victims to recover damages for their loss.
What Damages Can I Recover after a Motorcycle Accident in South Jersey?
The grave injuries associated with motorcycle accidents can cause medical expenses to quickly escalate at the same time you are probably unable to work at all, or at least at your former capacity. A successful motorcycle accident claim can help you recover damages including the following:
- Medical expenses for injury treatments
- Future medical expenses if you need further procedures or treatment
- Lowered earning capacity if your accident left you temporarily or permanently disabled
- Pain and suffering and other non-economic losses
Non-economic losses like pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and PTSD are quite common after a motorcycle accident. Some New Jersey insurance policies allow for unlimited claims for these non-economic damages. speak to a South Jersey personal injury lawyer today to learn more.
How Much is My South Jersey Motorcycle Accident Claim Worth?
Motorcycle accidents cause far more than just property damage. While no two cases are alike, motorcycle injury claims are often for high amounts due to the serious nature of injuries. Your attorney will calculate your damages by adding up your medical bills, the amount of wages you’ve lost due to the injury, and other associated costs. Then they’ll use that amount to determine an appropriate amount of compensation for the pain and suffering you’ve experienced as a result of the injury and painful medical procedures. If the accident caused a disability, you may gain compensation for your loss of ability to earn wages at your previous capacity.
Depending on the economic and non-economic damages associated with motorcycle accident injuries, typical settlements and court awards for damages range from $10,000 to as much as $450,000.
Will I Have to Go to Court?
The majority of motorcycle accident claims are settled out of court through a skilled attorney’s negotiations with the insurance company of the party at fault. Only in cases of an insurance company’s failure to offer an adequate settlement amount or an outright denial of a valid claim does the case become a lawsuit for damages. If the insurance company uses bad-faith tactics to deny or undervalue your claim, you have the right to file a lawsuit as long as it’s filed within the state’s statute of limitations. If you must testify in court, your attorney from Grungo Law will be at your side throughout the process, protecting your rights and advocating aggressively for your best interests.
What is the Statute of Limitations for South Jersey Motorcycle Injury Cases?
New Jersey allows two years from the date of the accident in which to file a lawsuit for damages against the party at fault. This is typically enough time for your attorney to investigate the motorcycle accident, draft a strong demand letter, and negotiate with the insurance company before resorting to a lawsuit. While the two-year statute of limitations for motorcycle injury cases applies to most motorcycle accidents, some exceptions include:
- Injury victims under age 18 at the time of the accident have until two years after their 18th birthday to file a lawsuit
- If an accident victim discovers an injury later—such as a slowly developing head injury, or a nagging backache later diagnosed as fractured vertebrae—the two-year clock begins ticking on the date of discovery
If you have questions about how the New Jersey statute of limitations applies in your motorcycle accident case, your South Jersey motorcycle accident attorney can help.
Contact A Motorcycle Accident Attorney In South Jersey Today!
At Grungo Law, our South Jersey personal injury lawyers passionately believe in an accident victim’s right to recover their financial losses and non-economic losses from the party at fault in an accident, especially when the victim was a motorcycle rider and a driver’s negligence, reckless driving, or intoxication directly caused the crash. Contact our law office today for a free consultation on your case so we can begin a winning strategy to hold the party at fault responsible and secure full compensation for your losses. We don’t take a fee unless we first secure ample compensation for your damages.