One of the worst things that can happen to us is suffering a personal injury because of another person’s negligence. When someone causes you damages in Elizabeth that you did not plan on, our lawyers can help you get compensation in a lawsuit.
There is no shortage of ways that people may get injured in Elizabeth. Many victims need to file claims for injuries they sustained in a car accident, while others are injured while out walking. Regardless of your accident, our team has the experience to assess your damages and develop legal strategies suited to your case. With our help, you will have an accurate estimate of your economic and non-economic losses, including your medical expenses and pain and suffering. Our lawyers can also hold an insurance company responsible if it fails to pay the compensation you are owed by filing a lawsuit against it for bad faith.
Call Agrapidis & Maroules, P.C., today at (201) 777-1111 for a free case review with our personal injury attorneys.
Examples of Typical Personal Injury Claims We Have Handled in Elizabeth, NJ
Individuals in Elizabeth can suffer personal injuries in countless ways. While many injury victims know they are entitled to compensation, they often need help getting everything they deserve. That is where our personal injury attorneys can step in and protect your interests. Regardless of your injuries, working with our firm, which has over 100 years of legal experience among our attorneys and legal staff, is the best way to maximize what you get in your claim. The following are some of the cases we routinely handle in Elizabeth:
Vehicle Accident Claims
Vehicle accident claims are among the most common cases, as Elizabeth accesses Staten Island and borders the Newark Liberty International Airport. While crashes are typical, recovering compensation is rarely straightforward. Many vehicle accident victims believe they can file a lawsuit right away. Unfortunately, New Jersey’s no-fault insurance rules can limit not only a victim’s right to sue but also what damages they recover. When our team takes your case, we can determine if your insurance policy or the seriousness of your injuries allows you to overcome these hurdles and file a lawsuit under N.J.S.A. § 39:6A-8.
We can also have broad experience with more complex vehicle accident claims and can help with claims involving commercial trucks and Uber or Lyft drivers. In these cases, our team can explore various insurance options that might be offered and which defendants we can file your claim against.
Pedestrian Accident Claims
Pedestrians injured in car accidents can also use their or a household member’s car insurance to cover their injuries if they carry it. If so, we must determine the limits on your right to file a lawsuit and how to bypass them. However, you can file a lawsuit immediately if you do not have car insurance.
Insurance Bad Faith Claims
Our lawyers can also help you hold an insurance company accountable if they are acting in bad faith. Perhaps they denied your claim without explanation or are ignoring your messages. Other times, insurance companies knowingly offer settlement amounts lower than the damages you have confirmed. When an insurance company acts in bad faith, you can recover your original damages and damages intended to punish the company.
Types of Compensation You Can Pursue for Personal Injuries Sustained in Elizabeth, NJ
Besides treating their injuries during litigation, victims are mostly concerned with the damages they legally suffered and are entitled to recover in their lawsuit. Most know they should be compensated for their out-of-pocket financial losses, like lost income and medical expenses. Many also know they should receive some payment for their “pain and suffering,” which are non-economic losses. Together, these damages are known as “compensatory” damages. Further, some injury victims are entitled to “exemplary” damages because the defendant’s conduct was worse than your average negligence.
Compensatory Damages
Compensatory damages are the most commonly recovered in a personal injury lawsuit. Under § 2A:15-5.10, compensatory damages include your “special” and “general” damages, the names given in NJ for your economic and non-economic losses, respectively. They are intended to make good the losses an injured party suffered, but no more.
Special damages include all the economic losses you have sustained. The bulk of these damages will typically be in the form of medical bills. Lost income will also make up a significant portion of your special damages if you cannot work after the accident. You will also be able to include future damages your injuries are projected to cause, such as further medical treatment and a loss in your ability to earn the same amount of income. Costs for property damage and out-of-pocket expenses will also fall under special damages.
General damages, known more commonly as pain and suffering, cannot be calculated from bills and invoices. Instead, they are intended to compensate you for the subjective experiences of your accident and injuries. Compensation for living with physical pain and emotional anguish are common types of general damages. However, pain and suffering can manifest in many other ways. You can claim damages for feelings of humiliation, depression, and your overall loss of life’s pleasures.
Exemplary Damages
Exemplary damages and punitive damages are synonymous in NJ law. These damages are rarely granted because they are only intended for use in a civil action to punish a defendant and deter similar future acts by other defendants.
To recover punitive damages, clear and convincing evidence must show that the harm suffered was caused by actual malice or by willful and wanton disregard for those who their acts would harm, as per § 2A:15-5.12(a). “Willful and wanton disregard” includes knowing that the act would most likely harm someone else and reckless indifference to the consequences of the act. DUI is commonly an act deserving of punitive damages in a personal injury claim.
To Get Help with Your Claim, Call Our Personal Injury Lawyers in Elizabeth, NJ Today
Contact Agrapidis & Maroules, P.C. at (201) 777-1111 to get a free case evaluation with our personal injury lawyers.