Bringing a lawsuit against the person liable for your recent injuries can give you the compensation necessary to heal physically, financially, and emotionally from an accident.
If you file your case past the statute of limitations, it may be dismissed. Our lawyers can prevent this by confirming the deadline for your lawsuit based on the accrual date and any applicable tolling exceptions. We can then preserve evidence most at risk of being lost or destroyed, like photos from witnesses or videos from nearby security cameras. We will also spend the appropriate time calculating your deserved damages, which should include compensation for losses you have incurred to date and losses you anticipate incurring in the future.
For a free assessment of your case from Agrapidis & Maroules, P.C., contact our personal injury lawyers by calling (201) 777-1111.
Confirming the Statute of Limitations for Your Fair Lawn Personal Injury Case
The statute of limitations typically begins to accrue on the date of injury, barring some tolling exceptions, which our lawyers can explain if any apply to your case. Following the statute of limitations for your claim is crucial, as missing it would block you from getting any damages.
Most personal injury claims are bound by a two-year statute of limitations that begins to count down the date of the accident, according to N.J.S.A. § 2A:14-2(a). For example, if a negligent driver strikes you and you suffer serious injuries, you will have two years from that date to file your lawsuit. That said, if the driver fled the state in an attempt to evade liability, the statute of limitations may pause for that period, according to § 2A:14-22(a).
There are other exceptions to the typically two-year deadline and standard accrual date, such as if the victim was a minor when harmed by negligence. Under such circumstances, the clock would likely pause until the victim turns 18, giving them until age 20 to bring a lawsuit independently. The statute of limitations for medical malpractice claims involving minor victims may be more complicated, so consult with our personal injury lawyers before assuming your filing deadline.
Using the time before you file to its fullest is important to ensure you ultimately bring a strong compensation case. That is why, before filing, our lawyers will spend the appropriate time preserving evidence, collecting relevant documents and bills, interviewing eyewitnesses, and involving beneficial qualified experts. Then, after filing, we can be prepared for upcoming settlement negotiations and have a plan to counter initial offers from the defense.
Collecting Photo and Video Evidence for Your Fair Lawn Personal Injury Lawsuit
Photo and video evidence may come from several sources, and our lawyers can help track down and obtain any images that could benefit your claim.
After car accidents or other incidents, victims can and should take pictures of property damage, hazards, and their injuries. We can immediately review these photos alongside victims as we discuss a cause of action. If you called 911 for assistance, we can get photos taken by law enforcement. When interviewing eyewitnesses, our lawyers will also ask them if they took pictures or videos at the scene, potentially showing the incident or its aftermath from a different angle or perspective.
Security camera footage may be available in various personal injury claims, particularly slip and falls in commercial establishments with surveillance systems in place. Even after car accidents, nearby doorbell cameras might capture useful footage, so our lawyers will contact all possible owners to obtain video that might shed light on your recent accident and the defendant’s liability.
Damages to Calculate Before Filing Your Fair Lawn Personal Injury Case
While the immediate damages you incurred right after an accident might convince you to seek compensation, it is important to consider the damages you could continue suffering after your lawsuit ends when assessing settlement offers from a negligent party.
Current Damages
By the time we are ready to file your lawsuit in court, you may have already incurred substantial economic damages. Our goal will be to identify all compensable damages you have sustained to date and offer documentation of them when filing your case. For example, we will monitor all medical expenses, large or small. We will also calculate your lost wages if you have missed time from work because of your injuries, and physicians can confirm your physical limitations when testifying in court. We may also have mental health experts assess you so we can quantify your pain and suffering to date. We can handle itemizing and organizing your incurred damages, considering losses you might not have considered seeking recovery for, like transportation accommodation costs to get you to and from the hospital for treatment.
Future Damages
Personal injuries can have serious implications for victims’ futures. For example, suffering permanent spinal cord damage during a car crash might forever alter a victim’s earning capacity, leading to life-long lost wages. Significant burn injuries might persist even with reconstructive surgery and other treatments, causing victims years of emotional distress and mental anguish. Furthermore, displaced fractures, head injuries, back injuries, and others might require additional surgeries and treatments down the line. Even after a lawsuit ends, you might have to undergo more physical therapy or see specialists regularly to monitor your progress, meaning you could continue incurring medical damages and other expenses for months or years to come.
Supported by statements from the physicians who have treated you and your medical records, our lawyers can assert your need for future damages, whether during out-of-court settlement negotiations or a trial. Not estimating your future damages could leave you on the hook for additional expenses associated with your injuries, which we can help victims avoid in Fair Lawn.
Call Our Lawyers for Help with Your Personal Injury Case in Fair Lawn Today
Call Agrapidis & Maroules, P.C. at (201) 777-1111 to discuss your case for free with our personal injury lawyers.