Whether it happens while you’re waiting at a stoplight, slowing down because of traffic ahead of you, or while you’re going full speed on the highway, being rear-ended is always a jarring and potentially life-changing experience. Unfortunately, it can also be a much trickier type of accident to file a lawsuit over than you might expect, especially if this is your first time trying to pursue any kind of civil claim.
In a situation like this, you need help from an experienced car accident lawyer in order to get paid everything you deserve for the injuries and losses you’ve suffered. Our attorneys are well-known for winning cases like yours on behalf of people a lot like you, and we can work diligently to make sure your rear-end car accident in Mt Laurel has as minimal of an impact as possible on your future.
Holding Someone Else at Fault for Damages
It is easy to assume a driver who slams into the back of the car in front of them is the person at fault for that crash in legal terms. In practice, you still need to prove a specific reckless or careless act by someone else—for example, going over the speed limit or driving while distracted—was the main and direct cause of your wreck in order to make that other person pay for the losses you sustained.
A comprehensive lawsuit or settlement proposal over a rear-end car crash in Mt Laurel can include both objective economic losses and subjective non-economic losses like:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Medical bills
- Emotional anguish and trauma
- Lost work wages and working ability
- Loss of life’s pleasures
- Car repair or replacement costs, plus related expenses like rental car fees
The type of car insurance you have may affect whether you’re allowed to sue over a car crash in the first place, as a knowledgeable attorney can further explain.
What Is Comparative Fault and How Can It Affect a Claim?
Another legal obstacle our lawyers can help you understand and navigate around during your claim is comparative fault. New Jersey law allows civil courts—and insurance companies that know a court would back them up if needed—to assign a percentage of fault to injured people to account for the role they played in causing their injury through their own negligent behavior.
The court can reduce the total amount of money available to that injured person by that same percentage or even throw their claim out altogether if they hold more than 50% of the total fault for their accident. Even something as minor as a broken taillight can sometimes be seen as comparative fault for a Mt Laurel rear-end car accident. Getting help from skilled legal counsel with fighting back against accusations like this can be key to getting a good case result.
Contact a Mt Laurel Attorney for Help After a Rear-End Car Accident
Even if you’re able to walk away from it without any serious injuries, a rear-end car accident in Mt Laurel can still leave you with bills you didn’t expect to pay and a host of mental and personal losses that can be hard to recover from. If you end up getting severely hurt in a crash like this, someone else’s momentary lack of judgement may wind up having effects that last for the rest of your life.
In both scenarios, guidance from a respected Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident lawyer can be essential to getting yourself the compensation you need without piling too much additional stress on yourself or your loved ones along the way. Call today to learn more.
