A car accident, even when it’s seemingly minor, can be overwhelming. You may feel angry about the circumstances, or anxious about mounting medical bills and lost days at work. After a crash, it’s important that you obtain the services of a car accident lawyer who understands the nuances of the law and can protect your rights. John T. Bazzurro of Bazzurro Law is a Certified Civil Trial Attorney who understands exactly how the insurance companies operate after you’ve been in an accident. His reputation as a formidable negotiator and litigator helps our clients obtain the maximum amount of compensation they can in an auto accident lawsuit. If you’ve been injured in a car accident, the team at Bazzurro Law can protect you in and out of the courtroom.
If you have been involved in a car accident in the State of New Jersey, there are a number of statutes, rules and regulations that you should be aware of in order to protect your legal rights. Unfortunately, the automobile insurance companies are experts with respect to the numerous statutes, rules and regulations and will utilize them to their advantage. Therefore, if you have been involved in an automobile accident, you should immediately contact a car accident lawyer in order to determine all of your legal rights and to prevent the car insurance companies from taking advantage of you.
For instance, it is important for you to know and understand that New Jersey is a “no-fault” state. Basically, this means that your own automobile insurance company is obligated to provide you with medical insurance coverage for any and all injuries related to the car accident. This medical coverage is provided to you under your automobile insurance policy under the “personal injury protection” coverage section. Unfortunately, this also means that your automobile insurance company has the ability to “control” your medical treatment. The insurance company will do so through the use of the various rules and regulations and may attempt to prevent you from obtaining medical treatment that is necessary. When your insurance company refuses to pay you the compensation you need to get well, or offers a settlement that is far less than what you need and deserve, we can file an auto accident lawsuit on your behalf to fight for a better compensation package.
Additionally, it is also important for you to know that, unless you pay an increased premium on your automobile insurance policy, you may be barred or prohibited from suing the driver of the other car for personal injuries sustained in the accident. Under New Jersey law, unless you pay the increased premium, you will only be able to sue for money damages if you have sustained a permanent injury to a body part that will “not heal to function normally” even with additional medical treatment (N.J.S.A. 39:4-8.1).
Because of the potential legal pitfalls that relate to auto accident lawsuits, it is important to seek legal advice as early on after the accident as possible so that you may take steps to protect your legal rights. This is true whether or not you believe you have suffered an injury in the accident. People often do not realize that they have been injured until a few days after the accident and, by that time, they may have provided “damaging” statements to their insurance company or the other driver’s insurance company that will adversely affect their ability to obtain full and fair compensation in the future. By speaking with a motor vehicle accident attorney directly after your accident, you can be sure that you’re still eligible to collect the compensation you need to protect your future.
Being in an accident is hard; choosing the right motor vehicle accident attorney shouldn’t be. If you have been involved in a car accident and you would like to discuss these potential “pitfalls” whether or not you believe you have been injured, please feel free to contact Bazzurro Law at 732-410-5350 or fill out our form for a free consultation. Further, if you would like to discuss these issues and your policy of automobile insurance to insure that you have the appropriate coverage to fully protect you in the event of a future motor vehicle accident, we would be happy to meet with you at no charge.