If you have been injured in an accident, you may feel like you are drowning in a sea of medical bills with insurance companies circling you like sharks. You need someone to throw you a lifesaver. An experienced, dedicated personal injury attorney can be that lifeline that helps you survive these incredibly trying times.
If you have been injured, look no further than the Hightstown Personal Injury Lawyers at the Law Offices of Greg Prosmushkin, P.C. Our experienced, talented attorneys will use their comprehensive knowledge of the New Jersey legal landscape to get you the compensation you deserve.
How Can A Hightstown Personal Injury Attorney Help You?
Lawyers have to go through three years of law school to learn how to navigate the legal system. So, it is understandable that a layperson may be overwhelmed by it. An attorney will guide you through the legal system and make the process as smooth as possible for you.
Examining Your Case: During your first meeting, an attorney will go over the facts surrounding your case. The lawyer will then present you with all the legal avenues to pursue compensation.
Gathering Evidence: If A Hightstown Personal Injury Attorney determines that you have a solid case, they will collect your medical bills, witness statements, and any other evidence to build the most comprehensive case possible.
Talking with Insurance Companies: An insurance company has one goal: to pay you as little money as possible. These companies can be bullies and try to force you into an unfair settlement. Our attorneys have a wealth of experience dealing with these companies and will use this knowledge to get you the compensation you deserve.
Filing a Lawsuit: If an insurance company refuses to agree to a reasonable settlement, our attorneys have no issue filing a lawsuit on your behalf. We will advocate for you in court and fight for you to receive the compensation you are owed.
Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle in Hightstown
Personal injury cases encompass a wide range of situations. The Hightstown Injury Lawyers at the Law Offices of Greg Prosmushkin, P.C. handle a wide variety of personal injury cases, including:
- Car Accidents: A car accident is a common type of personal injury case. These accidents can result in physical injuries and massive bills for victims. A victim may be able to recover damages from the negligent party.
- Pedestrian Accidents: Pedestrians are at a high risk of serious injury or death when involved in a crash. Unlike drivers, pedestrians have no protection when faced with a motor vehicle, and injuries can range from cuts to traumatic brain injuries and internal bleeding. After such an accident, pedestrians can receive compensation for their injuries from the negligent driver.
- Slip and Fall Accidents: These accidents can happen anywhere. Many times, a victim’s injuries are due to the property owner’s negligence. If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident, you may have a claim against the landowner.
- Taxi/Uber/Lyft Accidents: It is not uncommon for traffic accidents to involve taxi cabs or ridesharing vehicles. Passengers who are injured in these crashes have claims against whoever is at fault for the accident.
- Truck Accidents: Accidents involving large semi-trucks can often cause serious injuries due to the size and weight of these vehicles. If a truck driver is negligent, they can be held liable for any injuries resulting from the crash.
- Motorcycle Accidents: Like pedestrians, motorcyclists have much less protection than motor vehicle drivers. These accidents frequently result in severe injuries or fatalities. Motorcyclists can recover from a negligent driver if they prove that the driver caused their damages.
Determining Legal Liability in Hightstown Personal Injury Cases
The liability for personal injury cases is based on the concept of negligence. Negligence occurs when a party fails to act as a reasonably prudent person would. To prove negligence, you must establish the following legal element:
- Duty of Care: A duty of care is someone’s legal responsibility in a specific situation. For example, drivers have a duty to obey traffic laws, including the speed limit.
- Breach of Duty: When someone fails to uphold their duty and falls short of the expected standard of care, they have breached it. For example, if you prove that a driver is speeding, it will show that they did not obey traffic laws and breached their duty.
- Causation: A victim must show that the party’s breach directly caused the accident and their injuries. In a car accident scenario, a victim needs to prove that the accident would not have occurred if the at-fault driver did not break a traffic law.
- Damages: For someone to prove a negligence claim, the person must show that they suffered damages as a result of the incident. This damage can be proven with medical records, police reports, or bills.
How Much Is a Hightstown Personal Injury Case Worth?
The value of your personal injury case depends on the circumstances surrounding your case. Key factors that affect the value of a personal injury claim include your medical costs, lost income, and long-term care needs. A personal injury lawyer can significantly impact the settlement amount by building a strong case and effectively arguing on your behalf.
Damages Available for Personal Injury Claims in Hightstown
As mentioned above, one of the elements of negligence is damages. There are two types of damages in personal injury cases: compensatory and punitive.
- Compensatory Damages: The goal of these damages is to put the injured party in the same position they would have been if the accident had never happened. Compensatory damages are divided into two subsets: economic and non-economic.
- Economic Damages: Any monetary damages are classified as economic damages. These include any direct expenses to the victim as a result of the incident, and they are easy to calculate. Some examples of economic damages include medical bills, property damage, and lost wages.
- Non-Economic Damages: Indirect, intangible, non-financial costs are classified as non-economic damages. These damages include compensation for pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and loss of enjoyment of life.
- Punitive Damages: Courts rarely award punitive damages as they aim to punish the negligent party. The party’s conduct must be bordering on criminal and show a disregard for the effect of their actions on others.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Hightstown Personal Injury Lawyer?
After an injury, you are probably dealing with a mountain of bills. Understandably, you do not want to pile on an attorney’s fees.
The lawyers at the Law Offices of Greg Prosmushkin, P.C. work on a contingency fee basis. This means you do not need to worry about any up-front deposit or fee until your case ends. Further, you only pay the attorney if you win a monetary judgment in court. If you win a judgment, you will owe the attorney a pre-agreed percentage of the award, but if you do not receive any monetary compensation, you do not owe the attorney anything.
Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Claims in Hightstown
A statute of limitations is a law that restricts the time you have to file a lawsuit; every state has these laws. In New Jersey, you generally have two years from the date of your injury to file your lawsuit. This deadline is extremely important as if you miss it, you can be barred from obtaining any recovery, no matter how serious your injuries are.
There are some exceptions to the statute of limitations. For example, if an injured party is a minor at the time of the accident, the two years does not begin until the injured party turns 18. Additionally, if the injured party is deemed mentally unfit at the time of the injury, the statute of limitations will not toll until the victim regains their capacity.
Contact Hightstown Injury Lawyer Today!
When you are dealing with an injury from an accident, the last thing you need is to deal with unhelpful insurance companies. Leave the legal matters to us, the legal professionals at the Law Offices of Greg Prosmushkin, P.C., and you should only worry about healing. We will use our vast knowledge of the law for your benefit and fight for you. Contact us at (215)799-9990 for your FREE consultation TODAY!