Chatham Car Accident Lawyers
Award-Winning Personal Injury Firm Helps Car Accident Victims In Chatham And Across New Jersey
Fender benders on Main Street. Rear-end collisions on the Garden State Parkway. Side impact collisions due to texting while driving. One thing is for certain — there is no shortage of car accidents in New Jersey. In fact, more than 61,000 people were injured in car accidents in New Jersey in 2018.
When a car accident leaves you with injuries and other losses, you have the right to recover compensation from the person who caused your accident. And at Blume Forte Fried Zerres & Molinari, our award-winning personal injury team makes sure you get every penny of what you deserve. Our firm is recognized as one of New Jersey’s most successful personal injury law firms, and has recovered more verdicts and settlements over one million dollars than any other law firm in the state.
Negligence Must Be Demonstrated In All Chatham Car Accident Claims
Negligence is at the core of all personal injury claims and it must be proven. Some common examples of negligent behavior in car accidents include:
- Speeding
- Driving recklessly
- Weaving in and out of lanes
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI)
- Texting while driving
- Disregarding the safety of others
An experienced car accident attorney will evaluate your case to determine whether it meets the legal standard of negligence.
What Types of Compensatory Damages Can I Recover In A Chatham Car Accident?
When filing a personal injury claim for an accident that was caused by someone else’s negligence, the injured party may seek compensatory damages. Compensatory damages are designed to restore the injured person to the condition they were in before the accident; compensatory damages are not designed to punish the party that is responsible for the accident.
Injured victims may recover compensation for any of the following losses and more:
- Medical expenses
- Bills for hospital stays
- Bills for surgical procedures
- Future medical bills that are a consequence of the accident
- Bills for X-rays and other imaging tests
- Prescription drugs
- Rehabilitative treatment
- Loss of life enjoyment
- Loss of future earning capacity due to the injuries
- Emotional pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of quality of life
- Lost income due to time away from work
- Lost earned vacation time
- Loss of earned sick time
If I Am Partly At Fault For My Chatham Car Accident, Can I Still Recover Compensation?
When you share some of the responsibility for an accident, New Jersey’s “modified comparative fault rules” apply. Under these rules, the compensation you receive for your car accident injuries will be reduced by an amount that reflects your level of responsibility for the accident. For example, if it is determined that you share 30 percent of the responsibility for the car accident, then your compensation will be reduced by 30 percent. So a damage award of $40,000 will then be reduced by 30 percent to $28,000.
Skilled Chatham Car Accident Attorneys Are Available to Answer Your Questions and Evaluate Your Claim
At Blume Forte Fried Zerres & Molinari, our dedication to helping injured accident victims dates back to 1963. Our skilled, compassionate personal injury attorneys have in-depth knowledge of the accident claims process and a recognized track record of success in recovering the maximum compensation for our clients.
Our firm offers a free case evaluation and we are available to answer your questions and discuss your options for recovering compensation. To schedule a confidential consultation with an experienced Chatham car accident attorney at Blume Forte Fried Zerres & Molinari, contact our office. Blume Forte Fried Zerres & Molinari was founded in Newark in 1929, and now has offices in four convenient locations in the state: Chatham, Jersey City, North Bergen, and Sea Girt.
About Chatham, New Jersey
Chatham, New Jersey often refers to Chatham Borough and Chatham Township, two neighboring towns that share a rich history. Located 25 miles west of New York City, Chatham is a suburban community located in Morris County. Listed as one of the best places to live in the state, Chatham is a family-friendly community with a vibrant downtown, wildlife preserves, a top-rated public school system, and easy access to New York City.
The Borough of Chatham covers less than 2.5 miles and is pedestrian-friendly, with a central business district and train station. Chatham Township is more expansive, covering 9.4 miles and includes more open space. First settled by Europeans in 1710, the community was an important crossing for the Passaic River and was attractive for its location near a gap in the Watchung mountains.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chatham Car Accidents
The Chatham car accident lawyers at Blume Forte get paid a contingency fee. This fee is a percentage of whatever is recovered for the victim. This allows you to not have to worry about paying upfront costs. Our firm also offers free initial consultations where our lawyers can go over your case in detail.
When you have been struck by another vehicle, the last thing on your mind is probably whether you have a car accident claim. And that is understandable. First and foremost is making sure that everyone involved in the accident receives the medical attention they need, and that others are safe. That being said, there are a few important steps to take after a car accident that will help you in the long-term:
– Call 911 to report the accident. This will ensure that police and other emergency responders come to the scene of the accident, providing the necessary medical attention as well as documenting the accident and your injuries.
– Photograph the scene of the accident. This includes photographing the position of the vehicles, damage to the vehicles, traffic signs, roadway conditions, lighting conditions, weather conditions, and any physical injuries you sustained.
– Obtain contact information. Obtain the contact information — including insurance information — from the other drivers. Ask any witnesses to the accident or any passengers in the vehicle for their contact information as well.
– See your doctor. Unless you were hospitalized after the accident, make an appointment to see your doctor shortly after the accident occurred. This is very important. Visiting your doctor will document not only your physical injuries but your mental state of mind shortly after the accident. If you wait to see your physician, then questions may arise regarding whether your injuries were indeed a result of the car accident, and whether those injuries were serious if they did not warrant a visit to the doctor immediately.
The worth of your case will be dependent on the amount of compensation you can recover from your damages. There are many damages you may be dealing with but a few common ones are medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost income. An experienced car accident lawyer will be able to give you the best estimate of your case. Contact a Blume Forte personal injury lawyer to discuss the details of your case.
