New Jersey Auto Accident Damages Attorney
Damages in New Jersey Car Accidents
Auto accidents cause damage or complete destruction to vehicles. Collisions are the obvious outcome of accidents, but not the most serious. Cars are replaceable, and insurance often covers the damage. However, victims routinely have to deal with the financial and emotional fallout of a collision for months, years or, in some cases, the rest of their lives. Attorneys who have experience with auto accident cases are aware of this, and they can fight for victims to help them recover all eligible damages. Contact the NJ car crash attorneys at Lependorf & Silverstein, P.C. if you are considering pursuing an auto accident claim.
Courts may award one or more types of New Jersey automobile damages depending on the nature of the accident and its effect on the victim. The main types of damages awarded in NJ car accident lawsuits are the following:
- Property damage
Even minor collisions will usually cause damage to one or both vehicles. When awarded this type of damage, the claimant receives compensation for repairs or the cost associated with replacing the vehicle if destroyed. - Medical expenses
A court may decide to reimburse victims to cover the cost of hospital stays, medications, surgeries, physical therapy, etc., required after an automobile accident. - Lost wages
If the victim had to take time away from work due to injuries sustained in an auto accident, a court may compensate him or her to cover lost income. - Future losses
After an auto accident, the victim may not be able to return to work for some time. Alternatively, he or she may need to go into a different line of work. A court will consider whether a victim is likely to suffer financial loss in the future because of an auto accident and compensate him or her accordingly. - Pain and suffering
With this type of damage, a court tries to compensate a victim for the physical and mental consequences of the crash, which could include embarrassment resulting from scarring and disfigurement, depression or chronic pain. Arriving at the amount of this award is a subjective process. - Punitive damages
Awarding this type of damage typically punishes the other party if their actions were exceptionally irresponsible or careless. A court may award punitive damages, for instance, if a driver caused an accident while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or if a truck driver was in a collision while driving a commercial vehicle he knew was in need of repairs and unsafe to operate.
Consulting a Car Accident Damages Lawyer in NJ
If you've been injured in a NJ car accident because of another driver's negligence or a manufacturer's mistake, an experienced NJ attorney may be able to help you recover one or all of the types of damages described above. In this way, you will be better able to deal with the immediate and long-term costs associated with a serious auto accident. Call the experienced attorneys at Lependorf & Silverstein to find out how they can help you.
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