Jackson Car Accident Lawyers

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a car accident occurs every minute in the United States, largely due to human error. The daily commute or weekend drive can come to an abrupt and devastating end in an instant, resulting in serious or fatal injuries.

Suffering injuries in a car accident can be traumatic, especially if you are injured due to someone else’s recklessness. Often, injuries from car accidents require lengthy recovery periods, prohibit you from working, and cause financial hardship. If you have been injured in an accident caused by another driver’s negligence, our Jackson car accident lawyers at Kitrick, McWeeney & Wells, LLC can help you seek compensation for your injuries and losses.

What Types of Car Accident Cases Does Kitrick, McWeeney & Wells, LLC Handle?

In New Jersey’s highly populated cities, traffic congestion is daily, resulting in hundreds of thousands of accidents yearly. Our experienced legal team handles numerous types of car accidents, such as:

• Head-on collisions
• Rear-end collisions
• Multi-vehicle accidents
• T-bone or side-impact collisions
• Rideshare accidents

What Are Common Causes of Car Accidents in Jackson?

Nearly all car accidents are caused by human error. Despite being responsible, accidents continue to happen when other drivers operate recklessly. Some of the most common causes of car accidents include:

• Distracted driving: Driving while engaging in other activities is considered distracted driving, which has become one of the top causes of accidents nationally and the top cause in many states. Texting, talking on the phone, fiddling with onboard technology, eating, arguing, and other interactions with passengers interferes with the ability to focus, leading to serious accidents.
• Drowsy driving: Many studies have shown that sleep deprivation causes the same neurological impairments as drunk driving, and driving while sleep-deprived is just as dangerous.
• Drunk driving: Alcohol reduces brain function and reaction times, inhibits the ability to process information, blurs vision, interrupts focus, and causes sleep, which puts everyone at risk if driving while intoxicated.
• Reckless or aggressive driving: Swerving in and out of traffic, cutting other drivers off, tailgating, and ignoring posted signs and traffic warnings is considered aggressive driving and increases the risk of accidents.
• Speeding: Driving faster than the posted speed limit reduces the available stopping distance, so sudden changes in traffic or emergency stops pose serious accident risks.
• Tailgating: Tailgating is dangerous and illegal, frequently leading to rear-end accidents.
• Weather: Rain, snow, and ice create slippery roads that decrease the tires’ ability to maintain traction. Speeding, making sudden lane changes, and traveling too close to another car in bad weather increase the risk of accidents.

What Are Common Types of Car Accident Injuries?

Even minor accidents can result in injuries that range in severity. Some of the most common injuries include:

• Broken bones: The force of impact causes tremendous strain on bones, leading to fractures and often multiple breaks.
• Bruising: Even minor accidents cause bruising, including from seat belt restraints tightening or deploying airbags.
• Concussions: Concussions occur when the head strikes against something hard, such as the steering wheel, windows, or the backs of car seats for rear-riding passengers. Concussions range in severity and can result in headaches, blurred vision, and speech and memory problems, usually only temporarily.
• Neck and back injuries: The sheer force of a car accident can result in neck and back injuries, leading to nerve damage along the spine that interrupts the body’s signals to the brain and mobility problems, including partial and complete paralysis.
• Organ damage: The force of impact causes internal organs to move violently, causing bruising, lacerations, or crushing to the organs’ soft tissue, leading to severe and life-threatening injuries. Trauma to the organs can also result in dangerous internal bleeding, requiring immediate medical intervention.
• PTSD: Car accidents are traumatic, and long after the body heals, the mind may continue to re-experience the trauma. It can be triggered when a victim needs to enter a car or passes by the accident scene. PTSD can be managed through therapeutic treatment.
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs): TBIs are serious injuries that often alter brain function and alter speech, cognitive ability, and personality changes in severe cases, often permanently.
• Whiplash: One of the most common car accident injuries, whiplash occurs when the head is forced backward and suddenly forward, causing the brain to strike the skull and bruise and neck strains.

What Should I Do After a Car Accident in Jackson?

The actions you take following an accident can significantly benefit your claim later. If you are unhurt and physically able, you should do the following:

• Call the police and report the accident and any injuries.
• Exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver.
• Minimize conversation and do not argue or apologize. What you say can be used against you later.
• Photograph the scene, including the damage to both cars, injuries, road conditions, signage, lighting, and anything else that may have contributed to the accident.
• Ask witnesses for their contact information and a statement.
• Seek medical attention, even if you think you are uninjured. Some internal injuries have delayed symptoms but can be life-threatening if left untreated. The doctor’s report is also crucial for your insurance claim. Without one, your claim can be denied.
• Maintain all records and correspondence you receive related to your claim.
• Report the accident to your insurance company.
• Hire an experienced car accident lawyer with experience negotiating with insurance companies and recovering maximum compensation for their clients.

What Compensation Can I Seek for My Injuries?

In New Jersey, each driver is required first to use their insurance to pay for medical bills and damages, regardless of who is at fault for the accident. If the other driver is responsible for the accident and your insurance coverage is not sufficient to cover all expenses, you may be able to seek compensation, including but not limited to:

• Current and future medical expenses
• Lost current and future wages
• Pain and suffering
• Disability or disfigurement
• Emotional distress
• Wrongful death

Under New Jersey’s comparative negligence rule, each driver is assigned a percentage of fault in the accident. If you have less than 50 percent responsibility, you can seek compensation from the other driver, though your percentage of fault will be deducted from the total award.

How Long Do I Have to File a Claim for My Car Accident Injuries?

In New Jersey, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim is two years from the date of the accident or death.

Our Jackson Car Accident Lawyers at Kitrick, McWeeney & Wells, LLC Help Injured Clients Recover Compensation

If you have been injured in a car accident, our experienced Jackson car accident lawyers at Kitrick, McWeeney & Wells, LLC can help you seek compensation for your injuries and losses. Call today at 732-920-8383 or visit us online to schedule a free consultation. We have offices in Manasquan and Brick, New Jersey, and we serve clients in Middlesex County, Atlantic County, Mercer County, Monmouth County, and Ocean County.