Key Components and Process of a Personal Injury Lawsuit in NJ

A personal injury lawsuit can cover anything from a medical malpractice case due to a product or procedure that causes harm

Accidents happen. It is a part of life and a part of being human. However, not all accidents have to happen. Because it is our responsibility as citizens of New Jersey to be mindful and careful of our actions, there are laws established to protect those who are injured as the result of someone else’s negligence. When someone is injured in such an accident, it is their right to be able to focus on their healing, resting assured that the finances related to the accident or time lost from work will be covered. A personal injury lawsuit helps the victim of an accident do just this, and the expert guidance of a skilled personal injury attorney can support that process to include finances necessary to ensure a full recovery, even if therapies must continue into the future.

Personal Injury Lawsuits

A personal injury lawsuit can cover anything from a medical malpractice case due to a product or procedure that causes harm, a car accident, a slip-and-fall accident on someone’s property, an animal bite, libel, or defamation. In short, anything that causes physical, emotional, or professional damage could potentially be eligible for a personal injury lawsuit.

In New Jersey, the state Civil Division tries personal injury cases. The outcome of these cases are determined based on a handful of factors:

Medical Expenses

Medical expenses are all expenses that relate specifically to the injury, such as medical procedures, pharmaceutical costs, and lifestyle support changes due to the injury. Such medical expenses could extend into the future; for example, if ongoing chiropractic treatment will be needed to support the full recovery of the victim of a car accident, estimated future costs of therapeutic measures will be taken into consideration in the lawsuit.

Out-of-pocket costs

These costs are expenses that the victim must shoulder in order to get the care and supplies needed due to their injury. There are a wide variety of out-of-pocket costs that a victim may not immediately consider expenses related to the accident, as injury causes subtle shifts in lifestyle necessities that wouldn’t have otherwise been needed. A personal injury attorney will help the victim discern which out-of-pocket costs were directly related to the injury, for inclusion in the claim.

Pain and suffering

Contrary to medical expenses and out-of-pocket costs, which are more objective, the cost of pain and suffering caused by the accident are a bit more of a subjective measure. A personal injury attorney will support the victim in determining what the cost of the accident has been on the victim’s psychological and overall well-being; this will include any professional psychological support that needs to be sought due to the accident.

Lost income

After an accident, a victim often must take time off from work in order to tend to physical injuries. This, of course, can cause a financial strain. A personal injury lawsuit takes into account the income lost to date and projected future income lost.

Based on the projections of these four factors, the size of the personal injury claim is calculated. Generally speaking, a personal injury attorney will withdraw some portion of the settlement for their services, meaning that they only get paid when the settlement is reached and the victim receives financial damages. Because of this contingency basis, personal injury attorneys are only likely to take up cases that they believe that they will win.

Following Time Limits For Filing A Personal Injury Claim and New Jersey Shared Fault Laws

New Jersey Revised Statutes 2A:14-2 notes that the Statute of Limitations on personal injury cases is two years. This means that after two years since the accident occurred, a plaintiff who files a personal injury claim will likely not be heard in court. With few exceptions such as extenuating circumstances, this is the general time limit for filing a personal injury lawsuit.

In addition, because New Jersey operates under shared fault laws, if the victim, or claimant, is found to have been partially responsible for the accident, their total financial claim will be reduced by the percentage for which they were found responsible. If they were more than half responsible for causing the accident, they relinquish rights to financial compensation for their injuries.

Contact Our Mercer County Accident and Injury Lawyers Today

At The Law Office of Cohen & Riechelson, our personal injury attorneys are experienced in guiding clients across Trenton, Princeton, Hamilton, and the greater Mercer County area through the process of filing and carrying out a personal injury lawsuit.

To meet with an experienced member of our firm today regarding your accident, please contact us online or through our Hamilton office at 609.528.2596.