If you have sustained injuries in an auto collision due to another motorist, a New Brunswick car accident lawyer can help you recover financial compensation. Injuries from a car accident can create substantial medical bills and leave you unable to work. The financial pressure of dealing with the aftermath of a single accident can be immense and take a psychological toll.

Brach Eichler Injury Lawyers dedicates itself to helping injury victims recover their losses. Car accident victims need all the help they can get between gathering evidence and negotiating with insurance companies. We can handle every legal aspect of the claim process so you can focus on healing and recovery. Contact us today to speak to a personal injury attorney in New Brunswick.

How Common Are Car Accidents in New Brunswick?

Middlesex County and New Brunswick have some of the highest accident rates in the state, second only to Essex County and Newark. According to state crash data, most accidents happen on state highways and involve distracted driving or speeding. Middlesex County has the highest fatal crash rate in the state, and this rate has also risen in recent years. Dense roads, high speeds, and lax enforcement all contribute to these abnormally high traffic accidents and fatality rates.

Injuries from Car Accidents in New Brunswick

Car accidents can cause a wide range of minor to severe injuries, including:

• Abrasions and bruises
• Whiplash and neck injuries
• Broken bones
• Concussions and TBI
• Spinal cord injury
• Cuts and lacerations
• Internal injuries
• Crushing injuries
• Hearing and vision damage
• Thermal and chemical burns
• Amputations
• PTSD and emotional trauma

New Jersey’s No-Fault Car Insurance Laws Explained

New Jersey is one of about a dozen no-fault auto insurance states. Under a no-fault system, motorists in accidents first file an accident claim with their own insurance company, regardless of who is at fault. To facilitate this system, New Jersey requires all drivers to carry minimum amounts of personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. PIP coverage will pay for:

• Injury-related medical expenses
• Lost work income
• Cost of replacement services (e.g., increased childcare or transportation costs)
• Funeral benefits

New Jersey law requires all drivers to carry at least $15,000 in PIP coverage, though many choose the maximum of $250,000. PIP coverage is typically the first source of financial recovery after an accident but only pays for explicit economic losses – it won’t pay for noneconomic pain and suffering losses.

Basic vs. Standard Auto Coverage

When you purchase auto insurance in New Jersey, you choose between a basic and standard policy. The basic option has the lowest coverage and offers PIP coverage and at least $5,000 in property liability coverage. The basic policy does not include bodily liability coverage. So, if you cause an accident and only have basic liability coverage, you could be directly financially responsible for the other driver’s injuries.

The other option is standard coverage. Standard coverage contains basic PIP and property liability coverage, in addition to bodily injury liability coverage. As of 2023, the minimum liability coverage for a standard policy in New Jersey is:

• $25,000 per person
• $50,000 per accident
• $25,000 property damage

The standard policy also provides equivalent amounts of uninsured motorist coverage. Most New Brunswick drivers carry standard policies because liability coverage can protect their assets if the injured party sues.

Can I Sue the Other Driver After a Car Accident in New Brunswick?

When you choose a standard auto policy in New Jersey, you can choose between having a limited right to sue and an unlimited right to sue. With a limited right, you can only file a personal injury claim against the other driver if your injuries cross a certain threshold:

• Death
• Dismemberment
• Disfigurement or scarring
• Displaced fractures
• Permanent injury
• Loss of a fetus

If your injury involves any of the above, you can step outside of New Jersey’s no-fault system and file a liability claim against the at-fault motorist. With an at-fault claim, you can recover a broader range of compensation, including money for pain and suffering. Note that all basic auto policies in New Jersey automatically include a limited right to sue.

With an unlimited right to sue, there are no restrictions against filing an at-fault claim with the other driver. You can sue the other driver for injuries of any severity, and there are no limits to what kind of compensation you can recover. Unlimited policies are more expensive but provide the most options for recovering financial compensation after an accident.

What Kind of Compensation Can I Recover After a Car Accident?

PIP coverage is the first-line option for recovering compensation after a car accident. PIP coverage will compensate you for:

• Injury-related medical expenses
• Lost employment income
• Out-of-pocket injury expenses
• Funeral benefits in the event of death

However, PIP coverage is often insufficient, especially if you have severe injuries and a lower coverage limit. In these cases, we can pursue a broader range of compensation in a traditional at-fault car accident claim. Depending on the circumstances, we can pursue compensation for your:

• Medical bills and continuing medical expenses
• Lost employment compensation
• Diminished lifetime earning capacity due to disability
• Pain and suffering
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Loss of life enjoyment or convenience
• Emotional anguish

How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Lawsuit in New Jersey?

The time limit for a car accident lawsuit in New Brunswick is two years, the same as other personal injury cases. This means you have two years from the accident date to file a civil claim. Once two years pass, your legal claim will expire, and you won’t be able to recover compensation.

Usually, the deadline starts from the date the accident happened and you sustained injuries. The main exception to this time limit is if your injuries were initially undetectable. In the case of undetectable injuries, the time limit starts from the date you discovered or could have reasonably discovered them. This exception is known as the discovery rule and exists to maintain fairness in personal injury cases with delayed injuries.

Why Hire Brach Eichler Injury Lawyers for Legal Representation in Your Car Accident Claim

Brach Eichler Injury Lawyers has been serving the people of New Brunswick for decades and has forged a reputation as a fierce advocate for the injured. We have secured over $500 million in compensation for our clients, including a substantial amount of car accident claims. New Jersey’s no-fault car insurance laws can be difficult to parse, but we can guide you through the system to your benefit.

Most importantly, we understand how difficult life can be after a serious car accident. Severe injuries can cause chronic pain and may require you to radically alter your lifestyle and daily routine. The last thing you need to deal with is the dense legalese and procedure to recover financial compensation. We can offer compassionate and effective legal counsel that protects your interests and benefits. We have a passion for justice and sincerely wish to assist individuals and families through life’s unexpected twists and turns.

New Brunswick Car Accident FAQ

Below are some of the most common questions we receive about car accident injury settlements and lawsuits. If you have more specific questions, contact our office to talk to a motor vehicle accident lawyer.

How can a New Brunswick car accident lawyer help me if the other driver is denying fault?

If the other driver’s insurance company is denying fault, we can pressure them and negotiate to get them to accept their share of the payment. We can also push back if they try to exclude payments or underpay you. If necessary, we can file a formal lawsuit and take them to court to recover your compensation.

What compensation can I receive for medical bills and lost wages after a car accident in New Brunswick?

Compensation for medical bills can include all emergency medical and hospital expenses as well as continuing healthcare costs (e.g., prescriptions, rehab services, etc.). Lost employment income includes not only hourly pay/salary but also bonuses, commissions, tips, and any other form of compensation.

Can I pursue a car accident claim in New Brunswick if the accident occurred at an intersection with a history of accidents?

Yes, you can make a claim for an accident at an intersection with a history of collisions. Government agencies and municipalities can be legally liable for dangerously designed roads that contribute to accidents. If you can demonstrate that the city was negligent in designing or maintaining the road, you could sue them.

Contact a Car Accident Attorney in New Brunswick Today

You can take every precaution on the road, but a single negligent driver can cause a major accident. Brach Eichler Injury Lawyers can hold liable parties accountable for their wrongdoing and pursue recompense for your losses. Your money and well-being are our concern, and we will use every available strategy to secure a favorable outcome.

Contact Brach Eichler Injury Lawyers online or reach out by phone at (973) 364-8300 for a free car accident case consultation with a New Brunswick personal injury attorney. We look forward to hearing your story and discussing possible next steps.