Workers Compensation Law Jersey City

Personal Injury in Jersey City, New Jersey

When you've been injured by someone else's carelessness in Jersey City, New Jersey, it's important to take some steps to help make sure your claim is settled fairly and quickly:

• Write down everything you remember about the accident or injury, such when and where it happened; the names, addresses and phone numbers of witnesses, police officers and insurance company representatives (or company or workers' compensation representatives if it was a work-related injury)
• Talk to an Jersey City personal injury lawyer before making any statements, written or verbal, to insurance company adjusters or representatives
• Let anyone you think may be responsible for the injury know right away that you intend to file a claim against them Gather and keep evidence, such as photographs of a car accident or injury scene; clothing; damaged personal belongings; etc.

How Do I Figure Out Who Is at Fault?

In most cases, you must prove the person who caused the injury was negligent. That is, he didn't use reasonable care. In Jersey City, New Jersey, you must prove:

• The person who caused your injury owed you a duty
• The other person broke or breached that duty
• You suffered damages
• The other person's failure caused your injury

Under New Jersey's comparative negligence law, if your carelessness or negligence helped cause your injury, the amount you can recover is reduced by your degree or percentage of fault.

In Jersey City, New Jersey, for personal injury, property damage or wrongful death, each person who was responsible for your injury is responsible for a proportional amount of your total damages.

If you've been injured by a consumer product, the manufacturer or the seller may be responsible under strict liability law. Generally, it makes some people responsible for damages caused by their products, regardless of their "fault." Under Jersey City, New Jersey law, you need to prove:

• The product was defective, which made it unreasonably dangerous
• You used the product the way it was supposed to be used
• The defect caused your injury
• You suffered damages

What Is My Claim Worth?

Under Jersey City, New Jersey law, the person who injured you is responsible for:

• Past, current and future estimated medical expenses
• Time lost from work, including time spent going to medical appointments or therapy
• Any property that was damaged, such as your vehicle
• The cost of hiring someone to do household chores when you couldn't do them
• Any permanent disfigurement or disability
• Emotional and physical pain and suffering
• A change in your future earning ability due to the injury
• Any other costs that are a direct result of your injury

In some cases you may need an expert to explain your injuries and why you're entitled to certain damages. This is very common in medical malpractice cases. A Jersey City Workers Compensation lawyer will know what type of expert witness to hire to best prove your damages.

How Long Do I Have to File a Legal Claim?

In most Jersey City, New Jersey personal injury cases, you only have two years to file a lawsuit against the person who injured you. If your lawyer hasn't been able to come to an agreement with any involved insurance companies or defendants, you definitely want to file a lawsuit before the two-year statute of limitations runs out.

Questions for Your Jersey City Workers Compensation Lawyer

• Can I still file a lawsuit if I accepted a settlement offer from the other person's insurance company before I contacted you?
• The insurance company seems to be taking me and my injuries seriously. Why do I need to hire a lawyer?
• Is the other person's insurance company entitled to look at my medical records without my permission? Should I let it have access to my records?