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Being injured in a car crash due to another driver’s negligence could entitle you to compensation for the harm you suffer as a result. Car accidents in New Jersey come in many different forms and have a wide variety of causes, the specifics of which can affect your options for recovering compensation for your injuries and losses. You should talk to a New Jersey car accident lawyer about the accident you were injured in and what its circumstances mean for you practically.
New Jersey auto accident lawyer Steven Ellman advocates for the rights of car accident victims throughout all 21 New Jersey counties. Steven Ellman provides his clients with the compassionate, dedicated, and attentive legal representation they need after a devastating car crash, and helps them demand the full compensation to which they’re entitled. Reach out to Steven Ellman today for a free claim evaluation about your case.
What Are the Common Causes of Car Accidents in New Jersey?
Some of the most frequent causes of car crashes in New Jersey include the following.
Roadway Hazards
Examples of road hazards that can cause car accidents include debris dropped from other vehicles, potholes or broken pavement, wet and oily pavement, and black ice.
Reckless Motorists
Reckless driving can include excessive speeding, street racing, or darting between lanes to weave through heavy traffic, usually without signaling. Reckless motorists often have less time to react to an emergency or hazard due to the speed at which they drive or the sudden, unexpected maneuvers they make.
Road Rage
Road rage or aggressive driving behaviors can include:
- Tailgating.
- Cutting off other motorists.
- Brake-checking.
- Driving too closely to other vehicles.
- Impacting the rear bumper or fender of another vehicle.
These behaviors may cause either the aggressive driver or the target of their road rage to lose control of their vehicle or to collide with an innocent third party.
Drunk Driving
Drug or alcohol intoxication slows reaction times, alters visual perception, and impairs judgment by lowering inhibitions or changing the decision-making process.
Distracted Driving
Common distracted driving behaviors include:
- Using a cell phone.
- Eating or drinking.
- Grooming.
- Adjusting the radio or navigation system.
- Interacting with passengers.
- Reaching around the passenger cabin for an object.
Distracted driving can cause car accidents because drivers take their eyes off the road, their hands off the steering wheel, or their attention off the task of driving.
Drowsy Driving
Drowsy or fatigued driving can have many of the same effects on a motorist as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Drowsy driving frequently occurs at night when motorists are naturally tired or during long road trips if motorists fail to take regular breaks.
Speeding
Speeding can lead to car accidents because drivers have less time to react to an emergency or potential collision due to the speed of their vehicle. Car accidents caused by speeding also tend to lead to more serious injuries because of the greater forces imparted by a speeding vehicle.
Teen Drivers
Teen drivers have the highest risk of car accidents of any age group, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Teen drivers have a fatal crash rate three times as high as drivers aged 20 and older. One reason teens cause car accidents due to their inexperience behind the wheel. In fact, 16-year-old drivers have an accident rate 1.5 times as high as drivers aged 18 or 19. Other factors contributing to this crash rate include distractions from cell phones or friends riding in the vehicle, overestimating driving ability, and reduced inhibitions that lead to risk-taking behaviors.
Elderly Drivers
The CDC also reports that drivers aged 70 and older have higher fatal crash rates than middle-aged drivers. Elderly drivers have higher risks of car accidents due to age-related changes in vision, physical functioning, memory, and cognitive ability.
What Are Common Types of Car Accidents in New Jersey?
New Jersey car accident attorney Steven Ellman handles car accident cases caused by the following.
Head-On Collisions
Head-on collisions involve the fronts of two vehicles impacting one another directly. These accidents usually occur when a driver crosses over the center line or median or drives the wrong way on a one-way street or highway access ramp.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions involve the front of one vehicle running into the rear of another vehicle. These crashes often are caused by speeding, distracted driving, and following another vehicle too closely.
T-Bone Collisions
A T-bone collision involves the front of one vehicle impacting the side of another vehicle. These crashes often occur in intersections when a driver runs a red light or stop sign or fails to yield to oncoming traffic when making a turn.
Sideswipe Accidents
Sideswipe accidents involve the sides of two vehicles colliding with one another. These accidents usually occur on the highway when a driver attempts to move into a lane already occupied by another vehicle, often without signaling or checking mirrors.
Rollover Accidents
A rollover crash involves a vehicle flipping onto its side or roof or tumbling over multiple times before coming to a rest. Rollovers often occur due to a brake or tire failure, a driver losing control in a spin, or a vehicle having a high center of gravity.
Multi-Vehicle Accidents
Multi-vehicle accidents, sometimes called pile-up accidents, typically involve at least four or five vehicles in the collision. These accidents often occur on highways and interstates where higher speed limits give drivers less time to react to sudden hazards.
Single-Vehicle Crashes
A single-vehicle crash can occur when a driver loses control of their vehicle because of a mechanical failure, adverse road conditions, or distracted, drowsy, or intoxicated driving.
Low-Speed Accidents
Low-speed accidents frequently occur in parking lots and garages and anywhere motorists pull out of driveways or parking spaces.
Hit-and-Run Accidents
A hit-and-run accident occurs when a driver fails to immediately stop at or return to the scene of a collision. Committing a hit-and-run accident is illegal, as it leaves victims without legal recourse against the liable party. Still, injured victims of hit-and-run accidents may be entitled to recover compensation from their insurance provider if they have uninsured motorist coverage.
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Accidents
Uninsured or underinsured motorist accidents refer to crashes where the at-fault driver either does not have liability insurance or does not have sufficient insurance coverage to compensate accident victims fully. Those victims may be required to turn to their insurance for coverage.
Uber/Lyft Accidents
Drivers hit by Uber, Lyft, or other rideshare vehicles might be entitled to pursue compensation from insurance coverage provided by the rideshare company.
How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Lawsuit in New Jersey?
In New Jersey, the statute of limitations imposes a deadline on filing a lawsuit against anyone at fault for causing your injury. N.J.S.A. §2A:14-2 typically gives you only two years from the date of a car crash to file suit against the negligent driver or other liable parties. If you file suit after the statute of limitations expires on your car accident claim, your case could be permanently dismissed from court.
In addition to the statute of limitations, you also have another claim deadline if you were involved in a car accident with a vehicle driven by a state or local government employee in the course of their duties. The New Jersey Tort Claims Act requires you to give notice of an injury claim you have against a state or local government within 90 days of the accident. Failing to give timely notice may result in the loss of your rights to pursue compensation from the government.
You should speak New Jersey car accident lawyer Steven Ellman, of the Law Office of Steven Ellman, as soon as possible to ensure you preserve your right to recover compensation.
How Can a New Jersey Car Accident Lawyer Help Me?
You have a lot on your plate after being hurt in a car accident. You’re likely getting treatment for the injuries you suffered in the crash. You may also be focused on repairing or replacing your vehicle, and if you can’t work due to your injuries, you’re probably figuring out how to make ends meet.
Let New Jersey car accident attorney Steven Ellman help. He can take the stress of pursuing your insurance claim or lawsuit off your shoulders. He will handle all the details of preparing and pursuing your car accident claims, including:
- Investigating the crash and securing evidence to begin building your case.
- Identifying potentially liable parties and applicable insurance coverage.
- Advising you about your legal rights so you can make the best decisions for your situation.
- Documenting your injuries and present and future losses so that we leave no money on the table.
- Aggressively pursuing maximum compensation for you through a negotiated settlement or by taking your case to court if litigation becomes necessary.
Contact a New Jersey Car Accident Attorney Today
Don’t wait to demand financial compensation from the person who caused the accident that injured you. Contact the Law Office of Steven Ellman today for a free, no-obligation consultation. Steven Ellman will listen to your story, assess the value of your case, and demand the compensation you deserve from the person who hurt you.
