If you’ve been involved in an accident, you may want to hire New Jersey personal injury attorneys. This will help you to get the damages you deserve, especially if the accident was someone else’s fault. However, it’s important to understand the basic concepts of personal injury law before hiring an attorney. Read on to learn more about the types of accidents, the damages that can be recovered, and how to find the right attorney for you.
Insurance company’s goal is to pay little or no money
The insurance industry has a lot of tricks up its sleeve to avoid paying claims. From sending you a check to fix your car to digging through your medical records, it’s a good idea to keep your wits about you.
Insurance companies are for-profit businesses and will do whatever it takes to make a profit. Their goal is to settle your claim for the lowest possible amount.
In addition, they employ some of the best negotiators in the business. Their motto is “you’ll be happy with the amount we pay you.” And their bozos are more than willing to play nice if that means you won’t hire an attorney.
They have a slew of other tricks up their sleeve as well. One of the best is the use of the latest technology. Some insurers have even gone as far as to hire former law enforcement officers to investigate claims.
Three types of damages in personal injury cases
If you’ve been injured, you may have to file a lawsuit to obtain compensation. There are three main types of damages in personal injury cases. These include compensatory, special and punitive damages.
Compensatory damages seek to restore the victim’s physical and emotional condition. This includes loss of income, medical care, property damage, and other costs. It also includes pain and suffering.
Punitive damages are awarded in a personal injury case when the defendant’s behavior was particularly harmful. Typically, courts only award punitive damages in very serious cases. They are meant to deter future recklessness and misconduct. The amount is usually capped at 10 times the amount of compensatory damages.
The most common type of damages in personal injury cases is compensatory. This includes losses such as medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses related to the accident. Some other losses that may be awarded include emotional distress and loss of companionship.
Pedestrian accidents vs. commercial truck accidents
If you are a pedestrian who has been injured in an accident with a large commercial truck, you may be wondering what your legal options are. A skilled attorney can help you determine whether you are able to file a claim and pursue the compensation you deserve.
There are many factors to consider when determining which party is at fault in an accident. In some cases, several parties may be responsible for the harm that occurred. For example, if a pedestrian is a passenger in a vehicle, the driver of the truck may be liable.
Pedestrians are at high risk of injury when sharing the road with trucks. However, there are many rules in place to protect pedestrians, including the pedestrian right-of-way in crosswalks.
Intent for intentional torts
Intentional torts are acts that result in injury or harm to a person. Depending on the type of injury, damages may include economic, property, and non-economic losses. If you have suffered damages from an intentional tort, you may have the right to file a lawsuit to seek financial compensation.
A common example of an intentional tort is assault. An attacker could be convicted of an intentional tort if they knowingly struck a victim with the intent to cause physical or emotional harm. Other types of intentional torts include battery, defamation, and false imprisonment.
False imprisonment occurs when someone makes false statements that prevent a victim from leaving the situation. Defamation, on the other hand, is when a person makes a statement that causes another person to lose respect for them.
Referral services for personal injury attorneys
If you are in the market for a personal injury attorney, you’ll want to look into a referral service. These services are available online and can help you find a good lawyer. However, before you sign up for a service, you may want to consider some key questions.
One of the biggest questions you’ll face is whether or not the referral service is for profit. Many ads for these services make grand claims. Some also include a convincing spokesperson.
When you use a referral service, you will be referred to a variety of attorneys. You will receive a brief profile of each one. Your choice is not final.
Often, the referral company will send your claim to several attorneys on a rotating basis. This will free up the firm’s time to work on more complex cases.