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Like the rest of New Jersey, Bloomfield’s highways can be treacherous. The area is bustling with commuters, locals, and visitors. Some of the highways and roadways are poorly maintained, which can contribute to accidents. Construction and congestion also increase the likelihood of wrecks.

The faster a car is going, the more force it carries when it impacts another vehicle. Since the speed limits are higher on highways than on other roadways or residential streets, highway accidents in Bloomfield often lead to worse injuries than other types of accidents.

If you have been injured in a highway accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Determining whether you have a claim and, if so, the potential value of that claim is heavily dependent on the facts of your accident. An auto collision attorney at Fredson Statmore Bitterman, LLC can meet with you to learn more about the wreck and give you their opinion on your potential remedies.

Causes of Highway Accidents

One of the most frustrating things about highway accidents is that almost all of them are preventable. If drivers followed the law and obeyed common-sense traffic rules, highway accidents would be dramatically lessened. Even accidents that are linked to third-party causes, such as blowouts from defective tires, do not have to result in catastrophic wrecks. If other drivers maintain a proper following distance and pay attention to the situation around them, they can often avoid collisions with debris or out-of-control vehicles.

Unfortunately, that is simply not reality. Instead, drivers engage in a variety of risky behaviors, which increase the likelihood of highway accidents. Speeding, improper lane changes, failure to maintain a lane, failure to yield right-of-way, drowsy driving, drunk driving, and distracted driving all contribute to highway accidents.

Sometimes, a third party causes the accident rather than one of the drivers. The state’s highways are not very well maintained. Icy, snowy winters, salt and sand on concrete, and weather extremes all take a toll on the roads. Potholes are a considerable result. Many people think of potholes as a mere annoyance. However, potholes can break tires, causing blowouts and making drivers lose control of their vehicles. In extreme cases, potholes can even cause rollovers, especially in larger vehicles. When poor road conditions contribute to an accident, a victim may have a claim against the government entity responsible for road maintenance or one of its contractors.

One of the things a Bloomfield highway accident attorney will do is examine the causes of an accident. By determining who was to blame for a wreck, they can provide information about potential claims, proper procedures, and any special statutes of limitations.

Damages From Highway Accidents

There are three types of damages available in any personal injury accident. They include economic damages, non-economic damages, and punitive damages.

Economic damages repay victims for direct and indirect financial losses. The replacement or repair cost for a vehicle, medical bills, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, and costs associated with therapy or adaptive equipment are some examples of economic damages.

Non-economic damages are the justice system’s way of trying to compensate people for non-financial losses. The factfinder attempts to place a dollar value on abstract things like pain and suffering, emotional trauma, or loss of companionship. Usually, the more severe the injury and the more outstanding its impact, the higher a non-economic damage award will be.

Punitive damages are unavailable in most Bloomfield highway accidents. Punitive damages are not meant to compensate victims — they are meant to punish wrongdoers. For a wrongdoer to deserve punishment, their behavior needs to go beyond negligence. Some examples of behavior that could lead to punitive damages in a highway accident include road rage, drunk driving, and some types of distracted driving.

Talk to a Lawyer About Bloomfield Highway Wrecks

It is vital to seek legal advice promptly after highway accidents in Bloomfield. If a government or public agency’s negligence contributed to the wreck, you may have to follow specific procedures to file a claim and may have a shorter statute of limitations. During a free consultation with an attorney from Fredson Statmore Bitterman, LLC, our team can advise you of any special considerations linked to your accident.