Whether it is a “T-bone” crash in a busy intersection, a “sideswipe” collision on a crowded highway, or any other type of incident involving another vehicle hitting your own car’s doors or side paneling, side-impact car accidents in Woodbridge are dangerous and all too often deadly. Unfortunately, they can also be tricky to seek financial restitution for, especially if there are questions about how the accident happened in the first place and who specifically is to blame for it.
In situations like this, assistance from an experienced auto accident attorney can mean the difference between recovering comprehensively for the harm you have suffered at someone else’s hand and getting paid nothing at all from a civil lawsuit or even from insurance. If you have been injured in a side-impact, T-bone, or sideswipe crash in the Garden State, you should make contacting Fredson Statmore Bitterman, LLC your number-one priority.
Proving Someone Else at Fault for a Side-Impact Wreck
As is the case with virtually all other kinds of auto accidents, making someone else pay financially for the effects of a side-impact car crash in Woodbridge means establishing that they were legally “negligent.” In a nutshell, this involves showing that a specific reckless, careless, or illegal action they engaged in behind the wheel was the direct cause of the accident in question, and that the losses for which the injured “plaintiff” is seeking compensation stemmed directly from that accident.
Of course, this can be much more complicated in practice than it sounds in theory, and successful cases usually have significant amounts of evidence from multiple sources to support their claim for compensation, including things like:
- Witness testimony
- Surveillance/dashboard camera footage
- Input from “accident reconstruction” experts
- Accident reports generated by police officers who responded to the crash scene
- Photos/videos of where the wreck happened and of damage sustained by vehicles involved
Thanks to New Jersey’s “no-fault” approach to car insurance and car accident litigation, there may also be other obstacles in the way of civil recovery for drivers with certain types of car insurance coverage, as a seasoned attorney can explain in more detail if needed.
Fighting Allegations of “Comparative Fault”
Another issue many Woodbridge residents injured in side-impact wrecks run into while trying to pursue civil compensation for their injuries is “comparative negligence.” Put simply, people who get hurt in auto accidents can be found “negligent” in relation to the wreck just like “defendants” named in ensuing lawsuits can, and courts and insurance companies can assign “comparative fault” to an injured person to indicate how much they contributed to causing their own injuries.
Then, in accordance with New Jersey Revised Statutes §§ 2A:15-5.1 and 2A:15-5.2, the court or insurance company handling the claim can reduce the total compensation available to the injured person in proportion to their assigned percentage of total fault or even bar them from recovery altogether if that percentage exceeds 50 percent. Representation from a skilled legal professional can be key to effectively contesting accusations along these lines and maximizing available recovery during settlement negotiations or a civil court case.
Get Help From a Woodbridge Attorney After a Side-Impact / T-Bone Car Accident
Even if it seems obvious to you that someone else is at fault for crashing into the side of your car, proving them liable for your ensuing losses can be surprisingly challenging and time-consuming. Fortunately, getting help from capable legal counsel can streamline this process and improve your chances of getting paid fairly for all your damages, not just the ones covered by “no-fault” insurance.
Time is of the essence when it comes to taking action over a side-impact / T-bone car accident in Woodbridge. Call today to schedule your free consultation with Fredson Statmore Bitterman, LLC.
