Jersey City Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Your Jersey City motorcycle accident attorneys can help you understand your legal options after an accident. If another driver’s negligence caused your accident, they may be liable for your injuries. An experienced lawyer can help you build a case for damages through a personal injury claim or lawsuit.

Morelli Law has secured over $1 billion in results for our clients, and we can help you pursue compensation for your damages after a motorcycle accident. This guide covers what you need to know right after a motorcycle crash, but remember, only your Jersey City personal injury lawyer is qualified to provide you with legal advice.

Motorcycle Accidents Can Cause Significant Damages

Motorcyclists can suffer more catastrophic injuries than people in passenger vehicles should both parties collide. This is because the motorcycle victim typically experiences a direct impact to their body. There is also a possibility that the vehicle might run over the motorcyclist in an accident, causing severe injuries or even death.

Motorcycle accident victims may require ongoing medical treatment to recover from their injuries. Victims of motorcycle accidents may also be unable to work during their recoveries. In some cases, their injuries may permanently prevent them from working.

Our team can explain what types of damages you can sue for after an accident in New York. We can help you calculate the value of your losses and then use this figure to demand compensation from the negligent party.

Recoverable Damages in a Motorcycle Accident Case

The following damages may be available in your motorcycle accident case:

• Costs for ambulance transportation and emergency room care
• Medical bills, including costs for all surgeries, follow-up visits, and medications
• Estimated future costs of medical care
• Lost wages and benefits
• Reduced earning capability
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering

If your injuries are expected to be long-term or permanent, you may also qualify for damages related to disability or disfigurement. Our team may consult medical professionals to quantify your potential recovery period.

Wrongful Death Damages

According to the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety, there were 2,200 motorcycle crashes in New Jersey in 2016, 69 of which ended in a fatality.

If you are currently grieving the loss of a loved one, you may be entitled to recover compensation for the motorcycle accident on their behalf. Certain individuals may qualify, such as the surviving spouse or child, and they must have a personal representative present their case.

A Jersey City Wrongful death lawyer can review your case and help you fight for damages, such as:

• Funeral arrangement costs, including costs to bury or cremate your loved one
• Your loved one’s financial contribution to the family
• Loss of consortium
• Other changes to family dynamics, such as loss of parental guidance
• Medical debts inherited from your loved one

Common Injuries in Jersey City Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle accidents can leave riders with a wide range of physical and emotional injuries. If you’ve been hurt in a motorcycle crash in Jersey City, understanding the types of personal injuries that can occur is important. Here’s a look at some common motorcycle accident injuries:

• Road Rash: This painful injury happens when a rider slides on the pavement after an accident. The friction can cause scrapes, burns, and even deep tissue damage. Road rash can be incredibly painful and may require significant medical attention to heal properly.
• Broken Bones: Motorcycle accidents can cause fractures in many parts of the body, including the legs, arms, ribs, and face. These injuries can take weeks or even months to heal and may require surgery, physical therapy, and other treatments.
• Head and Brain Injuries: Without the protection of a car, motorcycle riders are more likely to suffer head injuries in a crash. These injuries can range from mild concussions to life-threatening traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Head injuries can cause a variety of symptoms, including headaches, dizziness, memory problems, and difficulty concentrating.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: These devastating injuries can cause permanent paralysis and require lifelong medical care. Even minor damage to the spinal cord can have a significant impact on a person’s mobility, independence, and quality of life.
• Neck Injuries: Whiplash and other neck injuries are common after motorcycle accidents. These injuries can cause pain, stiffness, and headaches. While whiplash often resolves on its own, some neck injuries can be long-lasting and require medical treatment.
• Internal Injuries: Internal organ damage can be difficult to diagnose after a motorcycle accident, but it’s important to seek medical attention immediately if you experience any symptoms, such as abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting.
• Psychological Injuries: Motorcycle accidents can be a traumatic experience, and it’s not uncommon for riders to develop emotional distress, anxiety, or PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) after a crash.

If you’ve been injured in a Jersey City motorcycle accident, you don’t have to face the physical, emotional, and financial challenges alone. An experienced Jersey City motorcycle accident lawyer can help you understand your legal rights, fight for fair compensation for your injuries, and get the medical care you need to recover.

Our Legal Team Can Take On the Burden of Building Your Motorcycle Accident Case

There are plenty of benefits to hiring a Jersey City motorcycle accident lawyer from our law firm to work on your case, especially if you are physically limited because of your injuries or struggling with the financial setbacks you’ve faced. It is also important to remember insurance companies can be complicated to deal with. They may challenge your claim and take a long time to make payouts. 

At Morelli Law Firm, our lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, which can help people who cannot afford a lawyer because of their motorcycle accident-related damages. We agree to withhold our attorney’s fees until the end of your case and only charge them if we win you compensation. Also, our fees come out of your award, meaning you never have to pay us out of your pocket.

We Give Full-Service Treatment

We understand the overwhelming burdens our clients face, so we try to be as accommodating as possible. Our team can manage your motorcycle accident case from start to finish, meaning we can:

• Review the case to see if we can immediately identify the at-fault or liable party or parties involved
• Investigate further to see if there is any evidence that can support the case, such as witnesses who saw the accident
• Handle administrative tasks to prepare, organize, and submit paperwork to the appropriate parties and court system
• Calculate your damages so that we know how much compensation to pursue or negotiate for
• Represent you in negotiation meetings, court hearings, and legal communications
• Provide legal advice whenever you have questions about the case

We strive to give you the full-service treatment and fight for the compensation you deserve.

We Can Help You Identify Who Might Be at Fault in Your Motorcycle Accident

Establishing fault is an essential part of a personal injury case. While a Jersey City car accident lawyer may be helpful in a regular car crash, you should talk to a motorcycle accident lawyer in this case. That’s because it may not be immediately apparent who was at fault, especially if multiple vehicles or factors were involved in the accident.

If you decide to have a motorcycle accident attorney from Morelli Law Firm handle your case, our legal team can investigate your crash in Jersey City and identify the liable party. We will also gather evidence of their liability to hold them responsible for their actions.

The liable party in a motorcycle accident may include:

Another Motorist

If another driver’s negligence caused your accident, they may be held liable for your damages. Driver negligence can include:

• Speeding
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Running a stop sign or red light
• Making an illegal turn
• Driving while distracted
• Failing to yield the right of way
• Failing to signal
• Swerving in front of a motorcycle
• Violating traffic rules

If the other driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, a drunk driving accident Lawyer in Jersey City can help you make them liable for your damages. 

Other Potentially Liable Parties

Depending on what caused your accident, other parties that may be held liable for your damages include:

• The repair shop that repairs and maintains the motorcycle or another vehicle
• The manufacturer of the motorcycle or vehicle
• A motorcycle rental company
• The government entity responsible for ensuring the roads are in good and usable condition
• The manufacturer of a component of the motorcycle/vehicle or safety equipment

It is possible to have multiple responsible parties in a motorcycle accident.

Contributory Negligence in New Jersey

New Jersey law applies the “contributory negligence” rule to personal injury lawsuits, per NJ Rev Stat § 2A:15-5.1. This means that, so long as you were less than 50% responsible for your accident, you may be able to recover compensation from the primarily responsible party or parties.

However, your compensation may be reduced according to the percentage of fault you have. For example, if a judge determines that you are 25% at fault for your accident and that your total damages are worth $400,000, your compensation may diminish by 25% to $300,000.

Our Team Can Help Prepare Your Case Argument Against the At-Fault Party

A motorcycle accident case requires you to establish that the at-fault party caused your damages. To do this, we will need to establish the four elements of negligence in your case argument, which involves:

• Duty of care: The at-fault driver had a duty to keep you from harm on the road.
• Breach of duty: However, through their actions or inactions, the at-fault driver violated this duty of care.
• Causation: Because they breached their duty, the driver put you in danger and led to a motorcycle accident.
• Damages: You suffered injuries and losses in the motorcycle accident as a result.

We Can Collect Evidence to Support Your Argument

Our team can gather evidence to demonstrate that these four elements of negligence were present in your case when we represented you. This evidence may include:

• Photos or videos from the scene of the accident
• Surveillance or traffic camera footage of the accident
• Witness statements
• Police reports
• Testimony from accident reconstruction experts
• Your medical records

We can also gather evidence that catalogs the extent of your damages.

Once our investigation into your case is complete, we will present the responsible party’s insurance company with our evidence in settlement negotiations. If they are unwilling to make you a fair offer, we can take your case to trial and defend your rights before a judge or jury.

FAQs About Jersey City Motorcycle Accidents You Should Know

What Should I Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Jersey City?

If you have been in an accident, there are some actions you can take at the scene and in the days after. Your priority should be to seek medical attention for any injuries. Then, document the scene of the accident by taking pictures and exchanging information with the other driver(s) involved. It’s important to contact the police and file an accident report.

Do I Need a Lawyer for a Jersey City Motorcycle Accident Claim?

An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer in Jersey City can investigate your case, deal with the insurance companies, and fight for maximum compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.

What Types of Damages Can I Recover in a Motorcycle Accident Claim?

You may be entitled to compensation for economic damages, such as medical bills and lost wages, as well as non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.

How Long Do I Have to File a Motorcycle Accident Claim in New Jersey?

The statute of limitations for personal injury claims in New Jersey is generally two years from the date of the accident.

What Happens if the At-Fault Driver Doesn’t Have Insurance?

New Jersey is a mandatory insurance state, but unfortunately, not all drivers comply with the law. If the other driver doesn’t have insurance, you may be able to recover compensation under your underinsured motorist coverage.

Talk to an Experienced Jersey City Motorcycle Accident Lawyer at No Cost Today

If you were harmed in a motorcycle accident caused by another party’s negligence in Jersey City, you are not alone. Our team of experienced attorneys at Morelli Law can answer your questions, explain your rights, and help you build a strong case for the compensation you deserve.

An experienced Jersey City motorcycle accident lawyer can help you investigate the cause of the accident, identify the responsible parties, and handle all the legal paperwork and court proceedings. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation, where you can discuss your case with an attorney and learn more about your legal options.