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Ocean County Car Accident Lawyers | The Law Firm of Gold, Albanese, Barletti & Locascio, LLC

Ocean County Car Accident Lawyers

Being involved in a car accident can leave you traumatized in multiple ways, sometimes making it difficult to know what you should do. Rather than trying to settle everything at the scene, you need to focus on getting appropriate medical and legal help. The NJ car accident lawyers at Gold, Albanese & Barletti L.L.C. have the experience to ensure that your rights are represented throughout the process.

The injuries sustained during motor vehicle accidents can create long-term pain and suffering that require attention long after the incident has been cleared from the road. If you or a loved one have been involved in any type of car accident due to the negligence or mistakes of another, that person and their insurance provider are responsible for the expenses associated with this care.

Whether your car accident occurred on a lesser traveled residential road involving one other vehicle or several cars crashing on the Garden State Parkway, you deserve to know that your interests are appropriately addressed during the settlement process. Do not speak to the other driver, witnesses or representatives from their insurance company. Instead, you need to contact a trustworthy Ocean County car accident lawyer right away.

Types of Car Accidents

We represent clients including but not limited to the following types of car accidents:

Read our Motor Vehicle Accident FAQs for more information.

When Should You Contact an Ocean County Car Accident Lawyer?

If you’ve been in a car accident, you should reach out to an attorney as soon as possible. Laws regarding car accidents can be complex and confusing, and you don’t want to run the risk of doing or saying something that could reflect badly on you, even if you were not at fault. Experienced car accident lawyers will know exactly how you should handle every situation and will help you in dealing with insurance companies and the other parties involved in the accident. The car accident lawyers at Gold, Albanese & Barletti will hear your case in an initial consultation that will cost you nothing, so don’t hesitate to reach out and explain your situation.

What To Do After A Car Accident In Ocean County

There are certain legal requirements that the state of New Jersey applies to drivers that have been involved in a car accident. These are covered in Sections 39:4-129 and 39:4-130 of the New Jersey Revised Statutes:

  1. Stop Your Vehicle – Drivers must immediately stop their vehicle if an accident has occurred that involved damages to their vehicle, other vehicles or any property.
  2. Pull to the Side of the Road – You must stop as close to the scene of the accident as possible without obstructing traffic. If this is not possible, you should call a tow truck.
  3. Notify the Police – If police are not yet on the scene, make sure you contact them. Do not assume others at the scene have done so.
  4. Aid Any Victims – If anyone is injured, call 911 and provide as much help as possible until the EMTs arrive.
  5. Exchange Information – You are required to provide your name, address, and proof of driver’s license and vehicle registration to other drivers involved in the accident or witnesses at the scene. You must also give this information to law enforcement.
  6. File a Written Report – Any drivers that are involved in a motor vehicle accident must fill out a car accident report and submit that form to the New Jersey Department of Transportation within 10 days of the accident if any injuries or damages in excess of $500 occurred as a result.

In addition to these required steps, it is also wise to do the following if you are involved in a motor vehicle accident:

  • Be Calm – Do not panic and leave the scene of the accident. This is known as a hit and run and is considered a criminal offense.
  • Check Yourself and Any Passengers for Serious Injuries – If you or anyone else seems to have sustained serious injuries, stay put unless the situation requires you to vacate the vehicle. If you are able to leave the vehicle, do so carefully.
  • Seek Medical Attention – Even if you do not think anything is wrong, make sure to get medical attention as soon as possible. You may have an injury that has a delayed onset.
  • Write Down Everything About the Scene – This way you have a written record of what the scene was like. Memory can be faulty. Write down things like the time of day and what the lighting conditions were, road conditions, whether it was overcast or clear, what speed you were going, the estimated speed of the other driver, and other details about the incident.
  • Take Pictures – In addition to written notes, taking pictures of the accident scene for future reference is a good way to provide proof of the circumstances.
  • Get Witness Information – Make sure to get the name and contact information of any available witnesses.
  • Do Not Admit Fault – Regardless of whether or not you feel like you are partially to blame for the accident, you should leave that for those with more experience to figure out. Trying to establish that the other driver was more at fault is important for receiving maximum recovery under New Jersey’s comparative negligence law.
  • Do Not Volunteer Unnecessary Information to the Police – Cooperate with law enforcement but do not give out information that you are not asked to give. Also ask for the incident report number and the business cards of the officers.
  • Contact Your Insurance Company – When talking to the insurance company do not admit fault for the accident, speculate about what the other driver may have been doing or thinking, downplay your injuries or make statements about what you were doing before the accident. Leave the injuries up to the medical professionals and details about what you were doing before the accident to your attorney.
  • Keep All Documents Related to Your Accident – Any bills, reports, receipts or correspondences related to the accident and any injuries you may have sustained should be filed and kept organized.
  • Seek Out Legal Assistance – It is vital that you acquire the expertise of a personal injury attorney like those at Gold, Albanese & Barletti to help you through the complexities of a motor vehicle accident case. We can help you deal with the insurance companies and the courts in order to make sure you receive proper compensation for medical expenses, lost wages and other damages which are rightfully owed to you.

Keep in mind that car accidents have a two year statute of limitations in New Jersey, starting from the day of the accident. Therefore, it is wise to get started on your accident case right away.

Should You Accept a Settlement From the Insurance Company After a Car Accident?

You should never accept a settlement offer from an insurance company without speaking to an experienced Ocean County car accident lawyer first. No matter how good a settlement amount might seem, it is important to remember that the insurance company wants to pay you as little as possible for your injuries, and you can very likely get a lot more with a lawyer on your side

Adjusters often contact accident victims soon after the car crash before they can feasibly meet with a lawyer, and it is essential that you refuse any settlement offers at this time. You do not need to handle an insurance company on your own. Gold, Albanese & Barletti offers free consultations, so you should absolutely reach out to discuss your situation before doing anything else.

Experienced Ocean County Car Accident Lawyers

For more than three decades, our attorneys have helped our clients successfully obtain the full value of their claims after a car accident. We have a total of more than 200 years’ experience working on the side of accident victims. Starting with the initial claims and settlement negotiations, our staff will treat your case with the diligence you deserve. We also have the expertise to represent you during jury trials and appeals, so you can have the peace of mind that we will be with you every step of the way to ensure you receive the maximum financial compensation due to you.

Our offices in Morristown and Red Bank, New Jersey are open 8-6 on weekdays, and accept weekend appointments as well. We will work hard for you, handling the insurance company representatives so you can focus on your recovery. Additionally, if you have medical bills flooding your mailbox that should be paid by the responsible party, we can stop the medical providers from inundating you with these disturbing demands and have them included in your settlement.

Representation for Pedestrians, Bicyclists, and Motorcyclists

If you were injured in a car accident where the responsible party was in a car, but you weren’t, we can help. Our expertise includes representing people who have been injured as pedestrians, bicycle riders and motorcyclists. In all of these cases, the car is larger, heavier and faster. As such, the injuries you sustained can be extensive after being struck by a car. In the event your loved one was killed in a car accident, our NJ car accident lawyers can help the survivors file a wrongful death lawsuit.

Ocean County Service Locations

Our car accident lawyers have helped clients throughout Ocean County, including, but not limited to, the following towns.

  • Jackson
  • Toms River
  • Brick
  • Point Pleasant
  • Lakewood
  • Seaside Park
  • Lavallette
  • Barnegat Township
  • Beach Haven
  • Ship Bottom