Being involved in any motor vehicle accident is a harrowing experience, even if it occurs at low speeds or does not cause severe damage to your vehicle or anyone inside. Most crashes happen while you are completely stationary – they involve a distracted driver running into the back of your car before they have time to slow down.
While they are not quite as deadly as head-on or side-impact collisions, rear-end car accidents in Medford could still cause severe injuries that lead to substantial personal losses. If you are dealing with the effects of a crash because someone else acted negligently, speak with a car accident attorney about your options for civil litigation.
How Negligence Can Lead to Rear-End Wrecks
It is often true that a driver who rear-ends someone else is legally at fault for the accident. Any person who follows another vehicle too closely, exceeds the speed limit, fails to slow down appropriately, or does anything else to unnecessarily increase the risk of a collision has violated the duty of care they owe other drivers around them. A breach of duty could serve as grounds for a lawsuit if it directly leads to a crash.
However, sometimes the driver in front may bear partial or even primary responsibility for this kind of incident. For instance, if they suddenly slammed on their brakes or were driving without functioning taillights. This contributory negligence has no bearing on the ability to seek restitution for out-of-pocket expenses through their own injury protection insurance, but it could impact how much recovery a plaintiff could seek through third-party litigation.
Specifically, under New Jersey Revised Statutes §2A:15-5.1, the percentage of total fault an injured plaintiff bears for causing or worsening their damages may be subtracted from their total recoverable compensation. Furthermore, any person in Medford who is more responsible for a rear-end car crash than a person who rear-ended them is usually not able to file a suit under this statute.
For a free legal consultation with a rear-end accident lawyer serving Medford, call (856) 528-4494
Deadlines for Pursuing Civil Damages
The statute of limitations defined in N.J.R.S. §2A:14-2 can restrict an individual’s right to pursue civil restitution after a crash from behind. Under this section of state law, prospective civil claimants generally have two years to begin pursuing a lawsuit, or else they cannot ever file suit over the rear-end crash.
It is worth noting that exceptions to this statute apply under unique situations, and an applicable filing period may be longer or even shorter for different types of claims. A seasoned legal team could explain what rules and regulations might affect a particular claim based on a rear-end car wreck in Medford.
Medford Rear-End Accident Lawyer Near Me (856) 528-4494
Discuss Rear-End Car Accidents in Medford with an Attorney
Car crashes of any kind can wreak havoc on your personal and professional livelihood. If you sustained physical injuries because someone else drove irresponsibly and rear-ended you, taking effective legal action against them could be vital to protecting your long-term interests.
A knowledgeable lawyer could provide guidance and support following a rear-end car accident in Medford. Call today to learn more.
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