Automobile Accidents
Motor vehicle accidents happen suddenly. If you are involved
in an accident it is important that you understand your rights.
Immediately contact the police and your insurance carrier
and advise them of the accident. Obtain the police report
and send it to your insurance company. Take pictures of your
car and the accident scene. Write down any witness’s
names and addresses and call or email the New
Jersey car accident attorney Lloyd
Bennett, Esq., P.C.
Frequently asked Insurance and Accident Questions:
I was hurt in an accident, who will pay my medical bills?
New Jersey is a no-fault insurance state. This means that
in most cases your medical bills will be paid by your automobile
insurance company even if your vehicle was not involved in
the accident. If you have no automobile insurance then it
will be paid by the insurance company of the vehicle you
were in. Payment is made under the "PIP Coverage" of
the policy. "PIP" is short for Personal Injury
Protection. Pre-certification of the treatment by the insurance
carrier is often required before treatment can begin.
Am I responsible for any of the medical bills?
New Jersey insurers are required to offer PIP deductibles.
Most policies contain a $250 deductible for the first medical
bill that the insurance company pays. Then the insurance
company pays 80% of the medical bills up to $5000.00. Once
the total medical bills exceed $5000 then the insurance company
will pay the entire amount up to the policy limit of $250,000.
The most out of pocket loss you will suffer is $1200. If
you have health insurance you can submit the deductible bills
to the health insurance provider.
What if the accident was caused by the other driver?
If the accident was another driver’s fault, you may be entitled to compensation.
Call the NJ auto accident attorney. Our New Jersey (NJ) based auto accident
lawyers and attorneys have been helping accident victims for 20 years.
What if I was a passenger or my children, spouse, friend,
or co-worker were hurt?
Passengers are often injured in car accidents. In many cases passengers have
the same right to recover from the at-fault driver as the driver does. If
the passenger owns a car or resides with a relative that owns a car then
that family members automobile insurance policy will pay the medical bills
even if that car wasn’t involved in the accident.
What if there is a dispute about who caused the accident?
The law requires you to prove that another person caused
the accident in which you were injured. We understand car
accidents. We thoroughly investigate and use experts to assess
fault. We will fight to help you win your case.
How will the insurance company evaluate my case?
Most likely, the insurance company for the person who caused the accident will
try to offer you less than full compensation. Hiring our law firm can level
the playing field. We have the expertise needed to protect your rights to
receive full compensation.
What if the other driver does not have insurance?
Uninsured motorist coverage may protect you. The rules involving uninsured
motorist coverage are complex. An insurance company is unlikely to thoroughly
explain those rules or offer you all of the compensation you may be legally
due. We understand New Jersey uninsured motorist coverage and can make sure
you are fairly compensated.
What if the other driver does not have enough insurance?
Under-insured motorist coverage may be available. Whether you are entitled
to under-insured motorist benefits depends on a careful evaluation of your
own insurance policy and the policy or policies of the other drivers involved
and a thorough knowledge of how uninsured and under-insured insurance law
operates in the State of New Jersey.
What type of Insurance should I buy to protect
my family and my assets?
New Jersey law requires automobile drivers to have automobile
liability insurance. New Jersey law allows drivers to choose
either the basic or standard policy. The standard policy
provides liability coverage to protect your assets (your
property and your income) if someone makes a claim against
you. The basic policy does not.
I have full coverage isn’t that enough?
Full coverage means you have coverage for property damage
and liability together. It has nothing to do with your liability
insurance limits. The liability coverage limit is the most
amount of money your insurance company will pay to someone
who is injured by you, a resident family member or by the
driver of your car. In addition, the standard policy provides
uninsured motorist protection in case you or a resident family
member is injured by an uninsured car which is very common
in New Jersey a basic policy does not.
What is a “standard” policy’s” minimum
limit?
The minimum liability limits and uninsured motorist limits
under a standard policy are $15,000 per person/ $30,000 per
accident for bodily injury and $5000 for property damage.
However, New Jersey drivers can purchase more insurance up
to $500,000 single limit policy and unlimited amounts thereafter
in an umbrella policy. This coverage will also provide you
with an attorney, paid for by your insurance company in the
event you’re sued. The standard policy also provides
up to $250,000 in medical coverage called personal injury
protection (pip) plus additional coverage for income continuation,
essential services, death benefits and funeral expenses.
Why shouldn’t I buy a basic policy, its cheaper?
The basic policy does not provide coverage to protect your
assets; it provides only $15,000 in medical coverage. It
also provides up to $250,000 but only for brain or severe
spinal cord injury and that will only cover hospitalization
costs. There is no uninsured coverage and the insurance company
will not provide an attorney to you if you are sued. NEVER
BUY A BASIC POLICY!
What Threshold should I chose?
NJ car accident lawyer Lloyd
Bennett, Esq. recommends you always chose a “no limitation
on lawsuit” threshold. If you chose the verbal threshold
you will eliminate the legal rights of yourself, your spouse
and any children who reside with you to make a claim for
money damages or to file a lawsuit against a careless driver
unless you suffer on of the following injuries:
- Death
- Dismemberment
- Significant
disfigurement
or scarring
- Displaced
fracture
- Loss
of fetus
- Permanent
injury
(where
a body
part has
not and
will not
heal to
function
normally)
The “no limitation on lawsuit” threshold permits
you to always, make a claim or to file a lawsuit against
a careless diver. Always choose the “no limitation
on lawsuit”
If you have any questions about your insurance or your
accident cases call or email the NJ car accident
attorney, Lloyd Bennett, Esq., P.C.
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