Drivers who cause car or truck accidents in New Jersey may face civil and criminal consequences. Drivers who cause fatal car accidents may face criminal charges, such as death by auto. This is what happened to a 20 year old NJ driver who caused a deadly crash this past Sunday in Sayreville, New Jersey. The 20 year old driver was driving his friend, who was 19 years old. The accident happened shortly before 11pm. The 20 year old driver was traveling south on Route 9 when his vehicle struck the concrete highway divider. The 19 year old was sitting in the front passenger seat and was thrown from the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the accident scene. The 20 year old driver has been arrested and charged with one count of death by auto.*
In addition to criminal charges, drivers who cause serious and fatal accidents can also be held liable in civil lawsuits, i.e., New Jersey car accident lawsuits. The end result of NJ motor vehicle lawsuits is financial compensation for the injured drivers and/or passengers.
The types of financial compensation injured drivers and passengers may recover are the following:
- medical expenses,
- past and future lost wages,
- out of pocket expenses, and
- pain and suffering.
Medical Expenses
Though medical expenses incurred by injured individuals are covered by injured individuals’ own car insurance policies, i.e., PIP coverage, they may recover medical expenses from the at-fault drivers after PIP coverage is exhausted.
The statutory default PIP coverage for New Jersey drivers is $250,000. If the injuries are not serious, PIP coverage will probably not exhaust. However, if injuries are serious or catastrophic requiring extensive medical treatment, such as long-term hospital stay, then PIP coverage may be exhausted. This is especially true for NJ drivers who elected lower PIP coverage amounts, such as $10,000. Medical bills incurred after PIP coverage is exhausted may be recovered from the at-fault driver.
Related: Who Pays for a Pedestrian’s Medical Bills After Getting Hit By a Car or Truck in South Jersey?
Past and Future Lost Wages
Seriously injured car accident victims may not be able to work after car accidents. In addition, injuries may affect their ability to work in the future. For example, a passenger who suffers a spinal cord injury may not be able to return to his previous job as a construction worker. In such a case, the injured victim may recover his past and future lost wages from the at-fault driver.
Out of Pocket Expenses
Seriously injured car accident victims often incur out of pocket expenses after car accidents. For example, a passenger who suffers a displaced fracture in his leg and has to stay off his feet for 8 weeks cannot perform chores around the house. He may not be able to shovel the snow after a snowstorm and needs to hire a snow removal company. If he is unable to drive due to his leg injury, he would need to take taxis to get to a doctor’s appointment. These types of costs are out of pocket expenses injured individuals may recover from the at-fault drivers.
Help After A Serious Car Accident In NJ
FREE consultations from a Mt. Laurel, Marlton & Southampton NJ car and truck injury lawyer. Call 800.281.8695 to schedule your FREE legal consultation.
*Source: www.therepublic.com (Prosecutors: Driver in fatal central New Jersey crash charged with death by auto)
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