NJ Injury Lawyers: Claim Evaluation- Expenses and Damages

One of the most important things to take into account during the claim evaluation process is the cost of medical expenses. However, as an indication of case value, medical expenses leave much to be desired for the purposes of compensation, because they do not demonstrate the extent of a claimant’s pain, suffering, and inconvenience that is experienced during his or her recovery. This is especially true in cases that involve self-healing injuries and those that do not require much medical involvement.

As knowledgeable NJ injury lawyers will tell you, your lost earnings should also be taken into account during the evaluation process, as these amounts represent the actual out-of-pocket costs of the claimant that, had the accident not occurred, most likely would not have been incurred. A claim adjuster will probably make a distinction between “gross” loss of earnings and “net” loss of earnings by deducting from the gross loss those amounts that the claimant will not have to pay as a result of the loss. Moreover, the adjuster generally deducts a flat 20 percent from any amount of lost earnings that you submit to him or her.

In general, claimants are entitled to recover all other necessary out-of-pocket expenses stemming from the accident. Some of the more common expenses, such as childcare costs and rental cars that are used in place of a claimant’s damaged automobile, are typically accepted by the adjuster unless the amounts and necessity for such expenses require additional proof. If you do not have readily-available receipts for these payments, the adjuster may say that you have a “lack of documentation” and, accordingly, refuse to reimburse you for them.

With regard to general damages, the amounts received will differ greatly depending on the adjuster’s opinion and determination of the validity and necessity of the above-mentioned factors. When using the formula “value equals damages times liability,” the sum total of the special damages (which consist of economic losses like medical expenses and lost income) accepted by the adjuster and his or her evaluation of proper general damages is what gives you the settlement offer.

If you need a team of qualified NJ injury lawyers, please call Zager Fuchs, PC today.

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NJ Injury Lawyers: Medical Bills and Information

In the eyes of insurance companies, medical bills are the best signs of the extent of your injuries. Insurance companies use and review the amount of those medical bills as the main factor in settlement talks. Accordingly, insurance claims adjusters and their supervisors place a great deal of importance on the quality of medical bill documentation.

For example, do your bills show that you had a hospital stay, underwent physical therapy or osteopathic or chiropractic treatment, had diagnostic tests, were given prescriptions or that you were advised to use over-the-counter medicines? A three-week hospital stay and five months of physical therapy is much better evidence of an injury than several thousand dollars worth of negative diagnostic tests, such as MRIs, X-rays and CAT scans.

If your accident-related medical bills are well-documented and relate to your actual injuries, that is clearly advantageous to your case.  However, if your bills are for a series of tests that failed to demonstrate that you have any injuries, your case is considerably weaker. What’s worse, if your bills are exaggerated or relate to treatment for unrelated injuries, you will most assuredly find yourself in the minus column. Therefore, you may find it beneficial to obtain the services of qualified NJ injury lawyers to assist you with gathering your medical bills and evaluating their usefulness to your case.

Moreover, you should know that the quality of your medical information, including your medical reports, emergency room and physical therapy records, as well as any diagnostic interpretations, is the next most important thing used when evaluating a settlement.  Note that reports that are written in narrative form from well-respected doctors who fully explain the nature of your injuries are preferable to illegible scrawled-out office notes that fail to say much of anything.

Detailed and typed office notes are good in most instances, as are physical therapy records and hospital records with detailed nurses’ notes. What it all boils down to is how well-documented your injuries are and the completeness of your records.  If you need a team of qualified NJ injury lawyers, please call Zager Fuchs, P.C. for a free consultation.

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NJ Injury Lawyers Assist with Hazardous Road Accident Claims

If you have been involved in a car accident that was caused by a hazardous road condition, you should contact a NJ injury lawyer to get the compensation that you deserve.

Millions of Americans are killed on the road each year as the result of negligence. Despite the common belief that these accidents are caused by the negligence of other drivers on the road, dangerous and hazardous road conditions account for a majority of these unnecessary accidents. Hazardous road conditions that result in an accident are not your fault and not your responsibility to pay for.

Dangerous Road Conditions Leading to Accidents
Although it is the driver’s responsibility to drive cautiously at all times, dangerous road conditions are ultimately the responsibility of construction crews and the governing officials who hired them. Some hazardous road conditions that common lead to car accidents include:
– Potholes
– Obstructed traffic signs
– Poor road designs
– Unmarked curves and blind corners
– Hazardous debris
– Overgrown trees and other plant life
– Uneven paved roads
– Cracks in asphalt
– Icy and other weather damaged roads

Dangerous Road Car Accidents
Poorly kept roads and highways can create dangerous driving conditions causing even the most cautious and safest driver to lose control and cause an accident. The true danger of a hazardous road comes from a driver’s inability to be in complete control of the decisions they make on the road and the movement of their vehicle. As such, these accidents are much more dangerous than normal.

These hazardous road conditions result in too many accidents and even death that easily could have been prevented. All it takes is for one person to be affected by a dangerous road condition, and that one person may end up injuring numerous people in a multi-car collision.

A NJ Injury Lawyer Can Help
If you have been injured as a result of hazardous conditions of a road, it can be difficult to determine fault in order to obtain compensation without legal assistance. NJ injury lawyer Dan Matrafajlo has the necessary experience to successfully represent you and help you receive just compensation from the responsible parties.

For more information on how a NJ injury lawyer can assist you in your hazardous road accident case, please contact the lawyers at Zacher Fuchs, P.C.

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