How to Handle Head-On Car Collisions
A head-on car collision is one of the most devastating kinds of motor vehicle accidents. It involves two vehicles colliding at their front ends. As a result, both vehicles are putting their speed into the collision. Head-on collisions most frequently occur when one vehicle strays over the center line and into the direction of an oncoming vehicle.
These crashes often cause massive vehicle damage and catastrophic, life-altering physical injuries. If you have been involved in a head-on collision, here is what you need to know about the steps you should be taking after the accident.
Get Medical Attention
The first thing you need to do after a head-on collision is to seek medical attention. While many victims of head-on collisions need emergency medical care at the scene of the crash, if the paramedics are not called to the scene of the accident or if you refuse medical treatment at the scene you should still go to the emergency room or to your primary care physician immediately after the accident.
Getting prompt medical attention after a car accident will allow doctors to diagnose the injuries you suffered in the crash. This can provide documentation linking your injuries to the head-on collision, which will be helpful in a later car accident claim. Prompt medical attention will also allow you to begin treatment for your injuries, which will improve your prognosis and prevent the insurance company from later claiming that you failed to mitigate your losses by not promptly treating your injuries.
Speak to a Lawyer
You should also speak to a lawyer as soon as possible after a head-on collision. An attorney can begin investigating the accident to recover evidence showing who was at fault for the collision. Your attorney will also gather documentation proving your injuries, expenses, and losses. A lawyer can also handle any communications from the insurance companies or other parties on your behalf so that you are not put in a position where you might make a statement that might later be used to undercut your car accident claim.
Start an Insurance Claim
In New Jersey, all drivers are required to have personal injury protection (PIP) coverage as part of their car insurance. PIP coverage pays for medical costs, lost wages, and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred due to injuries you suffered in an auto accident. PIP coverage is often called “no-fault†coverage because your insurance company is obligated to provide you with PIP coverage regardless of who may have been at fault for the accident.
New Jersey law requires insurers to provide at least $15,000 of PIP coverage to insureds, although car owners may purchase up to $250,000 of PIP coverage. Insurers must also provide the maximum $250,000 of PIP coverage regardless of the purchased limit if an insured suffers certain qualifying brain or spinal injuries.
File a Personal Injury Suit
In certain circumstances, you may also choose to file a personal injury claim or lawsuit when the other driver was at fault for the head-on collision. Typically, you would file a claim against the at-fault driver's liability coverage under their insurance policy, although you might file suit directly against the driver if they lack insurance or their insurance policy limits are not enough to fully compensate you.
Filing a lawsuit after a car accident is subject to complex rules under New Jersey's no-fault insurance system, which is why it is important to work with a car accident lawyer following a head-on collision.
Contact an Edison Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Car Accident Case in New Jersey
Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries due to a car accident in New Jersey? Don't let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at Lombardi and Lombardi, P.A.represent clients injured because of car accidents in Woodbridge, Old Bridge, Piscataway, New Brunswick, and throughout New Jersey. Call (732) 906-1500 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 1862 Oak Tree Road, Edison, NJ 08820, as well as offices in Edison, Brick, Freehold, and Point Pleasant Beach.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.
