Month: May 2017

Personal Injury

Helping the Injured after Serious New Jersey Truck Accidents

Bergen County lawyers provide dedicated service after serious accidents
One in nine fatal accidents involves a large truck, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). If you were injured or lost a loved one in a truck collision because of a jackknifed or overturned truck because of an unsecured truck-load, or in any other type of truck accident in Bergen County or northern New Jersey, the Law Offices of Richard S. Greenberg is prepared to help you. Our lawyers have decades of experience assisting the injured, a commitment to sensitive, client-focused representation and a strong record of proven results.

What are common causes of truck accidents in New Jersey?
Large trucks are more likely to be involved in multi-vehicle accidents than other vehicles. More than 80 percent of truck accidents involve passenger vehicles. While many of these collisions involve overturned trucks and trucks striking passenger cars, trucks are frequently rear-ended by other vehicles. Using their hands-on experience, practical skills and sensitivity, our lawyers at the Law Offices of Richard S. Greenberg help victims recover compensation for injuries resulting from a wide range of causes, including:

Driver negligence
Trucking company liability
Violations of safety regulations
Overloaded or improperly loaded vehicles
Oversize trucks
Improper vehicle maintenance
Defective trucks or truck parts
Dangerous or defective road conditions
Who is at fault in a truck crash in New Jersey?
In many cases, an accident is caused by truck driver negligence from fatigue, distraction, drug or alcohol use, inexperience, speeding and unsafe turns, lane changes or other maneuvers. When a commercial truck driver is at fault, the trucking company that employs the driver may also be responsible for injuries if the driver caused the accident while acting within the scope of employment. The trucking company may also be responsible for inadequate driver training, failure to enforce safety regulations or negligent hiring — for example, hiring a driver with a poor driving record or history of drug or alcohol abuse.

Injuries caused by serious truck accidents
Because of their enormous size and weight, large commercial trucks, such as semi-trucks, big rigs, 18-wheelers and tractor-trailers, are highly likely to cause catastrophic or fatal injuries when they’re involved in accidents. Our attorneys help victims of all types of serious injuries, from amputation injuries to internal injuries and paralyzing spinal injuries to head injuries, recover compensation to make up for immediate and ongoing medical costs, rehabilitation, lost income and earning capacity, pain, suffering and other losses. If you lose a loved one in a truck accident, we help you through each step of your wrongful death claim with integrity and compassion.

Understanding commercial truck regulations
The trucking industry is heavily regulated by both federal and New Jersey state regulations. There are strict rules about the size and weight of trucks, proper vehicle loading, proper maintenance and required vehicle inspections, driver logs, driver rest periods, overweight vehicles, hazardous loads, safe road access, licensing and registration, and much more. Truck drivers are also specifically banned from using cell phones and other handheld devices by New Jersey law. When a truck driver or truck company violates these regulations, it may be unsafe for everyone and provide grounds for a lawsuit.

Auto Accident

Understanding No-Fault Accidents in New Jersey

Bergen County attorneys explain your right to sue or choose no-fault insurance coverage
When you are injured in an auto accident, the resulting medical bills, lost wages, permanent injuries, car damage and other losses can be overwhelming. Your first thought may be to turn to insurance companies for the compensation you need. However, more than likely you will not receive the full compensation you deserve in your car accident case from insurers.

At the Law Offices of Richard S. Greenberg, we help you understand your rights and options after an accident, including negligence laws, no-fault insurance and your right to sue. Our Bergen County lawyers understand the fright and pain you have experienced in a serious accident, and we are dedicated to providing you with the legal care, comfort and support you need.

What is no-fault insurance?
No-fault insurance covers your damages when you are in an accident, regardless of whether you or another driver or party is at fault under New Jersey’s negligence laws. In New Jersey, you can pick no-fault insurance or you can choose the “full tort” option in auto accident cases, which allows you to pursue a lawsuit for personal injury in court.

If you choose the no-fault insurance option, you may recover a variety of benefits under your plan, such as:

Bodily injury coverage for anyone injured in an accident
Personal injury protection coverage for medical bills and other losses, such as lost wages
However, the amount you can recover is limited by the policy, and many losses are not covered, including damage to your vehicle and other property. Moreover, in many cases an insurer may offer you a settlement of less than you deserve.

Why you need an attorney after any serious car accident
While you may think it wise to turn to insurance companies for the compensation you need, insurers are not on your side. Insurance providers are big businesses that have the goal of maximizing profits. They do so by finding ways to deny or undervalue your claim, paying you less than you deserve for your injuries and losses.

At the Law Offices of Richard S. Greenberg, we have decades of experience dealing with large insurers. Our results speak for themselves. We use our long history of practical experience and our professional reputation to negotiate a fair settlement for you and your loved ones. We can guide you through your options to help you choose when to opt in for no-fault insurance coverage and when to pursue a lawsuit. When you choose no-fault insurance, we are strong negotiators who do not settle for less than your claim is worth. When you choose to sue, our trial lawyers aggressively protect your rights in court.

Personal Injury

What to Know about Motorcycle Accidents in New Jersey

motorcycle accident attorneysBergen County lawyers guide victims through claims for motorcycle injuries & fatalities
When motorcycle riders are involved in accidents, they can suffer seriously, and even deadly, harm. At the Law Offices of Richard S. Greenberg in Bergen County, we help you obtain the compensation you need for your injuries or the loss of a loved one after a severe accident. Through experience, we understand that motorcyclists are often unfairly blamed for accidents that are caused by the negligence of other drivers. We personally investigate crashes to gather evidence of the likely cause and guide you through each step of your claim to help protect your rights and interests.

What are the common causes of motorcycle accidents in New Jersey?
With 2,000 motorcycles involved in crashes each year in New Jersey, riding can be extremely dangerous. Nearly 27 percent of fatal accidents involve alcohol, 22 percent involve inexperienced riders without motorcycle endorsements on their driver’s licenses, 23 percent involve riders who have a previous license suspension or revocation, and 21 percent involve speeding. Other common causes of motorcycle accidents include:

Negligent or reckless drivers of cars, trucks and other vehicles
Manufacturing or design defects of motorcycles, motorbike parts or other vehicles
Dangers and defects in or on the roads
The negligence of other drivers poses a serious problem for motorcyclists. Many drivers fail to watch for motorcycles and seriously can harm relatively unprotected motorcyclists. More than half of all motorcycle crashes that involve other vehicles occur at intersections, and more than two-thirds of accidents occur when the driver of a larger vehicle does not see the motorcycle.

What types of injuries can you suffer in a motorcycle crash?
Accidents involving motorcycles can be extremely serious, involving broken limbs, severe spinal injuries, and traumatic brain injury. The most common nonfatal injuries are reported to include:

Leg or foot injuries
Neck or head injuries
Injuries to the upper trunk, including the chest or back
Arm or hand injuries
Lower trunk injuries, including the lower back or stomach
Other injuries
An estimated 1,222,000 people needed emergency treatment for nonfatal injuries, and more than 34,000 motorcyclists were killed between 2001 and 2008, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). While fatal accidents involving cars and light trucks reached a low in the United States in 2008, motorcycle fatalities reached a record high. If you were injured or have lost a loved one in a serious or fatal motorcycle accident caused by the negligence of another, our attorneys will help you seek the compensation you need through a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit.

What can you do to prevent serious motorcycle injuries?
With head injuries the second most common motorcycle injury, you should follow New Jersey law by wearing a protective helmet. You should also wear eye protection, jackets and pants resistant to tears and scrapes, protective footwear and gloves. In addition, make yourself visible and watch out for larger vehicles that have drivers who are distracted, reckless or just not watching out for you.