Our car accident lawyers in North Bergen have over 40 years of combined experience pursuing compensation for families of fatal accident victims. You can count on a North Bergen fatal car accident lawyer from our team to protect your best interests throughout the legal process and fight for the damage you need to make it through this deeply upsetting time.
Compensation Our North Bergen Fatal Car Accident Lawyers Can Pursue
At Morelli Law, our North Bergen personal injury lawyers understand that no settlement or amount of money can replace the loss of life you and your family have experienced. However, the compensation you can receive from a claim can cover any medical expenses your loved one left behind and help you cope with the emotional distress you’re experiencing.
There are a number of ways that a settlement can help you and your loved ones move forward after a tragic loss. Depending on your unique circumstances, our fatal car accident lawyers in North Bergen may seek any of the following damages:
- Medical care costs
- Loss of financial support
- Funeral costs
- Burial expenses
- Pain and suffering your loved one experienced prior to death
- Mental anguish
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
These damages can help you cover financial setbacks caused by your loved one’s death and give you the support you need to navigate this upsetting time. Our team will work closely with you to determine which damages you’re entitled to receive and how much compensation you’re owed overall.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages may also be awarded if the negligent party that caused the fatal accident demonstrated a complete disregard for the safety of others. For example, if your loved one passed away in an accident caused by a drunk driver, these damages may be awarded to punish the impaired motorist for their egregious negligence.
Have You Been Injured In An Accident? Contact Morelli Law
877-751-9800Parties That Can File a Fatal Car Accident Claim
New Jersey limits your right to take legal action in the wake of a loved one’s passing. The state declares that only the deceased’s personal executor may take legal action on their behalf. If your loved one did not elect a personal executor prior to their passing, the state can elect one on their behalf. N.J. Stat. §2A:31-2 (2021) grants the state this right.
If you are the decedent’s personal executor, you can bring your concerns regarding the accident to the attention of an attorney. If you do not hold this position, you can request that a standing personal executor do so, but you cannot force that action.
You can, however, meet with an attorney to discuss how you might otherwise request compensation for the losses you faced in your accident. Depending on your relationship with a person who’s passed, you may be entitled to some damages.
Types of Fatal Car Accidents We Can File a Claim For
Sadly, there are many types of collisions that can lead to severe and fatal injuries. Our attorneys have worked with many families who’ve lost loved ones in a variety of different accidents. You can rely on our committed team of representatives to seek fair damages if your loved one passed away in any of the following types of crashes:
- Drunk driving accident
- Distracted driving accident
- Rear-end collision
- Truck accident
- Pedestrian accident
- And more
Different types of accidents require different investigation techniques and skill sets. No matter how complicated or severe your loved one’s accident was, you can count on our firm to provide the legal advice, investigative services, and representation you need to file a successful wrongful death claim.
Contact our North Bergen Car Accidents Lawyers today
877-751-9800Steps We’ll Take to Make Your Claim Successful
Filing a strong claim for compensation can be difficult, especially if you’re mourning the loss of a loved one. Luckily, our fatal car accident attorneys in North Bergen can handle every step of the legal process and ensure all important filing requirements are met.
Here’s what our team can do to get you the damages you’re owed so you can focus on the grieving process:
Investigate the Incident
Your fatal accident claim is only as strong as the evidence you have establishing another person’s liability. To uncover the evidence required to make your case successful, it’s important that you get an early start on your case. Doing so can ensure that valuable evidence doesn’t get destroyed or lost.
Once you’ve hired a North Bergen fatal car accident attorney from our team, we’ll undergo the investigative process on your behalf, allowing you to take the time you need to recover and grieve. We’ll gather the following pieces of evidence to make your claim as strong as possible:
- Photos and videos of the auto accident
- Data from police reports
- Medical records
- Bystander testimony
- Expert witness statements
- Accident recreations as performed by professionals
- Information regarding the negligent driver’s auto insurance policy
Use Evidence to Prove Liability
Once our team has collected all the evidence we can find, we’ll use it to prove that the at-fault driver should be held liable for the pain, suffering, and financial losses they’ve caused. To establish liability, we must establish the following elements of negligence:
- The at-fault driver owed your loved one a duty of care
- The at-fault driver breached the duty of care
- The driver’s actions directly caused the accident
- Your loved one suffered fatal injuries due to the crash
If you’re unfamiliar with the phrase “duty of care,” think of it as a legal obligation that all drivers have to drive in a way that is safe and prevents others from suffering foreseeable harm. Once our team has proven that the offending motorist’s failure to uphold a duty of care caused the accident and your loved one’s death, it’s highly likely you’ll receive maximum compensation.
Negotiate a Settlement
Once our North Bergen fatal car accident attorneys have found the evidence required to establish liability, we’ll file your claim with the insurance company. Unfortunately, even in cases of permanent injuries and fatal accidents, insurers are often reluctant to offer full compensation.
The good news is that our team of highly skilled lawyers has negotiated impressive settlements for countless clients. We’ll draw on our negotiating skills to convince the insurance company that you should receive a settlement that meets all your needs.
You do not have to interact with the insurance company or any individuals that you think may exacerbate your grief. Instead, our team can handle insurance negotiations and every other step of your case.
Take Your Case to Court
Although most cases are settled with the insurance company, there’s always the possibility that the insurer won’t offer enough compensation to cover your losses and help you cope with the mental pain you’re feeling. In that case, we can file a wrongful death lawsuit for damages.
Our experienced car accident attorneys have filed many wrongful death lawsuits in the past and can draw on their knowledge and our firm’s resources to ensure your suit is successful. We’ll present strong evidence, sound legal arguments, and even witness testimony at trial.
Once your case has come to an end, you’ll ideally receive a verdict that accounts for the financial losses you’ve incurred and the emotional suffering your family has experienced as a result of your loss.
You Have a Limited Amount of Time to Take Legal Action
If you’ve lost a loved one in a fatal collision, you’ll want to get started on your case as soon as possible. You must bring a fatal accident claim forward within two years of the day the accident takes place. This deadline is known as New Jersey’s statute of limitations and is outlined in N.J. Stat. §2A:31-3 (2021).
You cannot bring a fatal accident claim forward after the statute of limitations on your case expires. New Jersey courts believe that claims brought forward outside of this time period suffer from a victim’s failing memory and the aging nature of relevant evidence.
With that in mind, connect with our fatal car accident lawyers in North Bergen as soon as you can if you want to build a winning case. We can ensure that your complaint is as comprehensive as possible by the time it makes it to a county clerk’s desk.
The Insurance Company Is Not Your Friend
It’s important to understand that the insurance company is not on your side after a fatal collision. In fact, they’ll likely do everything they can to avoid paying you the full amount of compensation you’re owed. They’ll do this by reaching out to you soon after the accident to offer you a lowball settlement.
This strategy works for insurers because they’re able to connect with grieving family members who haven’t spoken to an attorney yet and take advantage of them when they’re most vulnerable. Before you accept a wrongful death settlement out of hand, consider meeting with an attorney.
If you accept a settlement without consulting a legal representative, you could lock yourself out of legal action. Delaying a settlement instead allows you to calculate the value of your losses and compare them against another party’s offer.
Why Our Firm Is the Right Choice for Your Case
If you plan to hand your case over to an attorney, you’ll want to make sure you can trust them to represent your best interests and fight for a fair outcome. One of the best ways to find out if a lawyer is right for your case is to review their past case results and client testimonials.
Our firm’s North Bergen fatal car accident lawyers have recovered billions in case results for individuals like yourself. Not only do we pursue high-value settlements, but we also treat our clients like family. Once you’ve taken a look at our client testimonials, you’ll understand why accident victims always choose Morelli Law to represent them.
We Won’t Charge You Upfront for Our Legal Services
If you have to cover your loved one’s medical bills, funeral costs, and burial expenses, you might not be prepared to pay for an expensive attorney. Luckily, the majority of firms that work on personal injury claims and wrongful death suits offer their services on a contingency fee basis.
Our firm is no different, as we never charge clients upfront or out-of-pocket for our help. Instead of charging you an upfront fee, we’ll take a portion of the settlement you receive at the end of your case. If your case is unsuccessful, you won’t owe us anything.
We hope that this form of payment will take the financial stress out of the legal process and allow you to get the legal advocacy you need without spending a fortune on an attorney. If you have any questions about our contingency fee policy, a lawyer from our team can answer them during your free, no-obligation consultation.
North Bergen Fatal Accident Attorneys Give Motion to Your Grief
You deserve the opportunity to consult with a professional in the wake of a fatal accident. A North Bergen fatal accident lawyer from our firm can give you space to grieve while addressing your case. We’ll do everything we can to make it as easy as possible for you to pursue legal action against the party responsible for a loved one’s accident.
Don’t wait to recover losses from a loved one’s fatal accident. You can contact Morelli Law today to learn more about the benefits of filing a fatal accident claim. We’ll meet with you to discuss your loved one’s accident, determine if you have grounds for a claim, and answer any questions you have about the legal process.
Call or text 877-751-9800 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
