NJ Car Accident Statistics

• October 27, 2019
• Car Accidents

On this page, we’re reviewing the numbers associated with New Jersey’s car accident rates, the causes, and why it’s crucial to get legal representation.

There are hundreds of fatalities each year in New Jersey as a result of car accidents, and thousands more are injured. The New Jersey Department of Transportation reported 270,231 car collisions just in 2017, and 591 deaths associated with these accidents.

This may seem like an alarming rate, but 2017 actually saw a slight decrease in the average number of car accident fatalities. The facts are that New Jersey’s car accident statistics have varied since 2001, but traffic deaths are still continuing to increase as of 2018. On this page, we’re going to discuss some of the details involving the overall numbers associated with car accidents and much more.

Handling injury cases associated with car accidents is a big part of what we do at Mattiacci Law, so you should contact us for a free consultation if you or a loved one was injured in a collision that was caused by someone else’s negligence. Once we go through the details of your accident we’ll then be able to take the initial steps that are necessary to fight for full and fair compensation for your damages.

A Closer Look at the Numbers

Forbes has previously published an article stating that New Jersey has the nation’s “second worst drivers”, which was based on a study conducted by Allstate Insurance Company. The study stated that Paterson, Jersey City, Elizabeth, and Newark were the four cities that accounted for the most car accident claims throughout the state.

In 2016, New Jersey reported a total of 273,473 car crashes that included over 62,690 injuries and 570 fatalities. Only 10 counties across the state accounted for almost 75 percent of the total accidents that year. Here’s a closer look at the numbers from 2016 and those 10 troublesome counties:

NJ Car Accident Statistics

Most of New Jersey’s car accidents occur on county or municipal roadways, and rear-end accidents were the most prevalent type of accident in 2016, comprising 23.7 percent. Some of the other common types of car accidents include the following:

The issue of where most car accidents occur is also a major concern for the New Jersey Department of Transportation, which found that approximately 57,161 (34%) of 2016’s car accidents were at signalized or unsignalized intersections. The state police also reported that 43 fatal crashes occurred on interstates in 2016, which were predominately caused by unsafe speeding and driver inattention.

Common Causes of New Jersey Car Accidents

It may come as no surprise to most people in New Jersey, but distracted driving has become a very serious issue throughout the state. This predominately is related to the use of cell phones, both hand-held and hands-free, and in 2016 the NJDOT reported 3,831collisions involving the use of cell phones. There were a total of 1,137 injuries and six deaths involved in these types of accidents.

What’s surprising about these numbers is that there were actually more accidents involving hands-free cell phone technology (1,957) than hand-held mobile devices (1,874). That seems counter-intuitive, and it goes to show that just because you’re talking hands-free doesn’t mean you can’t still be distracted while driving. It all depends on the specific facts of the case.

There have been a lot of campaigns against drinking and driving, yet alcohol-related crashes are still prevalent throughout New Jersey. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration cited 601 alcohol-related deaths in the state throughout 2016.

New Jersey is also simply prone to inclement weather, and the state’s harsh winter conditions can always be a threat to those drivers who simply can’t avoid driving to and from work or school or who choose to drive in unsafe conditions.

Speeding has always been a serious issue in New Jersey and still continues to be so. Recent studies have shown that holidays also continue to be a dangerous time to be on the state’s roadways. Although New Year’s Eve has seen fewer fatal crashes in recent years, holidays like Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Christmas and Fourth of July are considered to be some of the most dangerous driving periods, according to statistics provided by the New Jersey State Police.

Why You Need an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer After a Car Accident

It is almost always in your best interest to work with an experienced lawyer after you have been involved in a car accident. This is especially the case if you suffered any kind of serious injury or have family members who have been injured.

Insurance companies and their adjusters know exactly what’s at stake with each car accident scenario. They often work in the company’s best interest to protect profit margins and minimize paying out claims. An experienced personal injury attorney will protect you by fighting to get you the amount of compensation you deserve. This compensation includes covering damages like:

• Lost wages and diminished future earning capacity
• Past and future medical expenses
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of quality of life
• Loss of consortium
• Other expenses related to your accident
• Wrongful death
• Punitive damages

Car accident victims who have legal representation collect 3.5 times more on average, according to anInsurance Research Council study. Some of the many services that our team provides our clients throughout each case include the following:

Investigation

The very first thing we always do when it comes to any personal injury case, including car accidents, is to thoroughly investigate the details of what happened in the moments leading up to and after your car collision. It’s never smart to solely rely upon police reports and insurance company findings, and our independent investigations will attempt to gather additional evidence. This can include contacting eyewitnesses, examining the vehicles and accident site, obtaining event data recorder information from the vehicles, and consulting expert witnesses in fields including accident reconstruction.

Assessment

We’ll always review your medical records in order to evaluate your physical, financial and emotional harm. This will include consulting with physicians and medical and life care experts to help us completely determine the nature and extent of your injuries and the damages that you’ve sustained.

Client Contact

We strive to keep our clients in the loop when it comes to the steps we’re taking while pursuing your case. This includes letting you know about our investigation, negotiations, and the legal process.

If you call out firm, we do everything we can to promptly return the call. Ultimately, communication is a high priority.

Filing All Necessary Paperwork

There are a lot of documents that need to be properly filed after a car accident to the courts, insurance companies, and other lawyers involved in your case. We’ll be able to ensure that these accident reports and general paperwork are filed. This can include applications for medical benefits through a car insurance policy and other documents.

Preparing a Settlement

One of the ways that Mattiacci Law sets itself apart is that we’re always preparing each of our cases for a successful trial, which then gives us the leverage you’ll need to potentially resolve your car accident claim through a favorable settlement.

Going to Trial

There’s no denying the fact that insurance companies will many times challenge the overall amount of damages and liability in car accident cases, so if this occurs we’ll be ready to take the claim to court and fight for your full and rightful compensation.

Our New Jersey Car Accident Lawyers Are Here To Help You And Your Family

New Jersey car accident laws tend to be rather complex, which makes it extremely difficult to handle insurance adjusters without the assistance of the pros who handle these adjusters all the time.

If you or a loved one was involved in a car accident that was caused by someone else’s negligence, then our team of Philadelphia & New Jersey Personal Injury Lawyers can help you get the overall outcome you rightfully deserve.

Contact us today for a free consultation so we can review your case and begin our fight for your recovery.