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Injured in a Car Accident? How a Lawyer Can Help

September 8, 2025 by

Injured in a Car Accident? How a Lawyer Can HelpCar accidents happen fast, but the aftermath drags on. You’re in pain, missing work, and fielding calls from insurance adjusters who don’t have your best interests in mind. That’s where a personal injury lawyer comes in

If you have been hurt in a car accident, this guide walks you through exactly how legal help can protect your rights, ease the stress, and put you in the best position to recover full and fair compensation for all your losses

What To Do Immediately After the Crash

  • Call 911 and report the accident. Get medical help, even if the injury feels minor.
  • Document everything. Take photos of both vehicles, license plates, road conditions, visible injuries, and property damage.
  • Collect information. Get names, contact information, and insurance details from all drivers. Ask witnesses for contact information, too.
  • Do not admit fault. Be polite, but stick to facts when speaking with police.
  • Notify your insurance carrier. File a basic report, but avoid giving detailed statements before you speak to a lawyer.

How Insurance Companies Operate

Insurance companies are not on your side. Their job is to limit what they pay, not to ensure that you’re fully compensated. After a crash, they may offer a quick settlement, hoping you’ll take less than your claim is worth.

When you hire a car accident lawyer, you’ll have an experienced professional who can take over all communication, protect your rights, and help you pursue maximum compensation for your injury claim.

The Role of a Personal Injury Attorney

A qualified personal injury attorney does far more than send letters or talk to insurance adjusters. They begin by investigating the crash—reviewing police reports, medical records, and liability issues to establish fault. When necessary, they consult with expert witnesses (accident reconstructionists or medical professionals) to support your case.

Your attorney works with those experts to calculate the full value of your damages, including current and projected medical expenses, lost wages and income, loss of companionship or consortium, loss of enjoyment of life, and physical and emotional pain and suffering. They handle every aspect of the legal process, preparing all necessary documents, filing all required pleadings and acting as your voice in all hearings, meetings or proceedings.

Why Time Matters: The Statute of Limitations

New Jersey law gives you a two-year window from the date of your car accident to file a personal injury claim. A lawyer ensures all claims are filed on time, evidence is preserved early, and no procedural mistakes put your recovery at risk.

Read Also: Can You Be Liable for a Car Accident When You Weren’t Driving the Car

Contact the Law Offices of David J. Karbasian, PC

If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you deserve answers, support, and strong legal representation. At the Law Offices of David J. Karbasian, PC, we offer free consultations and never charge a legal fee unless we recover compensation for you. We’re available evenings, weekends, and can meet you at home or in the hospital if needed.

Call 856-600-HURT or contact us online to discuss your case. We’ll take care of the legal process while you concentrate on your recovery.

Filed Under: Car Accident Tagged With:

What To Do After a Drunk Driving Arrest in New Jersey

August 20, 2025 by

What To Do After a Drunk Driving Arrest in New JerseyGetting charged with drunk driving in New Jersey can be overwhelming and frightening. You may be worried about losing your driver’s license, paying steep fines, or even facing jail time. What you do in the hours and days following your arrest can greatly impact your legal outcome.

At the Law Offices of David J. Karbasian, PC, we help individuals navigate the complexities of DUI charges and fight to protect their future.

Essential Steps To Take After a Drunk Driving Arrest in New Jersey

Understand the Charges You’re Facing

In New Jersey, drunk driving is referred to as DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) or DUI (Driving Under the Influence) and the terms tend to be used interchangeably. You can be charged with drunk driving if your blood alcohol level is 0.08% or above—or lower if your ability to drive was clearly affected.

Penalties for a DUI conviction can include:

  • License suspension
  • Hefty fines and court fees
  • Mandatory alcohol education classes
  • Ignition interlock device installation
  • Jail time, especially for repeat offenses

Do Not Plead Guilty Without Legal Advice

Pleading guilty without legal advice is risky—breath tests can be flawed, and traffic stops must follow legal procedures. If the arrest followed a minor traffic violation, the escalation to a DUI charge may be challenged.

An experienced DUI attorney can:

  • Review the legality of the stop
  • Challenge the accuracy of test results
  • Spot mistakes in the legal process that could result in the charges being dropped

Request a DMV Hearing To Protect Your License

After a DUI/DWI arrest, your license may be suspended administratively, separate from criminal charges. You have a short window to request a DMV hearing to challenge a potential license suspension.

This hearing allows you the opportunity to:

  • Challenge the evidence against you
  • Argue to retain your driving privileges
  • Delay or prevent suspension during your court case

Having a skilled attorney represent you at the DMV hearing can significantly improve your chances of getting the outcome you want.

Preserve Key Evidence Immediately

Time-sensitive evidence can make or break your defense. After your arrest, it’s important to gather and preserve:

  • Police reports and citations
  • Blood or breath test results
  • Video footage from dashcams or body cams
  • Contact information of any witnesses
  • Your own notes about what happened

Hire an Experienced New Jersey DUI Attorney

Facing a drunk driving charge without proper legal guidance is ill-advised. A knowledgeable DUI attorney can:

  • Investigate the circumstances of your arrest
  • Review test procedures and calibration logs
  • Fight for reduced charges or dismissal
  • Negotiate alternatives like conditional discharge or treatment programs
  • Represent you in court and DMV proceedings

At the Law Offices of David J. Karbasian, PC, we have extensive experience handling DUI cases throughout New Jersey. We understand how to challenge flawed evidence and protect your driving record and freedom.

Read Also: Rear-End Accidents—Who is Responsible?

Contact the Law Offices of David J. Karbasian, PC

If you’ve been arrested for drunk driving in New Jersey, take immediate steps to protect your rights. Send us an email today, or call us at 856-600-HURT to schedule an appointment. Evening and weekend consultations are available, and we can meet you at your home or the jail if necessary.

Filed Under: DUI Tagged With:

Understanding Liability in Motorcycle Accidents: Who’s at Fault?

August 4, 2025 by

Understanding Liability in Motorcycle Accidents: Who’s at Fault?Motorcycle crashes often result in serious, life-altering injuries and overwhelming medical bills. For injured motorcyclists, determining who is at fault is critical to successfully pursuing compensation for their losses. But in New Jersey, where liability laws can be complex, fault isn’t always easy to prove.

At the Law Offices of David J. Karbasian, PC, we help riders navigate this legal process and fight back against insurance companies trying to shift the blame.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcyclists are vulnerable on New Jersey roads due to their smaller size and limited protection. Many crashes occur because of:

  • Drivers failing to yield when turning left
  • Unsafe lane changes by motorists
  • Speeding and aggressive driving
  • Distracted or impaired driving
  • Poorly maintained roads or weather conditions

How New Jersey Determines Fault

Fault in a motorcycle crash usually stems from negligence, which is when one of the parties to an accident fails to take reasonable steps to prevent harm. When another person’s negligence leads to a crash, that person can be held liable for any injuries caused.

New Jersey follows the legal principle of modified comparative negligence. Under this approach:

  • Your financial recovery may be adjusted according to your level of responsibility for causing the accident.
  • You may not receive any compensation if your degree of fault is more than 50%.

For example, if you’re deemed 20% at fault, any jury award would be reduced by that same percentage. This rule makes it vital to build a strong, evidence-backed case that minimizes your share of fault.

Who May Be Liable in a Motorcycle Crash?

More than one party may be responsible for a motorcycle accident. Potentially liable parties include:

  • Negligent drivers who caused the crash
  • Government agencies responsible for road maintenance
  • Motorcycle or vehicle manufacturers in cases involving mechanical failure
  • Commercial vehicle drivers and their employers
  • In rare cases, the motorcyclist may share responsibility

Evidence That Helps Prove Fault

To support your case, certain types of evidence are particularly helpful:

  • Police reports documenting the accident scene and officer observations
  • Photos and videos showing vehicle damage, road conditions, and injuries
  • Eyewitness statements that support your account of the accident
  • Medical records that verify the extent of your injuries and when they occurred
  • Expert witness testimony, such as accident reconstruction reports

How Karbasian Law Can Help

At the Law Offices of David J. Karbasian, PC, we understand the challenges injured riders face. We take immediate action to:

  • Investigate the cause of your accident
  • Collect vital evidence
  • Communicate directly with insurance companies to protect you from lowball offers or unfair allegations of blame
  • Pursue full and fair compensation for your losses, including lost income or wages, unreimbursed medical costs, physical and emotional pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of companionship or consortium, and loss or damage to personal property
  • Litigate aggressively when insurers fail to offer fair compensation

Read Also: Tips for Having a Safe Summer on Your Motorcycle

Contact the Law Offices of David J. Karbasian, PC

If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident, don’t wait to protect your rights. Send us an email today, or call us at 856-600-HURT to schedule an appointment to discuss your motorcycle injury claim. Evening and weekend consultations are available upon request. We can also meet with you at your home or the hospital if necessary.

We handle all motorcycle accident cases—and other personal injury claims—on a contingent fee basis. That means you won’t pay any legal fees unless we recover financial compensation for the losses you incurred.

Filed Under: Motorcycle Accidents Tagged With:

Comparative Negligence and the Last Clear Chance Doctrine

July 15, 2025 by

Comparative Negligence and the Last Clear Chance Doctrine

comparative-negligence-and-the-last-clear-chance-doctrine

Can You Claim Damages for Injuries If You Could Have Avoided the Accident?

In New Jersey, as in every state, the vast majority of personal injury claims are based on the legal principle of negligence. To prove negligence, you must show that the defendant acted unreasonably under the circumstances. For example, if you’ve been hurt in a motor vehicle accident, evidence showing that the other party ran a stop sign or red light is proof of their negligence. But what if you could have avoided the accident? What if you had sufficient time to brake but were distracted? Can you still seek compensation for your losses?

The Last Clear Chance Doctrine

Historically, New Jersey (and all other states) followed a legal principle known as contributory negligence. Under this approach, if an injured party contributed in any way to causing an accident, there could be no recovery. When contributory negligence was the rule of law in New Jersey, courts applied the Last Clear Chance Doctrine, a legal principle that assigns liability to the party who had the last clear opportunity to prevent an accident. As a result, an injured person who could have prevented the accident would be precluded from receiving compensation from another party whose negligence primarily caused the accident.

Due to concerns about abuses of the contributory negligence rule, New Jersey and most other states replaced contributory negligence with the legal principle of comparative negligence. With comparative negligence, the court first determines the full amount of damages needed to compensate the injured party for their losses. Next, the court allocates a percentage of fault to each party. Finally, the injured party’s financial award is reduced by their percentage of fault. So, for example, if a court finds that a party should receive $100,000 in damages, but that the party was 20% at fault for causing the accident, then the award will be reduced to $80,000.

New Jersey follows a particular type of comparative negligence referred to as modified comparative negligence. Under modified comparative negligence, an injured person who is more than 50% responsible for causing their own injuries may not recover anything.

Under the comparative negligence approach, the Last Clear Chance doctrine has little or no relevance, as a court allocates a percentage of fault to each party. A party that had the last clear opportunity to prevent an accident may still recover, as long as their percentage of fault does not exceed 50%.

Contact the Law Offices of David J. Karbasian, PC

Send us an email today or call us at 856-600-HURT to schedule an appointment to discuss your personal injury claim. Evening and weekend consultations are available upon request. We can come to your home or the hospital to meet with you, if necessary.
We handle all personal injury claims, including motor vehicle accident lawsuits, on a contingent fee basis. You will not incur any legal fees unless we recover monetary compensation for your losses.

Filed Under: New Jersey Motor Personal Injury Claims Tagged With:

New Jersey Premises Liability Claims

June 30, 2025 by

Can You File a Lawsuit for Injuries Caused by Inadequate Lighting

new-jersey-premises-liability-claims

In New Jersey, as in other states, owners or persons in control of residential or commercial property have a duty to maintain the premises in such a way as to minimize the risk of injury to persons legally visiting the property. These claims are commonly referred to as premises liability lawsuits.

Most premises liability actions involve injuries caused by slippery surfaces; dangerous tile, carpet or other flooring; or poorly maintained sidewalks, steps, stairs, ramps, and other thoroughfares. But what if poor lighting, or the absence of lighting, causes a visitor to stumble, trip, and fall? Can the injured person file a claim for damages?

Poor Lighting as the Basis of a Premises Liability Claim

Most premises liability claims, like other personal injury lawsuits, are based on a legal theory of negligence. To succeed with a claim of negligence, you must prove the following by the weight of the evidence:

  • The defendant failed to act as a reasonable person would under the circumstances;
  • The failure to act reasonably caused an accident; and
  • You suffered actual injury as a consequence of the accident.

A jury will decide whether or not a property owner should be liable for failure to maintain reasonably safe lighting conditions, based on the facts presented at trial.

Let Attorney David J. Karbasian Help You After a New Jersey Slip and Fall Accident

You have the right to seek full and fair compensation when you’ve been hurt on someone else’s property because of a slip and fall in poor lighting conditions. We can help. Send us an email today or call us at 856-600-HURT to schedule an appointment to discuss your claim. Evening and weekend consultations are available upon request. We can come to your home or the hospital to meet with you, if necessary.

We take all premises liability claims on a contingency basis. We charge legal fees only if we recover compensation for your losses.

Filed Under: New Jersey Premises Liability Claims Tagged With:

The Importance of Immediate Medical Care After a Motor Vehicle Accident

May 30, 2025 by

The Potential Risks of Waiting to Get Treatment

The Importance of Immediate Medical Care After a Motor Vehicle AccidentWhen you’re able to walk away from a car, truck, or motorcycle accident, you can feel like you’ve dodged a bullet. As a consequence, you may believe that it’s unnecessary or unimportant to seek medical attention, unless you start to notice physical changes. It’s essential, though, even if you think you’ve come away unscathed, to seek medical care as soon as possible, whether in a hospital emergency room, an urgent care facility, or the offices of your primary care physician.

Some Injuries Take Time To Develop

Certain types of trauma—broken bones, cuts, and sprains, for example—are obvious. Often, though, some of the most debilitating injuries take time to appear:

  • In the aftermath of an accident, your body may produce adrenaline, which can mask the early discomfort associated with many types of injuries.
  • One of your body’s primary responses to injury or trauma is inflammation or swelling, but that can also take time to appear.

Why Waiting Can Jeopardize Your Legal Rights

When you’ve been hurt in a motor vehicle accident because of someone else’s negligence, you have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit to recover for your losses. To prove your case, though, you’ll have to show that the defendant’s actions caused your injuries. If you seek immediate medical attention after a crash, you’ll have documented evidence of the injuries you suffered, making it much easier to establish that the other driver caused those injuries. However, the longer you wait, the greater the risk that you’ll be involved in some other type of accident—a slip and fall at home, for example—and that could make it more difficult to establish that the crash caused your injuries.

Contact the Law Offices of David J. Karbasian, PC

Send us an email today, or call us at 856-600-HURT to schedule an appointment to discuss your personal injury claim. Evening and weekend consultations are available upon request. We can come to your home or the hospital to meet with you, if necessary.

We handle all personal injury claims, including motor vehicle accident lawsuits, on a contingent fee basis. You will not incur any legal fees unless we recover monetary compensation for your losses.

Filed Under: New Jersey Motor Vehicle Accident Injury Claims Tagged With:

Motorcycle Fatalities Spike in Recent Years

May 22, 2025 by

NHTSA Reports Highest Number of Deaths in Nearly 50 Years

Motorcycle Fatalities Spike in Recent YearsTraveling by motorcycle has always been more dangerous than riding in a passenger vehicle or a truck. There’s nothing between you and the road, and far too many motorists don’t pay sufficient attention to know that you’re there. Statistics compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration support this, with motorcycles accounting for less than 1% of all miles driven but approximately 15% of all fatalities. In 2022 and 2023, respectively, motorcycle accidents were tied to 6,218 and 6,335 deaths on America’s roadways.

Why Have Motorcycle Fatalities Increased Dramatically Over the Last Few Years?

Authorities point to a number of factors that account for the upward trend in motorcycle accident fatalities since the pandemic:

  • A rise in high-risk behaviors by bikers, including excessive speed, lane splitting, and passing when either prohibited or unwise
  • An increase in the influence of alcohol and/or drugs by motorcyclists
  • More bikers with less skill training

Common Causes of Motorcycle Fatalities

The reason most frequently given by the other driver after a motorcycle fatality is “I never saw the motorcycle.” Many factors may contribute to the road blindness of other motorists:

  • Distracted driving by other motorists who are paying attention to handheld devices, the radio, other passengers, or roadside attractions
  • Use of excessive speed by other motorists
  • Failure to yield to the right-of-way of motorcyclists, most often at intersections during left turns
  • Failure by motorcyclists to take steps to maximize visibility

Let Attorney David J. Karbasian Help You After a New Jersey Motorcycle Accident

You have the right to seek full and fair compensation when you’ve been hurt in a motorcycle wreck caused by the negligence of another person. We can help. Send us an email today, or call us at 856-600-HURT to schedule an appointment to discuss your claim. Evening and weekend consultations are available upon request. We can come to your home or the hospital to meet with you, if necessary.

We take all motorcycle accident injury claims on a contingency basis. We will charge legal fees only if we recover compensation for your losses.

Filed Under: New Jersey Motorcycle Injury Claims Tagged With:

Accidents Involving Truck Driver Log Violations

April 24, 2025 by

What Are the Requirements? How Do Log Book Violations Help in a Personal Injury Lawsuit?

Truck Driver Log ViolationsUnder state and federal laws, large commercial trucks, such as 18-wheelers, tractor-trailers, semis, and big rigs, can legally carry up to 80,000 pounds of cargo—that’s 40 tons! When such a vehicle breaks down, it can put a lot of other people in harm’s way. In addition, most commercial truck drivers are paid by the load, so there’s a built-in incentive to spend more time behind the wheel, leading to fatigue, slow reaction times, and bad judgment.

Recognizing these concerns, state and federal law requires truckers and trucking companies to keep both vehicle maintenance and time-on-the-road logs. Most truckers diligently comply, but some either fail to make all required entries or even falsify records.

What Time-on-the-Road Requirements Must a Truck Driver Log?

Commercial truck drivers must accurately log all time on duty and driving. Driving refers to time actually behind the wheel, whereas “on duty” includes driving time, non-driving tasks, and waiting for an assignment or waiting to be dispatched. A driver may be behind the wheel for no more than 11 consecutive hours after a 10-hour break. On-duty time is limited to 14 hours after a 10-hour break.

All drivers must take a minimum 30-minute break after eight consecutive hours behind the wheel. Drivers are limited to a maximum of 60 hours on duty during a seven-day period and 70 hours on duty during an eight-day period.

What Vehicle Maintenance Records Must a Driver Keep?

Drivers must enter pre- and post-trip inspection reports in a maintenance log and must submit a daily vehicle inspection report (DVIR) to the trucking company regarding the condition of the vehicle.

How Are Log Books Used in a Personal Injury Lawsuit?

The required log books can provide critical evidence after a commercial truck accident:

  • Log books can be used to show that a driver did not have adequate rest or time off, supporting a claim that driver fatigue was a cause of the accident.
  • Log books can be used to show that the company or driver failed to perform routine or required maintenance that contributed to or caused the accident.
  • Log books can be used by expert witnesses, including accident reconstruction specialists, to confirm both cause and liability.
  • Log books can be compared to other evidence, such as GPS data, fuel records, and toll receipts, to determine the likelihood of false reporting or violation of time-on-the-road regulations

Contact the Law Offices of David J. Karbasian, PC

Send us an email today, or call us at 856-600-HURT to schedule an appointment to discuss your personal injury claim. Evening and weekend consultations are available upon request. We can come to your home or the hospital to meet with you, if necessary.

We handle all personal injury claims, including commercial truck accident lawsuits, on a contingent fee basis. You will not incur any legal fees unless we recover monetary compensation for your losses.

Filed Under: New Jersey Truck Accident Injury Claims Tagged With:

New Jersey Dog Bite Law—Knowing Your Rights

April 21, 2025 by

What Must You Show To Recover for Your Losses?

New Jersey Dog Bite LawYou’re minding your own business walking down the street when you’re attacked by a vicious dog. What are the New Jersey dog bite laws? What must you prove to get full and fair compensation for your losses?

New Jersey Dog Bite Law—The Basics

As in many other states, the dog bite statute in New Jersey is based on the legal principle of strict liability. In most personal injury lawsuits, the victim must prove that the defendant (person from whom damages are sought) acted negligently in order to recover compensation. Proving negligence requires evidence that the defendant failed to act as a reasonable person would have in the same circumstances. Under strict liability, though, there’s no requirement that the injured person establish that the defendant was negligent.

To recover after a dog bite in New Jersey, an injured person must show only that the defendant owned or controlled the dog who caused the injury, and that the person was bitten either on public property or while the victim was legally visiting private property. Under New Jersey law, it’s irrelevant whether the dog’s owner knew or had reason to know that the dog was vicious or had previously exhibited aggressive behavior.

It’s important to understand, though, that strict liability applies only when a person is bitten by a dog. If, for example, a person is knocked down, scratched, or mauled by a dog–but not bitten—any recovery for injuries must be pursued under a legal claim of negligence, rather than strict liability. Under such circumstances, the injured person must show the following:

  • The dog’s owner knew or should have known of the dog’s likelihood for aggressive behavior; and
  • The owner failed to take reasonable steps to protect others, such as confining the dog in a pen or putting it on a leash.

Let Attorney David J. Karbasian Help You After a Dog Bite or Animal Attack

You have the right to seek full and fair compensation when you’ve been hurt in an unprovoked attack by another person’s dog. We can help. Send us an email today, or call us at 856-600-HURT to schedule an appointment to discuss your claim. Evening and weekend consultations are available upon request. We can come to your home or the hospital to meet with you, if necessary.

We take all dog bite injury claims on a contingency basis. We will charge legal fees only if we recover compensation for your losses.

Filed Under: New Jersey Dog Bite Claims Tagged With:

Tips for Having a Safe Summer on Your Motorcycle

March 31, 2025 by

Things You Can Do To Minimize the Risk of an Accident

Tips for Having a Safe Summer on Your MotorcycleSpring is just around the corner, and it’s just about time to get your bike out of the garage for the first time. As a motorcyclist, you know there’s nothing like the freedom of the open road, with the wind in your face and your hand on the throttle. But you also know there are risks. Because there’s little protection between you, other motorists, and the road, there’s a greater likelihood of serious injury if you’re in a collision or have to lay down your bike. What are some of the things that you can do to improve your chances of having a safe summer on your motorcycle?

Strategies for Minimizing the Risk of a Motorcycle Accident This Summer

Though you can never completely protect yourself from an accident, there are things that can help reduce the risk of injury:

  • Be particular about when you ride—As a general rule, motorcycles are more difficult to see after dark. You’ll be safer if you limit your riding to daylight hours, when you’re more visible to other motorists. It’s also a good idea to stay off the roads in stormy weather.
  • Take steps to maximize your visibility—Wear bright-colored or reflective gear, so that you stand out on the road. Use hand signals to help other motorists see you and know where you’re going.
  • Abide by all traffic laws—Resist the urge to speed, roll through a stop sign, or split lanes.
  • Don’t get on your bike if you’ve been drinking or using other controlled substances.
  • Make certain your biking skills are solid—Take a motorcycle safety refresher course, if necessary, or hone your skills off-road or on lightly-traveled roads

Contact the Law Offices of David J. Karbasian, PC

Send us an email today, or call us at 856-600-HURT to schedule an appointment to discuss your personal injury claim. Evening and weekend consultations are available upon request. We can come to your home or the hospital to meet with you, if necessary.

We handle all personal injury claims on a contingent fee basis. You will not incur any legal fees unless we recover monetary compensation for your losses.

Filed Under: New Jersey Motorcycle Accident Injury Claims Tagged With:

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