PERSONAL INJURY

New Jersey Car Accident Lawyer

girl sitting on the street after having car accident

In a busy state like New Jersey, car accidents are an unfortunately common occurrence. The New Jersey Department of Transportation reports that the state witnessed an average of almost 58,000 injury collisions annually in one recent five-year span. The collective cost of these accidents is staggering in terms of lost income, medical bills, property damage, and pain and suffering.

If you are one of the thousands of people injured in a car accident in New Jersey this year, contact Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman immediately. Since 1929, our firm has fought for the rights of injured people in New Jersey and helped them secure fair compensation for their injuries. Our attorneys have extensive experience in state and federal courtrooms, and we have the resources and know-how to help you demand the money you deserve after a car accident that was not your fault.

How Our Lawyers Help People Hurt in Car Crashes

Some people might think they do not need a lawyer after a car accident in New Jersey, especially if the accident was a relatively minor one. In certain limited cases, you might be able to handle your case on your own, but we do not recommend ever taking on an insurance company by yourself. If, however, you have suffered injuries in a car accident, you could be entitled to significant compensation. Full and fair compensation is difficult to recover without the help of an experienced car accident lawyer.

At Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman, we can help you by:

Determining whether you have a viable personal injury claim

New Jersey is one of a handful of states that uses a no-fault auto insurance system. That means your situation will need to clear specific legal benchmarks for you to be able to file an insurance claim or lawsuit against the other driver. Our New Jersey car accident attorneys have a thorough knowledge of state personal injury laws and can review your case to determine if you have a viable claim.

Identifying the potentially liable parties in an accident

In many car accidents, one driver is entirely or primarily at fault and is, therefore, the one who can be held liable for any injuries or property damage. However, multiple parties could share liability for an accident, in which case a claimant must file multiple claims to recover total compensation for their injuries. For example, imagine a driver who caused an accident because they were speeding but who also could not stop in time because of a mechanical defect in their vehicle’s brakes. In this case, a claimant could potentially pursue compensation from both the driver and the manufacturer responsible for the defective brakes.

Gathering evidence to support your case

Winning a personal injury case requires evidence that objectively demonstrates the other party’s fault. To recover any compensation for your injuries, you will need to show that the at-fault driver or other party acted negligently, which in turn caused the accident. Our experienced attorneys can review your medical records, police accident reports, crash scene photos and eyewitness accounts, and secure other evidence such as expert witness testimony to build a strong case on your behalf.

Filing your claim

A lot of paperwork is involved in personal injury cases, especially when it comes to car accidents and insurance companies. Our car accident lawyers can file this paperwork and court documents on your behalf so everything is in order and your claim is filed in time to avoid any issues with New Jersey’s statute of limitations.

Representing you in insurance settlement negotiations

Most car accident cases end with the injured party signing a settlement agreement with the liable driver’s insurance company. Once you accept an insurance settlement, you will not be able to recover any additional compensation from that party, so it is vital to fight for as much money as possible. Dealing with the other driver’s insurance company yourself is not in your best interest. Our New Jersey car accident attorneys know the tricks insurance companies use to deny claims or minimize payouts – and we know how to beat them at their game. Furthermore, insurance companies know that our attorneys are ready, willing and able to go to trial, which always helps achieve a fair settlement for the injured party.

Bringing your case to court if a settlement cannot be reached

If the liable driver’s insurance company refuses to make a fair offer, it may be necessary to bring your case to trial in civil court. Trials require much preparation and can be risky, so it is best to come prepared with an experienced litigator in your corner.

From our clients

I would recommend Richard Isolde to my family and friends, and he was accommodating in handling our case. He was always available by text, phone calls, and email. Most significantly, he helped us get what we deserved. Richard Isolde is always there for his clients and does whatever he can to get the job done.

Richard Isolde worked very hard on my case, making the impossible possible.
He was able to get the full amount up to the policy limit and then get punitive damages in addition. I understand that is a rare accomplishment. I am grateful for that and I congratulate him. Your firm was recommended to me by a friend and I will pay it forward by recommending him as well as PRA.

I used Mr. (SQ) Lee for a personal injury matter and could not have been any more pleased with his services. He understood my injury and helped me every step of the way. He was courteous and kind and I always felt better after speaking with him. His assistant, Sherrill, was also wonderful and together they made a great team! I would absolutely recommend them, and the firm, to anyone.

Do You Have a Potential Car Accident Claim?

Two key questions must be answered to determine if you have a potential personal injury claim after a New Jersey car accident. The first question is whether you have the right to file a lawsuit under New Jersey law. Our car accident attorneys can review your insurance coverage and answer that question for you.

The second question that needs to be answered is who is potentially at fault for the crash. To recover compensation from another motorist after an accident, you must prove that the other driver acted negligently in some way and their negligence was a cause of your injuries. A few common examples of negligence include speeding, aggressive driving, failure to yield, and driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol. If the other driver in the accident broke the rules of the road and was a cause of the crash, you may have a valid claim against them.

Our Victories

Nursing Home Settlements

Settlements from nursing home neglect cases involving contraction of pressure ulcers, falls with fractures or other injuries and infections have resulted in the following outcomes.

$750K

$750,000 for Defective Product in “Scalding Water Leak” Injury

A delivery driver brought his car in to the dealer for a water leak repair. A week later he returned because the leak continued. He was told to continue driving the car and return a few days later.

$2M

$2 Million Settlement in SUV Accident Case

A passenger in a SUV suffered a broken neck and other injuries when the vehicle rolled over because of the negligence of the driver and the failure of a tire.

$4.47M

$4.47 Million in Paralyzing Injury from Swimming Pool Diving Accident

When a 19-year-old woman dove into an above ground swimming pool, she fractured her neck and became a quadriplegic for life. There were no warning signs at the pool, although the law requires diving warnings.

$425K

$425,000 for Neck & Spinal Injuries in Missile Silo Clean-up “Missing Floor Fall”

While cleaning up an abandoned US Air Force missile silo, our client fell through an unmarked missing floor in a dark room. He suffered serious neck and spinal injuries, requiring two surgeries.

$1.1M

$1.1 Million Pre-Trial Settlement for Bus Accident Victim

A construction foreman, driving his pick-up truck south on the NJ Turnpike, was struck from behind by a commercial bus and forced across two lanes of traffic.

$700K

$700,000 to Diabetic Plumber Injured at Construction Site

Climbing down a ladder, a union plumber stepped on a nail protruding from wood left at a construction site in Jersey City by the general contractor or sub-contractors that had performed framing on the construction site.

$1.4M

$1.4 Million Dollar Settlement in Truck Accident

We obtained a $1.4 million dollar settlement on behalf of a driver whose vehicle was struck by a tractor trailer’s blown-out tire. Our client was driving his company vehicle when the Defendant’s tractor trailer had a tire blowout.

$95K

$95,000 for Man Injured in Auto Accident

A 47-year-old man received $95,000 in a settlement to compensate him for a serious fracture to his right wrist suffered in an auto accident. Although the fracture required surgery, the man made a good recovery from his injury.

$250K

Car accident victim suffering severe injuries awarded $250,000

A New Jersey driver swerved into an improperly installed guardrail/partition which, upon impact, impaled the vehicle and severed our client’s left leg. Despite a series of complex circumstances impacting liability, and our client passing away due to an unrelated medical condition, we settled the case for $250,000.

$200+ Million

Recovered for Clients

Personal Injury Practice Areas

Attorney Average Years in Practice

We are a trial and litigation law firm that helps injury victims throughout the State of New Jersey recover full and fair compensation.

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Common Types and Causes of Car Accidents in NJ

Our car accident lawyers have experience handling cases involving many kinds of crashes in New Jersey, including:

Head-on collisions
Rear-end collisions
Sideswipe collisions
Side-impact and T-bone collisions
Multi-vehicle and chain-reaction accidents
Impaired driving accidents
Distracted driving accidents
Speeding and aggressive driving accidents
Failure-to-yield accidents
Rollover accidents

While every car accident has its unique elements, there are many commonalities as well. Some of the most common causes of car accidents in New Jersey include:

Driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol
Distracted driving
Driving while severely fatigued
Speeding
Tailgating
Aggressive merges and lane changes
Bad weather
Poor road conditions
Mechanical defects
Poor intersection or road design

Injuries Car Accident Victims Suffer

Even small sedans weigh several thousand pounds, and bigger vehicles can weigh two to three times that. That results in a tremendous transfer of force even in low-speed accidents, which can result in severe injuries like:

Traumatic brain injuries
Neck injuries, including whiplash
Back and spinal cord injuries, including paralysis
Injuries to internal organs
Internal bleeding
Broken bones and fractures
Injuries to soft tissues (muscles, ligaments, tendons, etc.)
Severed, crushed, or amputated limbs
Burns
Scarring and disfigurement
Psychological trauma

Kinds of Compensation You Could Recover in a Car Crash Claim

If you are injured in a car accident, and someone else was primarily at fault, the at-fault party may be liable to compensate you for the losses you have suffered as a result. This compensation can be divided into two primary categories.

The first is economic damages, which offset the dollars-and-cents expenses associated with the accident. It can include:

Medical bills and related costs (prescription drugs, physical therapy, long-term care, etc.)
Lost wages from time missed at work while recovering
Reduction in your future income related to your injuries, such as a permanent disability
Damaged personal property

The second category of compensation in a New Jersey car accident claim is non-economic damages. Non-economic damages are for more intangible losses that are hard to place an exact value on, like:

Your physical pain and suffering
Your emotional distress
Impairment of your quality of life

Determining Fault for a Car Accident in New Jersey

If you meet the requirements to file an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit under New Jersey law, you must demonstrate that the other driver was at fault for your injuries before you can recover compensation from them. That requires showing the driver was negligent and the accident and your injuries were a direct consequence of their negligence. In this context, negligence essentially means that the other driver ignored the rules of the road and their responsibility to avoid causing an accident if possible.

One potential wrinkle in some New Jersey car accident cases is when multiple parties share fault for a crash. In cases where both drivers share some responsibility for an accident, any compensation awarded will be based on each driver’s share of fault. For example, if you are found to be 10 percent responsible for an accident, your compensation will be reduced by 10 percent. However, the other driver’s share of the fault must be greater than your share for you to be able to bring a claim against them.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?

At Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman, we do not charge you any fees upfront to start work on your personal injury case. We will review your case for free, with no obligation to you. If we believe you have a claim for compensation, we will do all the legal legwork with no out-of-pocket cost to you. When we recover compensation for you, our fee then comes as a percentage of that. If we don’t win, you don’t pay us. It’s that simple.

Deadline for Filing a Car Accident Case in New Jersey

In most cases, you only have two years from the date of a car accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you wait until after this deadline to file suit, the court will likely dismiss it as untimely, and you will lose your ability to recover any compensation through the court system. That’s why it’s essential to get started with your case as soon as possible after the accident.

Talk to Our New Jersey Car Accident Law Firm Today

Our New Jersey car accident lawyers want to help you pursue the money you deserve after a crash that was not your fault. Contact the law firm of Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman today for a free consultation and find out how we can help.