Truck Accident Lawyer
Uber Accident Lawyer
Lyft Accident Lawyer
Knowledge, experience, and dedication have brought the lawyers of The Epstein Law Firm to the forefront of their profession. From personal injury to civil litigation, they have built a strong record of success in achieving justice for their clients.
Our practice is diverse and well-established. Recognizing that every case is unique, we always begin by listening to you.
The Epstein Law Firm, P.A. has been successfully representing clients throughout New Jersey since 1973
If you were injured in a car accident anywhere in New Jersey, you may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering. New Jersey operates under a no-fault system governed by N.J.S.A. 39:6A-1 et seq., meaning your own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage under N.J.S.A. 39:6A-4 pays initial medical bills regardless of fault. However, you may still bring a claim against the at-fault driver if your injuries meet the verbal threshold under N.J.S.A. 39:6A-8 or if you selected the zero threshold under N.J.S.A. 39:6A-10. The Epstein Law Firm has recovered $13.585 million, $10 million, $8.25 million, $4.25 million, and $4 million in serious injury cases. Michael J. Epstein is a Harvard Law graduate and Certified Civil Trial Attorney. Call (201) 231-7847 for a free consultation.
The first minutes and hours after a crash matter more than most people realize.
Medical care comes first. Even if injuries seem manageable, evaluation is critical. Many serious injuries—especially spinal injuries and head trauma—do not present fully right away.
After that, the priority shifts to documentation and protection:
Avoid giving recorded statements to insurance companies before understanding your position
In New Jersey, accident cases begin under the no-fault system, but they do not end there. What you do early affects:
The difference between a controlled case and a reactive one often starts here.
New Jersey’s no-fault system, under N.J.S.A. 39:6A-1 et seq., requires drivers to turn first to their own insurance for medical treatment after an accident.
That coverage comes through PIP under N.J.S.A. 39:6A-4.
Standard PIP coverage is $15,000, although policies may include higher limits such as:
This system is designed to get treatment started quickly. But it also creates confusion.
You cannot sue
The case is only about medical bills
It means your own insurer pays first for certain medical expenses.
After that, the case often moves into a second phase:
That second phase is where most serious cases are actually decided.
Yes, but your rights depend on your insurance election and the nature of your injuries.
Many New Jersey drivers select the limitation on lawsuit option (verbal threshold) under N.J.S.A. 39:6A-8. This limits recovery for pain and suffering unless injuries meet specific statutory categories.
Drivers who select the zero or unlimited threshold under N.J.S.A. 39:6A-10 preserve the broader right to sue regardless of injury severity.
This is one of the most important distinctions in New Jersey accident law.
Two people can be in the same crash with similar injuries and have completely different legal outcomes based solely on:
The medical documentation of their injuries
This is why understanding your policy is not optional. It is foundational.
These categories are not always straightforward in practice.
A case involving:
may still become a legal fight over whether the injury qualifies.
Insurance companies often focus heavily on this issue because it determines whether the case remains limited or expands into a full personal injury claim.
Even though New Jersey is a no-fault state, fault still matters.
Once a claim moves beyond PIP, liability becomes central.
New Jersey follows modified comparative negligence under N.J.S.A. 2A:15-5.1 et seq.
This means:
You can recover damages if you are 50% or less at fault
Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault
You recover nothing if you are more than 50% responsible
This rule is often where insurers try to reduce value by shifting blame.
The severity of the injury drives value.
A case involving soft-tissue injury looks very different from one involving:
The Epstein Law Firm has recovered:
Those numbers matter because they reflect experience with serious injury litigation, not just routine claims.
Certain areas consistently see higher accident volumes and more severe injuries.
The George Washington Bridge
often see a mix of local and high-speed traffic, increasing the likelihood of serious collisions.
Understanding where and how accidents happen is part of understanding liability.
Insurance companies are not neutral participants.
The verbal threshold
This is not accidental. It is structural.
The earlier a case is defined on their terms, the harder it becomes to change that narrative later.
A serious case typically moves through several phases:
Strong cases are built, not assumed.
That includes:
The difference between a handled claim and a built case often shows up in the outcome.
The Epstein Law Firm represents accident victims across New Jersey with more than 120 years of combined experience.
The firm has recovered:
Michael J. Epstein is a Harvard Law graduate and Certified Civil Trial Attorney, a distinction held by a small percentage of attorneys in New Jersey.
The firm was founded by Barry D. Epstein, former President of the New Jersey State Bar Association, reflecting a long-standing presence in serious plaintiff-side litigation.
Cases are handled on a contingency basis. You pay nothing unless compensation is recovered.
Most cases are filed in the Superior Court of New Jersey, typically in the county where:
The accident occurred
The defendant resides
Each county operates within the same statewide system, but local courts and juries can still influence how cases are evaluated and resolved.
Car accident claims often connect to specific locations and sub-practice areas.
For example:
This is why location-specific pages and practice-specific pages exist. They reflect how cases actually develop in the real world.
How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in New Jersey?In most cases, the deadline is two years under N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2. Waiting too long can permanently bar your claim, even if liability is clear.
What is PIP insurance in New Jersey?PIP, under N.J.S.A. 39:6A-4, covers medical expenses after an accident regardless of fault. It is the first layer of recovery in most New Jersey car accident cases.
What is the verbal threshold?The verbal threshold under N.J.S.A. 39:6A-8 limits your ability to recover pain and suffering damages unless your injuries meet specific legal categories.
What is the zero threshold?The zero or unlimited threshold under N.J.S.A. 39:6A-10 preserves your broader right to sue for pain and suffering regardless of injury severity.
What happens if my medical bills exceed PIP coverage?You may need to pursue a liability claim against the at-fault driver or explore other available coverage sources.
Can I recover damages if I was partially at fault?Yes, as long as you were 50% or less at fault, under N.J.S.A. 2A:15-5.1 et seq. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault.
How much is my car accident case worth?Value depends on injury severity, treatment, long-term impact, and liability. Serious cases involving surgery or permanent injury typically carry higher value.
Do I need a lawyer for a New Jersey car accident case?For minor claims, not always. For serious injuries, threshold issues, or disputed liability, legal representation can significantly affect the outcome.
Will my case go to court?Some cases settle, others proceed to litigation. Preparation for trial often improves settlement outcomes even if trial is avoided.
What if the other driver was uninsured?Your own policy may include UM/UIM coverage that applies in those situations.
How long does a car accident case take?It varies. Some resolve in months, others take longer depending on injury severity, treatment, and litigation.
What should I avoid after an accident?Avoid giving recorded statements, posting about the accident online, or accepting early settlement offers before understanding the full scope of your injuries.
A car accident can shift everything quickly—your health, your work, your finances, and your sense of stability. New Jersey’s no-fault system adds another layer that many people do not fully understand until they are already inside it.
The Epstein Law Firm helps accident victims across New Jersey navigate PIP, threshold issues, liability claims, and the full scope of recovery available.
Call (201) 231-7847 for a free consultation.You pay nothing unless we win.
New Jersey personal injury lawyer · NJ car accident lawyer · Jersey City car accident attorney · rideshare accident lawyer · brain injury attorney · wrongful death attorney · NJ no-fault insurance guide · PIP insurance explained
Immediately following an accident, you or someone in your vehicle should call the police. The police will prepare and file an accident report. This report could contain valuable information about your accident. If you are able to do so, you should take pictures of your car, the other driver’s car and the accident scene with your phone. You should exchange insurance information with the other driver, but should not discuss the accident any further. Any statements you make at this time could be used against you.
You should also seek medical attention. For serious injuries an ambulance will arrive at the accident scene. Even if you don’t believe you need immediate medical attention, you should have a doctor look at you to see if you sustained any injuries. The reason for this is that if you wait too long to seek medical attention, the insurance company may claim that the accident was not the cause of your injuries. After getting medical treatment, you should then contact a lawyer.
A third category of damages, punitive damages, may be available if the party who caused your accident acted intentionally or in a way that was especially shocking. Punitive damages are designed solely to punish the person who caused your accident. For example, if you were injured in an accident caused by a defective product in the vehicle, and the manufacturer knew about the defect (and profited from it), we may have a strong argument to support punitive damages. Punitive damages are also often awarded in drunk driving accident cases.
You should always speak with an experienced car accident lawyer before accepting any settlement offer. Once you accept, you cannot go back and try to get additional compensation even if you have additional expense. Remember, insurance companies are also much more likely to offer a fair settlement if they know you have legal representation to explain your rights. The insurance company–even your own–is always motivated to settle for the lowest possible amount.
No-fault insurance is also known as Personal Injury Protection, or PIP. With PIP, you do not have to prove that the other driver is at fault for the accident. This coverage is required in New Jersey, although drivers can select between a standard policy and a basic policy. The standard policy provides additional PIP coverage, as well as additional coverage for bodily liability.
Another factor in your car insurance policy is your right to sue the other driver. If you select a “limited right to sue” in your policy, you will save some money. However, if you are in an accident and the other driver is at fault, you will not be able to sue them for your pain and suffering unless you sustain a permanent injury. Under New Jersey law, a permanent injury can include the loss of a limb or other body part, a displaced fracture, significant disfigurement or scarring. You can also bring a claim if you lose a fetus or if a loved one is killed in the accident.
New Jersey follows the “modified comparative fault” rule. This means that a jury will have to find that the other driver was more than 50% at fault for the accident in order for you to recover any damages. Once your case hits this threshold, your recovery can be reduced by your percentage of fault. Therefore, if you sustained $100,000 in damages but the jury found that you were 10% at fault for the accident, your recovery would be reduced by $10,000 and you would recover $90,000.
New Jersey’s statute of limitations on personal injury and wrongful death claims is two years. Therefore, you have two years from the day of the accident to bring a wrongful death claim. As a practical matter, however, you want to speak to an attorney well before two years. In a car accident, particularly one involving serious injuries, your lawyer will want to look at the accident scene and the vehicles. Generally speaking, the longer you wait to file a case, the more difficult it will be to prepare the strongest claim for damages.
A friend of a friend referred me to this firm. I was blown away by the amount of professionalism, courtesy and care. I highly recommend this firm to anyone seeking a personal injury attorney.
Thank you so much for everything. Thank you for always responding so promptly and for really going to bat for me. I believe that your heart is big for your clients on many levels.
$31,000,000
$13,585,000
*Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances. *No aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court. View Rating Methodology
After an injury, the legal process can feel overwhelming. At The Epstein Law Firm, P.A., we listen, we care, and we fight for the compensation you deserve. Call (201) 231-7847 for your free consultation, or reach out online. Let us handle the legal battle while you focus on healing.
Δ
<span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start"></span>
340 West Passaic Street Rochelle Park, NJ 07662
Fax: 201-845-5973 201-231-7847
Map + Directions
560 Sylvan Avenue, Suite 1000-A Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632 (By Appointment Only)
201-734-3763
Map + directions
18-20 Lackawanna Plaza, Suite 200 Montclair, NJ 07042 (By Appointment Only)
973-381-8410
The Epstein Law Firm
The Epstein Law Firm