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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
Paterson is a working city with a working city’s injury profile: one of New Jersey’s most densely populated urban centers, a major bus and transit hub, aging housing and commercial building stock, active construction and warehouse corridors, and the traffic of I-80, Route 19, and Route 20 converging at its edges. The people injured in Paterson — pedestrians downtown, passengers on buses, tenants in neglected buildings, workers in the industrial corridors, drivers on the highway ramps — face the same New Jersey injury law as everyone else, with one complication: many Paterson accidents involve a government defendant (a city bus, a public building, a municipal sidewalk), and claims against government carry a 90-day notice deadline that private claims do not.
The Epstein Law Firm represents injured people in Paterson and across Passaic County, in Passaic County Superior Court — which sits in Paterson itself. Our firm handles car and bus crashes, pedestrian injuries, falls in buildings and on sidewalks, dog bites, workplace third-party claims, and the catastrophic cases. This page explains how Paterson injury claims work under New Jersey law and what to do after an accident. For a free consultation, call (201) 231-7847 today — the consultation is free and confidential.
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Most claims follow the statewide framework. Liability is proven by negligence, allocated by comparative fault under N.J.S.A. 2A:15-5.1 (recover if you are not more than 50% at fault, reduced by your share). Car cases run through PIP for the first medical bills and the verbal threshold (N.J.S.A. 39:6A-8) for pain-and-suffering claims. The filing deadline for private defendants is two years under N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2. Damages include medical expenses and future care, lost wages and earning capacity, and pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life; fatal cases support wrongful death and survival claims for the family.
Where Paterson claims diverge is the government-defendant overlay. If the defendant is the City of Paterson, Passaic County, NJ Transit, a public authority, or any public entity or employee, the Tort Claims Act (N.J.S.A. 59:8-8) requires a written notice of claim within 90 days of the accident — a deadline that quietly destroys more urban injury claims than any other rule in New Jersey law — and imposes additional proof standards for dangerous conditions of public property (the condition must create a substantial risk, the entity must have had notice, and its failure to act must be palpably unreasonable). Identifying a public defendant in the first days — a city bus, a county road crew, a public-housing stairwell — is therefore a first-order task in every Paterson intake, not an afterthought.
One more local feature deserves emphasis: Paterson accidents frequently involve out-of-state and commercial traffic passing through on I-80 and the state routes, which can add defendants, insurers, and even choice-of-law questions to an otherwise local case. Our intake maps the defendant and coverage picture completely before any claim is filed, because the first filing usually fixes the forum, the deadlines, and the practical shape of the recovery.
Paterson moves by bus and on foot more than most New Jersey cities, and its injury docket reflects it. Pedestrians are struck in marked crosswalks by turning drivers who never looked, at unmarked crossings on wide arterials, and around bus stops where passengers step from the curb into traffic lanes. Bus passengers are injured in sudden stops, in boarding and alighting falls, and in collisions where the bus itself is hit. Each pattern has its proof: the transit case turns on the bus’s onboard video and event data; the crosswalk case on signal timing and sight lines; the boarding case on the operator’s duty to wait for seated or stable passengers. What unites them is the defendant mix — private drivers, commercial carriers, and public transit in the same docket — and the consequent importance of identifying the right claim channel (and the right 90-day notice) in the first week.
A large share of Paterson’s residents rent, much of the stock is old, and the premises docket is correspondingly heavy: stair and handrail failures, ceiling collapses, lead and carbon-monoxide events, fires in buildings with deficient alarms and egress, and falls in the small commercial spaces (bodegas, salons, takeout counters) that line the avenues. These cases are won on the paper trail of notice: the tenant’s prior complaints, the city’s inspection and code-enforcement records, the landlord’s repair history. New Jersey law obliges landlords to keep common areas and building systems reasonably safe, and the records that prove they did not are public or discoverable in nearly every case. Our investigation pulls them before the first demand, because in premises litigation the notice evidence is the settlement.
Paterson’s warehouses, food plants, and workshops generate the third stream: comp claims with the third-party overlays (staffing-agency dual employment, machine manufacturers, delivery and premises defendants) that our workers’ compensation pages describe. The city’s workforce also commutes outward to the county’s logistics belt, and injuries on those routes are investigated with the same dual-track approach: benefits through the Division, full damages against whoever else the facts support.
Urban cases are evidence-rich and evidence-fragile. Municipal and transit cameras, bodega and storefront video, bus onboard cameras and event recorders, 911 recordings, and building maintenance logs all document Paterson accidents — and all are retained briefly. NJ Transit and municipal footage requests have their own channels and forms; storefront video is usually held by owners who cooperate when asked promptly and have no footage left when asked in month three. Our investigation opens with preservation and records requests targeted to the specific location: the intersection, the bus, the building, the block. For premises cases, the city’s and owner’s records (prior complaints, repair histories, inspection files) establish the notice that premises and Tort Claims cases turn on.
Recoverable damages follow the statewide categories: past and future medical expenses, lost wages and diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering and loss of life’s enjoyment, property and out-of-pocket losses, and wrongful death damages in fatal cases. Two Paterson realities shape valuation. First, the insurance landscape: minimum-limits and uninsured drivers are common in dense urban traffic, so the UM/UIM analysis described on our uninsured motorist page is part of nearly every Paterson car case. Second, the public-defendant rules affect both timing and proof: a strong case against the city still fails on a blown 90-day notice, and a dangerous-condition case must be built to the Act’s specific standards from the first filing.
For families who have lost someone, two claims proceed together: the survival action, which pursues the damages the deceased person suffered between the accident and death (conscious pain and suffering, medical expense), and the wrongful death action, which pursues the family’s own losses (the financial support, services, and companionship the death took from them). Both are filed by the estate’s representative for the family’s benefit, and in fatal Paterson cases (a transit death, a fatal construction fall, a deadly fire in a deficient building) the investigation commonly runs alongside official inquiries whose records our firm obtains and integrates rather than waiting for them to conclude.
Most Paterson injury cases settle, but they settle at values determined by how they would fare at trial in the Passaic County vicinage, and the path runs through predictable stages. The claim opens with investigation and the Tort Claims notice where one is required. Treatment proceeds while liability evidence is assembled. When the medical picture stabilizes, a demand package (records, bills, wage proof, expert support where needed, and the liability evidence) goes to the insurers, and negotiation follows. Cases that do not resolve are filed in Superior Court, move through discovery (depositions, defense medical examinations, expert exchange), and are commonly referred to court-annexed mediation or a settlement conference before trial.
Three practical notes for Paterson families. First, the defense medical examination is an insurer’s tool, not a neutral event: the examining doctor is chosen and paid by the carrier, and our office prepares clients for it as the adversarial proceeding it is. Second, liens and reimbursements (health plans, Medicare and Medicaid, comp carriers) must be resolved out of any settlement; a settlement figure means little until the lien audit shows what the client actually nets, and our closing process includes that audit in writing. Third, minors’ settlements require court approval at a “friendly” hearing, with funds typically held in trust — a protection New Jersey law builds in, and one our firm handles routinely for Paterson families.
The Epstein Law Firm can review the evidence, insurance issues, and next steps that may matter in your personal injury claim.
The Epstein Law Firm has represented injured New Jersey clients for decades from our Rochelle Park office. Michael J. Epstein was selected to the New Jersey Super Lawyers Top 100 list for 2026 and holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, and TopVerdict ranked the firm’s results at the top of New Jersey lists, including the Number 1 Medical Malpractice Settlement in the state in 2024 and a Top 10 New Jersey Personal Injury Settlement that year. Read the PR Newswire release on the firm’s Top 20 U.S. medical malpractice settlement recognition, and see the firm’s post on Michael Epstein’s 2026 Personal Injury Lawyer of the Year recognition.
Our attorneys have recovered substantial verdicts and settlements for clients injured across New Jersey, including:
Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. What they do show is the level of preparation and persistence our firm brings to serious injury claims. Read more about our case results, or call (201) 231-7847 to talk about what your own claim may involve.
Client reviews describe the responsiveness and care our team aims to deliver in every case:
“I had an excellent experience working with George on my workers’ compensation case. He was wonderful—always professional, patient, and incredibly helpful every step of the way. George took the time to explain everything clearly, answered all my questions, and made sure I felt supported throughout the process.” — Eric, Google review
“They took the time to explain everything clearly, making sure I understood my options and felt comfortable with each step of the process.” — Rebecca, Google review
Read more from our clients on our Google reviews for the Rochelle Park office.
Tell The Epstein Law Firm what happened and get clear guidance about your injury claim and legal options.
Recognition applies to the named attorneys and selection years. See the linked profiles for details.
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Below are answers to common questions about personal injury claims in Paterson and Passaic County, New Jersey. This information is general and not legal advice — contact our office for guidance about your specific situation. A Paterson slip and fall lawyers can explain how these claims are evaluated under New Jersey law.
Yes. Claims against public entities like NJ Transit or the City of Paterson require a written notice of claim within 90 days of the accident under the Tort Claims Act (N.J.S.A. 59:8-8). Miss it, and the claim is usually barred, however serious the injury.
Late notice can occasionally be excused by court permission within one year for extraordinary circumstances, but it is an uphill motion. Treat 90 days as absolute and call counsel immediately.
Sources: N.J.S.A. 59:8-8 – 90-day notice of claim (New Jersey Legislature); New Jersey Courts – Civil Division overview
Two years from the accident for claims against private defendants, under N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2. Against public entities, the 90-day notice is required first, and suit follows the Act’s own timetable after notice.
Minors’ deadlines are generally tolled until adulthood for the lawsuit itself, but the Tort Claims notice for a minor’s claim has its own rules and should never be assumed tolled. Ask counsel about any child’s claim immediately.
Sources: N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2 – two-year limitations period (New Jersey Legislature); N.J.S.A. 59:8-8 – 90-day notice of claim (New Jersey Legislature)
Pedestrian claims run against the driver’s liability insurance, with your own household PIP (or the driver’s, if you have none) paying initial medical bills. Fault is allocated comparatively: a driver’s duty to pedestrians in crosswalks and intersections is demanding, and jaywalking does not automatically defeat a claim.
Downtown camera coverage is extensive. Our first step is securing the footage from municipal, transit, and storefront cameras before retention periods run.
Sources: N.J.S.A. 2A:15-5.1 – comparative negligence (New Jersey Legislature); New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance – consumer information
Yes. Landlords owe tenants and visitors reasonable care over common areas: stairs, handrails, lighting, locks, and the building systems. A fall caused by a broken step or a dark, unrepaired stairwell is a premises claim against the landlord and its insurer.
Document the condition with photographs, report it in writing, and preserve prior complaints if you made them — notice of the condition is the heart of the case. If the building is public housing, the Tort Claims notice clock applies as well.
It depends on the property. Commercial property owners in New Jersey are generally liable for abutting sidewalk defects; residential owners usually are not, absent their own negligent repair. Municipal sidewalks and defects the city created follow the Tort Claims Act’s dangerous-condition rules.
The property classification and the defect’s history decide the claim, which is why our investigation pulls ownership, prior complaints, and repair records for the specific block. Photograph the defect with a size reference (a coin or ruler) at the first opportunity.
Sources: New Jersey Courts – Civil Division overview; N.J.S.A. 59:8-8 – 90-day notice of claim (New Jersey Legislature)
Your own uninsured motorist coverage responds, as New Jersey law requires it in every auto policy. Hit-and-run claims carry prompt police and insurer reporting requirements and need corroboration.
UM/UIM analysis is standard in our Paterson car cases because minimum-limits and uninsured drivers are common in the city’s traffic. Your declarations page is the first document we review.
Sources: N.J.S.A. 17:28-1.1 – UM/UIM coverage requirement (New Jersey Legislature); New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance – consumer information
Passaic County Superior Court, Law Division, which sits in Paterson. Cases are filed in the county where the accident occurred or where a defendant resides; most Paterson accidents are venued at home.
Settlement conferences and trials occur there, before Passaic County judges and juries. Our firm litigates in that vicinage regularly from our Rochelle Park office.
Sources: New Jersey Courts – Civil Division overview; N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2 – two-year limitations period (New Jersey Legislature)
Yes, provided your fault does not exceed the combined fault of the defendants. New Jersey’s modified comparative negligence rule (N.J.S.A. 2A:15-5.1) reduces your recovery by your percentage share rather than eliminating it.
Insurers inflate the claimant’s share as a matter of routine. The evidence (footage, witnesses, the physical scene) is what holds the allocation to the facts, and it is gathered early in our cases.
Sources: N.J.S.A. 2A:15-5.1 – comparative negligence (New Jersey Legislature); New Jersey Courts – Civil Division overview
It depends on the injuries’ severity and permanence, the medical and wage documentation, the fault allocation, and the insurance actually available — the last of which is often decisive in urban cases.
An honest valuation comes after the medical picture and the coverage map are complete. Our firm gives clients a candid, evidence-based range before any demand is made, and the notable results on this page show the ceiling our preparation supports.
Sources: New Jersey Courts – Civil Division overview; New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance – consumer information
Consultations at The Epstein Law Firm are free, and injury cases are handled on a contingency fee: no legal fee unless we recover compensation for you, at a percentage set by New Jersey court rules and explained in writing at the start.
The firm advances records, expert, and litigation costs. A family facing a serious injury in Paterson should never have to choose between rent and representation.
Sources: New Jersey Courts – Rules of Court (including contingency fee rules); New Jersey Courts – Civil Division overview
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560 Sylvan Avenue, Suite 1000-A Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632 (By Appointment Only)
201-734-3763
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18-20 Lackawanna Plaza, Suite 200 Montclair, NJ 07042 (By Appointment Only)
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