Union City NJ Personal Injury Lawyer

All Practice Areas

An unexpected injury can leave you facing medical treatment, missed work, insurance calls, and uncertainty about who should pay. If another person, business, property owner, medical provider, product manufacturer, or public entity may have caused your harm, a personal injury claim can help determine what happened and whether compensation is available.

The Epstein Law Firm, P.A. represents injured people throughout New Jersey. Our lawyers can investigate the incident, identify potentially responsible parties, document your losses, and handle communications with insurers. Call (201) 231-7847 or request a free case evaluation before accepting a settlement or assuming you do not have a claim.

The Epstein Law Firm

Injured in Union City NJ?

Personal injury legal help

The Epstein Law Firm can review your personal injury claim and explain the evidence, deadlines, and next steps that may apply.

Call now

(201) 231-7847
Schedule your free case evaluation

Personal Injury Claims in Union City NJ

The U.S. Census Bureau’s Union City NJ data reports a 2020 population density of more than 53,000 people per square mile within 1.29 square miles of land. The New Jersey Department of Transportation identifies Route 495 as a divided urban freeway that passes through Union City NJ while connecting the New Jersey Turnpike area with the Lincoln Tunnel. Bergenline Avenue, John F. Kennedy Boulevard, John F. Kennedy Boulevard East, and Palisade Avenue are among the local or county corridors serving the community.

These facts do not establish that anyone was negligent. They do, however, affect how an accident may need to be investigated. A crash, pedestrian collision, fall, or transit-related injury can involve several vehicles, businesses, witnesses, property interests, or government agencies. Determining who controlled the roadway, building, vehicle, equipment, or dangerous condition is often an important early step.

A New Jersey personal injury claim generally requires proof that the responsible party failed to meet an applicable legal duty and that this failure caused an injury and measurable loss. The precise requirements depend on the case. A motor-vehicle collision, unsafe-property claim, defective-product case, workplace accident, and medical-malpractice action do not follow identical liability or insurance rules.

Personal Injury Cases We Handle

The Epstein Law Firm evaluates claims involving:

• Car and other motor-vehicle accidents, including pedestrian, bicycle, commercial-vehicle, rideshare, and transit incidents
• Premises liability, including unsafe stairs, floors, sidewalks, lighting, security, and building conditions
• Construction accidents and other workplace injuries involving potentially responsible third parties
• Dangerous or defective products
• Medical malpractice and other professional negligence
• Nursing-home negligence
• Catastrophic injuries and wrongful death

An injury or poor outcome does not by itself prove negligence. The medical evidence must be considered with the circumstances of the incident, the duties of the people or organizations involved, and the connection between their conduct and the harm.

What to Do After an Injury in Union City NJ

Your health comes first. Call 911 or seek appropriate medical care when the injury may be serious. The CDC’s concussion guidance explains that some symptoms can develop hours or days after a blow or jolt to the head. It identifies worsening headache, repeated vomiting, seizures, slurred speech, increasing confusion, unusual behavior, weakness, and difficulty waking as danger signs requiring emergency care.

When you can do so safely:

1. Report what happened. Notify the police, property manager, employer, store manager, or other appropriate person. Request a copy of any report number or incident record.
2. Document the scene. Take photographs or video without entering a dangerous area or property where you are not authorized to be.
3. Identify witnesses. Record names and contact information before people leave.
4. Preserve relevant items. Keep damaged personal property, product packaging, receipts, medical instructions, insurance correspondence, and proof of missed work.
5. Be careful with insurer communications. Provide required notices, but avoid speculation or a recorded statement you do not understand.
6. Get an early legal review. Video may be overwritten, conditions may change, and special deadlines can apply when government property or employees are involved.

Online health information cannot diagnose an injury or replace advice from a qualified medical professional.

Who May Be Responsible?

Responsibility depends on who created or controlled the risk and whether that conduct legally caused the injury. Depending on the circumstances, potentially responsible parties may include:

• A negligent driver and, in some commercial-vehicle cases, a driver’s employer
• A property owner, tenant, management company, maintenance contractor, or security provider
• A product manufacturer, distributor, component supplier, or retailer
• A contractor, subcontractor, project owner, equipment company, or another business at a worksite
• A medical professional, medical practice, hospital, or other health care facility
• A city, county, state agency, public employee, or other public entity

There may be more than one responsible party. For example, a delivery collision may require investigation of both the driver and the company directing the work. A fall may involve the property owner as well as a company hired to inspect, clean, repair, or maintain the area.

A workplace injury may support workers’ compensation benefits while also presenting a separate claim against a negligent company other than the injured person’s employer. A lawyer’s role is to identify the people and organizations that controlled the relevant property, vehicle, product, equipment, work, or safety decision—not to assume liability from the seriousness of the injury alone.

Evidence That Can Help Explain What Happened

You do not need to collect every record before contacting a lawyer. The most useful information commonly includes:

• Incident, police, or crash reports
• Photographs, videos, and witness contact information
• Medical records, diagnostic images, bills, and treatment instructions
• The product, packaging, receipt, or identifying information in a product case
• Communications with insurers, businesses, property managers, or employers
• Wage, employment, and benefit records showing financial loss

A law firm may seek additional material such as surveillance video, vehicle data, maintenance records, contracts, property records, inspection documents, or expert analysis. Preservation requests may be important when evidence is controlled by someone else.

Compensation That May Be Available

Depending on the claim and supporting evidence, compensation may include:

• Past and reasonably anticipated medical expenses
• Rehabilitation and future care
• Lost income and reduced earning capacity
• Pain, suffering, disability, or disfigurement
• Loss of normal activities or independence
• Property damage in a vehicle or product-related incident
• Losses available to qualifying family members
• Wrongful-death or survival damages when an injury is fatal

Not every category applies to every case. The value of a claim depends on liability, available insurance or assets, the nature and duration of the injury, medical evidence, work consequences, future needs, and the injury’s effect on the person’s life.

Under New Jersey’s comparative-negligence statute, an injured person is not automatically barred because they share some responsibility, provided their negligence is not greater than the negligence of the party or combined parties from whom recovery is sought. Any damages are reduced by the injured person’s percentage of fault.

Important New Jersey Filing Deadlines

New Jersey Statutes Section 2A:14-2 generally requires an action for personal injury caused by a wrongful act, neglect, or default to be filed within two years after the claim accrues. Different rules or exceptions may apply based on the type of case, the injured person’s age, when the injury was reasonably discoverable, and other circumstances.

Claims involving a New Jersey public entity or public employee may require a notice of claim within 90 days. The New Jersey Division of Risk Management explains that its portal applies to claims against state departments and agencies, while claims against counties and municipalities must be filed directly with the appropriate local entity.

A notice is not the same as filing a lawsuit. Prompt review is important because identifying the correct public entity and satisfying the applicable notice requirements can require a fact-specific investigation.

How The Epstein Law Firm Can Help

The firm can evaluate which legal and insurance rules apply, obtain records, identify responsible parties, consult appropriate experts, calculate losses, communicate with insurers, negotiate a resolution, and file a lawsuit when necessary.

Firm History and Personal Injury Results

The Epstein Law Firm states that it has represented New Jersey clients since 1973, has more than 120 years of combined legal experience, and has recovered more than $150 million. Its published verdicts and settlements include:

• A $13.585 million confidential settlement
• A $10 million settlement involving alleged home-health-care training and oversight failures
• A $10 million settlement obtained while serving as local counsel for a woman who lost both legs after being struck by a bus
• An $8.25 million confidential settlement
• A $4.75 million confidential settlement
• A $4.25 million wrongful-death and survival settlement
• A $4 million car-accident recovery

These results show experience with significant injury and death claims, but they do not establish the value or likely outcome of another case. Results may vary depending on the particular facts and legal circumstances.

Certified Civil Trial Attorneys and Legal Credentials

Michael J. Epstein’s attorney biography states that he earned his undergraduate degree summa cum laude from Hamilton College and his J.D. cum laude from Harvard Law School. He then served as a law clerk to New Jersey Supreme Court Justice Marie L. Garibaldi and U.S. District Judge Alfred M. Wolin.

Michael J. Epstein is certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Civil Trial Attorney. His biography identifies personal injury, medical malpractice, nursing-home negligence, premises liability, product liability, wrongful death, and civil litigation among his practice areas.

Barry D. Epstein’s attorney biography states that he has been certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Civil Trial Attorney since 1984. His practice has included personal injury, medical malpractice, product liability, employment law, and civil litigation. He was admitted to the New Jersey bar in 1965 and later admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court and federal appellate courts.

The New Jersey Supreme Court Board on Attorney Certification administers the state’s attorney-certification program. The Court explains that certification requires applicants to meet experience, education, knowledge, reputation, and examination requirements. Certification does not restrict other licensed attorneys from practicing in the same field.

Professional Leadership, Associations, Publications, and Teaching

Michael J. Epstein’s published professional record includes service as President of the Bergen County Bar Association for 2016–2017 and Immediate Past President for 2017–2018. His biography also lists service on the New Jersey Association for Justice Board of Governors from 2012 through 2022, service as co-chair of its Amicus Committee beginning in 2013, and membership on the New Jersey Supreme Court Committee on Model Civil Jury Charges.

His biography identifies him as the author of the Bergen County Bar Association’s monthly Civil Practice Update. It also lists teaching and moderation roles for programs addressing civil practice, trial evidence, expert witnesses, medical-malpractice litigation, liens, depositions, offers of judgment, and major developments in New Jersey tort law. His listed publications include commentary in legal and general-interest publications on civil litigation, personal injury, transportation safety, professional responsibility, and court practice.

Barry D. Epstein served as President of the New Jersey State Bar Association from May 2000 through May 2001 and as President of the Bergen County Bar Association for 1987–1988. His biography identifies him as a faculty member of the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education and a former guest lecturer at Rutgers Law School and Seton Hall University. He moderated or taught programs on tort law, medical-malpractice trials, battered woman syndrome, and demonstrative evidence.

Published Client Reviews

The firm’s published client reviews describe communication, responsiveness, legal knowledge, compassion, and support during difficult litigation. Individual reviewers recount receiving prompt answers, personal attention, and help understanding the legal process.

Client reviews describe individual experiences and should not be understood as a promise that another client will have the same experience or obtain a particular result.

No aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. Certification is granted through the Court’s Board on Attorney Certification. Results may vary depending on the particular facts and legal circumstances.

The Epstein Law Firm

Questions About a Union City NJ Personal Injury Claim?

Personal injury legal help

The Epstein Law Firm can review the evidence, insurance issues, and next steps that may matter in your personal injury claim.

Call now

(201) 231-7847
Schedule your free case evaluation

Helpful Medical, Insurance, and Records Resources

• The CDC’s concussion signs and symptoms guidance explains that symptoms can appear later and identifies danger signs requiring emergency attention.
• The HHS medical-record access guide explains the right, with limited exceptions, to inspect and obtain copies of medical and billing records maintained by covered providers and health plans.
• The New Jersey crash-report request portal allows users to request approved NJTR-1 crash reports for non-toll roads and certain toll-road crashes.
• The New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance auto-insurance guide provides information about PIP, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, lawsuit options, and automobile insurance claims.

Speak With a Union City NJ Personal Injury Lawyer

A serious injury can affect your health, employment, finances, and ability to care for your family. You do not have to determine responsibility, interpret insurance coverage, and preserve evidence by yourself.

Call The Epstein Law Firm at (201) 231-7847 or contact the firm online for a free consultation about an injury in Union City NJ or elsewhere in Hudson County NJ.

Union City NJ Personal Injury FAQs: Claims, Insurance, and Deadlines

These answers provide general information. The applicable law can change based on the type of accident, responsible parties, insurance coverage, available evidence, and when the claim accrued.

Do I have a personal injury case in Union City NJ?

You may have a personal injury case if another person or organization violated an applicable legal duty, caused your injury, and left you with compensable losses. Relevant losses can include medical expenses, lost income, physical limitations, pain, or other documented harm.

The required proof depends on the claim. Negligence, medical malpractice, product liability, dog-bite, and public-entity cases follow different rules. Partial responsibility does not necessarily eliminate a claim, but New Jersey’s comparative-negligence law may reduce or bar recovery depending on the percentage of fault assigned.

Sources: New Jersey Courts Law Division civil complaint guide; New Jersey comparative-negligence statute.

What should I do immediately after an accident in Union City NJ?

Get appropriate medical care, report the incident, and preserve information that can be gathered safely. Photograph the scene, obtain witness details, keep damaged property, and save medical, employment, and insurance documents. Do not enter a dangerous location or trespass to obtain evidence.

Watch for symptoms that require professional attention. The CDC cautions that some concussion symptoms appear hours or days later and lists worsening headache, repeated vomiting, seizures, slurred speech, weakness, confusion, and difficulty waking as danger signs requiring emergency care.

Sources: CDC concussion signs and danger symptoms; HHS guidance on obtaining medical records; New Jersey State Police crash-report request portal.

How long do I have to file a New Jersey personal injury lawsuit?

New Jersey generally gives an injured person two years to commence an action for personal injury caused by another person’s wrongful act, neglect, or default. The date on which the claim legally accrued may be disputed, and exceptions or different statutes can apply.

Do not assume that every case has exactly two years from the incident date. Claims involving public entities can require much earlier notice, while cases involving minors, professional malpractice, wrongful death, or injuries discovered later may require a separate analysis. Early review also helps preserve video, witness accounts, and physical evidence.

Sources: New Jersey personal-injury limitations statute; New Jersey Courts Civil and Law Division FAQs.

What if my injury involved Union City NJ property or another public entity?

A claim against a municipality, county, state agency, or public employee may be governed by the New Jersey Tort Claims Act. A notice of claim generally must be presented within 90 days after accrual, subject to a limited procedure for seeking permission to file late.

The correct recipient depends on which entity owned the property, employed the person, or controlled the activity involved. The State’s online portal does not replace filing directly with a county or municipality. Because serving the wrong entity can create serious problems, public-entity involvement should be investigated promptly.

Sources: New Jersey Division of Risk Management tort-claim guidance; New Jersey statute governing late tort-claim notices.

Can I recover compensation if I was partly at fault?

Yes. Partial fault does not automatically prevent recovery in New Jersey. An injured person may generally recover when their negligence was not greater than the negligence of the person—or combined persons—from whom compensation is sought.

The total damages are reduced by the percentage of negligence attributed to the injured person. If the injured person is found more than 50% responsible, recovery is barred under this rule. Photographs, video, witness testimony, physical evidence, and expert analysis may become important when an insurer tries to shift blame.

Sources: New Jersey comparative-negligence recovery statute; New Jersey statute on findings and allocation of fault.

Who pays my medical bills after a Union City NJ car accident?

Personal Injury Protection, commonly called PIP, generally pays covered medical costs for you and other people covered by your New Jersey automobile policy regardless of who caused the crash. The available benefits, deductible, copayment, and responsible primary insurer depend on the policy.

PIP is separate from a liability claim against an at-fault driver. A liability claim may address losses not paid through PIP, but the policy’s lawsuit option and the nature of the injury can affect a claim for noneconomic damages. Review the complete policy rather than relying only on an insurance card or declarations summary.

Sources: New Jersey DOBI explanation of PIP coverage; New Jersey Standard Auto Insurance Policy guide.

Does New Jersey’s Limitation on Lawsuit option affect my car-accident claim?

It can. A person subject to the Limitation on Lawsuit option generally must prove one of the qualifying injuries identified under New Jersey law to recover pain-and-suffering damages after an automobile accident. These categories include death, loss of a body part, displaced fracture, significant scarring or disfigurement, loss of a fetus, or an objectively supported permanent injury.

The option generally concerns noneconomic damages rather than whether PIP pays covered medical expenses. The applicable option may depend on several policies and household relationships, so do not assume that the selection shown on one document resolves the issue.

Sources: New Jersey Standard Policy lawsuit-option guidance; 2026 New Jersey Auto Insurance Buyer’s Guide.

What evidence should I preserve for a personal injury claim?

Preserve photographs, videos, witness information, damaged property, incident or crash-report details, medical instructions, bills, insurer communications, and proof of missed work. Keep original electronic files when possible rather than relying only on screenshots or social-media copies.

Other evidence may be controlled by a business, property owner, government agency, medical provider, or insurer. A lawyer can seek surveillance footage, maintenance records, contracts, vehicle information, inspection documents, and complete medical records. HHS explains that patients generally have a right to access broad categories of their medical and billing information, subject to limited exceptions.

Sources: HHS right to access health information; New Jersey State Police crash-report requests; New Jersey Courts civil-claim filing guide.

How much is my Union City NJ personal injury case worth?

There is no reliable universal settlement value. A claim’s value depends on the strength of the liability evidence, comparative fault, insurance coverage, medical findings, treatment needs, lost income, future limitations, and how the injury affects the person’s daily life.

The full damages must be evaluated before applying any percentage of comparative fault. A quick settlement may not account for future treatment or reduced earning capacity, but a serious injury does not automatically guarantee a large recovery. Medical records, wage evidence, expert opinions, policy limits, and the practical ability to collect a judgment all matter.

Sources: New Jersey statute addressing damages and fault findings; New Jersey Courts Law Division civil complaint guide.

What happens when I contact The Epstein Law Firm about my injury?

Contacting the firm begins with a free case evaluation in which you can explain what happened, identify the people or organizations involved, and discuss your injuries, insurance coverage, records, and possible deadlines. Contact alone does not require you to hire the firm or obligate the firm to accept the matter.

New Jersey RPC 1.18 generally prohibits a lawyer from using or revealing information learned during a consultation with a prospective client, even when no attorney-client relationship follows, subject to the rule’s exceptions. If representation is offered, the written agreement should explain its scope, fees, costs, and responsibilities. The firm may also ask for permission to obtain medical records that HHS says patients generally have a right to access.

Sources: The Epstein Law Firm contact and case-evaluation page; New Jersey Rules of Professional Conduct including RPC 1.18; HHS guidance on access to medical and billing records.

Hudson County NJ Personal Injury Communities

• Bayonne
• East Newark
• Guttenberg
• Harrison
• Hoboken
• Jersey City
• Kearny
• North Bergen
• Secaucus
• Union City
• Weehawken
• West New York

The Epstein Law Firm

Ready to Talk About What Happened in Union City NJ?

Personal injury legal help

Tell The Epstein Law Firm what happened and get clear guidance about your injury claim and legal options.

Call now

(201) 231-7847
Schedule your free case evaluation

Notable Results

Selected case results obtained by The Epstein Law Firm:

$13.585 Million · $10 Million · $4.25 Million

$13.585 Million — Confidential Settlement

Flagship Result

The Epstein Law Firm obtained a $13.585 million confidential settlement — the largest result listed on the firm’s verdicts and settlements page.

$10 Million — Confidential Settlement

Negligent Care

The Epstein Law Firm obtained a confidential $10 million settlement in a case exposing critical lapses in training and oversight within the home health care industry, holding the negligent organization accountable.

$4.25 Million — Confidential Settlement

Wrongful Death — Motor Vehicle

The Epstein Law Firm obtained a $4.25 million confidential settlement in a wrongful death and survival action for a Teaneck husband and father who died after a tire fell off his car, causing it to flip and catch fire. A major mechanic operations company was at fault for failing to attach the tire properly.

View all verdicts and settlements →

Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Each case is different and must be evaluated on its own facts.

What Our Clients Say

“I have referred multiple complicated and challenging matters to Michael Epstein, Esq. Each time, he has achieved tremendous results for the client. He is extremely knowledgeable, talented, hard working, and caring. I recommend Mike and his law firm without reservation.”
— Michael, Google review

“Very happy with our experience with The Epstein Law Firm! Michael Epstein did everything possible to ensure we got the best possible outcome. He was there during a very difficult time in our lives when our daughter was injured.”
— courtney, Google review

“High recommend is an understatement. Incredible guidance, service, professionalism, and overall support through a complicated, emotional process.”
— Josie, Google review

Related Resources

• Personal Injury
• Hudson County