- Auto Accident Attorneys In NJ Committed To Securing Justice For Our Clients
- Why Hire Corradino & Papa, LLC As Your New Jersey Car Accident Lawyer?
- What to Do After a Car Accident in New Jersey
- Filing a Car Accident Claim in NJ
- Common Causes of Car Accidents
- How Much Is My Car Accident Claim Worth?
- Car Accident Injuries
- Insurance Requirements and Personal Injury Protection (PIP) in New Jersey
- Liability and Comparative Fault in NJ
- How Corradino & Papa, LLC Can Help With Your New Jersey Car Accident Claim
- Contact Corradino & Papa, LLC’s Car Accident Lawyers in New Jersey Today for a Free Case Evaluation
Auto Accident Attorneys In NJ Committed To Securing Justice For Our Clients
At Corradino & Papa, LLC we are committed to securing justice for clients in Essex County, Hudson County, Passaic County, Bergen County, Union County, and Throughout North Jersey
More than 200,000 auto accidents occur each year on New Jersey roads, many of them stemming from careless conduct behind the wheel or other forms of negligent behavior. Corradino & Papa, LLC’s car accident lawyers in New Jersey represent victims injured in all types of crashes, from front impacts to rear-end collisions and “T-bone” side-impact accidents to rollover accidents.
We know how difficult the legal process can be, especially when you’re struggling with the pain and limitations posed by serious personal injuries. Having professional assistance can make all the difference, particularly when you don’t have to pay upfront for legal representation. Contact us to get started with a free initial consultation with experienced auto accident lawyers today.
Why Choose Corradino & Papa, LLC
Battle Tested Personal Injury Trial Attorneys
Relentless Pursuit of Maximum Compensation
Outstanding Reputation & Client Reviews
A Proven Track Record of Successful Results
Why Hire Corradino & Papa, LLC As Your New Jersey Car Accident Lawyer?
For seasoned car accident lawyers in New Jersey, Corradino & Papa, LLC is the law firm of choice. Our dedication to handling all aspects of the legal process at no upfront cost and the significant results we achieve for clients are unmatched.
Comprehensive Claims Management That Allows You to Focus on Getting Better
When you’re facing a long road to recovery, the last thing you need is the distraction of managing a legal claim yourself. Let the professionals handle this while you concentrate on healing and getting stronger. We take the hassle out of the car accident claims process by managing every aspect of your case, from initial evaluation to securing a settlement or presenting your case in court.
Numerous Six-Figure and Seven-Figure Recoveries for Car Accident Victims
For victims injured in car accidents and other types of motor vehicle crashes, Corradino & Papa, LLC has achieved dozens of settlements and awards in excess of half a million dollars, including several million-dollar and multimillion-dollar payouts. Our history of recovering more than $100 million in compensation reflects our commitment to getting our clients maximum compensation for their injuries.
Legal Assistance at No Upfront Cost
Car accidents can cost you so much, financially and otherwise. Getting the compensation you deserve through a legal claim may offer you the only opportunity to afford the full cost of your medical care and future medical expenses and to offset your lost income. Corradino & Papa, LLC assists clients on a contingency basis. When you choose us as your car accident lawyers in New Jersey, you won’t face the added burden of upfront legal fees. You’ll pay nothing for legal representation until we have successfully gotten you a payout.
What to Do After a Car Accident in New Jersey
Step-by-Step Action Plan
After a car accident, it's essential to follow these steps:
- Check for injuries and call emergency services if needed
- Exchange information with the other parties involved
- Document the scene and gather witness contact details
- Notify your insurance company
- Seek medical attention even for minor injuries
By following these steps, you protect your legal rights and ensure a smoother claims process.
Avoiding Common Mistakes After an Accident
When dealing with a car accident, avoid these common mistakes:
- Admitting fault
- Saying you are uninjured at the scene
- Skipping medical attention
- Delaying contacting a car accident attorney
By avoiding these mistakes, you can protect your claim and increase your chances of receiving fair compensation.
File an Auto Accident Claim in New Jersey
Although state law gives injured car accident victims in NJ the right to seek financial compensation from negligent parties, you need to pursue this compensation through the claims process. Claimants are legally able to file claims with insurance companies and negotiate a settlement offer on their own, but having professional legal guidance allows you to build a strong claim that provides the foundation for recovering maximum damages. New Jersey’s auto accident laws and no-fault insurance system can also create complications that make professional legal guidance valuable.
Preserving Evidence and Documentation
Preserving evidence such as photographs of the scene, medical records, witness statements, and repair estimates is essential to building a strong case. Your car accident attorney will rely on this documentation to establish liability and prove the extent of your damages.
Why Choose Corradino & Papa, LLC
- Battle Tested Personal Injury Trial Attorneys
- Relentless Pursuit of Maximum Compensation
- Outstanding Reputation & Client Reviews
- A Proven Track Record of Successful Results
Filing a Car Accident Claim in NJ
When you're injured in a car accident, the legal process can feel overwhelming while you're trying to recover from your injuries. At Corradino & Papa, LLC, we understand that you need to focus on getting better—we'll take care of the rest. Our experienced motor vehicle accident lawyers handle every aspect of your claim, from initial investigation through final resolution, ensuring your rights are protected while you concentrate on healing.
Statute of Limitations for Auto Accidents
In New Jersey, you generally have two years from the date of your car accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. This deadline is strict, and missing it can permanently bar your right to compensation, regardless of how clear the other driver's fault may be. However, certain circumstances may affect this timeframe—for example, if a government entity is involved, you may have only 90 days to provide formal notice of your claim.
Don't let crucial deadlines slip by while you're dealing with injuries and recovery. Contact Corradino & Papa, LLC promptly to ensure all necessary paperwork is filed within the required timeframes.
Steps in the Litigation Process
The car accident claims process in New Jersey involves several key stages. Our team handles each step while keeping you informed throughout:
- Initial Investigation: We thoroughly investigate your accident, gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and consulting with experts when necessary
- Insurance Claims: We manage all communications with insurance companies and file claims on your behalf
- Settlement Negotiations: Our attorneys negotiate aggressively to secure fair compensation for your injuries
- Litigation: If a fair settlement cannot be reached, our Supreme Court certified trial attorneys will take your case to court
With over 130 years of combined experience, our legal team knows how to navigate these complex processes effectively.
Do I Need a Police Report?
Yes, having a police report is a necessity for car accident claims in New Jersey. State law requires reporting accidents involving injury, death, or property damage exceeding $500. The police report provides essential documentation, including:
- Details about how the accident occurred
- Information about all parties involved
- Witness statements
- The officer's assessment of the scene
- Any traffic violations issued
This report serves as valuable evidence and can significantly strengthen your claim. If police weren't called to the scene, you must file a written report with the NJ Motor Vehicle Commission within 10 days.
Common Causes of Car Accidents
Distracted Driving
Driver distractions, such as texting, phone calls, or adjusting navigation systems, cause thousands of accidents annually in New Jersey. Our distracted driving accident attorneys know how to investigate and prove these cases, including obtaining phone records and other evidence to establish that the driver was not paying attention at the time of impact.
Speeding and Reckless Driving
Excessive speed reduces reaction time and increases crash severity throughout New Jersey's busy highways and local roads. Reckless behaviors like aggressive lane changes, tailgating, and running red lights compound these dangers and often result in multi-vehicle accidents with severe injuries. We work with accident reconstruction specialists to demonstrate how speed or reckless maneuvers contributed to your injuries and hold negligent drivers accountable for their dangerous choices.
Drunk Driving
Impaired drivers pose extreme dangers on New Jersey roads. Intoxicated drivers suffer from reduced reaction times, impaired judgment, blurred vision, and decreased coordination, making them unable to respond appropriately to traffic situations. If you've been injured in a drunk driving accident, our attorneys will pursue maximum compensation, including potential punitive damages for this egregious behavior.
Fatigued Driving
Drowsy driving is a serious safety hazard that causes thousands of accidents annually in New Jersey. Fatigued drivers have slower reaction times, impaired judgment, and may even fall asleep at the wheel. This problem is particularly acute among commercial drivers, shift workers, and those with untreated sleep disorders. Our experienced attorneys know how to investigate driver fatigue by examining work schedules, cell phone records, and witness statements to demonstrate how sleep deprivation contributed to your accident.
Hazardous Road Conditions
Dangerous road conditions like potholes, inadequate signage, poor drainage, or defective highway design can cause serious accidents even when drivers are careful. These hazardous road conditions are often the result of negligent maintenance or improper construction practices by government entities or contractors. Our team examines maintenance records, construction plans, and previous accident reports to determine if responsible parties failed to maintain safe roadways.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end accidents often result in serious neck and back injuries. While the rear driver is typically at fault, we thoroughly investigate all factors that may have contributed to your collision—for example, if the lead driver suddenly brake checks, it is treated as reckless driving behavior.
Head-On Crashes
These devastating collisions often occur at high speeds and result in catastrophic injuries. Head-on crashes frequently happen when drivers cross center lines due to fatigue, distraction, or impairment, or when vehicles are forced into oncoming traffic by road hazards or other drivers' negligence. The severe nature of these accidents often leads to traumatic injuries or even fatalities, requiring extensive medical treatment and long-term rehabilitation. Our experienced attorneys understand the complex medical and legal issues involved in these cases and work with medical experts to ensure all current and future care needs are properly documented and compensated.
How Much Is My Car Accident Claim Worth?
Calculating your claim's value requires careful analysis of all the damages you've suffered. At Corradino & Papa, LLC, we work with medical experts and economists to ensure every aspect of your losses is properly valued, including:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
- Loss of enjoyment of life
With over $500 million recovered for our clients, we know how to maximize compensation for car accident victims throughout New Jersey.
Economic vs. Non-Economic Damages
Economic damages include quantifiable losses like medical bills, lost wages, and property damage. These are typically easier to calculate with documentation.
Non-economic damages compensate for subjective losses like pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. Our experienced attorneys know how to effectively present these damages to insurance companies and juries.
Punitive Damages and Structured Settlements
Punitive damages may be awarded in cases involving extreme negligence or intentional wrongdoing, such as drunk driving accidents. These damages are designed to punish the defendant and deter similar behavior.
Structured settlements provide periodic payments over time rather than a lump sum, often beneficial for victims with long-term care needs. Our attorneys can help determine the best payment structure for your specific situation.
Disclaimer: Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
Car Accident Injuries
Car accidents can cause a wide range of injuries, from minor cuts and bruises to life-altering conditions like traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord damage. The force of even seemingly minor collisions can cause serious harm that may not be immediately apparent.
Seek immediate medical attention after any car accident, even if you feel fine. Some injuries, like concussions or internal bleeding, may not show symptoms right away. Prompt medical documentation also strengthens your legal claim by establishing a clear connection between the accident and your injuries.
Who Pays Medical Bills in Auto Accidents in NJ?
New Jersey’s no-fault insurance laws can raise questions about who pays medical bills in car accident injury claims that result from negligence.
In general, the personal injury protection (PIP) portion of each driver’s auto insurance coverage pays for their own medical expenses resulting from the accident regardless of who is at fault. PIP insurance covers a variety of types of motor vehicle accident treatment, including:
- Diagnostic testing
- Emergency room bills
- Hospitalization
- Inpatient and outpatient surgeries
- Non-surgical treatments
- Medications
- Physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and other forms of rehabilitative care
- Chiropractic treatment
Questions about PIP coverage often arise when it comes to out-of-pocket costs and medical bills that exceed your PIP coverage limits. If you agreed to make your health insurance the primary responsible party for medical bills when purchasing your auto insurance policy, you may have to go through your health insurer instead of PIP, including facing cost-sharing obligations and limitations on which providers you can see. Certain circumstances, such as ride-share accidents, can potentially constitute exceptions to this system, making the claims process even more confusing.
PIP coverage also applies to injured passengers and pedestrians who are covered by an auto insurance policy, even though they weren’t the ones driving. However, if you were injured in a collision with a car while riding a motorcycle, you generally won’t be covered by PIP, even if you have this coverage available to you through an auto insurance policy.
No-fault laws mean that your own PIP coverage will apply in many cases, but ultimately, determining exactly who will pay for your medical bills in your New Jersey car accident requires an evaluation of your specific circumstances.
Insurance Requirements and Personal Injury Protection (PIP) in New Jersey
New Jersey requires all drivers to carry auto insurance, including PIP coverage. Understanding how PIP works is important for accessing the benefits you've paid for. Our attorneys help clients navigate PIP claims and ensure they receive all entitled benefits.
Is New Jersey a No-Fault State?
New Jersey operates under a modified no-fault system, meaning your own PIP insurance initially covers your medical expenses and partial lost wages regardless of who caused the accident. However, if your injuries meet certain thresholds, you can "step outside" the no-fault system and pursue additional compensation from the at-fault driver.
These thresholds include:
- Death
- Dismemberment or significant disfigurement
- Displaced fractures
- Loss of a fetus
- Permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability
When Can You Sue Beyond No-Fault Coverage?
While PIP provides immediate benefits without waiting for fault determination, these benefits are limited and may not cover all your expenses. If your injuries are severe enough to meet New Jersey's verbal threshold, you can pursue additional compensation from the at-fault driver for pain and suffering, full lost wages, and other damages not covered by PIP.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) vs. Traditional Insurance
PIP coverage ensures you receive necessary medical care promptly, regardless of who caused the accident. However, PIP benefits have coverage limits that may not fully compensate for severe injuries.
Traditional liability insurance requires establishing fault before compensation is paid, which can delay treatment but may provide more comprehensive coverage for serious injuries.
Our experienced attorneys help clients understand both systems and pursue all available sources of compensation.
Limited vs. Unlimited Right to Sue
When purchasing auto insurance in New Jersey, you choose between:
- Limited right to sue: Restricts your ability to sue for pain and suffering unless your injury meets specific verbal or monetary thresholds. This option typically costs less.
- Unlimited right to sue: Allows you to pursue compensation for pain and suffering for any injury, regardless of severity. This provides broader legal options but costs more.
Understanding your policy's lawsuit limitations is critical for determining your legal options after an accident.
Liability and Comparative Fault in NJ
New Jersey follows a modified comparative negligence rule. You can recover damages as long as you're less than 51% responsible for the accident. Your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you're found 20% at fault and your damages total $100,000, you'd recover $80,000.
Understanding Comparative Negligence
Comparative negligence evaluates each party's responsibility for the accident and adjusts compensation accordingly. Insurance companies often try to shift blame to reduce their payouts, making experienced legal representation essential.
Our experienced car accident attorneys gather comprehensive evidence to clearly establish the other driver's negligence and counter attempts to unfairly assign fault to you.
Can I Recover if I Was Partially at Fault?
Yes, in New Jersey, you can still recover damages even if you share some responsibility for the accident, as long as you're less than 51% at fault. However, your recovery will be reduced proportionally.
This makes having skilled legal representation crucial. The attorneys at Corradino & Papa, LLC know how to present evidence effectively to minimize your assigned fault percentage and maximize your recovery.
For a free consultation about your car accident claim, call us at 973-381-1706. We're available 24/7 and handle all cases on a contingency basis—you pay nothing unless we win your case.
How Corradino & Papa, LLC Can Help With Your New Jersey Car Accident Claim
Determining responsibility for your medical bills is only one of the challenges involved in a car accident claim. Our seasoned auto accident attorneys in NJ can also assist you with the following:
- The initial evaluation of the facts
- A thorough investigation of the accident, potential defendants, and sources of insurance coverage
- Fact-gathering and case preparation to establish all elements of negligence
- Claims filing, including management of deadlines, paperwork, and legal proceedings
- Resolution of your claim through settlement negotiations or a trial
Corradino & Papa, LLC’s car accident lawyers in New Jersey assist clients with all types of common motor vehicle accident injuries, from those that impact your life on a temporary basis to catastrophic injuries.
Contact Corradino & Papa, LLC’s Car Accident Lawyers in New Jersey Today for a Free Case Evaluation
Don’t put your future at risk by attempting to handle your car accident injury claim yourself. You deserve full legal compensation and the opportunity to focus on your physical recovery without distractions.
For help from auto accident attorneys in NJ, contact Corradino & Papa, LLC online or call 973-381-1706 today.
