Located in Mount Laurel, we have been representing New Jersey car accident victims since 1995. We work tirelessly for our clients to ensure you receive medical care, financial compensation, and justice, regardless of an adjuster or insurance carrier’s claim denials.
The key takeaway for New Jersey for car accidents is that New Jersey is a no-fault state, meaning that in most cases, your insurance will cover your injuries regardless of which driver was responsible for the wreck.
New Jersey car accident quick facts:
- Statute of Limitations: 2 Years from the date of the accident (N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2).
- PIP Coverage Limits: Minimum $15,000 / Maximum $250,000.
- Accident Reporting Threshold: Mandatory for property damage over $500, injury, or death
If you are a car accident victim in NJ seeking legal representation, contact Kotlar Cohen for a free car accident case review. Once you have been involved in a car accident, the clock starts ticking. You must act urgently to preserve all your legal rights. Contacting Kotlar Cohen as early as possible in the process ensures you will be in a position to get the best possible outcome
New Jersey is a "No-Fault" State
New Jersey is a no-fault state for car accidents, meaning that your own insurance pays your medical bills after a car accident, regardless of who caused the wreck. This is called Personal Injury Protection or PIP. The no-fault system only applies to injuries, as the at-fault driver’s insurance company will generally cover damages to your automobile.
Every auto policy issued in the State of New Jersey must include PIP coverage. The amount of coverage varies based on how much coverage you elect, with a minimum of $15,000 and a maximum of $250,000. PIP covers your medical bills, lost wages, and costs of rehabilitation. Any damages beyond that are not permissible unless the injuries you sustained in the accident meet certain conditions.
This system is designed to get accident victims paid as quickly as possible, without having to fight with the other driver about who caused the accident. At Kotlar Cohen, we understand that you need to get paid as quickly as possible. Call us as soon as possible after a car accident so that we can get you the maximum recovery quickly and efficiently.
When You Can Sue After a Car Accident in NJ - Lawsuit Limitation Election (Verbal Threshold)
Another important aspect of New Jersey’s insurance system is the Limitation on Lawsuit Option included in most insurance policies issued in the state. This provision essentially means that a NJ motorist can only bring a lawsuit for pain and suffering if the injury sustained reaches a specific level of severity.
Under N.J.S.A. 39:6A-8, the following injuries meet the standard for overcoming the limitation on lawsuits:
Death – wrongful death claims are allowed
Dismemberment – loss of a limb or body part
Significant disfigurement or scarring – visible scarring affecting appearance and quality of life
Displaced fractures – bone fragments out of alignment (not hairline or stress fractures)
Loss of a fetus – pregnancy loss from accident injuries
Permanent injury – a body part or organ that has not healed to function normally and will not heal to function normally with further treatment (excluding scarring or disfigurement)
The vast majority of auto insurance policies issued in the State of New Jersey contain the verbal threshold limitation. In fact, you have to specifically elect not to have the verbal threshold.
Lastly, subject to certain exceptions, under N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2, the statute of limitations in New Jersey for an auto claim is 2 years, meaning there is a limited time to bring a claim, or it will be barred forever.
These factors make it all the more important to contact Car Accident Lawyer NJ Kotlar Cohen as soon as possible if you have been involved in an automobile accident in New Jersey.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
New Jersey has very specific rules regarding what types of compensation you can recover. If you did not elect “no verbal threshold” coverage, generally, you are only permitted to recover your medical expenses, loss of income, and rehabilitation expenses initially. The amount of compensation you can recover from PIP depends on the insurance threshold that you have elected.
If you have been involved in a serious accident, you are permitted to bring a lawsuit to recover damages above and beyond those available under PIP. These include damages for pain and suffering, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life. These non-economic damages are difficult to quantify. If you are not subject to the verbal threshold, you may bring a claim for these damages without regard for how serious your injuries were.
As the foremost NJ Personal Injury Attorneys in South Jersey, Kotlar Cohen has significant experience litigating car accident cases and gets you maximum damages to compensate you for your injuries.
How Kotlar Cohen Handles Car Accident Cases
At Kotlar Cohen, your well-being is our number one priority. We put people first by taking aggressive legal action to get you the medical treatments and financial compensation you deserve for your injury so you can recover in the best possible way.
The best way to maximize your car accident settlement is to carefully build a strong case, supported by well-documented and undeniable evidence of fault and the value of each category of damages.
Careful, swift action must be taken at every step of the process, and at our firm, we treat each case as if it were our own – aggressively and with precision.
Over time, evidence disappears, and memories fade. The sooner you contact us, the better our ability to strategize for your case will be, ultimately lending itself to a maximum recovery.
If we file a suit in your favor, it’s because we’re confident in our ability to win in front of the judge and jury. The truth is, most cases don’t go to trial – they usually settle before the trial date. Cases will likely go to trial only when there’s a dispute between the parties over the facts and values. The better we build your case, the more likely we can reach a settlement in your favor before your trial date.
However, as Board-Certified Trial Attorneys, we are among the most highly qualified in the courtroom and are fully prepared to convince the jury of your case.
FAQs
Q - What should I do after a car accident in NJ?
Q - What if I feel fine after the accident — do I still need a doctor?
Q - How long do I have to file a claim in New Jersey?
Q - How does New Jersey's no-fault insurance affect my case?
Q - What if the other driver was uninsured?
Q - How much is my car accident case worth?
Call Kotlar Cohen Today For Justice
Kotlar Cohen – The People First Lawyers have been helping drivers with their New Jersey personal injury claims since 1995. We work tirelessly for our clients to ensure you receive medical care, financial compensation, and justice, regardless of an adjuster or insurance carrier’s claim denials.
You pay us nothing up front. All fees are contingent, meaning we only get paid if you do. Most importantly, we don’t get paid a cent until you do, which drives us to exceed expectations and fight to win every case we bring on.