Accidents happen without warning and leave you facing medical bills, lost wages, and uncertainty about your future. When someone else’s carelessness causes your injuries, you deserve compensation for your losses. New Jersey law protects injury victims, but insurance companies work hard to minimize what they pay you.
At Jae Lee Law, we represent injured clients throughout Bergen County. Our team brings nearly 30 years of experience and over 100 years of combined legal knowledge to every case. We speak English, Korean, Spanish, Russian, and Ukrainian to serve our diverse community. We don’t just respond to insurance company tactics; we proactively fight for your rights and go to trial when necessary to secure fair compensation.
Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle in Bergen County
Bergen County residents face various accident situations that cause serious injuries. Motor vehicle accidents remain the most common cause of personal injury claims. These include car accidents, motorcycle crashes, truck collisions, and pedestrian knockdowns. The busy roads near the George Washington Bridge and throughout Bergen County create high accident zones where crashes happen daily.
Premises Liability and Slip and Fall Cases
Slip and fall accidents cause significant injuries, especially during the winter months when ice and snow create dangerous conditions. Property owners have a legal duty to maintain safe premises. When they fail to clear walkways, repair broken stairs, or warn about hazards, they may be liable for your injuries. These cases occur in parking lots, stores, restaurants, and apartment buildings across Bergen County.
Construction Accidents and Other Injury Claims
Construction site accidents injure workers despite safety regulations. Falls from heights, equipment failures, and falling objects cause severe injuries. Construction workers have rights beyond workers’ compensation, including potential third-party claims against negligent contractors or equipment manufacturers. Nursing home neglect represents another area where vulnerable residents suffer harm from inadequate care. Product liability cases arise when defective products cause injuries. Wrongful death claims help families seek justice when negligence takes a life.
How New Jersey Personal Injury Law Protects You
New Jersey uses a modified comparative negligence system for injury claims. You may recover damages even if you share some fault for the accident, as long as you are less than 51% responsible. Your compensation decreases by your percentage of fault. This rule makes early legal representation critical because insurance companies immediately work to shift blame onto you.
Understanding No-Fault Insurance and PIP Coverage
The state requires all drivers to carry no-fault insurance through Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage. PIP pays for medical bills and lost wages regardless of who caused the accident. However, PIP coverage has limits. You may step outside the no-fault system and file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver if you suffer serious injuries. New Jersey defines serious injuries as death, dismemberment, significant disfigurement, displaced fractures, loss of a fetus, or permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability.
Time Limits for Filing Your Claim
You have two years from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit in New Jersey. This statute of limitations sounds like plenty of time, but building a strong case takes months. Evidence must be gathered, medical treatment documented, and negotiations conducted before filing suit. Starting late puts you at a disadvantage. Some cases have shorter deadlines, particularly claims against government entities, which require notice within 90 days.
What Your Personal Injury Claim May Include
Personal injury claims seek compensation for economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include all financial losses you can document with receipts and records. Medical expenses form the largest part of most claims. This includes emergency room treatment, hospital stays, surgery, physical therapy, medications, and future medical care you will need because of your injuries.
Economic Damages You Can Recover
Lost wages compensate you for time missed from work during recovery. If your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous job or reduce your earning capacity, you may recover compensation for future lost income. Property damage covers repairs or replacement of your vehicle or other damaged belongings. Out-of-pocket expenses like transportation to medical appointments and hiring help for household tasks also qualify as economic damages.
Non-Economic Damages and Pain and Suffering
Non-economic damages compensate you for losses that don’t have price tags. Pain and suffering represent physical discomfort and emotional distress caused by your injuries. Loss of enjoyment of life damages apply when injuries prevent you from participating in activities you previously enjoyed. Loss of consortium claims compensate your spouse for the negative impact injuries have on your relationship. These damages require strong evidence and skilled legal arguments to maximize their value.
The Personal Injury Claims Process
Most personal injury claims begin with medical treatment and documentation. Seek medical care immediately after an accident, even if you feel fine. Some injuries like whiplash, concussions, and internal bleeding don’t show symptoms right away. Gaps in treatment let insurance companies argue your injuries weren’t serious or came from a different cause.
Investigation and Evidence Gathering
Your lawyer investigates the accident while you focus on recovery. We gather police reports, photograph accident scenes, interview witnesses, and collect surveillance footage before it disappears. We work with accident reconstruction specialists when needed to prove how the crash happened and who bears responsibility. Medical records get reviewed to document the full extent of your injuries and connect them directly to the accident.
Negotiation and Settlement
Insurance negotiations typically begin after you complete treatment or reach maximum medical improvement. We calculate the full value of your claim, including future medical needs and long-term impacts. Insurance companies make lowball initial offers, hoping you will settle quickly. We negotiate aggressively and present strong evidence supporting your claim value. Many cases settle during this phase when insurance companies recognize we are prepared to go to trial.
Litigation When Necessary
Litigation becomes necessary when insurance companies refuse fair settlements. We file lawsuits and move cases through the discovery process, where both sides exchange information. Depositions, written questions, and document requests force insurance companies to show their evidence. Many cases settle during litigation when the strength of your case becomes clear. If settlement fails, we take your case to trial and present your story to a jury.
Why Choose Jae Lee Law for Your Bergen County Personal Injury Case?
Experience matters in personal injury cases. Our founding attorney has handled thousands of claims for damages in automobile and slip and fall accidents over nearly 30 years. We have secured millions of dollars in recoveries for our clients. This experience teaches us what works, what insurance companies try, and how to build winning cases. We know Bergen County courts, judges, and opposing counsel, which gives us strategic advantages.
Our Commitment to Your Case
We invest in your case from day one. Most personal injury firms avoid spending money on cases, but we take a different approach:
This investment shows insurance companies we are serious about your case and prepared to go to trial if necessary. Cases with strong preparation typically settle for higher amounts because insurance companies know they face significant risk at trial.
- First-rate demonstrative evidence to show the full impact of your injuries
- Professional investigation tools to gather and preserve critical evidence
- Advanced trial materials that present your case effectively to juries
- Expert witnesses who testify about medical conditions, accident reconstruction, and economic losses
- All litigation costs are advanced, so you pay nothing out of pocket
Multilingual Service for Our Diverse Community
Our multilingual team serves Bergen County’s diverse population. We communicate with clients in English, Korean, Spanish, Russian, and Ukrainian. Language barriers should never prevent you from getting the legal help you deserve. Our cultural understanding helps us connect with clients and tell their stories effectively to insurance companies, judges, and juries.
Contact Jae Lee Law for Experienced Representation Today
Personal injuries change lives in an instant. Medical bills pile up while you miss work and struggle with pain. Insurance companies work to minimize your claim while you focus on recovery. You need someone fighting for you who knows how to win these battles. Our team at Jae Lee Law has dedicated nearly 30 years to helping injured clients throughout Bergen County recover maximum compensation. We place your needs above all other considerations and remain committed to achieving the best possible results.
From our first meeting to the final settlement, we shoulder the legal burden so you can focus on what matters most, your recovery. Our track record speaks for itself through millions recovered for clients, but our commitment to going above and beyond keeps clients referring their family and friends to our firm. We negotiate favorable settlements when possible and go to trial when insurance companies refuse reasonable amounts.Contact us today to discuss your personal injury case and learn how we can help you seek the justice and compensation you deserve.
