Legally Reviewed by Jae E. Lee on July 16, 2026
A car accident in Passaic County can change everything in a matter of seconds. Serious injuries often mean months of medical treatment, missed paychecks, and mounting bills, all while you are still trying to recover. When another driver’s carelessness caused the crash, New Jersey law gives you the right to pursue compensation from the people responsible, but insurance companies rarely make that process easy.
At Jae Lee Law, attorney Jae E. Lee has spent over 30 years handling car accident claims throughout Passaic County and the rest of New Jersey, and she is certified by the New Jersey Supreme Court, a distinction held by only a small percentage of attorneys in the state. Ms. Lee has secured millions of dollars in recoveries for injured clients and is proactive rather than simply responsive, building every case as though it may need to go to trial.
New Jersey Law Limits Your Time to File
You generally have two years from the date of your accident to file a car accident lawsuit in New Jersey.
Jae Lee Law has secured millions of dollars in recoveries over more than 30 years, and we are willing to take your case to trial if the insurance company will not offer a fair settlement.
Statute of Limitations for Passaic County Car Accident Cases
Under N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2, most people injured in a New Jersey car accident have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. If a crash resulted in a death, New Jersey law generally allows two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death claim.
Some cases carry a much shorter window. If a vehicle owned by a city, county, or state government contributed to your crash, you typically must file a formal notice with the responsible agency within 90 days of the accident, long before the two-year deadline arrives. Missing either deadline can permanently bar your right to recover compensation, so it may help to review the car accident claim deadlines in New Jersey soon after your crash. You can also read the New Jersey Courts statute of limitations guidance for more detail.
How New Jersey’s No-Fault Insurance Rules Affect Your Claim
New Jersey requires most drivers to carry no-fault personal injury protection, or PIP, which pays for your own medical treatment regardless of who caused the crash. PIP benefits can help with early bills, but they rarely cover the full extent of lost wages, permanent injury, or pain and suffering. Depending on the policy you selected, you may also need to clear a legal threshold before you can pursue a lawsuit against the driver who hit you.
| Coverage Type | What It Means for Your Claim |
|---|---|
| PIP (No-Fault) | Covers your own medical treatment regardless of fault, but rarely covers lost wages, permanent injury, or pain and suffering in full. |
| Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist | Fills the gap if the other driver did not carry enough coverage to pay for your losses. |
| Modified Comparative Negligence | You can still recover compensation if you are found less than 51 percent at fault, though your award is reduced by your share of responsibility. |
If the other driver did not carry enough coverage to pay for your losses, New Jersey’s uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage may fill the gap. New Jersey also follows a modified comparative negligence rule, meaning you can still recover compensation as long as you are found less than 51 percent at fault, though your award is reduced by your share of responsibility. Knowing your no-fault insurance options early can make a meaningful difference in what you ultimately recover.
Types of Car Accident Cases We Handle in Passaic County
Passaic County’s busy highways, including Route 46, Route 80, and the roads leading to the George Washington Bridge, see a steady flow of serious crashes every year. We handle a wide range of car accident cases for injured drivers, passengers, and pedestrians, including:
Rear-End and Intersection Collisions
Caused by distracted, speeding, or inattentive drivers at busy Passaic County intersections.
Highway and Turnpike Crashes
High-speed accidents on Route 46, Route 80, and connecting roadways, often worsened by rain, sleet, or icy conditions.
Uninsured and Underinsured Driver Claims
Cases where the at-fault driver lacks enough coverage to pay for your losses.
Rideshare and Commercial Vehicle Accidents
Crashes involving Uber, Lyft, delivery vehicles, or other vehicles used for work.
Fatal Car Accidents
We pursue wrongful death claims for families who lost someone in a Passaic County crash.
Whatever the circumstances of your crash, our team investigates the facts closely to identify every party who may share responsibility for your injuries.
How Jae Lee Law Approaches Your Passaic County Car Accident Case
We start every car accident case with a full investigation into what happened and who is responsible. That means reviewing police reports, photographing the accident scene, gathering witness statements, and consulting with accident reconstruction professionals when the facts are contested. We look closely at road conditions, traffic signals, vehicle maintenance records, and any evidence of distracted or impaired driving.
Police Reports
Reviewed for details about how the crash happened and who was at fault.
Scene Documentation
Photographs of the accident scene and vehicle damage.
Witness Statements
Gathered to support your version of events.
Reconstruction Professionals
Consulted when the facts of the crash are contested.
Many car accident claims resolve through negotiated settlements, and we work to secure a fair outcome as quickly as your case allows. If an insurance company will not offer a reasonable settlement, we prepare every case as though it may go to trial, and we do not hesitate to take that step when it serves your interests. Ms. Lee has represented insurance companies earlier in her career, and that background now helps her anticipate the strategies insurers use to delay or minimize claims.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Passaic County
The steps you take in the days after a crash can affect your health and your claim.
Seek Medical Care Right Away
Do this even if your injuries seem minor at first, because some symptoms take days to appear.
Report the Accident
Report it to the police and request a copy of the report once it becomes available.
Keep Records
Keep records of every medical bill, missed workday, and repair estimate connected to the crash.
Avoid Recorded Statements
Avoid giving a recorded statement to any insurance adjuster until you have spoken with an attorney, because adjusters are trained to use your own words to reduce your claim.
If your accident happened near a Passaic County trucking route or involved a commercial vehicle, additional evidence may need to be preserved quickly before it is lost.
Frequently Asked Questions
You may have a valid case if another driver’s negligence, such as speeding, distraction, or failing to follow traffic laws, contributed to your crash. An attorney can review the police report and other evidence from your accident to help you understand your options.
Most car accident lawsuits in New Jersey must be filed within two years of the date of the crash, under N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2. Claims against a government entity generally require a notice of claim within 90 days, well before that two-year deadline.
Jae Lee Law handles car accident cases on a contingency fee basis, so you pay no upfront cost, and legal fees are only collected if we recover compensation on your behalf.
Yes. Under New Jersey’s wrongful death statute, certain family members may pursue a claim on behalf of a relative who died as a result of a car accident, generally within two years of the date of death.
New Jersey follows a modified comparative negligence rule, so you can still recover compensation as long as you are found less than 51 percent responsible for the crash, though your award is reduced by your share of fault.
Seek medical attention, report the accident to the police, and document the scene and your injuries as thoroughly as possible. Avoid discussing fault or giving a recorded statement to an insurance adjuster until you have spoken with an attorney.
Jae Lee Law Is Ready to Help With Your Passaic County Car Accident Claim
Jae Lee Law has spent over 30 years helping injured clients throughout Passaic County and the rest of New Jersey pursue the compensation they deserve after a car accident. Attorney Jae E. Lee is certified by the New Jersey Supreme Court, a distinction held by only a small percentage of attorneys in the state, and has secured millions of dollars in recoveries for clients while remaining proactive and prepared to go to trial whenever a fair settlement is not on the table.
You do not have to face insurance companies alone after a car accident, and speaking with an attorney early can help protect your options. Contact Jae Lee Law today to discuss your Passaic County car accident case.




