Personal Injury Attorney in Newark

Prior Insurance-Company Experience Informs Your Injury Claim

After an injury, medical care, insurer communications, lost income, property damage, and filing deadlines can quickly overlap. Our attorneys evaluate how the incident occurred, who may be legally responsible, what evidence is available, and whether negotiation or litigation is appropriate. Early review also helps identify photographs, records, and witness information that should be preserved.

With more than 65 years of legal experience, our firm, Ehrlich, Petriello, Gudin, Plaza & Reed, Attorneys at Law, guides clients through personal injury and wrongful death claims. Several of our attorneys have represented insurance companies in the past, providing knowledge of insurance law that we now use when evaluating coverage, challenging insurer positions, and representing injured clients in New Jersey.

Negligence & Intentional Injury Claims in Newark

We represent individuals harmed by the negligence or misconduct of others, including claims involving physical injuries, emotional distress, property damage, or loss of reputation. A negligence claim generally requires evidence of the responsible party’s conduct, the connection between that conduct and the injury, and the resulting losses. We review those elements before recommending an insurance claim, lawsuit, or alternative dispute resolution.

Intentional tort claims require a different analysis from ordinary negligence matters. We represent clients in cases involving fraud, assault and battery, and defamation throughout New Jersey. Our attorneys also handle injuries involving public transportation, city parks, businesses, and residences throughout Newark and North Jersey.

Our personal injury attorneys handle cases involving:

• Automobile accidents
• Bus, truck, motorcycle, and bicycle accidents
• Dangerous premises and liability
• Defective products
• Medical malpractice
• Wrongful death

Many injury claims in New Jersey are resolved before a lawsuit is filed. When settlement isn’t appropriate, our attorneys draw on litigation experience in New Jersey state and federal courts to prepare the claim for the next stage. The proper approach depends on the available evidence, disputed legal issues, injuries, insurance coverage, and parties involved.

The New Jersey Personal Injury Claim Process

The process generally begins with a case evaluation. Our injury attorneys review the facts, available evidence, medical information, insurance documents, and potential sources of legal responsibility. We then assess applicable deadlines and explain whether the matter should proceed through an insurance claim, direct negotiation, or litigation.

Under N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2, New Jersey generally provides a two-year filing period for personal injury actions, but that rule isn’t universal. The applicable deadline can change based on the claim type, when the claim accrued, when an injury was discovered, the defendant’s identity, and statutory exceptions.

After a claim begins, we communicate with insurers and evaluate settlement positions against the documented injuries and losses. If a lawsuit is filed, we handle pleadings, discovery, depositions, mediation, and trial preparation. We keep clients informed as the matter progresses and explain the decisions required at each stage.

New Jersey’s comparative negligence rule can reduce compensation according to the percentage of fault assigned to an injured person. If that person’s fault exceeds the statutory threshold, recovery may be barred. We examine crash evidence, property records, witness accounts, and other available proof when fault is disputed.

Motor Vehicle Accident Representation

We handle claims involving car accidents, bus crashes, train incidents, bicycle accidents, trucking accidents, and motorcycle collisions across New Jersey.

Motor vehicle claims may involve personal injury protection, which is coverage commonly used for medical expenses after a covered New Jersey crash. A case may also require analysis of liability insurance, other available benefits, vehicle damage, lost earnings, and claims against multiple parties. Our attorneys’ prior experience representing insurance companies informs how we review policy language, coverage positions, and requests for information.

We evaluate crash reports, photographs, witness details, vehicle records, medical records, and insurance documents. The evidence needed depends on how the collision occurred and which facts are disputed. We also help clients keep insurer communications accurate while the cause and full effects of the accident are being investigated.

Premises Liability Claims

Injuries caused by unsafe property conditions fall under premises liability law. We handle cases involving slip and falls, negligent security, construction-site accidents, swimming-pool incidents, animal attacks, and dog bites. These incidents can occur at commercial properties, private residences, recreational facilities, construction sites, or public property.

A premises liability evaluation may examine the dangerous condition, who owned or controlled the property, and whether the responsible party knew or should have known about the hazard. Warnings, inspection practices, maintenance records, surveillance footage, photographs, incident reports, and witness statements may all be relevant. Our attorneys gather available evidence and assess how the condition caused the claimed injuries.

Public-property accidents can involve different defendants. The applicable procedure should be confirmed for the specific claim.

Wrongful Death Representation for Families

When negligence or intentional misconduct causes a death, a wrongful death claim requires careful analysis of the underlying conduct, eligible claimants, and losses permitted under New Jersey law. Our attorneys help families address insurance communications, lost earnings, benefits, and applicable filing requirements while investigating the events that led to the death.

Wrongful death deadlines and procedures may differ from those governing other personal injury claims. We review those requirements promptly and explain who may bring the claim and what financial documentation may be relevant. Families can begin a discussion by using our online form.

Steps to Take After an Injury

Appropriate medical care should come first. Treatment records can document the injury, symptoms, diagnoses, and recommended follow-up, but clients should seek care based on medical needs rather than solely to support a claim. Keep copies of bills, discharge instructions, prescriptions, and related records.

Other useful steps may include:

• Preserve evidence: Keep photographs, videos, damaged property, receipts, correspondence, and any incident or crash report.
• Identify witnesses: Record names and contact information while recollections are still fresh.
• Use care with insurers: Keep communications accurate and don’t speculate about fault, injuries, or facts you don’t know.
• Avoid public commentary: Social media posts and other public statements may be reviewed and taken out of context.
• Track financial effects: Retain wage information, employment records, repair estimates, and documentation of other losses.

At Ehrlich, Petriello, Gudin, Plaza & Reed, Attorneys at Law, our personal injury attorneys advise clients from the earliest stages of a claim. A prompt review can identify evidence that may disappear, witnesses whose memories may fade, and deadlines that depend on the defendant or type of claim.

Personal Injury Lawsuits, Mediation & Trial

When a personal injury lawsuit is filed, the process starts with pleadings that state the parties’ claims and defenses. Both sides then participate in New Jersey law procedures known as discovery, the formal exchange of information and evidence. Discovery may include document requests, written questions called interrogatories, depositions given under oath, and evidence from qualified professionals.

Settlement discussions can continue while a case is pending. The parties may participate in mediation, where a neutral third party helps them explore a voluntary resolution, or arbitration when it applies to the dispute. Neither process eliminates the need to evaluate the strength of the evidence and the consequences of a proposed agreement.

If the matter doesn’t resolve, we prepare for trial before a judge or jury. The timing and sequence of these steps vary according to the court, parties, disputed issues, and complexity of the evidence. Throughout the proceedings, our attorneys explain court schedules, preparation requirements, settlement options, and upcoming decisions.

Damages in a Personal Injury Claim

Potential damages depend on the available legal claims, the severity and duration of the injury, medical needs, effects on employment, property loss, and supporting proof. New Jersey personal injury law may permit compensation for medical expenses, therapy costs, lost wages, diminished earning ability, pain and suffering, emotional distress, property damage, and future losses. Not every category applies to every case.

Medical records and bills may document treatment costs, while wage statements and employment records can establish income loss. Photographs, testimony, repair documents, and other records may help explain how the incident affected the injured person.

Our work may include:

• Claim investigation: We review available documents, physical evidence, reports, and witness information.
• Insurance negotiation: We assess insurer positions and present supported claims for applicable losses.
• Loss documentation: We organize medical, employment, property, and other evidence relevant to damages.
• Courtroom representation: If settlement isn’t appropriate, we prepare the matter for trial and present the client’s case.
• Client communication: We provide updates and explain significant developments throughout the representation.

For more information about personal injury claims, contact Jeffrey W. Plaza.

Helpful Resources

• City of Newark Personal Injury Resources