New Jersey Car Accident Lawyer
Injured in a car accident in New Jersey or New York? The other driver's insurance company is already working to pay you as little as possible. We make sure you get what you're actually owed — with no fee unless we win.
If you were hurt in a car crash in New Jersey or New York, you likely have a claim. You generally have two years to file (N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2), your own PIP coverage pays initial medical bills regardless of who caused the crash, and whether you can sue for pain and suffering may depend on the verbal threshold election on your policy. Onal Injury Law charges no fee unless we win. The most important step: don't sign anything or give the insurer a recorded statement before you talk to a lawyer. Free case review: (201) 335-6788.
The insurer has a strategy.
So do we.
After a serious crash, the at-fault driver's insurance company has one goal: close your claim fast and cheap, ideally before you've talked to a lawyer. The adjuster may sound friendly. They may even suggest a lawyer will "just slow things down." They are not on your side — every dollar they don't pay you is a dollar they keep.
Onal Injury Law levels the field. We investigate the crash, secure the police report, medical records, and witness accounts, calculate the full value of your claim — including future care and lost earning power — and handle every conversation with the insurer so you never say something that gets used against you. Every case is built as if it will go to trial, which is exactly why insurers so often decide to pay more rather than test us in court.
You work directly with John Onal from the first phone call to the final resolution — not a call center, not a rotating cast of associates. And because we work on contingency, the risk is ours: you pay nothing unless we win.
No-fault, PIP & the
verbal threshold, explained.
New Jersey is a no-fault state, and that single fact shapes every car accident claim here. It's also the part insurers count on you not understanding. Here's how it actually works.
PIP Pays Your Medical Bills First
Your own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage pays your initial medical bills after a crash no matter who caused it — that's what "no-fault" means. PIP limits vary with the option selected on your policy, from as little as $15,000 up to $250,000, and treatment must follow New Jersey's care-path rules to stay covered. What PIP never pays for: your pain, your suffering, and the ways the injury changes your life. That compensation comes only from a claim against the at-fault driver.
The Verbal Threshold Decides If You Can Sue
Many NJ policies include the "limitation on lawsuit" option (the verbal threshold). If it's on your policy, you can only sue for pain and suffering when your injury falls into one of six statutory categories, including:
- A displaced fracture
- Significant disfigurement or significant scarring
- A permanent injury, established by objective medical evidence
- Loss of a body part, loss of a fetus, or death
Which box was checked when the policy was bought — often without the buyer realizing it — can decide the entire case. We read the policy and the medical records before the insurer uses either against you.
Basic Policies Leave Big Gaps
New Jersey allows stripped-down "basic" auto policies with minimal PIP and little or no liability coverage. If you were hit by a driver carrying one — or you carry one yourself — the coverage picture gets complicated fast. We trace every policy that might apply to your crash: the other driver's, yours, a household member's, an employer's. Injured victims routinely leave coverage unclaimed simply because nobody looked for it.
Uninsured & Hit-and-Run Drivers
If the at-fault driver has no insurance, too little insurance, or fled the scene, your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage may still pay your claim. Many people don't realize they can recover from their own policy without their rates being the point — UM/UIM exists for exactly this situation, and we pursue it the same way we'd pursue any at-fault insurer.
Fault isn't argued.
It's proven.
New Jersey uses modified comparative negligence: you can recover as long as you weren't more than 50% at fault, with your award reduced by your share. That's why the other insurer's favorite move is inflating your percentage of blame — every point they pin on you is money off your recovery.
We don't let a claims adjuster decide what happened. We build the record: the police crash report, scene and vehicle photographs, dashcam and surveillance footage before it's erased, the vehicles' event-data recorders ("black boxes"), cell-phone records when distraction is suspected, witness statements, and — when the stakes call for it — accident-reconstruction experts. The insurer's fault story tends to change when it's confronted with evidence.
Every kind of
car accident claim.
Rear-End Collisions
The most common crash in New Jersey — and a leading cause of whiplash and spinal injuries. Rarely the front driver's fault, no matter what the insurer suggests.
Intersection & T-Bone Crashes
Red-light runners and failure-to-yield drivers cause devastating side-impact collisions, where the door is all that stands between you and the other vehicle.
Head-On Collisions
Among the most severe crashes on the road, frequently involving catastrophic or fatal injuries and disputes over which vehicle crossed the line.
Distracted & Drunk Driving
Texting drivers and impaired drivers put everyone at risk. Phone records and toxicology evidence can transform these cases — if someone moves fast enough to secure them.
Hit-and-Run & Uninsured Drivers
When the at-fault driver can't pay or can't be found, we pursue your UM/UIM coverage so their irresponsibility doesn't become your bill.
Rideshare, Pedestrian & Bicycle
Crashes involving Uber and Lyft raise layered coverage questions; pedestrians and cyclists face the most serious injuries of anyone on the road. We handle both.
Free consultation · No fee unless we win · Available 24/7
Call (201) 335-6788 NowWhat to do next.
Call 911 and get to safety
Report the crash and request medical help. The police report creates an official record of what happened — and who the officer believed caused it.
Get medical care right away
See a doctor even if you feel fine. Concussions, soft-tissue and spinal injuries often surface days later, and a gap in treatment is the first thing an insurer uses to argue you weren't really hurt.
Document everything
Photograph the vehicles, the scene, road conditions, and your injuries. Collect names, insurance details, and contact info for every driver and witness.
Don't give a recorded statement
The other driver's insurer may call within hours sounding helpful. Politely decline to discuss the crash or your injuries until you've spoken with a lawyer — you are not required to give a statement.
Call Onal Injury Law
We take over the insurers, the paperwork, and the investigation so you can focus on recovering. It's free to find out where you stand, and the earlier we start, the more evidence we can preserve.
What you can recover.
Common Injuries
- Whiplash & neck injuries
- Concussions & traumatic brain injury
- Spinal-cord & back injuries
- Broken bones & displaced fractures
- Internal organ injuries
- Burns, cuts & significant scarring
- Emotional trauma & PTSD
- Catastrophic & permanent disability
Compensation You Can Pursue
- Current & future medical bills
- Lost wages & lost earning capacity
- Pain & suffering
- Vehicle & property damage
- Rehabilitation & long-term care
- Wrongful-death damages for a lost loved one
Serious crashes can also involve our brain & spinal injury and wrongful death practices — cases we prepare with the same trial-ready standard.
How your case
actually moves.
1. Investigation
We secure the police report, photographs, footage, and witness accounts, put every insurer on notice, and lock down evidence before it disappears.
2. Treatment & Documentation
You focus on getting better. We track your treatment and wait until your medical picture is clear — valuing a claim before then means leaving your future care out of it.
3. Demand & Negotiation
We present the insurer a documented demand covering every category of your losses, then negotiate from evidence — not from whatever number the adjuster opens with.
4. Settlement or Trial
Most cases settle. But every file is built for the courtroom from day one, and insurers pay more to the firms they know will actually walk in. If a fair offer never comes, we're ready.
Serving New Jersey
& New York.
From our offices in Elmwood Park and Brooklyn, we represent car accident victims throughout Bergen, Passaic, Essex, and Hudson counties and the greater New York metro area — including crashes on Route 4, Route 17, Route 46, I-80, the Garden State Parkway, and the New Jersey Turnpike, some of the most collision-heavy roads in the state.
No Case Too Small.
No Case Too Big.
Whether your crash left you with a sore neck or a life-changing injury, you get the same thing from us: direct attention from John Onal, a full investigation, and a file prepared as if it's going to trial — because that's what makes an insurance company take a claim seriously in the first place.
Free consultation. No fee unless we win. Available 24/7.
Car accident questions,
answered straight.
How much is my New Jersey car accident case worth?+
It depends on your medical bills, lost income, the severity and permanence of your injuries, whether the verbal threshold applies to your policy, and the insurance coverage available. We give you an honest assessment of your specific case for free.
Should I talk to the insurance company after a car accident?+
Speak with an attorney before giving any recorded statement. The other driver's insurer uses those statements to reduce or deny your claim. You are not required to give one, and we handle all insurer communication for you.
How long do I have to file a car accident claim in New Jersey?+
Generally two years from the date of the crash under N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2. Claims involving a government vehicle or public entity require a notice of claim within 90 days under the New Jersey Tort Claims Act, so it's best to call as soon as possible.
What is the verbal threshold in New Jersey?+
The verbal threshold, or "limitation on lawsuit" option, is a choice on many New Jersey auto policies that restricts your right to sue for pain and suffering unless your injury falls into one of six statutory categories — including displaced fractures, significant scarring, permanent injury, or death. We review your policy and medical records to determine whether the threshold applies and whether your injury meets it.
What if I was partly at fault for the accident?+
New Jersey follows modified comparative negligence. You can still recover as long as you were not more than 50% at fault, though your award is reduced by your percentage of fault. Insurers routinely over-blame victims, and we push back with evidence.
What if the other driver was uninsured or fled the scene?+
You may still recover through your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. We identify every available policy and pursue each one so a hit-and-run or uninsured driver doesn't leave you paying out of pocket.
Do I need a lawyer for a minor car accident?+
It's worth a free consultation. Injuries that seem minor at the scene — whiplash, concussions, soft-tissue damage — often worsen over days or weeks, and once you settle you cannot reopen the claim. A short call tells you whether the insurer's offer is fair before you sign anything.
What does a car accident lawyer cost in New Jersey?+
Nothing up front. We work on contingency: no fee unless we recover money for you, and the consultation is always free.
Should I accept the insurer's first settlement offer?+
Not before you know the full value of your claim. First offers typically arrive before the extent of your injuries is clear and rarely account for future treatment or lost earning capacity. Have us review the offer for free before you accept — acceptance is final.
How long will my case take — and will it go to trial?+
Simple claims can resolve in a few months; serious-injury cases take longer because we value the claim after you reach maximum medical improvement, so nothing gets left out. Most cases settle — but we prepare every one as if it will go to trial, and that readiness is often exactly why insurers offer more.