Bergen County Car Accident Lawyer
Hurt in a crash on Route 4, Route 17, Route 80 or anywhere in New Jersey? Our Bergen County car accident lawyer works from 619 River Drive in Elmwood Park and handles cases across the state. However, New Jersey has its own rules on PIP, the verbal threshold and deadlines, so it helps to call early.
After a car accident in New Jersey, four rules shape your case. First, your own PIP coverage pays your medical bills no matter who caused the crash. Second, if your policy has the limitation-on-lawsuit option (the verbal threshold), you can sue for pain and suffering only if your injury fits one of six categories. Third, you generally have two years to file a lawsuit, but only 90 days to file a notice of claim if a government vehicle was involved. Finally, you can recover only if you were not more than 50% at fault. Our Bergen County car accident lawyer also handles all of this for you. The consultation is free: (201) 335-6788.
A Bergen County car accident lawyer who handles the insurer for you
After a serious crash, the other driver's insurer usually wants to close your claim quickly, often before you speak with a lawyer. The adjuster may also sound helpful. However, anything you say can later be used to reduce what they pay.
From our office at 619 River Drive in Elmwood Park, we investigate the crash, request the police report, medical records and witness accounts, and value the full claim, including future care and lost earning power. In addition, we handle every conversation with the insurers, so you do not say something that hurts your case.
You also work directly with John Onal from the first call to the end of the case. In addition, we represent clients in English, Spanish and Turkish, and the consultation is free.
PIP, the verbal threshold and the deadlines, explained
New Jersey is a no-fault state. In other words, your own policy pays your first medical bills no matter who caused the crash. However, the same system also limits when you can sue, so these six rules decide many cases.
PIP pays your medical bills first
Your own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) pays your medical bills after a crash regardless of fault (N.J.S.A. 39:6A-4). However, limits depend on your policy, from $15,000 on a basic policy up to $250,000 on a standard policy. Also, treatment must follow the insurer's care-path rules. Still, PIP never pays for pain and suffering, which can only come from a claim against the at-fault driver.
The verbal threshold
If your policy has the limitation-on-lawsuit option (N.J.S.A. 39:6A-8(a)), you can sue for pain and suffering only if your injury is one of these:
- Death
- Dismemberment
- Significant disfigurement or significant scarring
- A displaced fracture
- Loss of a fetus
- A permanent injury, shown by objective medical evidence
That is why we read your policy and your medical records early. For a deeper look, see our guide to the New Jersey verbal threshold.
Basic policies and minimum limits
First, New Jersey allows "basic" auto policies with very low coverage. In addition, the minimum liability limits on a standard policy rose to $35,000 per person and $70,000 per crash on January 1, 2026. For that reason, we look for every policy that may apply: the other driver's, yours, a household member's and an employer's.
Uninsured and hit-and-run drivers
If the at-fault driver had no insurance, too little insurance or fled, your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage may pay. We also pursue that claim the same way we pursue any at-fault insurer.
Two years, or 90 days
Most New Jersey car accident lawsuits must be filed within two years (N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2). However, if a town, county, the state or NJ Transit was involved, a notice of claim is generally due within 90 days under the Tort Claims Act (N.J.S.A. 59:8-8).
The 51% bar
New Jersey uses modified comparative negligence (N.J.S.A. 2A:15-5.1). You can recover if you were not more than 50% at fault, and your award is then reduced by your share. As a result, insurers often try to pin part of the blame on you.
Fault is proven with evidence
Because every point of fault changes what you recover, we do not leave the story to the adjuster. Instead, we build the record early, before cameras overwrite footage and before memories fade.
In serious cases, we also work with accident reconstruction experts. As a result, the insurer's version of events often changes once it meets the evidence.
Evidence we gather
- The police crash report
- Scene, vehicle and injury photos
- Dashcam and security footage
- Vehicle event data recorders ("black boxes")
- Phone records when distraction is suspected
- Witness statements
What a Bergen County car accident lawyer sees most
Bergen County has many heavily traveled roads, and our office sits close to Route 80 and the Garden State Parkway. For example, the retail corridors along Routes 4 and 17 in Paramus draw heavy traffic, and it builds up even more on Saturdays because most Paramus stores close on Sundays.
Roads we see often
Many of our Bergen County cases come from these routes:
- Route 4 and Route 17
- Route 46 and Route 80
- The Garden State Parkway
- The Turnpike and I-95
- Route 208 and Route 21
Where cases are filed
Car accident lawsuits are usually filed in the Superior Court, Law Division, in the county where the crash happened or where a party lives. For example, for Bergen County, that is the courthouse in Hackensack.
Crossing the bridge
Also, our Cliffside Park office is close to the George Washington Bridge approaches. In addition, we have a Staten Island office, so crashes that cross into New York stay with one firm.
Cases our Bergen County car accident lawyer handles
Rear-end collisions
In particular, these crashes are common in stop-and-go traffic on Routes 4 and 17. They also cause many neck, back and head injuries.
Intersection and T-bone crashes
For example, red-light and failure-to-yield crashes cause serious side impacts, where only the door protects the driver.
Distracted and drunk driving
In these cases, phone records and toxicology evidence matter, but only if someone requests them quickly.
Hit-and-run and uninsured drivers
When the driver cannot pay or cannot be found, we also pursue your UM/UIM coverage.
Uber and Lyft crashes
Rideshare cases also have their own insurance rules in New Jersey. Our Uber and Lyft accident practice sorts out which policy applies.
Pedestrian and bicycle crashes
Pedestrians and cyclists, however, often suffer the most serious injuries. In addition, PIP may still apply even though you were not in a car.
Free consultation · Elmwood Park office · English, Spanish & Turkish
Call (201) 335-6788 nowWhat to do before you call a Bergen County car accident lawyer
Call 911 and get to safety
First, report the crash and ask for medical help. The police report also creates an official record of what happened.
Get medical care right away
Then see a doctor, even if you feel fine. Concussions and spinal injuries often show up days later, and a gap in treatment is often used against you.
Document everything
In addition, photograph the vehicles, the scene and your injuries, and get names, insurance details and contact information for every driver and witness.
Do not give a recorded statement
The other insurer may also call within hours. However, you do not have to discuss the crash or your injuries before you speak with a lawyer.
Call our Elmwood Park office
Finally, call us. That way, we take over the insurers, paperwork and investigation, and you can focus on recovering.
How a New Jersey car accident case moves
Investigation
First, we secure the police report, photos, footage and witness accounts, and put every insurer on notice.
Treatment and records
Then you focus on getting better while we track your treatment. We also wait until your medical picture is clear, so future care is not left out.
Demand and negotiation
Next, we send the insurer a documented demand covering every category of your losses, and we negotiate from that evidence.
Settlement or lawsuit
Most cases settle. However, if a fair offer does not come, we file suit and prepare the case for trial.
What you can pursue
Common injuries
- Whiplash and neck injuries
- Concussions and traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord and back injuries
- Broken bones and displaced fractures
- Internal injuries
- Burns, cuts and significant scarring
- Emotional trauma and PTSD
Compensation you can pursue
- Current and future medical bills not paid by PIP
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering, if the threshold is met or does not apply
- Vehicle and property damage
- Rehabilitation and long-term care
- Wrongful death damages for a lost loved one
Serious crashes also go through our brain and spinal injury and wrongful death practices. For how cases are valued, read our guide to New Jersey car accident settlements.
Crashed across the river? The state decides the rules
Many Bergen County drivers cross into New York every day, and the two states handle car accident law differently. For that reason, if you live in one state and crashed in the other, which rules apply can change your case. With offices in Elmwood Park and Cliffside Park, NJ, and Staten Island, NY, we handle both.
| Rule | New Jersey | New York |
|---|---|---|
| Lawsuit deadline | 2 years (N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2) | 3 years (CPLR §214) |
| First-party benefits | PIP from your own policy | $50,000 no-fault; Form NF-2 due within 30 days |
| Right to sue for pain and suffering | Verbal threshold, if your policy has the limitation-on-lawsuit option | "Serious injury" threshold (Ins. Law §5102(d)) |
| Shared fault | Barred if more than 50% at fault | Pure comparative fault |
| Public vehicle involved | Notice within 90 days (Tort Claims Act) | Notice of Claim within 90 days (GML §50-e) |
Hurt on the New York side? See our Staten Island and New York car accident page.
A Bergen County car accident lawyer for all of New Jersey
First, our main office is at 619 River Drive, Suite 340 A, Elmwood Park, NJ 07407. From there, we represent people hurt in crashes across Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Hudson counties, and we also take cases from every other county in the state by phone or video. In addition, our Cliffside Park office serves the towns along the Hudson.
No case too small. No case too big.
In fact, 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 will go to trial.
The consultation with our Bergen County car accident lawyer is also free, and we answer the phone 24/7.
Questions for a Bergen County car accident lawyer
How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in New Jersey?
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In general, you have two years from the crash under N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2. However, if a government vehicle or public entity was involved, a notice of claim is generally due within 90 days under the Tort Claims Act.
What is the verbal threshold in New Jersey?
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In short, it is the limitation-on-lawsuit option on many New Jersey auto policies. If your policy has it, you can sue for pain and suffering only if your injury is death, dismemberment, significant disfigurement or scarring, a displaced fracture, loss of a fetus, or a permanent injury.
Who pays my medical bills after a New Jersey car accident?
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First, your own PIP coverage pays, no matter who caused the crash. Limits depend on your policy, and treatment must follow your insurer's care-path rules.
What if I was partly at fault?
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You can still recover if you were not more than 50% at fault. However, your award is reduced by your share of the fault.
What if the other driver was uninsured or fled the scene?
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You may still recover through your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. We also look for any other policy that may apply.
Should I talk to the other driver's insurance company?
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Not before you speak with a lawyer. In fact, you do not have to give a recorded statement, and those statements are often used to reduce a claim.
Where would a Bergen County car accident lawyer file my case?
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In general, it is filed in the Superior Court, Law Division, in the county where the crash happened or where a party lives. For a Bergen County crash, that is the courthouse in Hackensack.
How much does a Bergen County car accident lawyer cost?
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Nothing up front, because we work on contingency. There is no attorney's fee unless we recover money for you, and New Jersey Court Rule 1:21-7 caps contingency fees. You may still be responsible for case costs and expenses, even if there is no recovery, as explained in your written fee agreement.
Do I need a lawyer for a minor car accident?
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Not always. However, injuries that seem minor at the scene can get worse over days or weeks, and once you settle you cannot reopen the claim. As a result, a free call can tell you whether an offer is fair before you sign.
Do you speak Spanish or Turkish?
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Yes. In addition, we represent clients in English, Spanish and Turkish. Türkçe bilgi için buraya tıklayın.
We handle these too
No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
The information on this page is general information and is not legal advice. Laws, deadlines and insurance rules change, so do not rely on this page without speaking with an attorney about your situation. Contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship. Contingency fee: there is no attorney's fee unless we recover for you. You may still be responsible for case costs and expenses, even if there is no recovery, as set out in your written fee agreement.