Edison Personal Injury Attorney
Personal Injury Lawyer, Andrew Finkelstein
When one person commits a wrongful act that causes physical and emotional harm to another person, New Jersey law permits the person harmed to take legal action against the wrongdoer seeking monetary damages. Lawyers call these sorts of wrongful acts “torts,” but whatever word you use to describe them, they should not happen and victims of them deserve compensation.
Although money cannot take away physical pain, it does help pay for medical care and replace income lost because of a severe injury. In New Jersey, personal injury victims must file a lawsuit within two years of the date of the injury in most cases. That is why you need to reach out to Jacoby & Meyers, LLP’s Edison Personal Injury Lawyer as soon as you can if you have sustained injuries in an accident that was not your fault.
Why Choose Jacoby & Meyers, LLP, to Handle Your Edison Personal Injury Claim?
It’s vitally important to choose the right attorney to handle your Edison personal injury case. The legal team at Jacoby & Meyers, LLP has years more than 50 years of experience with personal injury cases in New Jersey, and since we first opened our doors in 1972, we have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in total compensation for our clients. Some of our recent successes include:
- $8.3 million settlement for birth injuries and medical malpractice
- $6.3 million settlement for the survivor of a bicycle accident
- $5.7 million for a runaway school bus accident
Our success is the direct result of our extensive legal knowledge and experience coupled with our unwavering commitment to our clients and helping them get the maximum financial compensation possible. While we can’t guarantee results, we can promise to work diligently to increase your chances of getting the most allowed under the law. Our personal injury attorneys will take an active interest in your case and deliver personalized representation that includes:
- Identifying all at-fault parties and holding them accountable for your injuries
- Collecting the evidence needed to support your claim
- Establishing liability and proving negligence
- Filing your injury claim with the insurance company properly and within any prescribed deadlines
- Negotiating with the insurer to get a full and fair settlement for you
- Filing your Edison personal injury lawsuit in court and representing you at trial
By working with a personal injury attorney at Jacoby & Meyers, LLP, you can gain peace of mind knowing a top-ranked, highly experienced attorney is handling your case for you. You won’t have to worry about pursuing compensation so you can focus on your physical recovery. You can always reach out to us 24/7 with questions or concerns, and we will provide regular updates as to the status of your case. Call us for your free consultation today.
What Types of Edison Personal Injury Claims We Handle
At Jacoby & Meyers, LLP, we handle all types of personal injury claims in Edison, including:
If you suffered injuries involving any of the above practice areas–or if you have another potential injury claim that does not fit in one of the categories above–contact Jacoby & Meyers, LLP, as soon as possible for a no-cost case evaluation and advice regarding your options.
Our Edison Law Office
Jacoby & Meyers, LLP, has a law office in Edison, New Jersey, located at 1929 NJ-27, Edison, NJ 08817.
Come by our office or give us a call at 732-287-6890 to schedule an appointment. We can also come to your home, hospital room, or another location more convenient for you. We also offer virtual consultations for clients who cannot come to our office.
Jacoby and Meyers Edison Office
Edison Accident Statistics
According to the New Jersey State Police Fatal Accident Investigation Unit, 667 fatal accidents occurred throughout New Jersey in 2021, killing a total of 697 people. That represents an increase of 117 fatal accidents from the previous year. Other notable statistics regarding New Jersey’s fatal traffic accidents include:
- Nearly 30% of traffic fatalities involved alcohol impairment
- On average, nearly 2 people die each day in the Garden State
- There were 97 motorcycle accident fatalities reported
- 217 pedestrians lost their lives in New Jersey traffic accidents
- Bicyclists accounted for 26 traffic-related fatalities
- Tractor-trailers were involved in 39 total fatal crashes, killing 40 people
More fatal accidents occur in October and November, and the summer months also see a lot of traffic fatalities. Passenger car accidents constitute the most fatal accidents at around 47%.
Crash and Injury Statistics in Staten Island from 2009 to 2018
Source: state.nj.us
Common Types of Personal Injuries in Edison
Sadly, the types of injuries innocent people suffer at the hands of others are nearly limitless and can range in severity from minor to death. If you have suffered from any of the injuries below, or indeed any number of others, New Jersey law may entitle you to recover monetary damages from the person who caused your injuries.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
TBIs occur as a result of a jolt, blow, or penetrating the brain or when it is deprived of oxygen for a sustained period of time. They are difficult to diagnose because the person experiencing one may not exhibit symptoms until days or weeks after the incident. TBIs range in severity from mild in the form of a concussion to massive damage that results in death. TBIs can cause long-lasting, severe motor, cognitive, and emotional impairment, making them difficult to live with and treat. The victim of a slip and fall or vehicle accident or someone who has been battered may suffer a TBI.
Bone Fractures and Sprains
Fractures and sprains are common, everyday injuries. Although most heal in time, some require significant medical intervention and cause severe disabilities, chronic pain, and limited range of motion. Frequent causes of fractures and sprains include accidental falls and motor vehicle accidents.
Burns
Burns are common in serious car accidents, but can also be sustained as a result of unsafe working conditions, or a poorly maintained residence. Most people probably think of burns in the sense of “thermal” injuries sustained by touching a hot object. However, there are many other sources and types of burn injuries. Cold burns occur from frostbite. Friction burns like road rash are caused by something that rubs off layers of a person’s skin. Sunburns are classified as radiation burns. Contact with an electrical current causes electrical burns, and coming into contact with strong acids, solvents, or detergents can cause chemical burns.
Depending on the severity of the burn, a burn victim may require painful skin grafts and be left with scarring or disfigurement that causes mental trauma.
Lacerations
Lacerations, or cuts, often occur as a result of animal attacks, the use of an unsafe product, or workplace accidents. They may also be the result of a battery if in the commission of the tort the perpetrator used a knife or other type of sharp object. However they occur, lacerations can leave victims struggling with a lifetime of health complications and physical limitations.
Cancers and Other Terminal Illnesses
Exposure to toxins can lead to birth defects, and a depressed immune system which makes people more susceptible to disease and illness they would otherwise fight off, certain types of cancers, or respiratory illnesses. Unsafe working conditions are common causes of cancers and terminal diseases. They can create long-term health problems that result in an inability to work or perform activities of daily living, and even cause death.
Loss of Limbs or Digits
The loss of limbs or digits may occur from medical malpractice, construction accidents, exposure to toxins, vehicle accidents, burns, or at work warranting workers’ compensation claims. Amputations may result in the victim being unable to return to his or her pre-incident professional work, having to make expensive modifications to their homes or cars, or losing the ability to engage in their favorite leisure activities and pastimes. It is understandable, then, that those who undergo an amputation can also be left with severe emotional trauma.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Severe batteries, medical malpractice, and serious automobile accidents are common causes of spinal cord injuries that leave victims permanently paralyzed. Spinal cord injuries change their victims’ lives forever, forcing them to adapt to severe, lifelong limitations, and to confront constant secondary health complications. Spinal cord injuries also come with enormous financial costs, which can run into the millions of dollars over a lifetime, and include expenses for rehabilitative therapy, specialized medical equipment such as wheelchairs and beds, and modifications to living spaces.
What to Do if You Are Injured in Edison, New Jersey
There are some steps you should take as soon as you can after you have been injured because of someone else’s wrongful actions. Understandably, if you are seriously injured, you may not be able to take all of these steps right away, but when you can, do them—or have someone do them for you or on your behalf.
Always, Always Document
As the victim of someone else’s wrongful actions that caused you to suffer significant injuries, it is critically important for you to keep accurate records of all the costs associated with diagnosing, treating, and recovering from your injuries. This includes those documents associated with your initial hospital stay, any surgeries, follow-up appointments, medications, therapy, rehabilitation, necessary modifications to your home or vehicle, any copays or coinsurance you were responsible for paying, and the cost of hiring someone to perform the services you used to provide for yourself.
When it comes to collecting monetary damages for your injuries, if you can’t prove them, then you can’t collect them from the defendant. It’s a daunting task, but your Edison personal injury lawyer can help you compile all of the bills, medical records, and other documentation you need to file your claim.
File Your Insurance Claims
Be sure to file any auto or health insurance claims necessary under your own insurance policies, and be sure to do so within any time limits your insurance company may have set. If your costs are covered by insurance, you can’t double dip. In other words, you can’t collect from both your insurance company and the defendant for the same costs. Here, again, your personal injury attorney can prepare the paperwork and make sure you file your claim properly and within New Jersey’s statute of limitations.
How to Know If You Have a Case: Ways to Prove Personal Injury Liability in Edison
Injuries Caused by Someone’s Negligence
As humans living in a community, we owe each other both a legal and a moral obligation to act in a reasonable manner that does not injure others around us. Sadly, people fail to live up to that “duty of care” and cause severe injury or even death to others. When a person fails to act in the way a reasonable person is expected to act to keep others free from harm, we say that person has acted “negligently.”
To succeed in a personal injury lawsuit based on allegations of negligence, a victim of personal injury must show 1) that the other person owed a “duty of care”; 2) that the person breached that duty by acting in a way that caused an unreasonable risk of injury or harm; and 3) that the victim suffered injury as a result of that violation of a “duty of care.”
New Jersey Personal injury lawyers spend their days thinking about how to prove all three of these “elements” of a “claim” involving an injury to their client. It is usually fairly simple to show a duty exists. We all have a duty to drive our vehicles safely, for example. Medical professionals have a duty to act in the way a professional in good standing in their community would act. Landowners owe certain duties to keep visitors to their land safe from harm. Landlords owe duties to their tenants and employers to their employees.
Proving that someone breached a duty is not always so straightforward. In motor vehicle accidents, if the other person broke the law and caused your accident (drove while intoxicated, ran a red light or stop sign), it’s pretty easy to show that the driver breached the duty to operate his vehicle in a reasonable manner. In other types of cases—such as medical malpractice and some landlord-tenant disputes—it is not so clear whether someone has acted in a “reasonable” manner.
Finally, lawyers sometimes must work hard to show that the violation of a “duty of care” actually caused the injury to a client. If the victim already had back trouble, for example, and an accident made it worse, then the lawyer will have to collect and present evidence to that effect.
Strict Liability for Certain Types of Injuries
Sometimes, the law holds people liable for the harm they cause to others without taking into consideration whether or not they have acted negligently. This is called “strict liability.”
For instance, the manufacturer of a product that is unreasonably dangerous when used as it was intended to be used, or that there were insufficient warnings on the product regarding its dangerous nature, will have “strict liability” to anyone injured by the product.
Similarly, in New Jersey, dog owners are held strictly liable when their dog bites someone and causes an injury. Likewise, a person or company engaging in abnormally dangerous activities can be held strictly liable for injuries those activities cause. Examples of abnormally dangerous activities include conducting demolitions, storing or using explosives, transporting hazardous chemicals, and fumigation.★★★★
Injuries Caused by Intentional Acts
Finally, a person who intentionally causes harm to another person will nearly always be held legally liable for that other person’s injuries.
The most common intentional acts leading to legal liability are assault and battery. The first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word “battery” is likely a person hitting, kicking, or striking another person. But it also applies to certain types of medical malpractice, such as a surgeon removing the wrong organ or performing a procedure of some type without the consent of the patient. Assault is the creation of the fear of a battery. Throwing a punch but missing the intended victim is assault.
Assault and battery are also crimes, of course. However, seeking monetary damages for an assault and battery constitutes a legal action completely separate from a criminal prosecution. In fact, even if a jury acquits a person charged with the crimes of assault and battery, or even if that person never faces criminal charges, the victim still has the right to seek monetary damages through a lawsuit in civil court.
Other intentional acts that could lead to legal liability for damages include false imprisonment (intentionally keeping someone in a bounded area by force, threat, or improper assertion of legal authority) and intentional infliction of emotional distress (outrageous conduct that leads to severe mental distress in the victim, on purpose). As in the case of assault and battery, victims of these intentionally harmful acts have the right to seek compensation even if the wrongdoer never faces, or is acquitted of, criminal charges.
“I had an amazing experience with Jacoby & Meyers, LLP. I would highly recommend them for anyone needing a law firm.” -Paul T.
★★★★★
Edison Personal Injury FAQs
How Much is My Edison Personal Injury Case Worth?
Determining the exact value of a personal injury case is complex and depends on various factors. It’s important to consult with a personal injury attorney who can assess the specifics of your case and provide a more accurate estimate. Here’s an overview of the factors that typically contribute to the valuation of a personal injury case:
- Nature and Severity of Injuries: The extent and severity of your injuries play a significant role in determining the value of your case. More severe injuries that result in long-term or permanent disabilities generally lead to higher compensation.
- Medical Expenses: The cost of medical treatment, including hospital stays, surgeries, medications, rehabilitation, and ongoing care, will be considered in calculating the value of your case.
- Lost Wages and Future Earnings: If your injuries caused you to miss work, you can claim compensation for the income you lost. If your injuries affect your ability to work in the future, potential lost future earnings might also be factored in.
- Pain and Suffering: Non-economic damages such as physical pain, emotional distress, and diminished quality of life are challenging to quantify but are an important component of your case’s value.
- Property Damage: If your personal property, such as a vehicle, was damaged in the incident, the cost of repairs or replacement will be factored into the compensation.
- Liability and Comparative Negligence: The degree of fault and whether you share any responsibility for the incident can affect the final compensation amount based on the principles of comparative negligence.
- Evidence and Documentation: Strong evidence, such as medical records, accident reports, and witness statements, can strengthen your case and potentially increase its value.
- Precedent and Case Law: Previous cases with similar circumstances and outcomes can serve as benchmarks to estimate the potential value of your case.
- Location and Jurisdiction: The jurisdiction in which your case is heard can influence the compensation amount due to differences in local laws, juries, and court tendencies.
- Insurance Coverage: The insurance policy limits of the at-fault party’s insurance provider can impact the maximum compensation available in your case.
Consult with a qualified personal injury attorney who can review your case’s details, evaluate the factors involved, and provide you with an estimate of the potential compensation you may be entitled to. They will work to ensure you receive a fair settlement that reflects the damages you’ve suffered.
How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Edison?
In New Jersey, including Edison, there is a legal deadline known as the “statute of limitations” that sets the time limit within which you must file a personal injury lawsuit. If you fail to file your lawsuit within this timeframe, you may lose your right to seek compensation for your injuries. The statute of limitations for personal injury cases can vary based on the type of injury and the circumstances of the case.
Here are the statutes of limitations for common personal injury cases in New Jersey:
- Personal Injury (e.g., car accidents, slip and falls): Generally, you have two years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit.
- Medical Malpractice: In cases of medical negligence, you usually have two years from the date of the injury or from when the injury was discovered (or should have been discovered) to file a lawsuit. However, there is a maximum limit of no more than six years from the date of the negligent act.
- Wrongful Death: If you’re filing a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of a deceased loved one, you generally have two years from the date of the person’s death to file a lawsuit.
Keep in mind that these timeframes can be subject to change and may have exceptions depending on the specifics of your case. It’s highly recommended to consult with a personal injury attorney in Edison, New Jersey, who can provide you with the most accurate and up-to-date information about the statute of limitations relevant to your situation. This will help ensure that you take the necessary legal actions within the required timeframe.
How Much Does an Edison Personal Injury Attorney Cost?
Because Jacoby & Meyers believes in making high-quality legal representation available to all injured people regardless of their financial means, we operate on a contingency basis. That means you never pay us anything unless we recover compensation for you. Trust us to handle your legal matters while you focus on your physical recovery.
How Long Will My Edison Personal Injury Claim Take to Settle?
The time it takes to settle a personal injury claim in Edison, New Jersey, can vary widely based on a variety of factors. It’s important to understand that each case is unique, and the timeline can be influenced by specific circumstances. You should consult with a personal injury attorney who can provide tailored guidance based on your situation.
Here are some factors that can impact the timeline of settling a personal injury claim:
- How Severe Your Injuries Are: The complexity of your injuries and the time required for medical treatment and recovery can significantly affect the timeline. It’s often advisable to wait until the full extent of your injuries is understood before settling.
- Length of Medical Treatment: If your injuries require ongoing medical treatment, rehabilitation, or surgeries, the settlement process might be delayed until a clearer picture of your medical condition and future expenses emerges.
- Evidence and Investigation: The time it takes to gather evidence, interview witnesses, and investigate the incident can vary based on the complexity of the case. Building a strong case often takes time.
- Negotiations: Negotiating a settlement with the at-fault party’s insurance company can be a back-and-forth process that takes time. The willingness of both parties to reach an agreement can influence how long this step takes.
- Insurance Company’s Response: The responsiveness and cooperation of the insurance company involved can impact the timeline. Some insurance companies may be quicker to respond and negotiate, while others might take longer.
- Pre-Lawsuit Settlement vs. Lawsuit: If negotiations don’t lead to a satisfactory settlement, the case might proceed to a lawsuit. The litigation process can extend the timeline due to court procedures, scheduling, and potential delays.
- Court Schedule: If your case goes to court, the court’s schedule and caseload can influence the time it takes to get a trial date and resolve the case.
- Settlement Amount: The complexity of the case and the settlement amount being pursued can impact the time it takes to reach an agreement. More substantial settlements might require more careful consideration and negotiation.
- Disputes and Legal Complexities: Disputes over liability, shared fault, or legal complexities can lead to a longer settlement process.
- Attorney’s Approach: Your attorney’s approach to the case, negotiation strategy, and whether they prioritize a quick settlement or a more comprehensive compensation can also affect the timeline.
Given these variables, it’s challenging to provide a specific timeframe for settling a personal injury claim in Edison. Some cases might settle in a matter of months, while others could take a year or more. Consulting with an experienced personal injury attorney in Edison will give you a clearer understanding of how long your particular case might take to settle based on its unique circumstances.
Can I Still Recover Damages for My Edison Personal Injury Claim If I Was Partially At Fault?
Yes, you can potentially recover damages for your personal injury claim in Edison even if you were partially at fault for the incident. New Jersey follows a comparative negligence rule, specifically the “modified comparative fault rule.” Here’s how it works:
- Modified Comparative Fault – 51% Bar Rule: In New Jersey, you can recover damages as long as your percentage of fault for the incident is not greater than 50%. If you are found to be 50% or less at fault, you can still recover compensation, but the amount you’re awarded will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
- Example: Let’s say you were involved in a car accident and the court determines that you were 30% at fault for the collision, while the other party was 70% at fault. If your total damages were $10,000, your compensation would be reduced by 30%, and you would be eligible to receive $7,000 ($10,000 – 30%).
It’s important to note that if you are found to be more than 50% at fault for the incident, you generally will not be able to recover any damages from the other party. This rule aims to ensure that individuals who contribute significantly to an incident are not allowed to recover compensation from others who are less responsible.
To navigate the complexities of comparative negligence and maximize your potential compensation, it’s recommended to consult with a personal injury attorney in Edison, New Jersey. An experienced attorney can evaluate the specific details of your case, advise you on your legal rights, and help you pursue the best possible outcome based on the circumstances.
What's the Personal Injury Claims Process in Edison?
The personal injury claims process in Edison involves specific steps that begin when you seek medical treatment for your injuries. Even if your injuries are minor, you should still get a medical evaluation since some injuries may not manifest symptoms right away. Plus, you will need documentation that you sustained an injury and received treatment to file an injury claim with the insurance company or in court.
As soon as you are able, contact an Edison personal injury attorney. They can help you determine if you have a valid claim and assist with collecting evidence and other documentation to support your claim. An attorney can be an invaluable resource throughout the claims process because they can handle all of the following for you so you don’t have to worry about it:
- Investigation: Your attorney will initiate an investigation into the incident, gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and collecting relevant documents.
- Filing a Claim with the Insurance Company: Your attorneys can complete all the necessary paperwork and file your claim with the insurance company. When they do, they will outline the details of the incident, your injuries, and the compensation you are seeking.
- Settlement Negotiations: The insurance company will review your claim and may respond with a lower settlement offer that does not cover all your injuries and losses. Your attorney will negotiate on your behalf to secure the best possible settlement. Negotiations can go back and forth until both parties agree on a settlement amount. Once you agree on a settlement, you and the other party will sign the agreement, and the insurance company will cut a settlement check and send it to your lawyer. Your lawyer will then provide you with the funds after subtracting their legal fees.
- Filing a Lawsuit: If the insurance company refuses to negotiate a fair settlement or unjustly denies your valid injury claim, your attorney may file a lawsuit on your behalf. The legal process that follows includes.
- Discovery: During the discovery phase, both sides gather evidence, exchange information, and may depose witnesses. This phase is meant to uncover all relevant facts and build a case for trial.
- Mediation or Settlement Conference: Before proceeding to trial, there may be a court-ordered mediation or settlement conference where both parties attempt to reach a resolution outside of court.
- Trial: If a settlement still cannot be reached, the case will proceed to trial. Both sides present their evidence and arguments to a judge or jury, who will determine liability and damages.
- Verdict and Appeal: After the trial, a verdict will be reached. If you win, you will receive your awarded compensation. If either party disagrees with the outcome, they may have the option to appeal the decision.
- Collection: If you are awarded compensation, the other party or their insurance company is responsible for paying the amount. Your attorney will work to ensure you receive the compensation you are owed.
Keep in mind that each personal injury case is unique, and the timeline and specific steps may vary based on the circumstances. It’s crucial to work closely with a qualified personal injury attorney who can guide you through the process and help you achieve the best possible outcome for your case in Edison, New Jersey.
Contact Our Experienced Edison Personal Injury Lawyers
Personal Injury Lawyer, Andrew Finkelstein
Personal injuries can disrupt or even ruin lives, irreparably changing them forever. Each case is unique and requires its own legal analysis. While no attorney can guarantee a specific result in your case, you can count on the attorneys at Jacoby & Meyers, LLP, to bring the full force of our nearly 50 years of personal injury litigation experience and track record of success to your case.
Contact us online or by phone in our Edison office at (732) 287-6890 today for your free case evaluation.
Client Testimonials
Review: 5/5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
“I’m really grateful for the settlement my lawyers at Jacoby & Meyers helped me to obtain. I was badly hurt when another driver crashed into my card. The driver was carelessly. My team at Jacoby & Meyers didn’t let the reckless driver get away with it. I’m really glad I made the call to Jacoby & Meyers and would suggest anyone hurt in a car crash do the same.”
Review by: Jose V.
Review: 5/5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
“You guys are awesome at what you do. Everyone is Kind, caring and respectful. You all have kept me up to date with my case. Thank you GB!” – Jennifer R.
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Resources
Edison Emergency Rooms
- JFK Medical Center Emergency Room: 65 James St, Edison, NJ 08820
- Immediate Care Medical Walk-In of Edison: 561 US-1, Edison, NJ 08817
*Disclaimer – Jacoby & Meyers, LLP, does not endorse these medical providers, nor do we profit from having them listed on our website.
Edison Courthouses
Edison Township Municipal Court
Neighborhoods We Serve in Edison, NJ
Bonhamtown (08837), Briarwood East (07059), Clara Barton (08837), Edison Oaks (08820), Menlo Park (08820), New Dover (08820), New Durham (08817), Nixon (08817), Piscatawaytown (08817), Potters (08820), Pumptown (08820), Raritan Center (08837), Stelton (08817), Stephenville (08820)