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Your Paterson Personal Injury Attorney
The short answer. In New Jersey most injury claims must be filed within two years (N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2(a)). The trial court for Passaic County sits in Paterson, at 77 Hamilton Street, Paterson, NJ 07505. To talk it through, send the form on this page and we will work to connect you with an attorney in our network.
Getting hurt rarely comes at a convenient time. You may be in pain, missing work and answering calls from an insurance company while trying to learn what you are owed. If your injury in Paterson was someone else’s doing, start with the basics below and go at your own pace.
NeedAnAttorney.net is a matching service. It does not give legal advice about your case. What follows is general information about New Jersey injury law, taken from the text of the statutes, so you know which questions to ask. The form at the top of the page connects you with an attorney when you are ready.
Before You Hire: Questions For A Paterson Attorney
A short list of questions can sort out who is right for you:
- The deadline. Ask the attorney to name the exact last day to file for your claim. The general limit for injury claims in New Jersey is two years (N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2(a)).
- If you were partly to blame. Ask what happens to your award if a jury finds you share the blame (N.J.S.A. 2A:15-5.1).
- Limits on damages. Ask whether any rule restricts the amount you could recover in New Jersey.
- Fees and costs. Ask what the fee is, when it is paid, and which expenses are deducted from a settlement.
- Who will work on it. Ask who handles your file day to day and how fast messages are answered.
Injury Claims People Ask About
Vehicle crashes
Whether the collision was minor or serious, the same early steps help: get checked by a doctor, photograph the vehicles and the scene, exchange insurance information and keep any repair estimates.
Pedestrian and bicycle injuries
A collision on foot or on a bicycle is easy to dispute afterward. Record where it happened, what the road and signals were like, and who saw it, and keep any damaged clothing, helmet or equipment.
Falls and unsafe property
Slips, trips and falls come from spills, uneven surfaces, poor lighting and broken stairs. What matters is who controlled the place and how long the problem was there, so document the hazard and tell the owner or manager promptly.
Wrongful death
If a loved one died because of another person’s wrongful act or omission, a different set of rules applies. A wrongful death claim follows its own rules in New Jersey; ask an attorney which date applies (N.J.S.A. 2A:31-1 to 2A:31-4). You do not have to sort this out alone or quickly; an attorney can explain who is allowed to act and what the dates are.
Injured in Paterson? Get matched with an attorney now.
Your Own Share Of The Blame
A person who is fifty percent at fault or less can still recover in New Jersey. N.J.S.A. 2A:15-5.1 sets the rule.
You can recover if your share of the fault is 50 percent or less, and your award is reduced by your share; above 50 percent the claim is barred (N.J.S.A. 2A:15-5.1). Photographs, witness names and medical records help show where the fault lies.
Is There A Ceiling On The Award
In New Jersey, an award follows the medical bills, lost income and the lasting effects of the injury. Special rules can apply to particular kinds of claims, so ask about yours.
Ask an attorney which rules, if any, reach your case. A separate rule limits punitive damages (N.J.S.A. 2A:15-5.14(b)). For a car crash claim, New Jersey law can bar a claim for pain and suffering unless the injury is in a listed group, such as death, significant scarring, a displaced fracture or a permanent injury (N.J.S.A. 39:6A-8).
When The Clock Starts And Stops
The general time limit for an injury claim in New Jersey is two years (N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2(a)). A child may have more time, and a few other limited situations extend the period too (N.J.S.A. 2A:14-21).
A wrongful death claim follows its own rules, so ask which date applies (N.J.S.A. 2A:31-1 to 2A:31-4). If a government body may be responsible, the steps can differ (N.J.S.A. 59:8-8, 59:8-9, 59:9-2). Missing the date usually ends the case, so ask any attorney to name the exact last day for yours.
Why Policy Limits Matter
New Jersey requires at least $35,000 for injury to one person, $70,000 for injury to two or more people in one accident and $25,000 for property damage, on a policy issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026 (N.J.S.A. 39:6A-3). A driver can instead choose a basic policy with lower limits (N.J.S.A. 39:6A-3.1).
When the other driver carries only the minimum and your injuries are serious, any other policy that applies becomes important. Before you accept a payment, ask your attorney to check for every policy that might apply, yours included.
The Court and Hospitals Behind a Paterson Claim
Passaic County is the county the Census Bureau assigns to Paterson. For Passaic County, the New Jersey court directory shows the Passaic Vicinage superior court in Paterson, at 77 Hamilton Street, Paterson, NJ 07505. In Paterson, the state list of trauma centers names ST JOSEPH’S UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER as a Level II trauma center.
Records matter later. Get the complete chart and an itemized bill from each place that treated you, and write down the date of every visit, including any transfer to another facility.
Getting Started With Your Claim In Paterson
Use the form at the top of the page to tell us what happened. NeedAnAttorney.net reviews your details and works to match you with an attorney in our network who may handle cases in New Jersey. There is no charge to submit it, and submitting it does not hire anyone.
While you wait, write down what happened and when, who saw it, what treatment you have received and how many days of work you missed. Put bills, letters and insurance messages in one folder.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if the injury happened on public property?
There are special steps. Special claim or notice steps can apply (N.J.S.A. 59:8-8, 59:8-9, 59:9-2). The notice step can come before any lawsuit. Ask an attorney at once if a public body may be responsible.
Can I expect a quick settlement?
There is no fixed time. Settlement usually comes after the extent of your injury is known. Court dates add months.
Is there a deadline for suing after an accident in New Jersey?
Generally two years (N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2(a)). Children and some other limited situations can have more time (N.J.S.A. 2A:14-21). A claim against a government body has its own notice step (N.J.S.A. 59:8-8, 59:8-9, 59:9-2).
How does New Jersey treat an injured person who shares the blame?
Short answer: you can recover if your share of the fault is 50 percent or less, and your award is reduced by your share; above 50 percent the claim is barred (N.J.S.A. 2A:15-5.1). Ask how the rule would be argued in your case. Raise it early with any attorney you speak with.
Is there a maximum award for an injury in New Jersey?
Pain and suffering is proved by the facts of your case, so ask which rules, if any, apply to your claim. The amount depends on the facts of your claim. Ask an attorney whether any rule reaches your claim. For a car crash claim, New Jersey law can bar a claim for pain and suffering unless the injury is in a listed group, such as death, significant scarring, a displaced fracture or a permanent injury (N.J.S.A. 39:6A-8).
How much liability coverage must a driver in New Jersey carry?
The minimums are $35,000 per person, $70,000 per accident and $25,000 for property damage, on a policy issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026 (N.J.S.A. 39:6A-3). A serious injury can cost more than the other driver’s policy pays. Keep the other driver’s insurance details from the day of the crash. A driver can instead choose a basic policy with lower limits (N.J.S.A. 39:6A-3.1).
What paperwork helps an injury claim?
Start with the medical records and the bills. Take photographs of the injuries and of where it happened. Pay records, repair estimates and insurer emails should go in the same place.
What if the other insurer calls me?
You can decline a recorded statement until you have advice. Keep it short and take the adjuster’s name and claim number. Nothing you say can be taken back, so take your time.
Serving Injured Clients Across New Jersey
People are hurt in every part of New Jersey. These pages cover other communities.
