How to File a Personal Injury Claim In New Jersey

A sudden serious injury can feel like having the rug pulled out from under your life, with impacts on your ability to work and carry out your everyday routines. Medical bills may pile up while you’re still dealing with pain and trauma. A personal injury claim cannot erase the injury, but it provides the necessary financial resources to relieve injury-related hardship, helping you to move forward. Understanding how to file a New Jersey personal injury claim is the first step toward your financial recovery.

First, When Does an Injury Qualify for a Personal Injury Claim?

The term “personal injury” refers to an injury to one’s person or a bodily injury. If the injury was caused by someone else’s careless, reckless, or intentionally wrongful actions—all examples of legal negligence—a personal injury claim holds the responsible party financially accountable for your injury-related expenses, like medical bills, lost earnings, and compensation for pain and suffering. Usually, the compensation from a successful personal injury claim comes from the defendant’s appropriate insurance policy, like auto insurance after a car accident, commercial liability insurance after a slip-and-fall accident in a store, or medical malpractice insurance after an injury caused by a doctor’s negligence.

Taking the Initial Steps To File a Personal Injury Claim

After suffering a personal injury caused by someone else’s negligence, you should take immediate action to protect your physical and financial future. If you can use your phone or hand it to an uninjured companion to use for you, you can take the first steps to facilitate a streamlined claim by doing the following:

• Photograph the cause of the injury, such as a broken step or the damaged vehicles after a crash
• Photograph the injury if it’s visible
• If the injury occurred in a store, restaurant, hotel, or other business, ask the manager to fill out an accident report
• Go directly to a hospital or urgent care center and ask for a detailed medical report
• Save copies of all medical bills and other expenses, and consult a personal injury attorney from Grungo Law before speaking with the defendant or their insurance company.

Always carefully follow your doctor’s treatment recommendations and refrain from posting on social media during your case.

If you didn’t take these actions after the injury, it doesn’t mean you cannot file a claim. Your attorney will evaluate your case and perform an investigation to gather evidence for your claim.

Filing a Personal Injury Claim In New Jersey

Your personal injury attorney in New Jersey will handle all communications with the insurance company during the claim process and launch a full investigation into all aspects of the cause of your injury to document clear evidence of the at-fault party’s liability. Then, they examine your medical bills and consult with medical experts about the future physical and financial impacts of your injury. They make a careful calculation of your damages. Then, your attorney sends their findings to the appropriate insurance company to make a compelling claim before entering negotiations for a settlement. 

Nearly 95% of personal injury cases are resolved through a settlement, but if the insurance company wrongfully denies, delays, or undervalues your claim, your trial-ready attorney will pursue litigation in court.

How Can a Personal Injury Attorney Help My Case?

It requires a skilled investigation and thorough documentation of evidence to build a compelling case for full and fair compensation. Without an assertive attorney safeguarding your rights, a claim is left in the hands of the insurance adjuster. It’s the insurance adjuster’s job to protect company profits, even when it’s at your expense. They routinely deny or undervalue claims or use endless delaying tactics to wear down an injury victim so they will accept a lowball settlement offer. 

Instead of settling for less, call Grungo Law for experienced legal counsel at your side throughout the New Jersey personal injury claim process and a free consultation.