New Jersey personal injury lawyer
Fifty years of injury work from two New Jersey offices. If someone else's carelessness put you in an emergency room, in a brace, or out of work, this is the page to start on.
Most people who call us have never hired a lawyer before. They were driving on Route 70 or walking through a parking lot, and now there is an adjuster asking for a recorded statement and a stack of bills nobody agreed to pay. Our job is to take that off you.
Morris Starkman has handled New Jersey injury claims since 1972. The firm is small on purpose — you talk to the attorney handling your file, and you get a straight answer about what your case is worth and how long it will take.
Injuries we handle
- Car, truck and motorcycle accidents — including uninsured and underinsured motorist claims
- Slip, trip and fall on commercial property, sidewalks and stairwells
- Pedestrian and bicycle collisions
- Dog bites and animal attacks
- Injuries on public property, which carry a 90-day notice deadline
- Workplace injuries, where there is often both a comp claim and a third-party case
What happens when you call
The first conversation is free and takes about twenty minutes. We ask what happened, what hurts, who has treated you, and what the insurance situation looks like. If you have a case, we explain the process and the fee in plain terms before you sign anything. If you do not, we say so — that happens, and it is better to hear it in week one.
Then, if we take the case
- We notify every carrier so the calls to you stop.
- We collect the records, the police report and the wage information.
- You focus on treatment. Gaps in treatment are the most common reason good cases lose value.
- When you are done treating, we make a demand and negotiate. If the number is not fair, we file.
Deadlines that actually matter in New Jersey
Two years from the date of injury for most claims. Ninety days' written notice for a claim against a public entity — a township, a school district, NJ Transit. Two years for most workers' compensation claims. Miss the deadline and the strongest case in the world is over, so call early even if you are unsure.
Fees
Injury cases are handled on a standard New Jersey contingency fee under Court Rule 1:21-7. There is no fee unless we recover money for you, and there is nothing to pay up front.
Frequently asked questions
What is my New Jersey injury case worth?
It depends on the medical treatment you need, whether the injury is permanent, how much work you missed, and the insurance available. Be skeptical of anyone who quotes a number before reviewing your records — we will give you a range once we have them.
Do I have to sue?
Usually not. Most claims settle with the insurance carrier. Filing suit is a tool we use when the carrier will not deal fairly, and even most filed cases resolve before trial.
What if the accident was partly my fault?
New Jersey uses modified comparative negligence. You can still recover if you are 50% or less at fault; your recovery is reduced by your share. Do not assume you are at fault because an adjuster says so.
How long will my case take?
A straightforward claim often resolves in six to twelve months after you finish treatment. Cases involving surgery, disputed liability or litigation take longer. We will not rush you into settling before your doctors know the outcome.
Tell us what happened. We'll tell you what we would do.
A real conversation, not a call center. If we are not the right firm for your case, we will say so.
Or email info@starkmanfirm.com. Contacting the firm does not create an attorney–client relationship, and information sent before we agree to represent you is not confidential.