Personal Injury
Nobody expects to be hurt in a personal injury accident, but the negligence of another party can leave your life changed forever. Medical bills add up fast – not to mention the physical and emotional distress major injuries can cause. You may lose your ability to work, losing your earning potential.
At our firm, your well-being is our number one priority. We put people first by taking aggressive legal action to get you the medical treatments and financial compensation you deserve for your injury so you can recover in the best possible way.
New Jersey Personal Injury Attorneys
At Kotlar, Hernandez & Cohen, we’ve been helping personal injury victims throughout the state of New Jersey since 1995. With multiple attorneys with Board Certifications in Civil Trial Law and two Million Dollar Advocates Forum members on our staff, we know how to build strong cases that get results, whether by settlement negotiation or by fighting for our clients in court.
If you were injured in an incident that wasn’t your fault, speak with our team today to get the best possible outcome for your case.
Personal Injury FAQ's
How much is my personal injury case worth?
Personal Injury claims come in a wide variety, from motor vehicle accidents to dog bites, medical malpractice, wrongful deaths, and more.
We’ve settled millions of dollars worth of cases, but it’s impossible to predict the value of yours without knowing all the facts. Truly, the best thing you can do is contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible to learn more about your case’s potential value.
How much does a personal injury attorney cost?
Nothing up front. All fees are on a contingency basis, meaning we only get paid if you do.
Like most personal injury attorneys in New Jersey, our fee is generally 1/3 of the amount recovered by our work. This is due to the vast amount of time and resources our firm invests in the investigation, discovery, expert witnesses, and preparation of evidence for your case.
Most importantly, we don’t get paid a cent until you do, which drives us to exceed expectations and fight to win every case we bring on.
How long will it take to settle or try my case?
Cases can take anywhere from weeks to years, with most falling somewhere in the middle. The more complicated your case, the longer it will most likely take to settle or reach a trial. This is because as part of our process, we engage expert medical witnesses, accident reconstructionists, and construction engineers, and utilize photographs, video surveillance, and any and every other piece of evidence that we can.
Will my personal injury claim go to trial?
If we file a suit in your favor, it’s because we’re confident in our ability to win in front of the judge and jury.
The truth is, most cases don’t go to trial – they usually settle before the trial date. Cases will likely only go to trial when there’s a dispute between parties regarding the facts and values. The better we build your case, the more likely we can reach a settlement in your favor before your trial date.
However, as Board-Certified Trial Attorneys, we are among the most highly qualified in the court room and are fully prepared to convince the jury of your case.
Does my pre-existing injury or condition hurt my case?
A pre-existing injury or condition can certainly impact your personal injury case, but it won’t necessarily hurt it. If someone injured you, they should be held liable for the costs and damages of the injury, but they won’t be forced to pay for any treatment of your pre-existing condition.
This can get complicated, so your best option is to speak to one of our experienced personal injury attorneys and explain the intricacies of your case.
How will I pay my medical bills?
It depends. In a motor vehicle accident, generally your auto insurance will pay for your medical bills under Personal Injury Protection (PIP), which our firm is equipped to assist you with.
Otherwise, in general liability claims, the defendant may have insurance to pay some or all of your bills, or your health insurance may pay. Either way, it’s necessary for our team to evaluate all of the options available to you in any matter.
I told the police I wasn't hurt, but now I'm in pain. Do I still have a case?
Yes. The police report is meant for just that – preserving the accident scene in a written document for a case in which either the parties involved weren’t thinking clearly after the incident or their injuries were not immediately apparent.
Often times, people say they’re not hurt at the time of an accident because their bodies are full of adrenaline. Some injuries take longer than others to first produce symptoms.
Even if you said you weren’t hurt – if you’re in pain now, you should contact us as soon as possible to discuss your options.
How do I maximize my personal injury settlement?
The best way to maximize your personal injury settlement is to carefully build a strong case, supported by well-documented and undeniable evidence of fault and the value of each category of damages.
Careful, swift action must be taken at every step of the process, and at our firm, we treat each case as if it were our own – aggressively and with precision.
Over time, evidence disappears and memories fade. The sooner you contact us, the better our ability to strategize for your case will be, ultimately lending itself better to a maximum recovery.
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