Potential Sources of Recovery after a Motor Vehicle Accident in New Jersey

The Different Parties from Whom You May Be Able to Recover

When you’re hurt in an auto, truck, or motorcycle accident in New Jersey, you typically turn to your insurance provider to recover for your losses—that’s how New Jersey’s “no-fault” auto insurance laws operate. You purchase personal injury protection (PIP) coverage, which allows you to recover a specified level of compensation without the need to prove liability in a court of law. In some situations, the amount provided under your policy is sufficient to cover your losses. But what if it’s not?

Other Potential Sources of Recovery After a Car Accident

If you exhaust all the benefits available under your policy but still have not covered all your losses, you may be able to pursue compensation directly from the at-fault party or their insurance provider. If the at-fault party had inadequate insurance, or no insurance, you may be able to look to your insurer for additional compensation, provided you had a provision in your insurance policy that covered uninsured or under-insured motorists. Such a provision usually is not included among the standard policy terms but often is sold as a rider to the policy.

In the absence of such a provision, you may look for other potentially liable parties:

• If your accident was caused by a drunk driver, there may be liability on the part of a bar, tavern, liquor store, or other party who provided alcohol to the intoxicated person.
• Manufacturers, distributors, and designers of defective vehicles or vehicle parts may be liable under product liability laws.
• Municipalities or municipal agencies can be liable if your accident was the result of poor maintenance of roadways or roadway defects.

Contact Howard D. Popper, P.C.

For a free initial consultation to learn about your rights after, contact our office online or call 973-993-8787 to set up an appointment. We have offices in Morristown and Newton. Currently, all our client communications are by phone, text message, and online videoconference.

We handle all motor vehicle accident claims on a contingency basis. You won’t pay any attorney fees unless we recover damages for your losses.