Hackensack Personal Injury Lawyer

Trusted personal injury lawyers with over 51 years of experience.

If you have been injured in an accident in Hackensack, NJ, the financial and physical consequences can be significant. Medical expenses accumulate quickly, lost wages create pressure on household finances, and insurance carriers prioritize their own bottom line over your recovery. The steps you take in the weeks following your injury will directly affect the strength of your claim and the compensation available to you.

Kantrowitz, Goldhamer, Graifman, Perlmutter & Carballo, P.C. has been representing injured individuals and families since 1975. Our Hackensack, NJ personal injury lawyer handles car accidents, truck collisions, slip and falls, medical malpractice, construction accidents, and wrongful death claims throughout Bergen County. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Contact our firm for a free consultation.

Personal Injury Lawyer Hackensack, NJ

Personal injury law in New Jersey is built on the concept of negligence. To recover damages, you must show that another party owed you a duty of care, breached that duty through action or inaction, and that the breach directly caused your injuries. This applies whether you were rear-ended on Route 4, hurt by a defective product, or injured on someone else’s property. Hackensack cases are filed in Bergen County Superior Court, located right in the city. New Jersey operates under a modified comparative negligence system, meaning you can still recover damages even if you were partially at fault, as long as your share of responsibility does not exceed 50%. An injury attorney who regularly handles cases in Bergen County understands the procedural requirements, the judges, and the tactics that insurance companies use in this jurisdiction.

Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle in Hackensack

Personal injury cases vary widely in complexity and value. A fender-bender with soft tissue injuries involves a very different legal strategy than a catastrophic construction site accident or a medical malpractice claim. Our firm handles the following types of cases for injured clients in Hackensack, NJ.

• Car Accidents. Motor vehicle crashes are the most common source of personal injury claims in Bergen County. Hackensack’s position at the intersection of Routes 4, 17, and 80 puts its residents at particular risk. New Jersey’s no-fault insurance system requires you to file a claim with your own insurer for medical expenses, but if your injuries meet the serious injury threshold, you can pursue a claim against the at-fault driver. Our Hackensack car accident attorneys know how to navigate both the PIP claim and the third-party lawsuit.
• Truck Accidents. Collisions involving commercial trucks produce some of the most severe injuries we see. Federal regulations govern driver hours, vehicle maintenance, and cargo loading, and violations of those rules can establish liability. Our attorneys investigate truck accident claims by obtaining driver logs, black box data, and maintenance records before evidence disappears.
• Motorcycle Accidents. Riders face a disproportionate risk of catastrophic injury, and adjusters frequently try to shift blame onto the motorcyclist. New Jersey does not require riders to carry no-fault coverage, which changes the claims process entirely. Our attorneys handle motorcycle injury cases and understand the bias that riders face from insurers and juries.
• Medical Malpractice. When a healthcare provider’s negligence causes harm, the legal and medical issues become deeply intertwined. New Jersey requires an Affidavit of Merit from a qualified medical professional within 60 days of the defendant’s answer. Our attorneys work with medical professionals to build malpractice claims that can withstand the defense’s scrutiny.
• Slip and Fall Accidents. Property owners in New Jersey have a legal obligation to maintain safe conditions for visitors. When they fail to do so, whether through broken stairs, icy sidewalks, or wet floors without warning signs, the injured party may have a premises liability claim. Our slip and fall lawyers work to establish notice and liability before the property owner can destroy evidence.
• Wrongful Death. When negligence results in the death of a loved one, surviving family members can bring a wrongful death action to recover damages for their loss. These cases carry strict statutory requirements under New Jersey law, including the appointment of an administrator and specific rules about who qualifies as a beneficiary. Our firm handles wrongful death claims with the seriousness and sensitivity they demand.
• Construction Accidents. New Jersey construction workers face hazards every day, from scaffolding collapses to electrocution to falls from height. Workers’ compensation covers some losses, but third-party claims against property owners, general contractors, or equipment manufacturers may provide additional compensation beyond what workers’ comp allows.
• Nursing Home Abuse. When a facility entrusted with a loved one’s care causes harm through neglect, inadequate staffing, or physical abuse, the family has legal recourse. These cases require a thorough investigation of staffing records, incident reports, and inspection histories. Our nursing home attorneys hold facilities accountable for the harm they cause.

Why Choose Kantrowitz, Goldhamer, Graifman, Perlmutter & Carballo, P.C. for Personal Injury in Hackensack, NJ?

Attorneys Who Try Cases and Get Results

Barry S. Kantrowitz has been practicing personal injury law for over 40 years. He is admitted in New York, New Jersey, Florida, and the United States Supreme Court. A graduate of Boston University School of Law, he serves as the firm’s Managing Attorney and has first-chaired jury trials that have produced some of the largest verdicts in Rockland County history. He carries an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest peer-review designation for legal ability and ethics, and has been selected to the National Trial Lawyers.

Kate Carballo focuses her practice on personal injury and medical malpractice litigation. She is one of the youngest attorneys in New Jersey to earn certification as a Certified Civil Trial Attorney by the Supreme Court of New Jersey, a credential held by a small percentage of the state’s lawyers. She earned her law degree from St. Thomas University School of Law and her undergraduate degree from The George Washington University. She has been recognized as a Super Lawyer in New Jersey from 2024 through 2026.

Our firm has recovered millions of dollars for injured clients, including a $14 million jury verdict for victims of medical professional misconduct in Bergen County and a $9.2 million verdict for families in a construction site fatality case. We handle every personal injury case on a contingency fee basis. You pay no attorney fees unless we win.

Hackensack Personal Injury Infographic

Personal Injury Case Overview

Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Personal Injury Cases

If you are injured due to someone else’s negligence in New Jersey, you may be entitled to recover several categories of damages. Understanding what is available helps you evaluate whether a settlement offer is fair or whether your case warrants going to trial.

• Economic damages cover quantifiable financial losses: medical bills (past and future), lost wages, reduced earning capacity, out-of-pocket expenses for medication, rehabilitation, and assistive devices
• Non-economic damages compensate for losses that cannot be easily measured in dollars: pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, scarring, and disfigurement
• Punitive damages are available in cases involving particularly reckless or egregious conduct, though New Jersey caps punitive awards at five times the compensatory damages or $350,000, whichever is greater, under N.J.S.A. 2A:15-5.14
• Wrongful death damages include funeral and burial costs, loss of financial support, loss of companionship, and the decedent’s conscious pain and suffering prior to death
• Loss of consortium claims allow a spouse to recover for the impact the injury has had on the marital relationship

New Jersey’s modified comparative negligence rule means your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are found 30% responsible for the accident, your award is reduced by 30%. If you are found more than 50% at fault, you recover nothing.

Important Aspects in Your Personal Injury Case

Personal injury claims in Hackensack involve moving parts that require attention from the start. Here are a few things that matter more than most clients initially realize.

• The statute of limitations for most personal injury claims in New Jersey is two years from the date of injury. Miss that deadline and you lose the right to file, with very few exceptions.
• Insurance adjusters are not on your side. Their job is to minimize the payout. Do not give a recorded statement, accept an early settlement offer, or sign a medical authorization without speaking to an attorney first.
• Document everything. Photograph your injuries, keep copies of all medical records and bills, and maintain a journal of your symptoms and how they affect your daily life. This evidence becomes critical when calculating compensatory damages.
• If your case involves an auto accident, New Jersey’s no-fault system adds a layer of complexity. Whether you elected the limitation on lawsuit option or the verbal threshold on your policy determines whether you can sue the at-fault driver and what you need to prove to do so.

Personal Injury Case Timeline

How long a personal injury case takes depends on the severity of the injury, the complexity of the liability issues, and how aggressively the insurance company defends the claim. Here is a general framework for cases filed in Bergen County.

• Most attorneys will not begin settlement negotiations until the client has reached maximum medical improvement, the point at which the treating physician determines that the condition has stabilized. This alone can take months or longer.
• Once a demand is made, the insurance company typically responds within 30 to 60 days. Negotiations can continue for weeks or months after that.
• If settlement talks fail, a lawsuit is filed in Bergen County Superior Court. Discovery, including depositions, medical records requests, and potentially independent medical examinations, usually takes 12 to 18 months.
• Arbitration or mediation may resolve the case before trial. If not, trial dates depend on the Bergen County court calendar, and the case may take two to three years from the date of injury to reach a verdict.

What to Bring to Your Personal Injury Consultation

The more prepared you are at your first meeting, the faster your attorney can evaluate your case and begin building it. Bring whatever you have from this list.

• The accident or incident report (police report, workplace incident report, or store/property report)
• Photographs of the accident scene, your injuries, and any property damage
• Medical records and bills from all treatment related to the injury, including emergency room visits, imaging, surgeries, and physical therapy
• Proof of lost income: pay stubs, tax returns, or a letter from your employer confirming time missed
• Insurance information: your auto policy, health insurance cards, and any correspondence from the at-fault party’s insurer

The consultation is free, and you are under no obligation. We will review the facts, explain whether you have a viable claim, and outline the next steps. You will not owe us a fee unless we recover money for you.

New Jersey Legal Resources for Personal Injury

These resources can help Hackensack residents research statutes, court procedures, and filing requirements related to personal injury claims in New Jersey.

• New Jersey Statutes — the full text of New Jersey state law, including the statute of limitations, comparative negligence rules, and damages provisions
• New Jersey Courts — information about the state court system, including Bergen County Superior Court procedures, filing requirements, and court calendars
• NJ Courts Self-Help — guides and resources for understanding the civil litigation process in New Jersey
• NJ Consumer Affairs — information on licensed professionals, including medical providers, relevant to malpractice and professional negligence claims
• NHTSA Crash Data — national crash statistics and vehicle safety information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Reach Out to Kantrowitz, Goldhamer, Graifman, Perlmutter & Carballo, P.C. to Schedule a Consultation

An injury changes everything. If you were hurt because of someone else’s negligence in Hackensack, NJ, the evidence that supports your case is deteriorating every day you wait. Kantrowitz, Goldhamer, Graifman, Perlmutter & Carballo, P.C. offers free consultations and charges no fee unless we recover compensation for you. Contact our office to schedule a meeting and start the process of holding the responsible party accountable.