WE REPRESENT CAR ACCIDENT VICTIMS

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Car accidents are dangerous events that can cause a wide range of injuries, ranging from minor bruises, or sprains and strains, to serious head trauma, permanent spinal cord injuries, or death. It is impossible to know the entirety of your injuries and medical needs right after the accident. For example, after successfully handling 1000s of injury cases, our firm is aware that injuries and symptoms can take several hours or even days to develop into symptoms that you notice. Additionally, the adrenaline spike caused by such a traumatic event will mask symptoms because your still in a “fight-or-flight” mode. It’s quite likely that those injuries that you tell us about during our first conversation, will be only part of all the injuries that you’ve experienced by the time your case resolves. 

Car accidents cause high forces of energy to be transferred between vehicles that can weigh up to several tons. That energy has to be transferred through the vehicles, and as a result, your body must unfortunately absorb some of that energy. Because of the high amount of energy involved, all car accidents have the potential to cause serious, life-changing, permanent injuries. It’s impossible to prove that an injury exists based upon property damage alone. Just because your vehicle sustained minor damage, does not mean that the physical forces transferred throughout your body did not cause those symptoms that you feel. 

Our firm is fully aware that after a car accident, your primary goal is to recover and feel healthy again. But unfortunately, car accident cases can be confusing and complex – it’s never that simple. Car accidents typically implicate multiple insurance companies, with more than one “adjuster” looking at your case. One adjuster may only deal with the property damage aspect, while another may deal with the medical bills. In the days and weeks after an accident, you may be getting calls from adjusters and you may not even realize who you are speaking to. For someone who is not well-versed with how insurance works, it might feel overwhelming to understand what’s going on. 

If you were involved in a car accident, you can contact our office for a FREE CONSULTATION so that we can get some information about your accident, and help answer any questions that you may have.  When we represent you, any questions that you have throughout the process will be addressed and answered as soon as possible. We are just a phone call away to help you. Or you can visit us at our office in Jersey City!

Our firm has been located in Jersey City and has been serving accident victims in New Jersey for over 50 years. Our law firm started when it was formed in Journal Square in Jersey City by Charles L. Marabondo, Esq., in 1964. Thereafter his son, Salvatore Marabondo has continued the legacy. And now, Sal’s son, Michael Marabondo has started working for the firm as well. Our firm has helped generations of clients, and has built relationships that last. When we receive your trust, you receive our full attention.  Although you may not realize it, if you are represented by a large firm, your case will likely be treated as “just another number”, instead of a person whom we want to build a lasting relationship with. We will always be available to help you with your questions or concerns. As for any of your legal needs, including and beyond accident cases, let our family, help and represent your family!

 We will fight for you! Although we cannot guarantee any result, you would need to talk with an experienced lawyer at our firm to get a more detailed answer. Car accidents can be very fact sensitive.  Rear-end hits are considered straight forward, but they can develop so that multiple parties are finger pointing at each other for causing the accident. The “liability issue”, that is the consideration of “who was at fault”, is largely dependent upon the facts of each case. 

The outlook on winning a case can change as the case develops. You will likely know more about the accident as more time passes. Sometimes, critical information is not revealed until depositions of fact witnesses, which occurs years later. For instance, a fact witness with knowledge of a recent maintenance schedule or origin of a hazardous condition might not cooperate until they are compelled by the Court to do so. Therefore, while the case seems simple and straight forward on day-1, it might look like a very different case on day-100. It would be irresponsible for any lawyer to tell you that your case is an open-and-shut “guaranteed to win” case. 

The major issues that affect whether you can win a lawsuit revolve around whether you can prove: 1) that you were not more than 50% at fault; and 2) that you sustained an injury that was caused by the accident.  The issue of proving that injuries were caused by the accident is largely dependent upon the need for medical treatment. 

You cannot recover if: 

* You were more than 50% at fault; (this regards the “liability issue”; comparative negligence).

* The court orders that the other entity cannot be at fault due to a legal technicality (“issue of law”); or due to exceedingly weak factual support (“issue of fact”). 

* The jury fails to find in your favor at trial.

An experienced car accident lawyer can help tell you what issues exist in your case. 

We operate on a contingency fee basis, which means you don't pay us anything unless we win your case. You have nothing to lose by contacting us.

We will fight for you to try and get you the largest recovery possible! Our office will not promise that your case is worth a certain amount. It’s unethical to do so, and it’s unprofessional. You may feel free to call around and eventually some lawyer somewhere will tell you that your case is worth “x”, but that’s an empty promise that is risky to make. The value of your case is uncertain until the moment it settles, or the judgment is entered. Any lawyer who tells you that your case is worth a certain specific number “at least” is playing a dangerous game.

However, we can tell you what categories of damages that you may receive. 

In a lawsuit arising from a car accident, you may receive damages for:

· Pain and suffering/bodily injury/permanent injury;

· Lost past wages (that accrued prior to the date of the settlement or judgment);

· Lost future wages (those lost wages that would accrue after the settlement or jury verdict);

· Out of pocket medical expenses;

· Future medical expenses (such as the reasonable costs for treatment which is likely to occur in the future – the costs for speculative future treatment is not compensable – just because you could, maybe, someday receive more treatment, will not allow you to recover the costs of that future procedure); 

· The costs for installing medically necessary structures/fixtures (like ramps, home elevators, or bathroom remodeling that’s necessary to allow you to live in your home);

· Loss of consortium (aka the loss of marital services – this sort of damage is only available if you are legally married. Common-law marriages are NOT recognized by New Jersey courts). 

Seeking damages for personal injuries caused by a car accident MAY REQUIRE that you sustain A PERMANENT INJURY. 

 If you were involved in a car accident, contact our firm for a free consultation to discuss your concerns, and help you recover for your injuries and damages. As stated, accident details can be complex, and our experience with having successfully handled thousands of accident cases will help guide you, and evaluate your chances of recovery. We will be able to tell you if a lawsuit has to be filed. We will also give you advice to make sure your medical bills are properly submitted so they can be paid. When you choose our firm to represent you after a car accident, you will get our honest advice, our decades of experience. We will tell it to you straight, and we will never exaggerate, or tell you anything just because we think “it’s what you want to hear.” 

If you were involved in a car accident, don’t hesitate to contact our office for a free consultation!

Car accident lawsuits are unique in that they may require that you sustain a certain type of injury in order for you, the victim, to recover an award. However, this limitation applies to some, but not all, car accident victims. The “limitation” is technically called (legally speaking) the “limitation on lawsuit”, and it is more commonly referred to as “the verbal threshold.” You can read more from our website about what the verbal threshold is.  But suffice it to say that the verbal threshold requires that a doctor opines, in their medical expertise, that the car accident caused you to sustain an injury which is permanent, and will not heal to return to normal function. But you don’t have to sustain a permanent injury to a certain body part – rather, you will be able to overcome the verbal threshold so long as you have sustained any permanent injury that was caused by the accident. 

If your claims are not subject to the verbal threshold, then you may recover for any bodily injuries that were caused by the accident. Therefore, if you do not have the verbal threshold, a compensable injury can be as minor as a bruise, or as severe as a fracture. 

Some of the injuries which are often caused by car accidents include:

 · Neck pain; 

· Mid-back pain;

· Low back pain; 

· Disc bulges; 

· Disc herniations (aka annular tears);

· Radiating neck pain; 

· Radiating back pain; 

· Radiculopathy; 

· Impinged nerve roots; 

· Shoulder pain; 

· Shoulder rotator cuff or labral tears; 

· Shoulder fractures; 

· Shoulder dislocations; 

· Arm pain; 

· Biceps tendon tears; 

· Forearm fractures; 

· Wrist pain; 

· Wrist ligament tears; 

· Wrist fractures; 

· Finger pain; 

· Finger fractures;

· Rib fractures; 

· Hip pain; 

· Hip labrum tears;

· Hip (femur) fractures; 

· Hip dislocations; 

· Knee pain; 

· MCL tears; 

· ACL tears; 

· PCL tears; 

· Knee fractures; 

· Knee dislocations;

· Shin pain; 

· Shin fractures

· Ankle pain; 

· Ankle sprains and strains; 

· Torn ankle ligaments;

· Ankle fractures; 

· Toe pain; 

· Toe fractures; 

· Pinky toe pain;

· Pinky toe fractures; 

· Cuts, scars, bruises, abrasions, scrapes;

· Stitches;

· Surgery; 

· Open reductions with internal fixation; 

· Concussions, and post-concussion disorder; 

· Blindness; 

· Loss of hearing; 

· Mood disorders; 

· Memory loss. 

  If you were injured in a car accident, you can treat with various different types of medical offices.  Sometimes you may choose to treat with a doctor who lives nearby, or sometimes, you may hear good things about a doctor and find that it is worthwhile to travel to them. It’s up to you.

Unlike Workers’ Compensation cases – where evaluations and treatment are typically controlled by the Workers’ Compensation carrier, you have more option regarding where to treat after a car accident. 

Typically, for orthopedic injuries, car accident victims treat with some of the following types of offices: emergency room hospital treatment; primary care physician treatment; urgent care treatment; chiropractic treatment; physical therapy treatment; vocational rehabilitation treatment; electric stimulation treatment; massage therapy; hot/warm/cold compress; pain management treatment; surgeon consultation; surgery; post-operative physical therapy. 

Ideally, you can treat at any facility you like. You just have to make sure that the medical office that you would like to attend will be accepted by your insurance: (your PIP coverage, or med-pay coverage from your auto policy). 

It’s important to realize that treatment may progress slowly, and you have to follow the guidance of your treating physician/s. Just because you want to treat with a specialist, does not mean that your PIP coverage will accept that it was necessary. You should try to seek referrals for specialist as often as possible. 

 In New Jersey, medical bills are typically paid through Personal Injury Protection Coverage, which is an endorsement in automobile policies written in the State. Some policies, such as Basic Policies, include coverage for med-pay/medical coverage, which acts similarly, albeit is smaller amounts. Special Policies typically only provide coverage for bills arising from emergency treatment – that is typically rendered by a hospital. 

If you have a “standard” auto insurance policy in New Jersey, then you will have PIP coverage in an amount between $15,000 and $250,000. Your PIP coverage will likely be subject to a deductible, and then a co-pay that is paid at a certain percentage of all bills up to a certain limit. After your co-pay and deductible are met, the remaining amounts are the responsibility of the PIP carrier, up to their coverage limit.  If you incur bills that are beyond that coverage limit, you can then (ideally with the assistance of an attorney) pursue the recovery of those bills against the party whom caused your accident. 

What should you do if you were involved in a car accident? Hopefully, you are safe and able to take some steps that will eventually help you recover. Of course, some of these steps cannot apply to everyone. Accidents can cause severe and immediate injuries that make it impossible to achieve some of these steps. Still, there is a benefit in simply knowing these steps, because they may help you in the future. 

· 1. Stop your vehicle in a safe place as quickly as possible. 

· 2. Assess yourself and others for serious injuries. 

· 3. Attempt to contact authorities or alert others for help.

· 4. If you are in severe pain, remain in place, inside the vehicle.

· 5. Check your surroundings and try to identify the other vehicle/s involved.

· 6. Ask the police if you may exit your car and take pictures of the property damage, and the surrounding area.

You can read more from our website about what you should do if you are involved in a car accident.

  If you were involved in a car accident, contact our firm for a free consultation to discuss your concerns, and help you recover for your injuries and damages. 

Our Firm understands that your busy schedule doesn't always allow for in-person meetings. That's why we offer a variety of convenient ways to work with us remotely. Whether you prefer phone consultations, secure video conferencing, or efficient email communication, we can tailor our approach to fit your needs. Contact us today to discuss your legal needs and learn more about our flexible approach. Schedule a free consultation at your convenience!

If you would like to come into our Jersey City office, we can accommodate your schedule for a time that is convenient for you!

We handle car accidents cases throughout all of New Jersey, especially in northern New Jersey