North Bergen, NJ Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Riders in North Bergen share Tonnelle Avenue (Routes 1 & 9), Route 495, Kennedy Boulevard with drivers who often say they "never saw the bike." If a driver's mistake put you on the pavement, you deserve a lawyer who will not let bias against riders shape your case.
Quick answers
How long do I have to file a motorcycle accident claim in North Bergen, NJ?
In most New Jersey motorcycle accident cases you have two years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit under N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2. If a town, county, state agency or NJ Transit may be responsible, a written notice of claim is generally due within 90 days.
Waiting also costs evidence: video is overwritten, vehicles are repaired and witnesses move. Calling early protects both the deadline and the proof. If the claim involves a Hudson County road, park or building owned by the government, the 90-day notice goes to that public entity.
Who pays my medical bills after a motorcycle crash in NJ?
Motorcycle policies in New Jersey do not include the Personal Injury Protection coverage that car policies do. Medical bills are often paid first by health insurance or optional medical payments coverage, and the at-fault driver's liability insurance is pursued for medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage on your own policy can matter a great deal when the driver carried low limits.
Does not wearing a helmet hurt my claim?
New Jersey law requires motorcycle riders to wear an approved helmet under N.J.S.A. 39:3-76.7. The other side may argue a missing helmet made a head injury worse, which can reduce damages for that injury. It does not excuse a driver who caused the crash, and it rarely affects unrelated injuries.
Bias against riders is common, so witness accounts and scene evidence are especially important.
Where is a North Bergen, NJ injury lawsuit filed?
Most injury lawsuits arising in North Bergen are filed in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, for Hudson County, which sits at the William J. Brennan Courthouse, Jersey City. Most cases settle before trial, and many clients never need to appear in court except for a deposition or a trial if one happens.
A case can sometimes be filed in another county where a defendant lives or does business.
Do I have to travel to meet Dennis about a North Bergen, NJ case?
No. Dennis meets clients at the Hackensack office of Einhorn Barbarito, 21 Main Street, Suite 100, Hackensack, NJ 07601, and also by phone or video. If you are recovering, home and hospital visits are available anywhere in Hudson County, at no cost to you.
The first consultation is free, confidential and comes with no obligation.
How much does it cost to hire Dennis?
Nothing up front. The consultation is free, and injury cases are handled on a contingency fee, which means the fee is a percentage of the recovery and is only owed if there is one. New Jersey Court Rule 1:21-7 caps contingency fees in personal injury cases.
You will get the fee agreement in writing before any work starts, and you can ask questions about it at any time.
No PIP for motorcycles
New Jersey motorcycle policies do not include PIP. Your medical bills are usually paid first by your health insurance or any medical payments coverage you bought, which makes the claim against the at-fault driver more important.
Helmet law
New Jersey requires motorcycle riders and passengers to wear an approved helmet (N.J.S.A. 39:3-76.7). Not wearing one can be raised to reduce damages for head injuries, but it does not bar the claim.
If you were partly at fault
New Jersey uses modified comparative negligence (N.J.S.A. 2A:15-5.1). You can still recover if you were 50% or less responsible, but your award is reduced by your share of fault.
Deadline to file
Most New Jersey personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the injury (N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2). Claims against a public entity, such as a county or town, also require a written notice of claim within 90 days (N.J.S.A. 59:8-8).
Local roads and courts
North Bergen is in Hudson County, where Superior Court cases are heard at the William J. Brennan Courthouse, Jersey City. Common crash corridors in and around North Bergen include Tonnelle Avenue (Routes 1 & 9), Route 495, Kennedy Boulevard, the NJ Turnpike. We also serve nearby Secaucus, Guttenberg, West New York, Fairview. See our Hudson County page.
Common questions
- Does the lawsuit threshold apply to motorcycle riders?
- The verbal threshold in N.J.S.A. 39:6A-8 applies to auto policies with PIP. Because motorcycle policies have no PIP, that limit generally does not restrict a rider's own claim for pain and suffering.
- What does it cost to talk to Dennis?
- The consultation is free, and there is no fee unless there is a recovery.
More about motorcycle accident claims in New Jersey
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