New Jersey Personal Injury Lawyers

Automobile Accidents

When handling car accident claims, we make certain that our New Jersey personal injury attorney correctly determines at-fault parties, handles your case quickly and efficiently, and get you a fair and just amount of compensation for your injuries and losses. Whether you have suffered a broken bone or a catastrophic injury, we are here to help you through every step of your traffic accident case. Contact Susan Petro, Rich Gaeckle, or Mike Veneziani for information about car accident claims.

Bicycle Accidents

Even when riders wear helmets, bicycle accidents often result in extremely serious injuries and long-term disabilities. In addition, many people, including authorities and attorneys, are not familiar with bicycle traffic laws. For both of these reasons, it is vital that you speak to an experienced New Jersey personal injury lawyer after an injury while cycling. Contact Susan Petro for information about a bicycle accident claim.

Bus Accidents

Whether you were injured while riding a bus or struck by a bus, you may have a New Jersey personal injury claim that will compensate you for all related damages. Bus accidents can have many causes, including distracted drivers, untrained drivers, fatigued drivers, poor bus company policies, inadequate bus stop designs, and improperly maintained buses. Talk to an accident attorney today for help with your potential bus accident case. Contact Susan Petro for information about a bus accident claim.

Motorcycle Accidents

It is a misconception that motorcycle riders are usually reckless or negligent. In truth, a large percentage of these accidents take place because larger vehicles don’t see motorcycles or don’t share the road with them. Motorcycle accidents often involve the serious head, neck, back, and spine injuries. Make sure your injury claim is treated fairly and swiftly. Contact Susan Petro for information about your potential motorcycle accident claim.

Pedestrian Injuries

When a pedestrian and a vehicle collide, the pedestrian always loses. If you have been seriously injured in a pedestrian accident, or if your loved one has been killed in a pedestrian accident, the driver of the vehicle may be responsible for your losses. A personal injury lawsuit can help you pay for medical bills, lost wages, lost future wages, and pain and suffering. Contact Susan Petro to learn more about a possible pedestrian injury claim.

Slip and Falls

Property owners, from store owners to landlords, have a legal obligation to their property reasonably safe. If you have suffered an accident and injury on someone else’s property, and you believe that the accident was due to a property owner’s negligence, you could have a premises liability case. Not all slips and falls are minor. Some result in serious injuries, including fractures, neck injuries, back injuries, and traumatic brain injuries. Contact Susan Petro, Rich Gaeckle, or Mike Veneziani for information about your slip and fall claim.

Construction Site Accidents

Working construction is one of the most dangerous jobs in the country. In addition to the many hazards of working with heavy equipment and partial structures, some construction companies and contractors do not provide a safe environment or safe tools to their workers. Learn more about your possible construction accident case by speaking with one of our NJ on-the-job accident attorneys. Contact Susan Petro or Rich Gaeckle for information about a construction site accident.

Product Liability Claims

A product may be dangerous due to a design flaw or a defect. It may also be dangerous if it does not include the proper directions, instructions, or warnings. If you have been harmed by a defective or dangerous product, from an appliance to medication to a car part, you should know that a manufacturer, developer, or retailer could be responsible for your medical bills and other damages. Contact Susan Petro for information about a product liability claim.

Dog Bites

Irresponsible dog owners are accountable for millions of dog attacks and dog bite injuries around the country each year, and about half of the people injured in these incidents are children. If you or a family member has been injured by a dog or dangerous pet, you may be able to collect compensation from the animal’s owner or keeper. Contact Susan Petro for information about a dog bite injury and claim.

Claims against Public Entities

Filing a claim against a public entity, such as a local government, a government agency, or a transportation authority, is much different than filing a claim against a person or company. For example, many public entities have special protections and immunities under federal and state laws, such as sovereign immunity laws. It is especially important to contact an injury law firm about your personal injury claim if you believe the at-fault party was a government organization or agency. Contact Susan Petro, Rich Gaeckle, or Mike Veneziani for information about claims against public entities.

Maritime Personal Injury/Boating Accidents

Injuries on watercraft in New Jersey’s lakes and rivers, as well as along shore of New Jersey are all too common, especially during the summer months. Many of these boating accidents are caused by reckless operators, fatigued operators, or those operating under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Contact Susan Petro for information about a maritime or boating accident claim.

Traumatic Brain Injury

Head injuries result in some of the most tragic and permanent consequences of all personal injuries. Even a mild concussion can leave a person with short-term memory problems, chronic headaches, issues with concentration, and issues with personality and behavior. The most serious traumatic brain injuries may involve paralysis, severe mental disability, coma, and death. Contact Susan Petro for information about traumatic brain injury claims.

Wrongful Death Claims

If your loved one has died in an accident due to someone else’s negligence, you could collect compensation for both your economic and non-economic losses, including medical bills, funeral expenses, lost future wages, loss of companionship, and pain and suffering. Contact Susan Petro, Rich Gaeckle, or Mike Veneziani for information about a wrongful death claim.

Watch Out for These Insurance Company Tactics

Insurance companies are usually private businesses that make money when their clients pay their premiums and lose money when they pay out claims. Even workers’ compensation insurance companies have a bottom line to meet.

As such, you can expect them to either deny your claim or try to negotiate it down. And the stark reality is that insurance company adjusters are professional negotiators with experience in minimizing the value of your claim. The following is a description of only a few of them:

• Trying to blame the accident on you, or asserting that the accident was at least partly your fault. This approach may not completely absolve the insurance company of liability, but if it is successful, it can reduce the amount of your claim even if you still “win.”
• Misleading you on the terms of the insurance policy, especially with respect to their coverage exclusions, by taking advantage of the confusing legal jargon in the insurance policy.
• Stalling you with numerous small delays, hoping to frustrate you into accepting a small settlement, or lull you into missing the statute of limitations deadline to file a lawsuit.
• Monitoring your social network accounts. Social network accounts should be private and don’t accept friend requests from anyone you don’t know.

At Petro Cohen, P.C., we know all the tactics insurance companies use, because it is our job to know them, and we are well prepared to refute them. Although only you can approve a final settlement, we will be more than happy to do the negotiating for you. And if your case cannot be settled out of court, our highly-skilled New Jersey personal injury lawyers are more than ready to take it to trial.