Herniated disc car accident lawyer New Brunswick

A passenger injured in a collision is in an unusual position: almost never at fault, and frequently covered by several policies at once. That should make the claim simpler and often makes it more complicated, because the driver may be a friend or relative, more than one insurer may respond, and the policy election that governs whether pain and suffering can be claimed may be one the passenger never made. Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. has practiced since 1997 and Mr. Sris is admitted in New Jersey. Reach our location at (888) 437-7747.

On This Page

What This Injury Is Worth Here

This firm does not quote figures and none is reliable before treatment concludes. Value follows the imaging and documented nerve root involvement, the correlation with examination, the treatment escalation and the earnings effect. For a passenger, the coverage map matters as much as the medicine: the driver of the vehicle you were in, the driver of any other vehicle, your own policy, a resident relative’s policy, and any commercial coverage where a vehicle was in work use may each respond in some way. Which policy’s election governs your right to claim pain and suffering is a question answered from documents rather than from whose car you were sitting in.

Which Court Your Claim Is Filed In

Civil injury claims are filed in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Civil Part, in the vicinage covering Middlesex County. Lower-value claims are heard in the Special Civil Part of the same court under a simplified procedure. Where a public entity or a public employee is involved, a Tort Claims Act notice requirement under N.J.S.A. 59:8-8 applies in addition and runs far ahead of the deadline for filing suit. Where more than one driver may be responsible, fault is apportioned among them and a passenger’s recovery is not reduced by their dispute.

What to Do Before You Talk to the Adjuster

Identify every policy before discussing settlement: the vehicle you were in, every other vehicle, your own policy and any policy of a relative in your household. Obtain the declarations page for each. Be aware that a claim against a friend or relative who was driving is in substance a claim on their insurance rather than on them personally, which is worth saying plainly because it is the most common reason passengers delay. Then get radiating symptoms recorded, keep treatment continuous, and decline a recorded statement until you understand the claim.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I claim if my friend was driving?

Yes, and it is in substance a claim on the policy they bought for exactly this situation rather than on them personally. Reluctance to make such a claim is understandable and it is the most common reason passengers wait too long. The medical costs of a disc injury are rarely absorbable privately, and that reality is usually understood on both sides.

Which policy pays if two drivers are at fault?

Fault is apportioned between them, and as a passenger your recovery is generally not reduced by their dispute about shares. In practice both insurers may be involved and the allocation is argued between them. Identifying every policy early is what ensures nothing available is left unclaimed.

I do not own a car. Does the threshold apply to me?

It depends on the policy under which you are covered, which may be a resident relative’s policy. The election under that policy can reach household members who never chose it. Because the answer is not obvious from your own circumstances, the declarations page for any policy in your household should be obtained early.

About Mr. Sris

Mr. Sris is the owner and founder of Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C., which has practiced since 1997. He is a former prosecutor and is admitted in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey and New York. Of Counsel attorneys contract directly with the firm and handle matters alongside him.

Speak With Mr. Sris

A passenger is usually covered by several policies at once, and which election governs the right to claim is answered from documents. Request a consultation. Reach our location at (888) 437-7747. Consultations are by appointment.

Last reviewed: August 24, 2026.

Attorney Advertising. Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C., principal office: 4008 Williamsburg Court, Fairfax, VA 22032. By appointment. Call (888) 437-7747 to schedule.

The information on this page is general and is not legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading it or by contacting the firm. Case results depend on a variety of factors unique to each case. Results may vary.

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