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New Jersey Governor Signs Law Increasing Mandatory Automobile Liability Insurance
On August 5, 2022, Governor Phil Murphy signed bill S-481/A-4291, increasing automobile insurance coverage minimums. This is the first increase to the state minimums since they were first established.
Pursuant to the new law, the minimum amount of liability coverage for a standard automobile insurance policy increases to...
Appellate Division: Transportation Network Company Safety and Regulatory Act Does Not Apply to Uber Eats
The issue before the court was whether N.J.S.A. 39:5H-10 requires meal delivery services, such as Uber Eats, Grubhub, or DoorDash, to provide $1.5 million in underinsured motorist coverage as mandated by the statute for “transportation network companies.” On September 27, 2022, the panel noted that...
Costs and Benefits of a New Jersey Accident Lawyer and What Attorneys Look for in an Accident Case
No one ever expects to be in an accident, but the fact is thousands of people are injured in an accident every day. Whether it is a car or pedestrian accident in Mercer County, or a slip and fall in Princeton, NJ, you may be wondering whether it is worth it to hire an attorney and just how much a New Jersey accident lawyer costs.
No Upfront Fees—Understanding Contingency Fees
The good news is that there is little to no risk in contacting a New Jersey injury lawyer, as most personal injury attorneys...
Appellate Division—Defense Bears the Burden of Differentiating the Cause of Injury
On June 14, 2022, the Appellate Division reversed a trial judge’s dismissal of a case involving a woman who brought an action for injuries from two separate car accidents. Blocker v. Deloatch (A-1422-20). In the unpublished opinion, the court held that the burden is on the defense to demonstrate that the injuries alleged by the plaintiff had multiple causes...
Appellate Division—Minority Tolling Does Not Apply to the Wrongful Death Statute
On July 14, 2022, the Appellate Division issued an opinion in the matter of Monk v. Kennedy University Hospital, Inc. (A-3361-20). The opinion, which was approved for publication, considered whether the Legislature intended to apply the minority tolling provision to the Wrongful Death Act. The court ultimately determined...
Appellate Division Issues Guidelines for Third Parties Recording Defense Medical Exams
May a plaintiff be accompanied by a third party at a defense medical exam or require that the examination be recorded? “It depends.”–Every lawyer ever.
On May 3, 2022, the Appellate Division, in the published decision of Difiore v. Pezec, was tasked with resolving “when, if ever, a plaintiff with alleged cognitive limitations, psychological impairments, or language barriers can be accompanied by a third party to a defense medical examination (“DME”), or require that the examination be video or audio recorded...
New Jersey Rescue Doctrine Does Not Apply To Rescue of Pets
On June 13, 2022, the New Jersey Supreme Court issued an opinion in the matter of Ann Samolyk v. Dorothy Berthe, III (A-16-21) (085946), where the Court declined to extend the state’s so-called rescue doctrine beyond situations involving the rescue of humans. The Court held...
How do I get my Car Accident Police Report in New Jersey?
Under New Jersey law, "[e]very citizen of this State shall have the right, during regular business hours and under supervision, to inspect and copy [accident reports] and shall also have the right in person to purchase copies of the reports..." N.J.S.A. 39:4-131.
To obtain a copy of your report...
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage in New Jersey
As the names suggest, Uninsured Motorist (UM) and Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage is the portion of an insured’s own policy of insurance under which he may be compensated for injuries and losses he suffers at the hands of uninsured/underinsured drivers. Uninsured Motorist coverage is applicable in accidents involving hit-and-run (or phantom vehicle) accidents or accidents where the other driver’s insurance has lapsed or is non-existent. On the other hand...