Newark Car Accident Attorneys

Car accidents are a constant risk on Newark roads. Yet most car accidents are preventable. Those that occur often result from the negligence of others on the road. 

At the Todd J. Leonard Law Firm, our Newark car accident lawyers have represented thousands of clients and have recovered millions in damages for their injuries. We have over 35 years of experience and are highly respected and qualified legal professionals in personal injury law. Attorney Todd Leonard has been selected to the New Jersey Super Lawyers® list since 2011. He is Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Civil Trial Attorney, so you can expect the highest level of professional service for your car accident case. If you, or a loved one has sustained serious injuries, or sadly a wrongful death, due to a negligent driver, reach out to an experienced Newark personal injury lawyer today. 

New Jersey Car Accident Statistics

In 2022, the New Jersey Department of Transportation recorded 236,702 car crashes in New Jersey. These incidents included 25,962 crashes in Essex County – more than ten percent of the state’s total.

In 2022:

• 646 car crashes caused at least one death in New Jersey. Of these incidents, 50 fatal crashes occurred in Essex County – making Essex County the fourth-deadliest county in New Jersey in 2022, after Middlesex County (64 deaths), Burlington County (54 deaths) and Camden County (51 deaths).
• 52,240 crashes caused at least one injury in New Jersey. In other words, 22 percent of car collisions in the state caused one or more injuries. 
• In Essex County, 5,534 injury crashes occurred in 2022, making up 21 percent of all collisions in the state that year. 

As the county seat of Essex County and a major US city, Newark sees a significant portion of New Jersey’s auto accidents each year. Those who are injured in a Newark crash deserve the assistance of an experienced, knowledgeable personal injury attorney.

Common Accident Types and Causes in New Jersey

Many car accidents are caused by negligence. Negligence is a failure to take due care, which then may cause injuries to someone else in a motor vehicle crash. Every person who uses New Jersey roads has a duty to use reasonable care to prevent accidents. Common ways that people fail to meet this duty include drunk or intoxicated driving, distracted driving, illegal turns, tailgating, and speeding. 

Drunk and Intoxicated Driving

Drunk and intoxicated driving remains a significant problem on New Jersey roads. Drivers may be under the influence of alcohol or other substances. In 2021, 26,500 people were convicted of crimes related to drunk or drugged driving, according to the New Jersey Department of Health and Human Services. Drunk and drugged driving crashes increased 30 percent in 2021. Although these numbers have declined slightly since, the risks these drivers pose remain high. 

In 2021, 697 people died in intoxication-related crashes in New Jersy. These included 210 drivers who were under the influence of something other than alcohol. Intoxication impairs a driver’s ability to correctly identify hazards on the road and respond to them properly to avoid accidents. 

Distracted Driving

Distraction remains a major cause of car accidents in New Jersey and throughout the United States. 

Cell phones remain a common factor in distracted driving crashes. In 2022, use of a handheld cell phone contributed to 1,017 crashes statewide. These accidents caused 461 injuries and one death. In Essex County, 68 crashes involved a driver using a handheld phone. A total of 31 people were injured in these crashes.

Even hands-free phone technology does not solve the distraction problem caused by cell phones. In 2022, 32 Essex County car accidents involved a driver who was using a hands-free phone device. These collisions caused 13 injuries.

The New Jersey State Police also track car crash statistics throughout the year. As of February 9, 2025, the office recorded 49 fatal crashes in the state of New Jersey, claiming a total of 49 lives. 

Failing to Follow Road Rules

“Failing to follow the rules of the road” is a broad category, including a wide range of driving violations. Common failures that result in accidents include:

• Failing to stop at a stop sign or red light,
• Failing to yield at a yellow light, yield sign, or any other situation in which another driver has the right of way,
• Driving faster or much slower than the posted speed limit,
• Failing to slow down or take other precautions in bad weather,
• Not adjusting one’s speed or direction of travel when road conditions change, such as in a sudden traffic backup, and
• Merging or turning incorrectly, often without signaling first. 

Every person using New Jersey roads is responsible for following the rules of the road. Those who fail to follow these rules can cause a crash – even if everyone around them is obeying these rules. 

Speeding

Speeding comes in two forms. A driver speeds when their vehicle travels faster than the posted speed limit. Traveling faster than the posted speed limit is a moving violation.   

A driver also speeds when their vehicle travels too fast for conditions on the road. Driving too fast in snowy or icy weather, for example, can cause a driver to lose control of the vehicle or be unable to stop in time to avoid a collision. Driving too fast in congested areas can result in a rear-end or sideswipe crash if the driver can’t stop in time to avoid a sudden traffic slowdown or bottleneck. 

Those who are injured in New Jersey car accidents due to the negligence of another can seek compensation for their injuries. Should a loved one die in a fatal motor vehicle crash caused by another driver’s negligence, a wrongful death lawsuit may be filed on their behalf. An experienced Newark wrongful death attorney can ensure you understand the legal options available to you and your family in the aftermath of a wrongful death.

Common New Jersey Auto Accident Injuries

Car accidents generate significant forces. Cars may be traveling at a high rate of speed, generating forces that transfer to the bodies of drivers, passengers, pedestrians, bicyclists, or motorcyclists in the crash. Consequently, multiple types of injuries can be sustained in a car crash are common, including:

• Brain and spinal cord injuries. The brain and spinal cord control all of the body’s functions. Any damage to these systems can cause severe impairments in mood, memory, motor function, organ function, and other requirements of living. 
• Head, neck, and back injuries. The head, neck, and back can suffer injuries as well. Skull fractures, facial scarring or damage, whiplash, cracked vertebrae, nerve damage, and herniated discs are among the issues that can occur. 
• Broken bones. Broken bones anywhere in the body can result from a car accident. Arms and legs are commonly affected, as are ribs. A broken bone may require surgery to treat – leaving behind scars and ongoing issues with pain or mobility. The bone may heal, but the injury site may never be the same. 
• Internal bleeding and organ damage. The blunt force trauma of a crash can cause damage to internal organs or internal bleeding. These conditions are often immediately life-threatening. Lifelong problems with organs and other issues can result. 
• Scarring and disfigurement. Flying glass, twisted metal, and other debris can cause permanent scarring. Amputations from the force of the crash can occur, resulting in the loss of a limb (e.g., arms, fingers, feet, legs or toes) causing permanent changes in movement, demanding ongoing treatment and significant adaptation. 

Other types of injuries can occur due to a crash as well. In some car accidents, for example, a driver or passenger suffers burn injuries when a vehicle catches fire or its electrical system is exposed. Psychological injuries, like post-traumatic stress symptoms, are also common after a traumatic accident. 

Many people who suffer a car accident experience more than one type of injury. For example, someone injured in an accident may have a traumatic brain injury, whiplash, one or more broken bones, and internal bleeding. 

The first step after any car accident is to protect the safety of those involved and to call 911 for emergency assistance. If you didn’t receive emergency medical care immediately after an accident, see a doctor as soon as possible. A doctor can document your injuries, prescribe the appropriate treatment, and keep a record of your progress and needs. 

Car Accident Case Basics

If a personal injury lawsuit based on a car accident is unfamiliar to you, you’re not alone. Many Newark residents have little or no courtroom experience before a car accident upends their lives. Even if you’ve been to court before, your case may have been very different than a personal injury claim. 

Here are a few essential basics to help orient you to a car accident case. For information on how these rules apply in your specific situation, talk to a knowledgeable Newark car accident attorney. 

Time Limits

New Jersey’s “statute of limitations” sets a time limit on filing a car accident claim in court. In New Jersey, an injured person has two years from the date of the accident to file their personal injury lawsuit.

The two years typically begin to run on the date of the accident or injury. For example, if you were in a car accident and suffered injuries on January 1, 2025, you would have until January 1, 2027 to file your case in most instances.

It is essential to speak to an attorney about the time limit in your specific case. While two years is the general rule, there are a few exceptions to the limit. Reach out to a lawyer even if you think the two-year deadline might already have passed in your case. An attorney can determine exactly when the deadline falls and advise you on your options. 

Compensation

A personal injury case is a civil case. In it, an injured person seeks compensation from someone who caused their injuries – typically through negligence (failure to use due care).

Most personal injury cases seek two types of damages: economic and non-economic damages. 

Economic damages focus on compensation for financial losses. These are losses you can demonstrate with copies of bills, receipts, invoices, and similar paperwork. Common economic damages in a Newark car accident case include:

• Medical bills, including bills for the care you’ve already received and bills for the care you’re going to need in the future.
• Lost wages, including both wages you’ve already lost during recovery from your injury and wages you’ll lose in the future if your injuries prevent you from working again.
• Property damage, such as the cost to repair or replace a damaged vehicle.

Non-economic damages focus on losses that are real, but that are harder to prove with paperwork. Common non-economic damages in a Newark car crash injury claim include:

• Compensation for your pain and suffering,
• Compensation for the loss of enjoyment of life, if your injuries prevent you from engaging in hobbies you once enjoyed, taking care of your children, or doing other life activities,
• Compensation for the mental and emotional anguish caused by visible scarring or disfigurement. 

Your car accident claim might be able to compensate you for other losses as well. Talk to an experienced Newark car accident injury attorney to learn more about how New Jersey’s compensation rules apply to your case. 

Criminal vs. Civil Cases

After a serious crash, you may find yourself involved in a criminal case against the driver who caused the collision. Criminal cases are especially common when an intoxicated driver causes an accident or when an accident causes death.

There are several key differences between a criminal and a civil case – even if these cases result from the same car accident. In a criminal case, the state brings charges against the person who caused injuries. If that person is convicted, they may face penalties including jail time, probation, and fines. 

You may be asked to testify as a witness or allowed to provide the court with a victim impact statement. However, the criminal case will likely not compensate you for all your losses from the accident. The criminal case focuses on holding the wrongdoer accountable for the harm their actions caused to society as a whole.

To seek compensation for your specific losses, you may file a civil case for personal injury or wrongful death. You may file a civil case whether or not a criminal case is filed. You may file your civil case regardless of the outcome of a criminal case. Since a criminal case can affect a civil case, however, it’s wise to talk to an attorney about when and how to file your personal injury lawsuit. 

Wrongful Death

In a personal injury case, an injured person seeks compensation for their injuries. When those injuries claim a life, however, the surviving family members may file a wrongful death case to seek compensation for their loved one. 

A wrongful death case can seek many of the same damages as a personal injury case. For example, you can seek compensation for your loved one’s final medical bills, lost wages, and damage to their vehicle or other property. You can also seek compensation for funeral and burial expenses.

Surviving family members after a wrongful death can also seek compensation for their own losses. These losses may include:

• Loss of material or financial support, if you depended on your loved one to pay the bills,
• Loss of your loved one’s care and companionship. 

Other losses may be compensable as well. 

Dealing with the aftermath of a loved one’s sudden death can be devastating. You don’t have to do it alone. Talk to an experienced Newark wrongful death attorney today. 

Contact Our New Jersey Newark Car Accident Attorneys Today

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured in a car accident, you are undoubtedly feeling a range of emotions and may not be sure what to do about the suffering you’ve been forced to endure. Our Newark car accident lawyers have helped thousands of people in similar situations before and know how to alleviate the sudden and undue burdens that come after a car accident. 

Attorney Todd Leonard is a Certified Trial Lawyer with more than 35 years of experience helping car accident victims recover the compensation they need to overcome the hurdles they face, now and in the future. The Newark Car Accident Attorneys at the Todd J. Leonard Law Firm take an individualized approach to every case they handle, ensuring each client gets the attention they deserve. Our team of personal injury lawyers have been helping clients who have been seriously injured in all types of accidents, such as a car accident, pedestrian accident, slip and fall accident, motorcycle accident, truck accident, or were injured at work. We are a Five-Star rated law firm, recovering a total of more than $100 million on behalf of our clients. We will do our best to hold the negligent party (or parties) fully accountable for their actions, and get you the justice you deserve.  To learn more and to schedule a FREE, confidential consultation, give us a call today at 973-920-7900. You can also connect with us through our online form. We have two conveniently located offices in Denville and Morristown, New Jersey.