Morris County Personal Injury Litigation

At the Morris County Law Offices of James C. DeZao, P.A., we offer free initial consultations to individuals who have been injured by the negligence of another person or entity.  We also meet with family members of individuals involved in a fatal accident.  This initial consultation with an attorney is the first step in the process of personal injury litigation. 

Meet with a Personal Injury Lawyer

There are many items you should bring with you when you meet with a personal injury lawyer.  You may not have all of these items, and your lawyer may ask you to provide additional information.  However, this list is a good start.
 
• An account of the events up to the injury or accident and afterwards
• Any photos or videos taken at the scene of the injury or accident
• Bills for damages that you have paid, or that are to be paid
• Cancelled checks for items relating to your injury or accident that you have paid
• Insurance policy and contact information, as well as any correspondence with the insurance company
• Medical and hospital records
• Police records
• Witness’ contact information

Discovery
In a personal injury lawsuit, the injured party, known as the plaintiff, files a lawsuit with the help of an attorney, against the defendant.  The defendant is the person who is being sued.  The attorneys for the plaintiff and defendant will trade documentation and information about the case.  Questions, called interrogatories, will be presented to both parties.  After this discovery period is over, the case will either proceed to trial or be settled out of court.

Settling a Personal Injury Case

Personal injury cases in Morris County are heard in the Civil Division of Superior Court in Morristown (www.judiciary.state.nj.us/morris/index.htm).  Cases involving personal injury must first comply with NJ Court Rule 4:21A, which mandates complementary dispute resolution (CDR).  The CDR process assigns personal injury cases to statutory arbitration in the hope that the parties can come to an agreement and avoid a lengthy trial.
Statutory Arbitration Instead of Litigation

Mandatory statutory arbitration involves an attorney with seven years or more of experience in personal injury litigation acting as an intermediary between the plaintiff and defendant.  The arbitrator listens to both parties, reviews the evidence, and decides the outcome of the case.  However, if either party is unhappy with the arbitrator’s decision, they have the right to move ahead with a personal injury lawsuit.