Somerset Personal Injury Attorney

Legal Help After A Serious Injury

A sudden crash, fall, or other serious accident can change your life in a moment. Medical appointments, missed work, and insurance calls can pile up quickly, and it is not always clear where to turn for help. If you were hurt because someone else was careless, you do not have to face this alone.

At Palmisano & Goodman, P.A., we focus our practice on helping injured people pursue fair compensation so they can focus on healing. Our firm is based in Woodbridge, and we regularly represent individuals and families hurt in and around Somerset. We offer free consultations, and we handle injury cases on a contingency fee basis, so you do not pay attorney fees unless we recover money for you.

Our attorneys bring more than 100 years of combined legal experience to every case. We have secured hundreds of millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for people across New Jersey, and we are committed to providing personal attention and honest guidance from the first call forward.

Contact us today at (732) 709-4400 to schedule a free consultation.

Common Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle

At Palmisano & Goodman, P.A., we represent injured clients across a wide range of personal injury matters, including:

• Car, truck, and motorcycle accidents
• Pedestrian and bicycle accidents
• Slip and fall and premises liability claims
• Construction and workplace accidents
• Medical malpractice and surgical errors
• Defective product injuries
• Wrongful death claims

Each case is unique, and we tailor our legal strategy to the specific facts, injuries, and long-term impact involved.

Where Serious Accidents Happen in Somerset

Somerset sits in one of Central New Jersey's busiest travel corridors, and its roads carry a heavy mix of local commuters, commercial traffic, and drivers heading to and from New Brunswick, Rutgers University, and the New York City metro area. That volume creates real risk.

Several routes in and around the community see a disproportionate share of serious crashes:

• Route 27 (Somerset Street), which runs along the eastern edge of the community and carries tens of thousands of vehicles a day toward New Brunswick, is a frequent site of rear-end and intersection car accidents.
• Easton Avenue (County Route 527) is a heavily traveled corridor connecting I-287 and the Bound Brook area to downtown New Brunswick — and a route long flagged for safety concerns, putting drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists at risk.
• Interstate 287, which runs through the northern part of Franklin Township, brings high-speed and commercial-truck traffic that can lead to catastrophic truck accidents.
• Amwell Road (CR 514), Hamilton Street, and JFK Boulevard, along with the retail corridors that line them, are common sites for motorcycle and multi-vehicle collisions.

Injuries aren't limited to the roadway. We also represent Somerset-area clients hurt in slip-and-fall accidents on poorly maintained property and workers hurt on the job who may qualify for workers' compensation.

Understanding Personal Injury Claims

A personal injury claim is a legal action filed by an injured person seeking compensation from the party responsible for causing harm. These claims are typically based on negligence, meaning another party failed to act with reasonable care. To succeed in a personal injury case, your lawyer must generally prove that:

1. The defendant owed you a duty of care
2. The defendant breached that duty
3. The breach directly caused your injuries
4. You suffered damages as a result

Insurance companies often try to minimize or deny claims, even when liability seems clear. Having an experienced Somerset personal injury lawyer on your side helps level the playing field and ensures your claim is properly documented, valued, and pursued.

New Jersey Personal Injury Laws

Understanding New Jersey personal injury laws is critical to protecting your right to compensation. One of the most important laws affecting injury claims is the statute of limitations. In most cases, injured victims have two years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. Failing to meet this deadline can result in losing your right to recover damages entirely.

New Jersey also follows a modified comparative negligence rule. This means you can still recover compensation as long as you are not more than 50% at fault for the accident. However, your total recovery will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found 20% responsible, your compensation would be reduced by 20%.

Additionally, New Jersey’s auto insurance laws include “no-fault” rules that may affect car accident claims. Depending on your insurance coverage, you may be required to pursue certain benefits through your own insurer before filing a claim against an at-fault driver. A knowledgeable Somerset personal injury lawyer can explain how these laws apply to your specific case.

Compensation Available to Injured Victims

Serious injuries can create lasting financial and personal consequences. A successful personal injury claim may allow you to recover compensation for both economic and non-economic damages, including:

• Medical expenses (past, current, and future care)
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
• Rehabilitation and physical therapy costs
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress and mental anguish
• Permanent disability or disfigurement
• Loss of enjoyment of life

In cases involving especially reckless or intentional conduct, punitive damages may also be available, though these are awarded less frequently under New Jersey law.

Our goal at Palmisano & Goodman, P.A. is to pursue full and fair compensation that reflects the true impact of your injuries—not just immediate expenses, but long-term effects on your health, career, and quality of life.

How Our Somerset Personal Injury Lawyers Build Your Case

A strong recovery is built well before any settlement discussion begins. Insurance companies move quickly to limit what they pay, so we move just as quickly to protect the value of your claim. When you hire our firm, an experienced attorney — not a paralegal or a case manager — personally directs your case from start to finish.

Our approach generally includes:

1. Investigating what happened — securing police reports, photographs, surveillance or dashcam footage, and witness statements before evidence is lost.
2. Documenting the full extent of your injuries — working with your treating physicians and, when needed, independent medical and accident-reconstruction experts.
3. Calculating the true cost of your injury — accounting for future medical care and lost earning capacity, not just today's bills.
4. Negotiating from strength — because insurers know our history of taking cases to verdict, they take our demands seriously.
5. Preparing every case for trial — we invest in our cases and are ready to present them to a jury when an insurer refuses to offer fair compensation.

That willingness to go the distance is a core reason our clients recover meaningful results rather than accepting a first, lowball offer.

Personal Injury FAQs

How much is my personal injury case worth?

The value of a case depends on factors such as the severity of your injuries, medical costs, lost income, and how the injury affects your daily life. An experienced lawyer can provide a more accurate estimate after reviewing your case.

Do I need a lawyer for a personal injury claim?

While you are not required to hire a lawyer, insurance companies are represented by legal teams working to minimize payouts. Having a Somerset personal injury lawyer greatly improves your chances of recovering fair compensation.

What if I was partially at fault for the accident?

Under New Jersey’s comparative negligence law, you may still recover damages as long as you are not more than 50% at fault. Your compensation will be reduced by your share of responsibility.

How long does a personal injury case take?

Some cases settle in a few months, while others take longer, especially if litigation is required. The timeline depends on the complexity of the case and the willingness of insurers to negotiate fairly.

What does it cost to hire a personal injury lawyer?

Most personal injury cases are handled on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no upfront fees and only pay legal fees if compensation is recovered.

A Proven Personal Injury Firm Serving Somerset Since 1974

Experience is the difference between a claim that settles for a fraction of its value and one that reflects the full impact of your injury. Palmisano & Goodman, P.A. has represented injured New Jersey residents since 1974, and our attorneys bring more than 100 combined years of trial and negotiation experience to every case. For Somerset and Franklin Township clients, that means partnering with a firm that has handled cases like yours many times before and knows exactly how insurers evaluate — and try to undercut — serious claims.

That experience shows in our results. Over the years, the firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements, including more than 40 recoveries between $1 million and $10 million for clients with catastrophic injuries or families who lost a loved one to a fatal accident. While every case is different and past results never guarantee a future outcome, this record reflects the level of preparation we bring to the table.

It also reflects genuine recognition from within the legal community. Founding trial attorney Robert G. Goodman is certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Civil Trial Attorney — a distinction held by only a small percentage of the state's lawyers — and has been named to The National Trial Lawyers' Top 100 Trial Lawyers in New Jersey. You can review a sample of our outcomes on our case results page and read directly from former clients on our reviews page.

To discuss your situation with our team, call (732) 709-4400 today.