What To Do After a Hit‑and‑Run Accident in NJ

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What To Do After a Hit‑and‑Run Accident in NJIf you’ve been injured by a driver who fled the scene, you are not alone—New Jersey law offers protections for victims like you.

A hit-and-run accident in New Jersey occurs when a driver involved in a crash flees from the accident scene without stopping to provide identification or render aid, violating N.J.S.A. 39:4-129. For victims, these moments are disorienting—physically, emotionally, and legally.

As experienced car accident attorneys in NJ, we know that time is critical. You may still be entitled to compensation, even if the driver is never found, through an uninsured motorist claim.

Steps To Take After a Hit-and-Run Accident in NJ

Step 1: Call 911 to Notify Authorities and Request Emergency Response

After a hit-and-run accident in New Jersey, your first legal obligation is to call 911 immediately. Under N.J.S.A. 39:4-129, drivers involved in a crash causing injury or damage must stop and report the incident. If the other driver flees, your 911 call ensures the event is officially documented and initiates a police investigation.

When officers arrive, provide all relevant details:

  • Time and location
  • Any identifying information about the vehicle that left the scene—such as its type, approximate size, paint color, license plate digits (even partial), and direction of travel
  • Vehicle damage and personal injuries

Step 2: Gather Evidence at the Scene

If it’s safe to do so, gather as much evidence at the scene as possible. In hit-and-run accidents in NJ, this early documentation strengthens your ability to prove fault, supporting your uninsured motorist claim.

Use your phone to photograph:

  • Vehicle damage
  • Road conditions, traffic signs, skid marks
  • Injuries, no matter how minor

Step 3: Seek Immediate Medical Attention

After a hit-and-run accident in New Jersey, it’s critical to seek medical attention right away—even if your injuries seem minor. Many serious conditions, such as concussions or internal bleeding, may not show symptoms immediately.

Delaying treatment can give insurers grounds to dispute the severity or cause of your injuries. Be honest with your provider about all symptoms, and follow their recommendations closely.

Step 4: Notify Your Insurance Company

Promptly inform your insurer about the crash to preserve your coverage rights. Provide only the basic facts and avoid speculating about fault or injuries. Let your attorney handle detailed communications.

In New Jersey, your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) may cover initial medical expenses. But for damages beyond PIP—such as pain and suffering or lost wages—you may need to file under the Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) provision in your policy, which can apply when the at-fault driver cannot be unidentified.

Step 5: Contact a New Jersey Hit-and-Run Lawyer

Dealing with a hit-and-run accident in NJ without legal guidance can put your claim and your recovery at risk.

Your attorney will:

  • Obtain nearby surveillance footage
  • Interview witnesses
  • Coordinate medical documentation
  • File and negotiate your uninsured/underinsured motorist claim
  • File a lawsuit if necessary

Legal Reminder: In New Jersey, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is two years from the accident date. If you fail to file a lawsuit within the period set by the statute of limitations, your claim may be barred.

Read Also: Damages Available in a New Jersey Personal Injury Lawsuit

Contact The Cintron Firm

At The Cintron Firm, LLC, we bring over 22 years of legal experience to victims of hit-and-run accidents in New Jersey. Attorney Mark Cintron has served as a prosecutor and has extensive trial experience, giving you the advantage of a skilled advocate who understands both sides of the courtroom.

Whether you’re pursuing an uninsured/underinsured motorist claim or seeking compensation for your injuries directly from the at-fault party, we’re here to help you navigate every step of the legal process with clarity and confidence.

Contact our office online or call us at 201-791-1333 or 917-494-5695 to schedule a free consultation.

What To Do If You’re Accused of Domestic Violence in NJ

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What To Do If You’re Accused of Domestic Violence in NJ imgBeing accused of domestic violence can be overwhelming, frightening, and life-altering. In New Jersey, these accusations are treated very seriously and can result in both criminal charges and restraining orders. Whether the claim is true, exaggerated, or entirely false, how you respond in the immediate aftermath can significantly impact the outcome of your case.

At The Cintron Firm, we assist individuals throughout New Jersey in navigating domestic violence allegations with experienced legal guidance.

Steps To Take After Being Accused of Domestic Violence

1. Remain Calm and Avoid Retaliation

Emotions often run high in domestic disputes. However, it is crucial to stay calm and avoid reacting with anger or aggression. Do not confront the accuser, attempt to explain your side directly, or retaliate in any way. Anything you say or do can be used against you in court or during police investigations.

2. Do Not Violate Any Restraining Orders

In many domestic violence cases, a temporary restraining order (TRO) is issued quickly. Violating this order—even unintentionally—can lead to criminal contempt charges and potential jail time. Read the order carefully, follow all instructions, and avoid all contact with the alleged victim.

If you are served with a TRO, you will have the opportunity to attend a final restraining order (FRO) hearing where both parties will present their case. Having legal representation at this stage is essential.

3. Speak to a New Jersey Domestic Violence Attorney Immediately

Hiring a qualified criminal defense attorney in New Jersey is the most important step you can take. Domestic violence accusations involve complex legal issues, and without a strategic defense, you could face:

  • Criminal charges for assault, harassment, stalking, or terroristic threats
  • Permanent restraining orders
  • Loss of custody or visitation rights
  • Employment consequences
  • A permanent criminal record

4. Gather Evidence and Witnesses

Evidence can help disprove false allegations, provide context, or support your version of events in court. Start documenting everything related to the alleged incident. This may include the following:

  • Text messages, emails, or social media interactions
  • Photos or videos from the incident
  • Call logs or voicemails
  • Eyewitnesses who can provide testimony

5. Avoid Talking About the Case Publicly

Do not post anything about your case on social media or discuss it with friends, coworkers, or anyone other than your attorney. Anything shared online or in conversations could be misinterpreted and used as evidence against you.

6. Understand the Long-Term Impact

A domestic violence conviction or final restraining order in New Jersey can have serious consequences, including:

  • Ineligibility for certain jobs or professional licenses
  • Loss of firearm rights
  • Immigration consequences for non-citizens
  • Damage to your personal and professional reputation

Take Action Immediately – Contact the Cintron Firm

At The Cintron Firm, LLC, we offer more than 14 years of experience representing individuals throughout New Jersey facing serious legal matters—including domestic violence charges. Attorney Mark Cintron has served as a prosecutor and possesses extensive courtroom experience, giving clients a powerful advocate both in and out of court.

If you’ve been accused of domestic violence, don’t wait to protect your rights. Contact our office online or call us at 201-791-1333 or 917-494-5695 to schedule a confidential consultation.

Application of the Going-and-Coming Rule in a New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Claim

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What Is the Going-and-Coming Rule? Are There Any Exceptions?

Application of the Going-and-Coming Rule in a New Jersey Workers’ Compensation ClaimIn New Jersey, there are only two requirements that must be met to qualify for workers’ compensation: you must have been hurt, and the injury must have occurred during the course of your employment. Injuries suffered while traveling for work may qualify for workers’ compensation. The longstanding rule, however, is that injuries sustained during your commute—while you are going to or coming from work—are not sustained in the course of your employment and therefore can’t provide the basis for a workers’ comp claim.

Are There Exceptions to the Going-and-Coming Rule?

Yes, there are a number of recognized types of travel that still allow for workers’ compensation benefits in the event of an injury:

  • You deviated from your normal route to perform a task for your employer—This “special mission” exception allows you to file for workers’ comp benefits if you’re injured on your commute while doing something along the way at the request of your employer. For example, your boss may ask you to pick up donuts on your way in or drop off a package at the post office on your way home. As a general rule, the request must come from a supervisor and must be for a work-related (as opposed to personal) task.
  • You were using a company vehicle at the time of your injury—If you are authorized to use a company vehicle to commute to and from work, you may qualify for workers’ compensation benefits for injuries suffered in an accident while commuting. However, if you are using the company vehicle for personal reasons (not going to or coming from work), you won’t qualify.
  • You have no fixed place of work—If you don’t have a regular jobsite, but you spend your time at work going from one location to another, the drives at the beginning and end of your work day are considered to be during the course of your employment.
  • You are asked to be available to work outside normal business hours—If you are “on call,” or if your employer asks you to do something work-related outside of normal business hours, any related travel is considered to be within the course of your employment.

Contact the Cintron Firm

At the Cintron Firm, LLC, we offer more than 14 years of experience to people in New Jersey facing a broad array of legal challenges. Attorney Mark Cintron has worked as a prosecutor and has extensive courtroom experience, so he’s always ready, willing, and able to protect your interests before a judge or jury. Contact our office online or call us at 201-791-1333 or 917-494-5695 to set up an appointment.

Damages Available in a New Jersey Personal Injury Lawsuit

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Understanding Economic and Non-Economic Losses

Damages Available in a New Jersey Personal Injury LawsuitWhen you’ve been hurt because of the negligence of another person, it can change your life dramatically. You may be unable to work, now or for the foreseeable future. You may require extensive medical treatment, which may not all be covered by insurance. Your injuries may cause persistent pain and suffering, making it difficult or impossible to do many of the things you used to love to do. You may find it difficult to maintain close personal relationships with beloved family members. What types of damages can you expect to recover for these various losses in a personal injury lawsuit in New Jersey?

Types of Damages in a Personal Injury Claim

As the law of personal injury has developed, the compensation available has come to be identified as either economic or non-economic:

  • Economic damages are those for which an accurate value is generally easy to determine. Common types of economic damages include lost wages or income and unreimbursed or unpaid medical expenses. Property damage caused in an accident is also considered an economic loss. To establish the correct amount of damages, your attorney will introduce pay stubs or earnings documents, medical bills, and bills for the repair or replacement of property.
  • Non-economic damages are those for which there is no tangible method of calculation. Examples include pain and suffering, loss of companionship or consortium, and loss of enjoyment of life. Because of the difficulty involved in computing these types of damages, courts use a couple of different approaches:
    • Some courts apply a multiplier to the amount of economic damages. For example, the court may calculate economic damages at $1 million and instruct the jury to apply a multiplier of 1.5, adding $1.5 million in non-economic damages.
    • Other courts may simply instruct the jury to award a “reasonable” amount for non-economic damages.

Contact the Cintron Firm

At the Cintron Firm, LLC, we offer more than 14 years of experience to people in New Jersey facing a broad array of legal challenges. Attorney Mark Cintron has worked as a prosecutor and has extensive courtroom experience, so he’s always ready, willing, and able to protect your interests before a judge or jury. Contact our office online, or call us at 201-791-1333 or 917-494-5695 to set up an appointment.

Your Right to Medical Care After a Workplace Injury in New Jersey

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Requirement To See an Authorized Physician | When You May Choose Your Own Caregiver

Your Right to Medical Care After a Workplace Injury in New JerseyUnder New Jersey law, if you suffer an injury during the course of your employment, you have the right to seek benefits under the state’s workers’ compensation laws. When you file a workers’ compensation claim in New Jersey, your employer or the workers’ compensation insurance carrier gets to choose your initial treating doctor. Here’s what you need to know:

  • If you require immediate emergency medical attention, you can seek that from any provider. Your employer cannot limit the emergency care you receive, but you must notify your employer of the treatment as soon as possible.
  • Your employer has the right to designate who will conduct any non-emergency medical examination or evaluation after an injury
  • As a general rule, you must continue to seek care from the company-selected physician, should you need ongoing care.
  • If you want a second opinion, you must request and obtain approval from the workers’ compensation insurance carrier.
  • After 30 days or 10 visits, you have the right to request a change in your treating physician, but must obtain the approval of the workers’ compensation judge or the New Jersey Department of Workers’ Compensation

If your injury involves a pre-existing condition, for which you were already receiving treatment, and the authorized treating physician selected by your employer or the insurance company cannot provide the type of care you were receiving, you may be permitted to stay with your treating physician for any care related to the pre-existing condition. In addition, you can always request a hearing to dispute the authorized treating physician’s treatment plan or diagnosis. 

Contact the Cintron Firm

At the Cintron Firm, LLC, we offer more than 14 years of experience to people in New Jersey facing a broad array of legal challenges. Attorney Mark Cintron has worked as a prosecutor and has extensive courtroom experience, so he’s always ready, willing, and able to protect your interests before a judge or jury. Contact our office online, or call us at 201-791-1333 or 917-494-5695 to set up an appointment.

Top Ways To Jeopardize a Workers’ Compensation Claim

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Mistakes You Can Make That Put Your Benefits at Risk

Top Ways To Jeopardize a Workers' Compensation ClaimWhen you’ve been hurt at work in New Jersey, you have the right to file for benefits under the state’s workers’ compensation system. Even though the process seems relatively straightforward, many legitimate claims are initially denied. It’s critical that you have experienced counsel to protect your rights.

There also are ways you can risk losing workers’ comp benefits after your claim has been approved. Here are some things to avoid doing that might jeopardize your right to benefits:

  • Trying to do things you shouldn’t—Just because your application for workers’ compensation has been approved does not mean the workers’ comp insurance company and your employer are done investigating your claim. It’s not uncommon for the insurer to send out a private detective to surveil you. If you are seen (and possibly photographed) engaging in activities that suggest your injuries are not legitimate, you may lose your right to benefits.
  • Failing to go to medical appointments or follow doctor’s orders—If you don’t go to scheduled visits or do what your doctor prescribes, the insurance company may conclude that your health has been fully restored.
  • Getting in trouble with the law—If you’re incarcerated for any reason, you may lose workers’ compensation benefits, as you would be ineligible to work.
  • Working somewhere else—You can have income from another source when you’re collecting workers’ compensation, but you must report it, and it may be used to offset your workers’ compensation benefits. Failure to report outside income can lead to the termination of benefits.

Contact the Cintron Firm

At the Cintron Firm, LLC, we offer more than 14 years of experience to people in New Jersey facing a broad array of legal challenges. Attorney Mark Cintron has worked as a prosecutor and has extensive courtroom experience, so he’s always ready, willing, and able to protect your interests before a judge or jury.Contact our office online or call us at 201-791-1333 or 917-494-5695 to set up an appointment.

Workers’ Compensation Fraud in New Jersey

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What Is It? How Can You Avoid the Risk of Allegations of Fraud?

Workers’ Compensation Fraud in New JerseyLike all other states, New Jersey has workers’ compensation laws that provide benefits to individuals who are injured during the course of employment. There are only two requirements to qualify in New Jersey: you must be injured and your injury must be work-related. If there’s evidence that your injuries were suffered outside of the job, you face not only the denial of benefits, but you could be charged with workers’ compensation fraud. What is workers’ compensation fraud? What steps can you take to minimize the risk that you’ll be accused of fraud?

What Is Workers’ Compensation Fraud?

Both employees and employers can be guilty of workers’ comp fraud in New Jersey. A worker who makes a false statement or a misrepresentation of material fact in an attempt to collect workers’ compensation benefits may be committing fraud. In addition, an employer who either misclassifies employees or misrepresents payroll can be charged with fraud. In this blog, we’ll look only at the potential responsibility of employees.

In New Jersey, workers’ comp fraud is specifically addressed by statute. The New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Law makes it a fourth-degree criminal offense for a worker to make a “false or misleading statement, representation or submission concerning any fact that is material” to a workers’ compensation claim. Specifically, an employee may engage in fraud by:

  • Making false statements about prior injuries or treatment
  • Intentionally or knowingly making false statements about their medical condition in an attempt to get workers’ compensation benefits
  • Filing a workers’ compensation claim for an injury that is unrelated to their job
  • Making a false statement about their employment status while collecting workers’ compensation benefits (i.e., working for pay elsewhere while collecting workers’ comp payments)

How Can You Avoid Potential Allegations of Workers’ Comp Fraud?

In the aftermath of a work-related injury, you want to seek immediate medical attention, and you want doctors and nurses to fully document your injuries. In addition, you want to obtain statements from as many witnesses as possible, so you have ample evidence that your injury was work-related. Always answer any questions truthfully, even if you think doing so may jeopardize your claim. It’s better to have a claim rejected than to face charges of workers’ comp fraud.

Contact the Cintron Firm

At the Cintron Firm, LLC, we offer more than 14 years of experience to people in New Jersey facing a broad array of legal challenges. Attorney Mark Cintron has worked as a prosecutor and has extensive courtroom experience, so he’s always ready, willing, and able to protect your interests before a judge or jury. Contact our office online or call us at 201-791-1333 or 917-494-5695 to set up an appointment.

Workers’ Compensation for a Work-Related Illness

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Can You Qualify for Benefits If You Get Sick Because of Your Job?

Workers’ Compensation for a Work-Related IllnessWhen you’ve been injured in an accident on the job, seeking workers’ compensation benefits may seem pretty straightforward. In New Jersey, as in all states, to qualify for benefits, you must only show that you were hurt and that your injury occurred in the course of your employment. But what happens if you become ill, and you believe that your disease or illness was caused or aggravated by conditions on the job? Can you still seek workers’ comp benefits? What must you show?

Will Workers’ Compensation Cover Lost Wages and Medical Expenses Resulting from an Occupational Illness in New Jersey?

Yes. The New Jersey workers’ compensation laws allow workers to recover benefits when they become ill because of exposure to conditions or substances in the workplace. To recover benefits for an occupational disease or illness, you must demonstrate that:

  • The conditions at your place of employment have been documented to cause the type of illness you suffer; for example, there is evidence that employees have contracted mesothelioma as the result of exposure to certain toxic substances on the job;
  • As a part of your required duties, you were exposed to the conditions and/or substances that have been shown to cause the illness you suffer;
  • You did not have a pre-existing condition; and
  • You were not exposed to conditions or substances outside of work that may have caused your illness.

Typical Workplace Illness Claims That Qualify for Workers’ Compensation

Workers in New Jersey have successfully recovered workers’ comp benefits for a wide range of illnesses arising out of the workplace, including:

  • Cancer
  • Lung and respiratory disease, including mesothelioma and asthma
  • Hearing or vision loss
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome or other repetitive stress disorders
  • Infectious diseases, including viruses

Contact the Cintron Firm

At the Cintron Firm, LLC, we offer more than 14 years of experience to people in New Jersey facing a broad array of legal challenges. Attorney Mark Cintron has worked as a prosecutor and has extensive courtroom experience, so he’s always ready, willing and able to protect your interests before a judge or jury. Contact our office online or call us at 201-791-1333 or 917-494-5695 to set up an appointment.

Injuries Caused by Third Parties in the Workplace

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Your Options When You’re Hurt by a Third Party on the Job

Injuries Caused by Third Parties in the WorkplaceIn New Jersey, as in all states, when you’re injured while working, your first course of action will typically be to notify your employer and file a workers’ compensation claim. The requirements to qualify for workers’ comp are pretty straightforward: you must have suffered an injury and it must have happened during the course of your employment.

But it’s important to understand that workers’ compensation is intended to address injuries caused by your employer or a co-worker. If you suffer injuries because of the carelessness or negligence of an unrelated third party, you may be able to file for workers’ compensation benefits, but you may also have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit in court. If your injuries are caused entirely by your employer or a co-worker, workers’ compensation is the only recourse available to you.

Why Might You Want to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit?

Workers’ compensation laws were enacted in an effort to simplify the process for both workers and employers. As a worker, if your claim is approved, you can start receiving payments within a couple of weeks. Furthermore, as stated above, you don’t have to prove that your employer acted negligently or carelessly. Your injury must simply be work-related.

In a personal injury lawsuit, you will have to establish that the defendant (your employer or another party) was legally negligent. In addition, when you file a personal injury lawsuit, you can expect that, unless you settle before trial, it will be months and possibly years before your case is resolved (and before you receive any type of damage award).

The primary reason for filing a personal injury lawsuit is that you won’t be limited to the benefits available through a workers’ comp claim. The amount you receive through workers’ compensation is based on a specific formula, taking your recent wages into account. As a general rule, if you are fully disabled by your injury, you have the right to recover up to 70% of your average weekly wage. In a personal injury lawsuit, though, the jury won’t be limited to that amount and could return a significantly higher damage award. Of course, the jury may also reject your claim.

Contact the Cintron Firm

At the Cintron Firm, LLC, we offer more than 14 years of experience to people in New Jersey facing a broad array of legal challenges. Attorney Mark Cintron has worked as a prosecutor and has extensive courtroom experience, so he’s always ready, willing, and able to protect your interests before a judge or jury. Contact our office online or call us at 201-791-1333 or 917-494-5695 to set up an appointment.

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Our main office is located in Bergen County.
the address is:

25 East Salem Street, Suite 400, Hackensack, NJ 07601

Our additional locations are available
for all clients by appointment:

  • Middlesex County Office317 George Street
    Third Floor
    New Brunswick, NJ 08901
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    Montclair, NJ 07402

With offices in New Brunswick, Hackensack and Montclair, The Cintron Firm offers advice and legal counsel to clients throughout Northern New Jersey, including communities in Bergen County, Essex County, Morris County, Hudson County, Passaic County, Middlesex County, Hackensack, Bogota, Lodi, Wyckoff, Fair Lawn, Newark, Livingston, Passaic, Paterson, Jersey City, Union City, North Bergen, Morristown, Randolph, Franklin, South Orange, East Orange, Orange, Nutley, Morris Plains, Cedar Knolls, Denville, Belleville and Bloomfield.

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