Being the victim of a hit-and-run accident is a frightening and frustrating experience. When a driver hits you on a busy Fort Lee road like Main Street or near the approach to the George Washington Bridge and then speeds away, they leave you to deal with the fallout alone. You are likely facing painful injuries, damage to your car, and serious uncertainty about how you will cover your medical bills and lost income.
You do not have to deal with this complex situation by yourself. The experienced legal team at Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi is here to stand up for you. We understand that justice drives you, and it drives us, too. A dedicated Fort Lee hit-and-run accident lawyer from our firm will immediately investigate your case, explain your legal options, and fight to secure the maximum financial compensation you need to recover. We are ready to put our skills and resources to work for you. Contact us for a free, no-obligation case review to get started.
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Why Choose Us for Your Fort Lee Hit-and-Run Accident Claim
Choosing a law firm after a traumatic event is a significant decision. You need a team that not only possesses exceptional legal skills but also offers genuine compassion and unwavering support. At Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi, we are deeply rooted in the Fort Lee community and are committed to providing a level of personal service that larger, impersonal firms simply can’t match. We don’t just see a case file; we see you, our neighbor, and we are in this together.
When you partner with us, you are not just hiring a single lawyer. You are gaining a dedicated team of over 30 legal professionals—attorneys, paralegals, and support staff—all working toward one common goal: securing justice and the best possible outcome for you. We treat each client like family, learning every detail of your life and how this accident has impacted you, so we can tell your unique story with the power and conviction it deserves.
Here’s why so many families in Fort Lee and across New Jersey trust us:
- A Legacy of Success: With over 100 years of combined experience, our attorneys have secured hundreds of millions of dollars in multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements for our clients. Our results speak for themselves.
- Respected by Our Peers: We have been voted among the Best Lawyers in America, and our founding partners have consistently received the highest possible ratings for professional skill and ethics from Martindale-Hubbell, the nation’s leading lawyer rating service.
- No Fee Unless We Win: We operate on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay us nothing upfront. We invest our own resources into building your case, and we only get paid if we successfully recover compensation for you.
- Comprehensive Legal Knowledge: We are a rare personal injury firm that also handles workers’ compensation claims. This dual focus is invaluable, especially if your hit-and-run occurred while you were working, allowing us to explore every possible avenue for recovery to maximize your result.
We are here to equal the playing field against powerful insurance companies. Let our family stand up for yours.
Who Pays for Your Damages After a Hit-and-Run?
This is often the most stressful and urgent question you face after a driver flees the scene. With the responsible person gone, how will your medical bills get paid? How will you make up for lost wages? Fortunately, New Jersey law provides clear pathways for victims like you to recover financially. The specific path we take, however, depends entirely on one key factor: whether or not the at-fault driver is identified.
Our experienced team is prepared to handle either scenario, adapting our strategy to fight for the maximum compensation you are owed.
Scenario 1: If the Hit-and-Run Driver Is NOT Found
When the driver remains a “phantom,” your primary source of recovery will be your own auto insurance policy. Every policy in New Jersey is required to include Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage, which is designed to protect you in this exact situation.
- How it works: We will help you file a UM claim with your own insurance company. Your insurer is legally required to “step into the shoes” of the phantom driver and cover your damages, including medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering, up to the limits of your policy.
- For Pedestrians or Those Without Car Insurance: If you were hit as a pedestrian or do not have your own auto insurance, you still have options. You may be covered by the UM policy of a relative you live with. If not, we can help you file a claim with the New Jersey Property-Liability Insurance Guaranty Association (NJ PLIGA), a state fund created to protect victims in these circumstances.
Even though you are dealing with your own insurance company, they will often try to minimize your claim to protect their profits. Our role is to hold them accountable and fight to ensure they pay you what you are rightfully owed.
Scenario 2: If the Hit-and-Run Driver IS Identified
Hearing that police have found the driver can bring a wave of relief. This positive development shifts the legal focus of your case from your insurer to the at-fault driver’s.
- Filing a Third-Party Claim: Our first action will be to file a claim against the at-fault driver’s Bodily Injury Liability insurance policy. We will handle all negotiations with their adjuster, presenting a powerful, evidence-backed case that details the full extent of your damages.
- Leveraging the Criminal Case: The driver will also face criminal charges for leaving the scene. While this is a separate case handled by the state, a guilty plea or conviction provides powerful leverage for your civil claim, making it very difficult for their insurer to deny fault.
- When the Found Driver Has No Insurance or Not Enough: Finding the driver doesn’t guarantee they have the means to cover your losses. This is where our deep knowledge of New Jersey insurance law is critical.
- If the driver is uninsured, we will proceed with an Uninsured Motorist (UM) claim against your own policy, just as if they were never found.
- If the driver’s insurance is not enough to cover your serious injuries, we will first recover the maximum from their policy and then file an Underinsured Motorist (UIM) claim with your own insurer to cover the remaining damages.
Figuring out these overlapping claims and legal proceedings can be a nightmare. The team at Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi is prepared for every contingency. We know exactly where to look for compensation and how to adapt our strategy to ensure that, no matter the circumstances, we are fighting for the full and fair justice you deserve.
Compensation Available in a Fort Lee Hit-and-Run Accident Lawsuit
Our primary goal is to secure a financial recovery that makes you “whole” again after an accident. While no amount of money can erase the trauma you’ve experienced, fair compensation can provide financial stability, access to the best possible medical care, and a sense of justice. It allows you to focus on what matters most: your healing and your family.
In a hit-and-run claim, we will fight for you to recover two main types of damages:
Economic Damages: These are the tangible, calculable financial losses you have incurred due to the accident. We will meticulously document every expense, including:
- All past and future medical bills (hospital stays, surgeries, doctor visits, medication)
- Costs of rehabilitation and physical therapy
- Lost wages from time you were unable to work
- Loss of future earning capacity if your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous career
- Costs for assistive devices like wheelchairs or home modifications
- Property damage to your vehicle
Non-Economic Damages: These damages are meant to compensate you for the intangible, personal losses that have profoundly affected your quality of life. They are harder to quantify but are just as real and devastating. They include:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and mental anguish (anxiety, depression, PTSD)
- Permanent scarring or disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life (inability to partake in hobbies or activities you once loved)
- Loss of consortium (damage to your relationship with your spouse)
Our team will take the time to learn your story—who you were before the accident and how your life has changed—so we can effectively demonstrate the full extent of your suffering to an insurance company or a jury.
Fort Lee Hit-and-Run FAQs
After an accident, it’s normal to have countless questions. Here are answers to some common concerns we hear from hit-and-run victims in our community.
How much will it cost me to hire your firm for my hit-and-run case?
It costs you nothing upfront to hire us. At Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi, we handle all personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. This means we cover all the costs of investigating and litigating your case. We only get paid a percentage of the total recovery if we win your case. If we don’t secure a settlement or verdict for you, you owe us nothing. This allows everyone, regardless of their financial situation, to have access to top-tier legal representation.
My injuries seemed minor at first, but now I’m in more pain. Is it too late to do something?
No, it is not too late, but you should act quickly. Many serious injuries, such as whiplash, concussions, or internal injuries, have delayed symptoms. It is critical to seek a full medical evaluation as soon as possible to diagnose and document your injuries. Even if you initially told the police you were “fine,” you can still pursue a claim. Contacting an attorney right away allows us to preserve evidence and protect your right to compensation before crucial deadlines pass.
What if I think I might have been partially at fault for the accident?
This is a common worry, and it’s very important that you do not admit fault to anyone—especially an insurance adjuster—before speaking with us. New Jersey follows a “modified comparative negligence” rule. This means you can still recover damages as long as you are not found to be more than 50% responsible for the accident. Your final compensation would simply be reduced by your percentage of fault. It is also critical to remember that the other driver’s decision to illegally flee the scene is a separate and serious offense.
Our job is to protect you from being assigned an unfair share of the blame. We will carefully investigate the facts and build a case that presents the circumstances in the most accurate and favorable light for you.
Contact Our Experienced Fort Lee Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyers Today
You have been through a traumatic ordeal. You are dealing with physical pain, financial stress, and the frustration of being wronged by a faceless driver. You do not have to carry this burden alone. Let the compassionate and courageous team at Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi stand with you and fight for the justice you deserve. We are your neighbors, and we are here to help.
When you entrust your case to us, we will immediately get to work to:
- Conduct a complete investigation into your hit-and-run accident.
- Handle all communications with police and insurance companies on your behalf.
- Work with top experts to accurately calculate the full value of your claim.
- Aggressively negotiate for a maximum settlement or take your case to trial if necessary.
- Provide you with the support and guidance you need every step of the way.
There is no case too challenging and no case too small. Your story matters. Your recovery is our priority.
Contact Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi today at (201) 585-9111 or through our online form for your free, confidential, and no-obligation consultation. Let us help you take the first step toward justice.
Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi P.C. – Fort Lee Office
201 Columbia Ave,
Fort Lee, NJ 07024, United States
Ph: (201) 425-1274
