Frequently Asked Questions

Need Help?

The legal profession handles a spectrum of cases and situations. We understand that no law firm can be an expert in every practice area. As a focused law practice, at Cillick & Smith, we specialize in areas where we have the highest expertise.

Call us today to see if we’re the best fit for your case.

We are licensed in New Jersey

Cillick & Smith Law Offices, Hackensack, NJ

Only a properly licensed lawyer may provide legal advice to clients for good consideration, even if no lawsuit is contemplated or is in progress.

Hire a lawyer immediately when you have been charged by the police, do not say anything to the policy, it might be harmful for you if you say anything and can be used against you. You could turn out being your own worst witness. If you hire a lawyer early, it could help you and also can affect the case.

Need a Lawyer? Let Us Help You

Yes, in fact this is highly recommended. It’s important to understand the specialties of the attorney you are meeting with along with how they bill for their services and the process, from beginning to end, of the attorney-client relationship.

If you have been injured in an accident, the most important priority is getting medical attention. Assuming that you are not taken to the emergency room immediately, you should take photos or videos of the accident scene and get the contact information of any witnesses. You should not admit fault or apologize to anyone else who was involved, even if it seems like a polite thing to do. Anything that you say in the aftermath of an accident can be used against you if you pursue a claim or lawsuit later. If you suspect that someone else may have been at fault, you should set up a consultation with an attorney to discuss your options. The first consultation is always free.

In an accident that happened at work, you should immediately report the happening of the accident to your employer.  You have many benefits under workers comp and you should contact an attorney to make sure you are receiving all the benefits you are entitled to.

You do not need to make this decision on your own. Contact an attorney and set up a free consultation to go over your situation in detail. The attorney will be able to tell you whom you can sue and what you can expect to recover, based on the facts of the accident and the laws in New Jersey. Essentially, in most situations, you will have a case if someone acted carelessly or negligently under the circumstances and caused your injuries. Applying this standard is more complicated than it sounds, however, which is why it is important to consult an attorney.

You may still have a case even if you do not feel pain at the scene. The biological response to a traumatic situation like an accident sends a rush of adrenaline through the body, which can temporarily reduce sensations of pain. You may start feeling significant pain or developing other symptoms later. It is wise to consult a doctor even if you do not feel immediate, excruciating pain, since some of the most serious conditions emerge over time.

You should not speak with an insurance adjuster for someone else involved in the litigation. They may seem friendly and sympathetic, but they are almost certainly trying to coax statements from you that would reduce or eliminate the liability of their insured. Tell the insurance adjuster to contact your attorney, if you have retained an attorney, or contact your insurance company, if you do not have an attorney. The same points apply if an attorney for someone else contacts you.

Attorney-Client privilege is the legal privilege that keeps the communication between the attorney and the client secretive. This privilege is legally set to protect both the client’s information as well as preventing a lawyer to testify under oath.

This will depend on the specific nature of your injuries and cannot be ascertained until your case has been thoroughly investigated. You can ask personal injury attorneys in your area for a rough estimate, based on similar cases that they have handled. However, you should be aware that attorneys are prohibited from promising that they will recover a certain amount or otherwise predicting the outcome of a case. Any estimate that you receive likely will be vague and qualified. An additional question is how much you can actually collect, which may depend on factors such as the insurance of any at-fault parties, their assets, and your own insurance.

Looking for Bergen County's First-Class Legal Team?