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Guide · Hiring a lawyer · New Jersey

Helping a family member after an accident in New Jersey

Updated By Spencer, editorEvery fact cites a source

You can find and compare lawyers, set up a consultation and keep the papers together. But the injured person is the client. A New Jersey lawyer generally can't share their case with you without their consent, and only they decide whether to settle. If you pay the lawyer, the client must agree. Checked October 11, 2026.

Sources: RPC 1.4(b); RPC 1.2(a); RPC 1.6(a); RPC 1.8(f)
Checker

Who are you helping?

Pick the closest one. It shows how New Jersey's rules treat it. It can't tell you what to do in their case.

An adult: a parent, a spouse, a siblingThey're the client
What it is
You can help, but they decide.
Why it matters
The lawyer works for the injured person, not for the relative who called.
The rule
A lawyer generally can't reveal a client's case without the client's consent. The client decides whether to settle.
What you can do now

Ask them to tell the lawyer whether you can be kept in the loop.

Source: RPC 1.4(b); RPC 1.2(a); RPC 1.6(a); RPC 1.8(f)
My childA judge reviews any settlement
What it is
A child's injury claim.
Why it matters
A settlement for a child needs a court's approval.
The rule
The judge decides whether it's fair and reasonable. Settled before a jury is seated, the lawyer's fee is capped at 25%.
What you can do now

Keep every bill, report and school note in one folder.

Source: R. 4:44-3; R. 1:21-7(c)(6)
A relative who lives with meYour household's PIP may cover them
What it is
Medical bills, paid first by an auto policy.
Why it matters
A New Jersey auto policy's PIP covers relatives living in the household.
The rule
PIP covers the policyholder and household relatives hurt in a car or on foot, whoever caused it.
What you can do now

Find the auto policy and check its PIP limit.

Source: N.J.S.A. 39:6A-4; N.J.S.A. 39:6A-4.3; N.J.S.A. 39:6A-5(g); N.J.S.A. 39:6-86.7
They can't talk to their doctors right nowDoctors may talk to you
What it is
Sharing health information with family.
Why it matters
Federal privacy rules let providers share with family involved in a patient's care.
The rule
When a patient is injured and can't give permission, a provider may share if it seems in the patient's best interest.
What you can do now

Tell the care team you're the family member helping.

Source: HHS, Sharing Health Information with Family Members and Friends

What you can do

Most of the work before hiring a lawyer is research and paperwork. A family member can do a lot of it.

  1. Gather the papersThe crash or incident report number, insurance cards, medical bills, and pay stubs if they're missing work.
  2. Keep a list of the help at homeA standard New Jersey policy's PIP pays up to $12 a day for things the injured person would normally do.Source: N.J.S.A. 39:6A-4(b), (c), (e); N.J.S.A. 39:6A-4.3(b); N.J.S.A. 39:6A-10; New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance, Auto Insurance New Jersey Buyer's Guide
  3. Compare firms before anyone callsOur rankings are built on public records, and no firm pays to rank.
  4. Help them get ready for the consultationWhat to bring, what to ask and what the fee agreement must say are in the consultation guide.

Who the lawyer works for

The injured person is the client, even when a family member found the lawyer and made the call.

The injured personThe client

Kept reasonably informed, and decides whether to settle.

YouA helper, with their consent

The lawyer generally can't share their case with you unless they consent.

If you pay the lawyer, the client must give informed consent, the lawyer's judgment must stay independent, and the client's information stays protected.

Source: RPC 1.4(b); RPC 1.2(a); RPC 1.6(a); RPC 1.8(f)

NJIf the injured person is your child

NJA judge reviews any settlement

At a hearing, the judge decides whether it's fair and reasonable.

Source: R. 4:44-3; R. 1:21-7(c)(6)
NJA lower fee cap

Settled before a jury is seated, the lawyer's fee can't exceed 25%.

Source: R. 4:44-3; R. 1:21-7(c)(6)
NJThe deadline starts later

For a child under 18, the time to sue generally starts at 18.

Source: N.J.S.A. 2A:14-21
NJExcept a birth injury

A malpractice claim for injuries at birth must be filed before age 13.

Source: N.J.S.A. 2A:14-21

Talking to their doctors

Under the federal privacy rule, a provider doesn't have to share health information with family, unless you're the patient's personal representative. It may, when you're involved in the patient's care and they don't object. When they're injured and can't give permission, a provider may share if it seems in their best interest.

Source: HHS, Sharing Health Information with Family Members and Friends

The deadlines

  1. Sue the person at fault, in generalN.J.S.A. 2A:14-2(a)2 years
  2. A child under 18N.J.S.A. 2A:14-21Starts at 18, generally
  3. A claim against a public entityN.J.S.A. 59:8-8Notice within 90 days
  4. A wrongful death lawsuitN.J.S.A. 2A:31-32 years after the death
Source: N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2(a); N.J.S.A. 2A:14-21; N.J.S.A. 59:8-8; N.J.S.A. 59:8-9; N.J.S.A. 2A:31-3

Sources

General information, not legal advice. We don't know the facts of your claim. A lawyer can review them, and most injury lawyers offer a free consultation.

What to do next

Questions people ask

Can I hire a lawyer for my mom or dad after an accident?

You can find and compare lawyers and set up the consultation. But your parent is the client. The lawyer works for them, and they decide whether to settle.

Will the lawyer talk to me about my family member's case?

Generally only with their consent. A New Jersey lawyer can't reveal information about a client's case without it, apart from narrow exceptions.

Can I pay for a family member's lawyer?

Only if the client gives informed consent, the lawyer's judgment stays independent, and the client's information stays protected.

Does a child's injury settlement need court approval in New Jersey?

Yes. At a hearing, the judge decides whether it's fair and reasonable. If it settles before a jury is seated, the lawyer's fee is capped at 25%.

Can doctors tell me about my family member's condition?

They may if you're involved in the patient's care and the patient doesn't object. If the patient is injured and can't give permission, a provider may share if it seems in their best interest.

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