I get a specific kind of phone call from Fort Lee. It usually starts with “I was almost onto the bridge when…” — because that’s just how traffic works here. The I-95/Route 4 interchange feeding the George Washington Bridge is one of the most congested intersections in the country, and after 30+ years handling accident cases in this corridor, I can tell you the crashes that happen here come with a few wrinkles most people never see coming.
If you’ve been in a crash on the GWB approach — on I-95, Route 4, Palisade Avenue, or the bridge itself — here’s what I tell every client, and why this particular stretch of road is a little different from an ordinary Bergen County accident.
First Thing I Ask: Exactly Where Did This Happen?
This matters more here than almost anywhere else I handle cases. The GWB corridor crosses several different jurisdictions in a very short distance, and where your crash happened determines who responds, who investigates, and what kind of claim you’re actually dealing with.
If it happened on I-95 or Route 4 approaching the bridge, that’s New Jersey State Police or Fort Lee police territory, and it’s a standard New Jersey claim. Same goes for Palisade Avenue, Lemoine Avenue, or any other local street. But if it happened on the bridge structure itself or in a toll plaza, you’re on Port Authority of New York and New Jersey property — a bi-state agency with its own rules. I’ll get to why that matters in a second, because it’s the part that catches people off guard.
Get Checked Out, Then Get the Right Police Report
Medical attention comes first, always — I’ve seen too many clients feel “fine” at the scene and then wake up the next morning barely able to turn their neck. Once you’re safe, make sure a report gets filed, and pay attention to which agency responded. A Port Authority Police report is a different animal from a standard NJSP or Fort Lee PD report, and knowing which one you have matters for what comes next.
The Port Authority Deadline That Surprises Almost Everyone
Here’s the thing I really want you to walk away from this article knowing: if your crash happened on the bridge itself or in a toll plaza, you may be filing a claim against the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey — and that comes with a formal notice-of-claim deadline of just 90 days. Not two years. Ninety days. I’ve had people come to me at the three-month mark thinking they had plenty of time, and by then that window had already closed on the Port Authority piece of their claim.
If there’s any chance your accident happened on the bridge structure or in a toll plaza, don’t wait to find out whether this applies to you. Ninety days moves fast.
Document More Than You Think You Need To
This corridor is one of the most heavily monitored stretches of road in the region — E-ZPass records, toll plaza cameras, and traffic cameras along I-95 and Route 4 often catch these crashes on video. That footage is valuable, but it doesn’t sit around forever. Beyond the usual photos of vehicles, the road, and any visible injuries, note which E-ZPass lane you were in if you’d already crossed one, and get the names of any commercial drivers involved — this corridor carries a lot of truck traffic heading to and from the bridge.
Don’t Talk to the Insurance Company Before You Talk to Me
Adjusters move fast on GWB-area crashes, especially when a commercial vehicle or more than one insurer might be involved. You don’t have to give a recorded statement on the spot, and anything you say in that call can get used to shrink your claim later. Talk to an attorney before that call happens, not after.
Where Your Case Fits Into Bergen County
For a standard Fort Lee crash on New Jersey roads, you’re generally looking at the same two-year window that applies across the state — I’ve written more about how that deadline works and where it can shrink here. If your case moves toward litigation, it’ll typically land in Bergen County Superior Court, the same court handling cases from Hackensack, East Rutherford, and Paramus. I put together a full guide on how Bergen County courts handle car accident cases if you want to see what that process actually looks like.
If you’re dealing with a crash elsewhere in the county, I’ve also written about the Route 4/Turnpike corridor near Hackensack — different road, same county, same court system.
How I Can Help
I’ve represented Fort Lee accident victims since 1993, including cases involving the Port Authority, cross-agency jurisdiction questions, and the GWB approach specifically. This isn’t unfamiliar territory for me — it’s a corridor I know well.
- I charge 25% — not the 33⅓% most New Jersey firms charge.
- You don’t pay anything unless we win.
- Free consultations, available 24/7, including home and hospital visits.
If you were hurt in a crash near the George Washington Bridge — on I-95, Route 4, Palisade Avenue, or the bridge itself — reach out for a free consultation. Or find the office closest to you across our New Jersey locations, including our office right in Fort Lee.
