David Wendel is Of Counsel to our firm and has 35 years of personal injury and other litigation experience, practicing in the firm’s personal injury litigation group for the past nine years.
David brings extensive experience to our civil litigation, trial and appellate matters through independent evaluation, assessment and identification of issues. Prior to joining our Firm, David operated his own firm, and served as co-counsel and Associate counsel with other prominent law firms. He has handled various types of personal injury matters including motor vehicle accidents, construction accidents, slip/trip and fall accidents, dog bite attacks, and medical malpractice.
He has successfully managed all cases from initial client intake through pre-suit investigation, initial pleadings, written discovery, motion practice, depositions, arbitrations, settlement negotiations, trials and appeals. He prides himself in excellent communication skills and the ability to explain to a client all important aspects of their case.
Among the personal injury cases he has primarily handled include the following recoveries: **Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances**
- $4,000,000 recovery for construction site accident with traumatic brain injury; defeated defendants Appellate Division motion to dismiss the case.
- $1,950,000 recovery for 37-year-old client rear-ended by a commercial dump truck.
- $1,100,000 recovery for a police officer in a motorcycle accident, resulting in traumatic brain injury.
- $1,000,000 settlement for a fall down defective stairs, which was the maximum amount of defendants’ insurance coverage.
- $805,000 settlement, for car accident involving a tractor trailer resulting in traumatic brain injury.
- $737,500 settlement car accident involving being rear-ended by truck, requiring significant surgery and rehabilitation.
- $649,000 settlement for an intoxicated pedestrian who was jaywalking when hit by an intoxicated driver suffering traumatic brain injuries, knee replacement and abdominal/intestinal injuries where there was modest insurance coverage for the intoxicated driver.
- $500,000 for motor vehicle accidents six months apart, resulting in severe injuries to neck requiring surgery and rehabilitation, involving two separate insurance coverage limits.
- $450,000 recovery for truck driver who sustained a partial medial meniscectomy and partial tear to the anterior cruciate ligament of his left knee.
- $450,000 for fall on disrepaired public sidewalk, resulting in acute complex fractures requiring surgery and rehabilitation.
- $442,000 against the NY Port Authority Bus Terminal and its maintenance company for slip and fall necessitating surgery and physical therapy after overcoming NY and NJ weather immunity laws.
- $425,000 recovery for motorcyclist hit by an automobile driver with modest coverage.
- $415,000 recovery for off-duty ride-share driver by hit by tractor-trailer, resulting in lower back injuries. Successfully litigated against initial denial of PIP-medical benefits on the grounds that he was on duty as a ride-share operator at the time of the accident when he was in fact off-duty.
- $375,000 recovery against a major department store and its contractors for slip and fall.
- $300,000 for motor vehicle accident, resulting in surgery where insurance limits were modest.
- $125,000 verdict for woman that sustained multiple bulging discs in her neck and back as a result of a negligent driver.
In addition to his experience in personal injury law, David has handled numerous other types of litigation in the areas of insurance, employment, commercial, business, collection, estate, real estate, and consumer disputes. Some of his successes in these areas are (**Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances**):
- Created new law in New Jersey holding that those convicted of DWI are still entitled to no fault benefits. Walcott v. Allstate New Jersey Insurance Company, 376 N.J. Super. 384 (App. Div. 2005).
- $1,100,000 judgment obtained when overturning fraudulent conveyance by partnership debtor and prevailing on successor liability claim.
- $1,000,000 settlement for negligent bailment claim against a dye house for greige goods on behalf of three textile manufacturers.
- $1,200,000 commercial debt judgment and defeated a $1,600,000.00 counterclaim.
- Overturned fraudulent deed conveyance between second husband and wife for the benefit of estate beneficiaries.
- $225,000 settlement after prosecuting fraudulent conveyance of a New Jersey residence that was stripped of its equity to purchase real estate in Florida (and thus be subject to its homestead exemption laws).
- Products liability claim against a steel fabricator that was dismissed pursuant to the doctrine of laches.
- Claims related to overturning wills and gifts on grounds of forgery, undue influence, and lack of mental capacity.
HONORS & AWARDS
- Named to Best Lawyers in America, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs 2024
Disclaimer: The selection process is conducted by an independent firm that determines which lawyers in New Jersey have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. For further information, as to selection and rating criteria see: The Best Lawyers in America®:
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PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS
- New Jersey Association for Justice
- Business Network International – Clark Synapse Chapter