Personal Injury Attorney Samuel L. Davis Esq.

SAMUEL L. DAVIS  

Founding Partner
Attorney at Law   
Certified Civil Trial Attorney by the Supreme Court of New Jersey 

Founding Partner Samuel (Sam) L. Davis, Esq., is a New Jersey personal injury lawyer certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Civil Trial Attorney, a distinction held by fewer than 2% of New Jersey lawyers. He represents injured clients in all types of negligence matters throughout the State of New Jersey and other states, such as New York, as special pro hoc vici counsel.  

Many of Sam Davis’s personal injury cases resulted in multi-million-dollar settlements or jury verdicts. The New Jersey Law Journal, a weekly legal publication relied upon by New Jersey judges and attorneys since 1878, recognized Samuel L. Davis as achieving the highest reported settlement or jury verdict for the 2022-2023 court term. This marked the second time within a ten-year period that the New Jersey Law Journal recognized Sam Davis for the number one reported New Jersey injury settlement or jury verdict. Davis previously obtained this honor as lead counsel for winning a $14 million jury verdict for two sisters injured in a boating accident.   

More recently, in 2026, he won an out of court settlement of $27 million in New York, and in 2024, he successfully settled a medical malpractice case against a hospital and anesthesiologist for $11,500,000. His jury verdicts and out of court settlements include motor vehicle collisions, such as car and truck accidents; premises and security liability, such as slip trip and fall cases. He also has won cases involving construction site negligence, fire and explosions, medical malpractice, product liability, and boating accidents. As a son of a physician, Sam Davis has a unique understanding of injuries caused by trauma that include burn injuries, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), neck, back and spinal cord injuries, fractures, and wrongful death claims.  

 As an innovator in personal injury litigation, Davis adds value to his cases through the strategic use of still and video photography, together with animations and accident reconstruction experts to prove liability and damages. In 1998, Davis became the first known lawyer in America to have a wheelchair bound, paralyzed quadriplegic client testify via the internet in a live court proceeding. Davis later published an article titled “A Practical Guide to Video Conferencing” in Trial Magazine (2000), which was innovative at that time. Samuel L. Davis was among the first lawyers to use facial-aging technology to demonstrate how burn scars and disfigurement progress over time, strengthening proof of permanency and future damages. 

Sam Davis, a Bergen County, New Jersey native, grew up in Bergenfield, NJ as the son of Harold Davis, M.D., a primary care medical doctor. Being raised in a medical household influenced his litigation style by integrating his client’s pain and suffering associated with their medical treatment as part of their personal injury claim. This background and strategy proved especially effective, as reflected in his catastrophic injury case results.  

 In 1988, Davis co-founded Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. with Marc C. Saperstein, Esq., and Garry R. Salomon, Esq. For over 35 years, he has established the firm’s high trial standards, evidence-driven case preparation, and reputation for serious-injury litigation. Today, Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. consists of twenty-five injury lawyers, including fourteen partners, who have successfully won over $1 billion in combined settlements and verdicts for their injured clients and families.   

Davis has received numerous professional honors, including an AV Preeminent® Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, reflecting the highest peer-review rating awarded in recognition of an attorney’s legal ability and ethics. He has been selected as a New Jersey Super Lawyer by Thomson Reuters for approximately fifteen consecutive years and has been recognized by Best Lawyers, Bergen Magazine, the Jewish Standard, and 201 Magazine. Several of these recognitions were the result of a selection process and rating criteria, including peer reviews by other attorneys within the legal community who nominated and voted for Samuel L. Davis.  

As a New Jersey personal injury lawyer, Samuel L. Davis is an expert in resolving major personal injury cases, injury cases through mediation, settlement negotiation, or jury trials. He has litigated car, truck, and bus accident cases, including claims against Uber and Lyft. He has successfully prosecuted thousands of claims against many of the nation’s largest insurers, including Allstate, State Farm, GEICO, Progressive, Liberty Mutual, Travelers, Plymouth Rock, and New Jersey Manufacturers (NJM), as well as matters involving public entities, including several New Jersey towns, counties, and the State of New Jersey. Davis has also won several multi-million-dollar settlements against Madison Square Garden and its subsidiaries.   

Through the years, Sam Davis has been invited to share his experience and expertise by moderating and teaching at legal seminars at conferences for The New Jersey Association for Justice, which is an organization of New Jersey’s trial lawyers at both of its Meadowlands and Boardwalk Seminar conferences. Sam Davis is also committed to the continuing education of the firm’s attorneys at Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C., serving as a mentor and leader of the firm’s weekly attorney training session, the BCU (Big Case Unit), which focuses weekly on a single case presented for collaboration to assure the best possible result. His current focus is on being a student of emerging AI technology and combining his thirty-five-plus years of human intelligence with artificial intelligence as a powerful weapon against negligent defendants and their insurance carriers.  

Davis is a graduate of The Englewood School for Boys (now Dwight-Englewood School), earned his bachelor’s degree from Tufts University, and received his Juris Doctor from Rutgers School of Law. After passing the New Jersey Bar, he served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Judge David D. Follender, J.S.C., in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Bergen County. Samuel L. Davis is admitted to practice before the New Jersey Bar, the District of Columbia Bar, Federal Courts, and the United States Supreme Court. He has argued cases before the New Jersey Appellate Division and the Supreme Court of New Jersey, resulting in published decisions.  

In his spare time, Davis enjoys family, the gym, music, sports, and competitive tennis. He also devotes time to charitable work as a founder of international camps for children disfigured by burns. Davis believes that these children, scared both physically and emotionally, represent a group of trauma victims largely ignored by all other charities.  

Samuel L. Davis, Esq. and the attorneys of Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. accept serious injury claims throughout New Jersey, on a contingent fee basis, and are available for new cases, second opinions, and free consultations. He can be reached by email at sam.davis@dsslaw.com or (201) 907-5000.   

Lectures, Seminars, and Committee Appointments  

• 1993 – Private Chair, Commerce Committee on Automobile Legislation, New Jersey as appointed by NJ State Senate.  
• 1998 – Recognized (with Marc C. Saperstein, Esq.) for work in tobacco litigation on behalf of New Jersey citizens, contributing to the National Tobacco Settlement.   
• 2000 – Published: “A Practical Guide to Videoconferencing,” Trial Magazine.   
• 2005 – Lecturer, Mass Torts / Vioxx Litigation National Conference, Las Vegas.   
• 2005 – Lecturer, Mass Torts / Mealey’s Vioxx Conference, New Orleans.   
• Lecturer, “Medical Legal Issues,” as part of The Legal Institute for Medical Education seminar at Hackensack University Medical Center.   
• Educator, medical-legal issues (medical students and physicians), Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.   
• Speaker, “Hot Tips in Tort Law,” New Jersey State Bar Association.   
• Chairperson, American Association for Justice (AAJ), Medical Device Product Liability Section.   
• Chairperson, AAJ / MDA Mass Tort Propulsid Science Committee.   
• Member, New Jersey Association for Justice (NJAJ).   
• Member, American Association for Justice (AAJ).   
• Member, NJAJ Vioxx Science Committee.   
• 2013 – NJAJ Lecturer, “Down and Dirty Video Depositions: Use of iPads and iPhones,” 
• 2013 – NJAJ Lecturer, “Mass Tort: Products Liability, Metal on Metal Hips,”  
• 2013 – NJAJ Co-Chair, Trial Advocacy  
• 2021 – NJAJ Lecturer, “How to Get Your Case Settled in a Virtual World – Part 3: Zoom Client Update” (speaker/presenter).   
• 2021 – NJAJ Lecturer, “How to Get Your Case Settled in a Virtual World – Part 4: Panel Discussion: Rethinking When to Settle a Case” (panelist).  
• 2025 – NJAJ Boardwalk Seminar Lecturer- “Masters of Advocacy: Trial Tactics You Need to Know”   
• 2025 – NJAJ Boardwalk Seminar Lecturer- “Dynamic Demonstrative Evidence: Getting Creative and Getting It Admitted”   
• 2025 – NJAJ Boardwalk Seminar Lecturer- “Tips on Trial and Mediation Advocacy”   
• 2025 – NJAJ Meadowlands Seminar Lecturer, “Lights, Sirens, and Liability: Handling Cases Against Police, Fireman, and EMS” (Motor Vehicle Program)  

Samuel L. Davis, Esq., legislative and national leadership roles include serving as Chairperson, American Association for Justice (AAJ) Medical Device Product Liability  

Representative million-dollar or multimillion-dollar settlements or jury verdicts won by attorney Samuel L. Davis, Esq., in New Jersey are as follows: 

$28,000,000 Settlement – General Liability  

This recovery was obtained for a worker who was on a ladder removing a cover from an electrical panel when an electrical explosion occurred. He suffered electrocution and devastating burn injuries in an instant. The case focused on preventable electrical safety failures and the catastrophic harm they can cause. 

$15,000,000 Settlement – Premises Liability  

This settlement was secured for a young girl injured on an escalator inside a major department store. As she approached the top landing, the escalator mechanism trapped her right leg and caused severe injuries. The case centered on escalator safety and the failure to prevent a known, high-risk hazard in a busy public store.   

$11,900,000 Settlement – Medical Malpractice  

This recovery was obtained in a birth-related medical malpractice case involving an anesthesia overdose during a routine C-section. The error caused a period of oxygen deprivation and left the patient in a coma. The claim focused on basic medication safety and monitoring that should have prevented a life-altering outcome. 

$7,850,000 Settlement – Fire (Child Injured in House Fire) 

This settlement was secured for a six-year-old child who suffered serious injuries in a house fire. The case focused on the circumstances that allowed the fire to occur and the failures that led to preventable harm. The recovery was aimed at providing long-term support for the child’s medical needs and future care. 

$7,000,000 Settlement – Pedestrian Accident  

This recovery was obtained for a plaintiff who was struck outside a national grocery store chain after finishing a shift and was pinned against the building. The driver was backing out of a parking space, then lost control after shifting into drive. The case focused on unsafe driving in a pedestrian-heavy area and the severe injuries that followed.  

$5,500,000 Settlement – Car Accident  

This settlement was secured for a client whose vehicle was violently rear-ended by an intoxicated driver on the Pulaski Skyway. The crash caused crushing damage to the rear of the vehicle and serious injuries. The case centered on reckless, impaired driving and the predictable devastation it causes.  

$4,977,000 Settlement – General Liability  

This recovery was obtained for a passenger injured in a major boat collision on the Manasquan River. The boat she was on collided nearly head-on with a larger boat, resulting in one fatality and multiple critical injuries. The case focused on operator negligence and basic boating safety failures on a busy waterway.   

$3,700,000 Settlement – Premises Liability  

This settlement was secured for a plaintiff who fell while trying to step off a friend’s boat and suffered a traumatic skull fracture. The injuries required extensive treatment, including the removal of a portion of the skull. The case focused on unsafe conditions during disembarkation and the serious consequences of a preventable fall.   

$3,500,000 Settlement – Pedestrian Accident  

This recovery was obtained for a pedestrian struck while crossing an intersection when a jitney bus failed to see her. The impact caused serious injuries and required significant medical care. The case focused on a simple truth: drivers must watch for pedestrians and yield when they have the right of way. 

$3,050,000 Settlement – Wrongful Death  

This settlement was secured for a drowning death that occurred in a lake swimming area with large floating docks. The dock structure created a dangerous under-dock area with limited air space and poor visibility in deep, murky water. The case focused on a foreseeable hazard and the failure to make the swimming area safe.  

$3,000,000 Settlement – Slip and Fall Accident 

This recovery was obtained for a plaintiff who slipped on wet, slick tile while walking from a locker room toward a jacuzzi area. The fall caused a serious head injury when he landed on the right side of his head. The case focused on basic maintenance and safe conditions in a wet facility area. 

$2,250,000 Settlement – Car Accident  

This settlement was secured for a client who was stopped in traffic when another vehicle struck her from behind at an estimated 40 to 50 mph. The at-fault driver reported a coughing fit and hit the gas instead of the brake. The case focused on driver control and the severe harm caused by a high-speed rear-end crash. 

$1,975,000 Settlement – Assault  

This recovery was obtained for a client who endured repeated physical and emotional abuse over multiple incidents spanning several years. The case focused on the lasting harm caused by the pattern of violence and control; the settlement helped to address the serious impact the abuse had on the client’s life and well-being. 

$1,900,000 Settlement – Car Accident  

This settlement was secured for a client injured in a head-on collision caused by a commercial driver who fell asleep and crossed into the client’s lane. The crash was sudden, violent, and completely preventable. The case focused on driver fatigue and the responsibility that comes with operating a commercial vehicle. 

$1,800,000 Settlement – Pedestrian Accident 

This recovery was obtained for a baggage handler who was pinned against a pole after a catering truck struck a baggage cart setup nearby. The impact pushed equipment into the area where the worker was positioned, trapping his leg and causing serious injuries. The case focused on safe operation of vehicles and equipment in active work zones. 

$1,490,000 Settlement – Slip and Fall Accident 

This settlement was secured for a client who slipped on black ice in a parking lot and fell hard on her back. She suffered injuries involving her head, upper neck, and elbow. The case focused on winter maintenance and the failure to address a predictable, hidden ice condition. 

$1,450,000 Settlement – Wrongful Death  

This recovery was obtained after a child was found not breathing at a water park near the deep end area. The case raised serious questions about supervision and safety measures that should have prevented the tragedy. The settlement was aimed at accountability and support for the family’s profound loss, pain, and suffering. 

$1,425,000 Settlement – General Liability 

This settlement was secured for a plaintiff injured while riding an NJ Transit train that crashed into the Hoboken, NJ, station. The impact caused serious injuries and required extensive care. The case focused on passenger safety and accountability for a preventable transportation incident. 

$1,325,000 Settlement – Car Accident 

This recovery was obtained after three vehicles were traveling eastbound when traffic ahead caused the second vehicle to stop. This caused the third car to rear-ended the second and pushed it forward into vehicle #1, injuring the occupants of the lead vehicle. 

$1,300,000 Settlement – Slip and Fall Accident 

A client who slipped on a sheet of ice in a hotel parking lot while walking to his vehicle. The case focused on basic winter maintenance and the failure to address a dangerous, icy walking surface. 

$1,250,000 Settlement – Pedestrian Accident 

This recovery was obtained for a pedestrian who was struck while crossing at a marked crosswalk on Palisade Avenue with the right-of-way. The driver admitted she did not see the pedestrian. The case centered on failing to yield and the serious injuries that followed. 

$1,240,000 Settlement – Car Accident 

A front-seat passenger was injured when the driver lost control and struck a telephone pole. The claim focused on unsafe operation and the force of impact in a single-vehicle crash. 

$1,219,000 Settlement – Pedestrian Accident 

This settlement was obtained after the plaintiff’s vehicle was rear-ended while stopped, with the at-fault driver admitting he saw the vehicle slowing but pressed the gas instead of the brake. The case focused on a preventable driver error and the injuries caused by the crash. 

$1,200,000 Settlement – Wrongful Death  

Recovery was secured in a wrongful death case involving a fall down cellar steps inside a liquor store and bar area. The decedent fell down approximately 15 stairs and landed on a cement surface. The case focused on premises safety and the hazards that led to a fatal fall. 

$1,200,000 Settlement – Pedestrian Accident  

This settlement was obtained for the wrongful death of a man who was waiting at a bus stop when an intoxicated driver jumped the curb and struck him. The vehicle then flipped and came down on the decedent. The case focused on impaired driving and catastrophic, entirely preventable harm.   

$1,175,000 Settlement – Contract Breach  

This recovery involved a laboratory director who helped build a toxicology lab over many years under an agreement for a 20 percent ownership interest. He was later forced out and told his share was worth nothing. The case focused on enforcing the ownership agreement and the financial obligations tied to it. 

$1,150,000 Settlement – Bike Accident  

A $1.15 million settlement was secured for a cyclist who was riding with a helmet when a UPS truck pulled out from a driveway without checking for oncoming traffic. The cyclist braked hard, struck the vehicle, and was thrown to the roadway. The case focused on failing to yield and the injuries caused by the impact. 

$1,100,000 Settlement – Bus Accident  

This recovery was obtained for a passenger injured during a Greyhound bus incident near Trenton, New Jersey, where the bus experienced multiple impacts, struck a guardrail, and left the roadway onto a grassy area while tilting. The passenger reported injuries to the neck, back, shoulder, and knee, along with a head impact.  

$1,072,000 Settlement – Truck Accident  

A $1.072 million settlement was secured for a plaintiff who was pulling over toward the shoulder when a tractor-trailer rear-ended his vehicle. The case focused on commercial driver inattention and the severity of truck impacts at highway speed. 

$1,000,000 Settlement – Truck Accident  

This settlement was obtained after a client was struck by a tractor-trailer on Route 80, causing her to lose control and requiring extrication with the jaws of life. The impact hit the left side of her vehicle, and the truck jackknifed after the collision. The case focused on commercial vehicle safety and accountability for a violent highway crash.