New Jersey Injury Attorney Blog

A 36-year-old driver of a cement mixer was killed in a New Jersey car accident involving two other vehicles. According to a news report in The Star Ledger, the fatal truck accident occurred on Route 202 at Whitenack Road in Bernardsville. Officials are still investigating the cause of the fatal collision. The driver of the truck succumbed to his injuries after being flown to the hospital. A 24-year-old woman was also flown to a hospital with unknown injuries and a third driver, a 53-year-old woman, was treated and released for her injuries. The photos from the crash site show that the impact was severe enough to overturn the cement truck and crush at least one of the two passenger vehicles involved.

Any time there is a serious NJ intersection accident, it must be determined if one of the drivers failed to properly yield the right of way. Did one of the drivers run through a stop sign or a red light? Were any of the motorists speeding, distracted, under the influence, or otherwise negligent? In cases involving driver negligence, the at-fault driver can be held liable for the losses suffered in the crash.

The family of someone killed in a car accident on the job would be well advised to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer who will help them pursue compensation both through workers’ compensation benefits, as well as through civil litigation against the at-fault driver.

The experienced Princeton auto accident lawyers at Lependorf & Silverstein know how to help families get the compensation they need after the loss of a loved one. If you have lost someone in a fatal New Jersey accident, please call one of our skilled personal injury attorneys at (609) 240-0040 for a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation.

A woman was killed in a recent New Jersey car accident after a dump truck overturned and crushed her SUV. According to a news report in The Courier Post, the fatal truck accident occurred on Haddonfield-Berlin Road near Morris Drive in Cherry Hill. Officials say a vehicle making a left turn forced the dump truck driver to swerve out of the way, causing the sand in the dump truck to shift and making it tip over onto the SUV. The woman inside the SUV was fatally injured in the crash. Neither the dump truck driver nor the driver of the turning car was injured. It is unclear if either of them will be cited for the fatal truck collision.

Under New Jersey law, motorists making a left turn are legally required to yield the right of way to oncoming traffic. When an accident is caused by a driver making a dangerous left turn, there are a number of questions that must be asked. Was the driver distracted or under the influence of alcohol? Why was the oncoming vehicle unable to avoid the collision?

Motorists determined to have been negligent at the time of the accident can be held liable for the resulting damages. When someone is killed in a crash, the at-fault driver can be held liable for the victim's wrongful death. In such cases, compensation may be available to surviving family members for medical bills, lost future wages, funeral expenses, and other related damages.

A skilled fatal auto accident attorney in NJ at Lependorf & Silverstein can help protect the rights of injured victims and their families in New Jersey. Please contact us at (609) 240-0040 to schedule your free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation.

Victims of New Jersey bus accidents may seek financial compensation for their injuries, damages, and losses from the at-fault bus driver and the bus company. Unfortunately, it is common for victims to have their claims denied and for insurance companies to cut corners by offering inadequate settlements. To protect your rights, here are a few tips you may wish to consider in the event you or a loved one is injured in a bus accident.

Any time there is an injury accident involving a bus, there should be a police report on the incident. It is important that your name is on the police report showing your involvement in the incident. It would be in your best interest to write down the location and time of the crash. It would also be a good idea to write down as much information as possible including the name of the bus driver, the bus company, the identification number of the bus, and the common carrier insurance information. If you have a cell phone with a camera, be sure to take pictures of where you were sitting, the damage to the bus, the crash site, and even of your own auto accident injuries.

It will also be in your best interest to seek immediate medical attention. Your medical records will serve as evidence of when you were injured and how severe your injuries were. During the healing process, journal your struggles, how you felt, and what you could or could not do as a result of your injuries.

Last, but not least, it is crucial that you contact an experienced lawyer who will stay on top of the official investigation and ensure that your legal rights and best interests are protected. A skilled Princeton bus accident attorney at Lependorf & Silverstein knows how to hold bus companies and bus drivers accountable for the injuries and damages they cause. If you have been injured in a New Jersey bus accident, please call our offices today at (609) 240-0040 for a free and comprehensive consultation.

Three people were injured in a New Jersey car accident after a car veered into oncoming traffic. According to a news report in The Press of Atlantic City, the car crash occurred on Ocean Heights Avenue in Egg Harbor Township. Officials say a 38-year-old man let his car cross a double yellow line before striking a car driven by a 47-year-old man. The two drivers and a 36-year-old passenger were all trapped inside their vehicles. They all suffered what were described as minor to moderate injuries. The first driver was charged with failure to maintain his lane, as well as failure to wear a seatbelt.

N.J.S.A. 39:4-88 states: "When a roadway has been divided into clearly marked lanes for traffic, drivers of vehicles shall obey the following regulations: a. A vehicle shall normally be driven in the lane nearest the right-hand edge or curb of the roadway when that lane is available for travel, except when overtaking another vehicle or in preparation for a left turn."

Victims of negligent drivers would be well advised to speak with an experienced injury lawyer who will stay abreast of the ongoing investigation. At-fault drivers may be held liable for losses such as medical bills, time away from work, pain and suffering, and other related damages.

The experienced New Jersey auto accident lawyers at Lependorf & Silverstein help victims of negligent drivers get fair and full compensation for their losses. If you or a loved one has been injured in a New Jersey car crash, please contact us at (609) 240-0040 for a free and comprehensive consultation.

A 77-year-old man was killed in a Sussex County car accident after his pickup truck was hit by another vehicle. According to a news report in The Star Ledger, the fatal car crash occurred where Route 15 crosses Ice Plant Road in Lafayette. Officials say the man was traveling west when a southbound 2003 Honda Civic, driven by a 23-year-old woman, struck the man's 2002 Toyota pickup truck. He suffered head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. Officials do not believe that he was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident. The woman involved in the crash suffered leg injuries and was hospitalized for treatment. There was no mention of citations issued.

A motorist does not have to be cited by the authorities to be held civilly liable for a fatal auto accident in New Jersey. The family of the victim will have to prove that driver negligence was a contributing factor in the collision. Did the other driver run a stop sign or red light? Was the other motorist speeding, distracted, drunk, inattentive, or otherwise negligence? Did the other driver fail to yield the right-of-way at an intersection? These are a few questions that often come up in these cases.

In such cases, the injured victim or the family of the deceased victim would be well advised to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer who will help them pursue their legal rights. In cases where negligence is involved, families of deceased victims can file what is known as a wrongful death claim seeking compensation for damages including medical expenses and funeral costs.

A New Jersey wrongful death attorney at Lependorf & Silverstein will help families receive the compensation they need following a fatal crash. If you have lost a loved one in a New Jersey car accident, please call our offices at (609) 240-0040 for a free and comprehensive case evaluation.

A 63-year-old Newark man was injured after a steel beam dangling from a construction crane on the New Jersey Turnpike swung and lopped off the top of his van. According to a news report in The Times of Trenton, the New Jersey construction accident occurred on the turnpike just south of Interchange 8. State troopers say construction workers who were working on the turnpike-widening project were trying to lift a steal beam with a crane. The force of the impact cut off the top of the man's Econoline van, causing it to overturn. He was left with facial lacerations, but his injuries are not considered to be life-threatening. Officials are investigating the cause of this accident.

Construction crane accidents can result in serious injuries or even fatalities. According to the web site Craneaccidents.com, there were 303 crane accidents in the United States in 2009, in which 197 people died. Crane accidents may be caused by operator error or negligence, a defective or malfunctioning crane, weather or wind conditions, and improper loading.

If a "bystander" or passerby is injured in a construction crane accident, the construction company and/or the agency that is undertaking the construction can be held liable for the victim's injuries. A number of questions may arise in such cases. Did the workers load the crane correctly? Was there a violation of safety procedures at the construction site, which caused or contributed to the incident? Were the workers properly trained and supervised?

Injured victims of crane accidents, whether they are construction workers or members of the public, should contact an experienced lawyer who will remain on their side, fight for their rights, and ensure that they are fairly and fully compensated for their injuries and losses. The skilled New Jersey crane accident attorneys at Lependorf & Silverstein have successfully represented individuals and families who have been harmed by someone else's negligence. Please contact us at (609) 240-0040 for a no-cost consultation and case evaluation.

Several people were injured in an Atlantic County car accident that resulted in a female passenger getting trapped in one of the vehicles. According to a WPVI news report, the injury accident occurred near Ocean Heights Avenue and Blackman Road in Egg Harbor Township. Officials have not released information about how the collision occurred. The extent of the victims' injuries is also not known yet. Emergency workers rescued a woman from inside one of the damaged vehicles with the Jaws of Life. An investigation is ongoing.

According to the New Jersey Department of Transportation, there were 10,388 reported car accidents in Atlantic County in the year 2010. That number reflects a slight decrease from the 10,685 accidents that occurred in 2009 and the 10,508 accidents that happened in 2008. Of the 10,388 Atlantic County car accidents that occurred in 2010, 2,745 resulted in injuries.

In car accident injury cases, it is important to determine fault and liability. If the crash was the result of negligence or wrongdoing, the auto accident injury victim can hold the at-fault party accountable for the crash with the assistance of a skilled personal injury lawyer. Injured victims can seek compensation for damages and losses resulting from the accident from the responsible party.

The experienced Princeton car accident attorneys at Lependorf & Silverstein help the victims of New Jersey car accidents obtain the compensation they need and rightfully deserve. If you have suffered an injury in a car crash, please call (609) 240-0040 to discuss your legal rights and options at absolutely no cost.

Have you suffered some form of personal injury, but you are not sure if you have a "case" against the person or agency who hurt you? An experienced personal injury attorney can determine the value of your case and give you sound advice as to how to pursue your claim. A good personal injury lawyer will always examine your case at no charge, and give you sound advice as to how to proceed to collect damages.

Personal injury comes in a variety of types. While most of us think of personal injury as something relating to car accidents, there are also many successful personal injury cases filed which deal with contaminated drugs or food, a slip and fall, and accidents related to work. Any type of injury which causes pain and suffering is probably a case which can be handled by a professional personal injury attorney.

Personal injury lawyers work with you to determine the value of your case, or how much you can expect to receive in damages. This amount will depend on several factors.

The first thing a personal injury attorney will consider is the extent of your injuries. Despite wide-spread stories of multi-million dollar settlements for a simple accident with minor injuries, this is rarely the case. In most cases, minor injuries mean small settlements. However, if the injury is relatively minor but unfortunately promises to present long-term problems, the figure may be higher. Medical bills will also determine the amount of your settlement; if you have large expenses from being treated for your injuries, a good personal injury attorney will necessarily seek more in damages than if you have only small medical bills.

Another thing a good personal injury lawyer will consider is the nature of the accident and how it was caused. Liability can be a tricky issue, and a good personal injury attorney will consider who caused the accident, where the accident occurred, and who is ultimately responsible for the accident. The answer to this question may be different than you would expect; for example, if someone borrows a car and causes an accident while driving, both the owner of the car and the driver may be liable for the damages caused.

Finally, a lawyer will evaluate what your case is likely to bring if it goes to trial, versus the amount offered in settlement. Most personal injury cases are settled out of court, for a very good reason: you never know if you will win a lawsuit, and rather than risk an expensive and protracted trial process, it may be financially wiser to take a settlement. However, it is usually wise to let an experienced personal injury attorney determine this amount. Determining what is a good settlement amount and what is insufficient is a skill, which is developed through experience and education. Many inexperienced lawyers grossly overestimate or underestimate how much a case should realize. It is far better to secure the services of an expert personal injury attorney if you have sustained an injury, and be sure that your case brings in what it is truly worth.

This guest blog post was provided by the Anaheim personal injury lawyers in California at Bisnar Chase, a law firm with a reputation for honesty and an unparalleled track record of success.

A new federal law prohibiting commercial drivers from using hand-held mobile devices began on January 3. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced that the new ban prohibits drivers of commercial vehicles from "holding, dialing, or reaching for hand-held cell phones." This ban includes phones with a push-to-talk function. Unless the driver has pulled over off the highway, commercial drivers are not even allowed to use their phone at a traffic stop. Drivers are, however, allowed to use a device with a wireless earpiece or a speakerphone function.

Commercial drivers in interstate commerce or those involved in intrastate transportation of hazardous materials face fines of up to $2,750 for using a hand-held cell phone. The companies that employ drivers who violate this new law could face penalties of up to $11,000.

According to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drivers are 23 times more likely to be involved in an accident when they are driving distracted. Victims of distracted drivers may pursue financial compensation for their losses by filing a personal injury claim. In such cases, compensation may be available for medical bills, lost wages, the costs of rehabilitation services, and other related damages.

The skilled truck accident injury lawyers in New Jersey at Lependorf & Silverstein have the knowledge, skill, and resources necessary to handle complex distracted driving cases. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a New Jersey truck or bus accident, please call our offices at (609) 240-0040 for a free consultation.

A West Windsor school bus driver has been charged with careless driving after colliding with a stopped police cruiser and injuring the officer within on the morning of January 17, according to The Princeton Packet. Reportedly, the police cruiser was stopped with its emergency lights flashing on Cranbury Road around 7:15 am in an effort to warn other drivers of the icy road conditions that were present when it was struck.

As the school bus neared the police vehicle, the driver lost control of the vehicle, most likely due to sliding on the icy roads during an attempt to slow down, crossed the center line of the road, and struck the officer’s vehicle, according to West Windsor Police. While neither the school bus driver nor any of the 20 students that were onboard the bus were injured in the crash, the officer suffered a neck injury and had to be taken to a hospital. Further details on the officer’s condition have not been given, but he was not reported to be in serious condition.

The onset of winter in the northeast United States means that there is a much greater likelihood for dangerous road conditions in New Jersey. Winter conditions can leave normally safe roads in hazardous conditions and make already dangerous streets even worse. As such, there is a higher chance that any vehicle could be involved in an accident. New Jersey residents should make sure to take extra caution when on the roads during the winter in order to prevent dangerous accidents.

While buses are involved in far fewer crashes than normal passenger vehicles, the accidents they are involved in often lead to many serious injuries. The New Jersey bus accident lawyers at Lependorf & Silverstein can help you obtain compensation if you have been in such an accident. For more information on how our law team can help, call (609) 240-0040.

Falls are a part of being a kid. Children are supposed to play in the mud, get dirty, and be clumsy, but this does not mean that falls are not a legitimate danger to their health and well being. Slip and fall accidents can occur anywhere and to anyone, regardless of age. If your child is injured in a slip and fall accident as the result of a property owner’s negligence to reasonably maintain or repair their premises, then that owner may be held liable for the injuries your child suffers.

Child Fall Statistics

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the leading cause of non-fatal injuries among children aged 19 and younger is falls. Nearly 2.8 million children are treated in U.S. emergency departments for fall injuries every year, or about 8,000 every day.

Preventing Child Falls

Not every child fall can be prevented, as a parent cannot have control over the safety of public places and/or other premises, but following these tips from the CDC can help kids avoid fall-related injuries:

• Playground safety – Check the playground equipment that your child uses/plays on, especially if it is in a public park or other space. If it is not maintained or has a faulty design, the risk of a fall increases. Also, if there is not a soft landing surface underneath, the risk of a serious fall injury increases.
• Supervision – All young children should be supervised around fall dangers, such as playground equipment, stairs, and other uneven surfaces.
• Home safety – Make sure children cannot access fall hazards like stairs by using home safety devices like guard rails and gates.
• Sports safety – Children should wear the appropriate protective gear when playing sports.

When to Contact an Experienced Child Injury Attorney

Unfortunately, not all property owners are as concerned with child safety as parents are. If your child has suffered a fall injury as the result of a property owner’s negligence to maintain safe premises, you and your child may be entitled to financial compensation.

This guest blog post is brought to you by the Boston child slip and fall accident lawyers with the Kiley Law Group, a personal injury law firm in Massachusetts dedicated to protecting the rights of those harmed by another’s negligence.

There is a wide range of injuries that victims can suffer in a New Jersey car accident. Often, survivors of serious injury accidents struggle to regain the physical abilities they had before the accident. Unfortunately, some victims may suffer injuries that could lead to permanent disabilities, which can negatively affect their quality of life. In such cases, victims would be well advised to obtain more information about pursuing their legal rights.

Permanent disabilities include injuries and illnesses from which the victim will never fully recover. Examples of the most severe permanent disabilities that can occur in an auto accident include amputations, head injuries that lead to irreversible brain damage, and spinal cord injuries. These types of devastating injuries often make it impossible for a victim to return to his or her "pre-accident state." It is also possible that the victim may never be able to work again or provide for his or her family.

There is disability coverage available through the government for individuals who are unable to work because of a permanent disability. If the serious injuries were caused by a negligent driver, there may also be compensation available through a personal injury claim.

A personal injury claim is a civil lawsuit that allows the injured victim to pursue financial compensation for their losses from the at-fault driver. The claimant must prove that he or she suffered a loss, that the other person was negligent in some way, and that the negligent party's actions led to the victim's losses. In such cases, compensation may be available for the resulting medical bills, lost wages, cost of rehabilitation services, and other related damages.

The experienced Princeton car accident injury lawyers at Lependorf & Silverstein have a long history of dealing with permanent disability claims. We know how to get injured victims and their families the help and support they need. To discuss your legal options at absolutely no cost, please call our offices at (609) 240-0040.