New Jersey Injury Attorney Blog

Rockaway Township Officer Joseph Udina suffered minor injuries early on the morning of February 28, 2009, when an SUV operated by an alleged drunk driver struck his patrol car, according to this report in the Daily Record. Law enforcement officials investigating the accident say that Officer Udina’s patrol car was parked on the shoulder of Route 80 with lights flashing after he had pulled over an alleged drunken driver. Officials said that while Udina was in his patrol car assisting Officer Dean Testa, his patrol car was struck by a Jeep Cherokee driven by Robert Leigh, 36, of Wharton.

The car accident in New Jersey occurred just after 2:00 a.m. on Route 80 West near the Dover exit. Police say that Udina was treated for minor injuries at Morristown Memorial Hospital and released. Law enforcement officials claim that Leigh was driving while intoxicated when he collided with the rear of Officer Udina’s patrol car, causing extensive damage to it and the SUV that the patrol car was pushed into in the collision.

Blood alcohol tests showed that Leigh had a blood alcohol level of .19 percent at the time of the accident, and he is facing charges of driving while intoxicated by New Jersey State Police. Officer Udina was very fortunate to suffer only minor injuries in the drunk driving accident in New Jersey, but many people are not so lucky.

Continue reading " Rockaway Township Auto Accident Injures Police Officer " »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Personal Injury

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According to this report from NJ.com, a former Roxbury resident has been sentenced to 15 years for causing a car accident that claimed the lives of three people in 2006. Twenty-seven-year-old Damian D'Aleo admitted to driving drunk and causing a September 29, 2006 auto accident in New Jersey that killed three people. The state Superior Court in Morristown sentenced D'Aleo to 15 years in prison on February 19, 2009, after he pled guilty in January to three counts of death by auto.

Law enforcement officials say that on September 29, 2006, D'Aleo’s Honda CRV rear-ended a Jeep Cherokee in the westbound lanes of Route 80 in Roxbury, which caused the Jeep to cross the center lines and hit two other vehicles in the eastbound lanes. Julia Bowen of New York, the Cherokee’s driver, and her passenger, retired New York City Police Officer Theodore Williams were killed in the accident. Also killed was a father of five, Donald Dineen, Jr., of Bushkill, PA, who suffered fatal injuries when the Jeep struck his car. Dineen worked as a doorman in Manhattan.

Over 41,000 lives are lost each year in auto accidents in the U.S. and many of these deaths are caused by negligent drivers operating their vehicles while intoxicated. If you or someone you care for has been injured or killed in a New Jersey car accident, you may be able to recover compensation to offset the steep costs of medical care and other expenses. The knowledgeable and skilled wrongful death attorneys in New Jersey at Lependorf & Silverstein have helped clients recover millions in damages over the years.

Our top New Jersey personal injury lawyers will work hard on your behalf, protect your rights at all times, and help you receive the financial compensation you deserve. To schedule a free consultation with experienced New Jersey auto accident lawyers, call Lependorf & Silverstein today at 609.240.0040.

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Wrongful death

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A 78-year-old man in Sparta died in a bicycle accident in New Jersey after he was struck by a school bus. According to this news report, the driver of the small empty bus was on his way to a pick-up when he struck Bent Rasmussen, who suffered severe head injuries. Rasmussen was taken to an area hospital where he died a day after the accident. The bus driver did not stop at the scene after striking Rasmussen, the news report stated.

Police apparently identified the bus involved through two eyewitness accounts and surveillance video from a nearby municipal building. No charges have been filed against the driver yet for this bus accident in New Jersey. It is illegal to leave the scene of an auto accident in New Jersey without exchanging information or waiting for authorities. Motorists are required to remain on the scene whether or not the accident was their fault. In this particular case, if the bus driver is determined to have been at fault, then both he and his employer, the bus company, may be held liable for the accident.

It is in the best interest of anyone who is injured in an auto accident or who has lost a loved one in an accident, to immediately consult with an experienced New Jersey auto accident attorney who will explain their legal rights and options to them. The skilled New Jersey personal injury lawyers at Lependorf & Silverstein are on your side. They will vigorously fight for your rights and hold the negligent parties accountable for their actions. In any auto accident, victims may be entitled to compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of wages and other damages.

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Bicycle Accidents , Bus accident

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A dentist and oral surgeon is facing a medical malpractice lawsuit in New Jersey from the family of a 21-year-old Hopelawn man who died in August 2005 hours after having surgery to remove his wisdom teeth. According to this news report, the lawsuit alleges that dentist John Madaras did not get medical clearance to work on Francis Keller in spite of the fact that Keller had an immune system deficiency that would have made the dental procedure lethal.

According to court papers, Keller told a dental hygienist for Madaras that he had a genetic disorder that made his throat, face and hands swell. The hygienist then called Keller's internist, who told her specifically that the teeth extraction should not be done. At the heart of the case is whether Madaras knew about Keller’s condition and conveyed that to an oral surgeon who performed the procedure. Keller died the morning after the surgery as his airway slowly closed.

If you or a loved one has suffered serious injuries, complications or death as a result of a medical treatment or surgical procedure, you have been a victim of medical malpractice. Errors occur in hospitals and dentists' offices more often that we would like to believe, due to either the lack of communication, carelessness, and/or negligence. Some mistakes are irreparable as in this case where the victim died a wrongful death. But in many cases where patients experience severe complications because of medical negligence, the medical costs to fix the problem are significant. If you or a loved one has been a victim of medical malpractice in New Jersey, please call the top New Jersey medical negligence attorneys at Lependorf & Silverstein for a free consultation.

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Posted In: Medical Malpractice , Personal Injury , Wrongful death

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A man in Spotswood, who was blinded and paralyzed in an Old Bridge New Jersey auto accident in 2004 caused by an intoxicated friend at the wheel, has been awarded more than $2 million by a jury for his injuries, according to this report from a news website. A New Brunswick Superior Court jury decided on a $3.25 million verdict, but found 49-year-old Craig Staffa 35 percent liable for the car accident in New Jersey. Staffa's friend, 45-year-old John Buckalew, is serving time in state prison for aggravated assault in connection with the crash.

Buckalew apparently bears 45 percent of the liability, but has no assets to pay Staffa. The third party in the lawsuit, Moore's Bar & Liquors on Route 35 in Cliffwood Beach, has been ordered to pay $625,000 for 20 percent of the liability for serving alcoholic drinks to Buckalew, who was already drunk.

Continue reading " Spotswood Car Accident Victim Awarded $2 Million For Injuries " »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Personal Injury

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Two people were hospitalized with injuries in a Mahwah auto accident in New Jersey on Franklin Turnpike, according to this news report. The crash occurred the morning of March 3 when a Ford Crown Victoria traveling north on Franklin Turnpike collided with a Toyota Corolla making a left turn into a shopping center.

According to the most recent auto accident statistics available for New Jersey, there were 722 fatal car accidents in 2006 in New Jersey, including 31 deaths in Newark and nine in Jersey City. The number of auto accidents is constantly on the rise. Car accidents in New Jersey occur because of many reasons, but most often they occur because someone is being negligent by not following traffic laws. In this particular case, if both cars had seen the green light, then the Toyota Corolla should have yielded the right of way to the Crown Victoria before making that left turn. A lot of times, drivers either don't pay attention or they judge inaccurately while making a left turn.

Auto accident victims who have been severely injured would be well-advised to contact an experienced New Jersey auto accident lawyer, who will find out exactly who or what caused the accident hold the negligent parties accountable for their actions. A skilled New Jersey personal injury lawyer will help you deal with your insurance, the other party's insurance company and any other persons or entities responsible for causing your injuries. If you or a loved one has been injured in a New Jersey auto accident, please call Lependorf & Silverstein for a free consultation and case evaluation.

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Posted In: Personal Injury

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Two people were injured in a New Jersey truck accident on the Interstate 295 the morning of Feb. 21 in Lawrence after a box truck driver crashed into the rear of a Mercedes Benz sport utility vehicle, according to this news report. The crash apparently ruptured a tank on the truck causing fuel to leak onto the roadway, New Jersey State Police officials said. The driver of the truck was uninjured, but two people who were passengers in the SUV suffered injuries and were sent to an area hospital for treatment. Police said the box truck driver would be issued a ticket for causing the wreckage.

In cases that involve big rigs or commercial trucks, both the driver and his or her employer could be held liable if they cause an injury accident. Where there is a clear determination of fault, injured victims will be able to collect compensation for medical expenses, loss of wages, cost of future medical treatment and other damages. But often, the aftermath of a truck accident or an auto accident in New Jersey can be very complex, involving eyewitness testimony, insurance companies and physical evidence.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a New Jersey auto accident or truck accident, you would be well-advised to retain the services of a top New Jersey truck accident lawyer at Lependorf & Silverstein to discuss your case. We will fight to protect your rights and make sure you get the compensation you rightfully deserve. Call us today to schedule your free consultation.

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Truck Accidents

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Two men in their mid-20s suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries after they were struck by a vehicle while crossing a Teaneck Township street, the Bergen County Record reports. Police have not filed any charges against the 71-year-old female driver. The pedestrians were both dressed in dark clothing as they walked across Roemer Avenue the evening of January 31, 2009, officials said. The woman told police she did not see the men walking across the street.

It is not clear whether these pedestrians were walking across the street in a crosswalk or at an intersection. In any case, motorists in New Jersey are required to stop for pedestrians and yield. In this case, the elderly driver told officials she simply did not see the two pedestrians. If officials determine that the female driver was negligent or not paying attention to the road, then she may face charges for causing pedestrian accident injuries. She could also be held financially responsible for the injuries caused to the two men.

Continue reading " Teaneck Township Pedestrian Accident Injures Two " »

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Posted In: Pedestrian Accidents

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